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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-07-23 Conservation Commission MinutesR Gr ! ED M4 CLE READING CONSERVATION COMMISSION r E A D 114 G> z , Minutes of Wednesday, July 23, 1997 Town Hall Selectmen's Meetinl`k" PRESENT: Chair Nancy Eaton, Members: Clifton Proctor, Harold "Lucky" Hulse, Mark Gillis (7:23), John Kilborn, David Danis (7:22), Consultant Leo Kenney, Conservation Administrator Donald Nadeau, and Recording Secretary Kathy Morgan. ABSENT: S.Chapman (prior notice given) 7:05 PM Meeting was called to order. 7:07 PM Public Meeting - Barrows School fill Edgemont Ave., RGB# 1997-19 Mr. Joe Delaney, Town Engineer, came before the Commission along with Dr. Harry Harutunian, Supt. of Schools and Skip Bandini, Director of Facilities, to explain that when work was started at the Barrows School they didn't realize it was a wetland area and upon discovering it is, has installed a silt fence and rip rap on the slope. Mr. Delaney passed around a memo dated July 1997 addressing the comments raised by the members during their site visit on 7/19/97. Dr. Harutunian explained to the members that because of renovations to the school the classrooms would only be temporary. Mr. Nunziato, an abutter, asked if the area is a legal wetland area. He gave his concerns with regard to future classrooms and mentioned underground springs in the school area. He was also concerned with the destruction of trees. Chair explained to him that any future projects at the school would have to come back to the Commission and would be dealt with then. Dr. Harutunian explained to the members and Mr. Nunziato that it was only a rumor that 10-12 future classrooms were to be added to the school. Chair asked Mr. Delaney if he scaled from flag 3 to the slope. Mr. Delaney said that it is approximately 26', 23' to the silt fence and 3' to the slope. Chair also asked Mr. Delaney if the wall is stable. Mr. Delaney stated that boulders were used for support and felt the wall was stable. L. Kenney suggested that haybales be placed behind the silt fence; Mr. Delaney agreed to that. A motion was made and seconded to close the Public Meeting. VOTED: 6-0-0. A motion was made and seconded to issue a negative determination of applicability with standard conditions including haybales behind the silt fence. VOTED: 5-0-1, M. Gillis abstaining. 7:30 PM Notice 12 A St - 2 sheds in/near BVW, debris Mr. Marrocco, the owner, came before the Commission. L. Kenney stated that the area behind the sheds is definitely wetlands and no activity should be done. Chair advised him to contact the Administrator before he does any work in the area. He was also advised to remove wood in the area. 7:40 PM RGB Extension Permit - 80 New Crossing Rd., RGB# 1996-09 (issued 8-23-90-The Administrator advised that the applicant is working with the Town Manager and town counsel. The applicant is pushing to get the work done and is looking for an _ extension in the meantime. Chair advised that she spoke with the Fire Chief and hesaid Reading Conservation Commission Minutes of 7/23/97 Page 2 there were no leaks at the site. DEP is overseeing the project. A motion was made to issue an extension permit for one year to expire 8/23/98, seconded. VOTED: 6-0-0. 8:00 PM Notice: 905 main St - new trench in wale in BVW The members conducted a site visit 7/19/97. Mr. Walter Mack, 911 Main St., advised the members that those trenches have been there for 36 years and they get cleaned out by the town. The Administrator stated there seems to be a new trench 5" x 5". Mr. Costello said that he had told Mr. Chapman that he had cleaned out the trench. Mr. Costello also stated that he didn't see anything wrong with making the trench a little bit bigger but would fill the trench back if they wanted him to. L. Kenny stated that he feels the trenches should not be cleaned out because removing the debris causes draining to be too fast. The owners stated that they never cut any tree roots and that possibly DPW did when they were cleaning out the trenches. The Administrator will find out from DPW if they dug out the trenches and advise the owners of his result from DPW. The issue will be discussed at the next regular meeting. 8:25 PM Sign-off: remove two tree on lawn near ZNV - Lot 2 Carriage Estates H 53 Zachary Lane) DEN 270-236, RGB# 1991-10 Mr. Chris Coleman explained his reasons for the tree removals and said that it was within the limit line. The Administrator advised that the work was done within 100' of the vernal pool. A motion was made and seconded to approve the sign-off of the removal of two trees with the owner removing as described in his request. VOTED: 6-0-0. 8:30 PM Mass. Historic Landscape Preservation Grant Program Ms. Virginia Adams from the Historical Commission gave the members some background on the historical sites in town and some information on the grant. The Administrator suggested that doing an inventory of the Lob Mill area would be under the eligible activities guidelines of the grant. Ms. Adams stated that applications for the grant needed to be in by 8/15/97. Members were in favor of exploring the possibilities for the grant. 8:45 PM Partial Certificates of Compliance - Lots 6, 11 Carriage Estates 11 DEP# 270-236, RGB# 1991-10 Lot 6 - Mr. Sheehan intends to pave next week. He also stated he would replace the old haybales and place haybales at the top of the slope to divert water until the paving is done. Mr. Sheehan was reminded by the Commission that his approved plan elevations should be the same in the field and on his as-built plan. Lot 11 - Chair asked Mr. Sheehan why he hadn't requested a plan change for the deck and porch. Mr. Sheehan explained that on the engineer's final plan he omitted the deck. W. Sheehan told the members that he has seeded, cleaned up the area, and the silt fence is up. He also stated that he has reseeded at the top of the wall. The Administrator advised that the lawn is not 100% grown only about 3/4.- Chair asked Mr. -Sheehan what were the Reading Conservation Commission Minutes of 7/23/97 Page 3 owners plans for the pool. Mr. Sheehan stated the owner would hold off until next year. L. Kenney questioned who owned the utilities easement. Mr. Sheehan thought the town did. A motion was made to issue a partial Certificate of Compliance with the outstanding issue of stabilization of the lawn and to release a portion of the retained bond of $1,000.00 for the as-built plan, seconded. VOTED: 6-0-0. 9:35 PM Public Meeting - 232 Salem St RGB# 1997-18 Mr. Pratt, the owner, did not show up for the meeting. Mr. John Pineau, 6 Libby Ave., was present at the meeting and expressed his concerns for the construction of the driveway that Mr. Pratt was proposing and the direction of the pitch that the driveway would have. The members discussed where a wetland delineation line could be distinguished and most agreed on the line of trees inclusive of the trunks along the perimeter of the vernal pool. Members considered what action to take and discussed which items in the wetland area were the most damaging to the wetlands. The issue of whether to have the tree house taken down was debated. M. Gillis mentioned that the tree house is in the resource area. D. Danis questioned whether it would be more damaging to the wetlands to take the tree house down. A motion was made to close the Public Meeting. VOTED: 6-0-0. A motion was made to issue a positive determination of applicability with a line being established by the wetland trees, mostly red maples, at the edge of the vernal pool with the trampoline and the swing set having a negative determination of applicability as long as the swing set is attached in a non-damaging way. The sod installed, noted as grass, is also acceptable and is a negative determination of applicability along with the mulch which is also a negative determination, seconded. VOTED: 6-0-0. 10:30 PM Move to adjourn, seconded. VOTED: 6-0-0. Respectfully submitted, / / L Kathy M(y< an Recording Secretary `-j