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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-11-06 Conservatoin Commission MinutesREADING CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of Wednesday, November 6, 1996 Town Hall Selectmen's Meeting Room PRESENT: Chair Nancy Eaton, Members Stephen Chapman, Harold "Lucky" Hulse, Clifton Proctor, D. Danis, and Consultant Leo Kenney. ABSENT: John Kilborn, Mark Gillis, and Conservation Administrator Donald Nadeau 7:02 PM The meeting was called to order. 7:05 PM Plan Change Wood End Cemetery - Franklin Street. Joe Delaney, Town Engineer, made a presentation to the Commission. Mr.Delaney had gotten the rainfall data from Bob Lautzenheiser from the recent storm. It was 8.44" for the 24 hour rainfall and the total rainfall was 10.1" which far exceeds the 100 year storm event. The town is proposing to lay a flat pipe between the two infiltration systems for equalization between the two systems and also to have an overflow pipe that goes out to the wetlands. Chair Eaton was concerned with erosion in the back area and asked Mr. Delaney if he had any thoughts about balancing the site. He thought possibly the same type of arrangement. S. Chapman mentioned rip rap on the slope. Mr. Delaney stated there would be rip rap at that one location and that junipers were being planted and that once the vegetation was established he felt that would be enough for stabilization. Mr. Delaney said they could also put a stilling basin at the bottom of that area; it would be in the ZNV but there would be no vegetation that would have to be moved. S. Chapman stated that he likes the idea of the stilling basin. He was also concerned about the maintenance on the infiltrators. Mr. Delaney also stated that the pipe to be laid between the two systems could be perforated for additional infiltration. He would have to check with Bob Keating regarding the plots around that area. L. Kenney questioned how much drainage was coming from the adjacent lots. Mr. Delaney said probably just the back of those lots on Parsons. He also stated that the ground was probably more saturated because of earlier storms. S. Chapman stated that the proposedoutlet pipe would also be a good check for them. If the Commission continues to see flow every time there is a heavy storm, then the infiltration systems aren't working. L. Kenney asked if [the Town] had any thoughts about going back to a traditional system. Mr. Delaney said no. Chair Eaton asked if they had a start date. Mr. Delaney said they're going to be working over the winter on it. Chair Eaton asked if they had done any clean up. Mr. Delaney stated they had put in a new silt fence at the bottom of the wash out area. They figured that the wash out area was the area that the pipe was going to go and didn't want to backfill the area just to dig it out. Chair Eaton said they just wanted the material out of there. S. Chapman felt they should do the clean up and the repair simultaneously. Motion was made and seconded that the proposed drainage modification submitted this evening be considered non-significant for the Wood End Cemetery. Voted: 4-0-0, S. Chapman suggested that they clean it out as they do the work. He also suggested 30 days for the clean out and if the Town needs more time to come back in. Reading Conservation Commission Minutes 11/06/96 Page 2 7:30 PM Erik Hagstrom Eagle Scout project - Maillet Conservation Area. Erik presented his proposed project to the Commission. He stated there exists a path now where he would like to connect to the existing path. He would go in and clear it out, cutting branches along the way but no trees. L. Kenney felt the loop illustrated on his map didn't go out as far and that he should get the exact boundaries before he begins, possibly checking with Engineering or DPW. It was also suggested that Erik put the boundary markers up while he was in the process of doing the project. He was told that the Administrator has the signs and could instruct him on the procedure for hanging them. It was suggested that the Administrator go out and educate the abutters on conservation issues. S. Chapman asked what his intended plans were for along the Abedona River. Erik said it was suggested to him to cut a 2' area and in a single file wade in and clear materials out. S. Chapman asked who would oversee and check on the end result. Erik explained how the process of a project like this is done with the Scouts. In the end the project would be checked by someone in Scout's Council. The Commission told Erik that they would like a finished copy and as far as the Commission was concerned the project was not finished until the Administrator looks it over and comes before the Commission and the scout comes back before the Commission. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Eagle Scout Project in the Maillet Conservation Area. Voted: 4-0-0. Chair Eaton advised Erik to let the [Administrator] know before he starts, and she commended the Scouts for their conservation work in town. 7:52 PM DEP: Water Quality Certification - Old Mill Village, 48 Mill St. Chair Eaton told the other Commission members that before [the Administrator] left he had issued a verbal cease and desist at 48 Mill St. They had put in their silt fence and had gone over it with a track vehicle and tore it up. The Administrator had required them to do a stone sump with a 4" PVC pipe across the proposed driveway. The applicant came in for a demolition permit before that had been done. It was found they there was a copy of the DEP water quality certificate which hadn't gotten filed. I Edwards and Chair Eaton went out on the site Monday afternoon. They were to make sure that the silt fence was in the right location. The applicant called about a building near Mill Street that wasn't dealt with in the order. There was now a question regarding the silt fence. The Commission reviewed the plans. She pointed out to I Edwards that they still needed to post a bond. Mr. Delaney has calculated the bond. Glen Redmond signed the demolition permit but Town Planner, I Edwards, is holding it pending all of the other issues being taken care of. Brad Latham is holding them up on the bond issue. When the demolition is done the wetlands people will come in and do a replication. They know after that they have to redo the silt fence. Chair Eaton stated that the sump is in, the work is done and it would be appropriate for them to move forward with the demolition. Reading Conservation Commission Minutes 11/06/96 Page 3 8:03 PM Certificates of Compliance - Lots 8, 9, & 10 Carriage Estates DEP# 270- 236, RGB# 1991-10 Chair Eaton had visited the site today and went over some of her observations. Lot 8 - Still no loam and seed and there are footings for the wall between Lots 8 & 9 but no wall, the rest of the rip rap can't be placed until the wall is in. Jim Sheehan explained that the walkway is going to be pervious. He also stated that the drywell is coming this week. Lot 9 - swimming pool installed and filled with water. Loam and seed needed and grading around the pool and the completion of the wall. Lot 10 - seeded, back not taking, reseeded. Tree stumps between 10 & 11 will begin after construction on the wall. Utilities will be raised up and the grading will match. Chair Eaton says she doesn't believe Mr. Delaney has set bond amounts. The Certificates of Occupancy have not been issued. The owner of Lot 9 stated that he isn't going to have grass in front of his house. He is planning on having mulch and shrubs and has already contacted a landscaper. J. Sheehan stated that the wall should be in this week. Chair Eaton asked Mr.Green about the conservation restriction. She stated she would have one of the secretaries get some information out to him. Motion made and seconded to continue Certificates Of Compliance to 11/20 at 7:20 PM in the Selectmen's Room. Voted: 4-0-0 8:30 PM Plan Changes - Lots 2/ 3 Carriage Estates DEP# 270-236, RGB# 1991-10 Commission members reviewed "As Built Plan of Land" Ms. Krainski read a letter she had wrote to the Commission regarding the problems her family has been having with the builder and because of such, have not been able to come into compliance. In the end she requested that the Commission work with them, the owners, to comply with the Commission to resolve the problems on the land and asked that they visit the site and explain to them what needs to done. The owners stated that they will have to "pull" the plans and that they have no plans now. J. Sheehan advised that the pool disrupted the original plans. The Administrator's site visit report of 10/1/96 was read to the members. S. Chapman commented to the owners that the original plans and revised "as is" plans comply with Commission requirements. The owner stated that the plans aren't true to reality. S. Chapman said he wouldn't mind doing another site visit. A letter dated 5/10/96 from the Krainskis asking to wait on landscaping was reviewed. A site visit will be conducted. Motion made and seconded to continue to 11/20 at 9 PM. Voted: 4-0-0 9:06 PM Plan Change - by 10 Franklin St. DEP#270-276, RGB# 1995-24 Revised Plans dated 10/26 reviewed. S. Chapman compared the original plans to the revised plans. He stated that the house would be larger will be a semi-circular drive and will have crushed stone or turf stone, a somewhat pervious material, and that the drive would be closer to the wetlands. Chair Eaton read Hayes Engineers letter dated 10/29/96. S. Chapman asked if the applicants had any thoughts about Lot 2. Mr. Fodera, the owner of Lot 1, stated that his sister and father would be building there. His sister, Ms. Baccellato, stated she would like to make a-small additional change on Lot 2. S. Chapman was concerned that applicants keep coming in with additional changes. Chair Eaton stated with each change Reading Conservation Commission Minutes 11/06/96 Page 4 they have to take into account the drainage issues. The owners of Lot 1 stated there would be no more changes. S. Chapman questioned whether the engineer included the driveway in his calculation of the impervious area. Originally the Commission approved 5000 sq. total impervious area, the revised plans now show 4475. Motion made and seconded that plan change be considered insignificant and that the driveway be crushed stone. Voted: 4-0-0. The applicant was advised that for the Lot 2 addition he could discuss that with the Administrator if the additions were within the limits of the previously approved 15 feet. 9:27 PM Status 1090 & 1100 Main St. Atty. Favaloro stated he didn't feel the need for. executive session. Earlier in the meeting, Chair Eaton brought the other members of the Commission up to date with the progress at Eric's. She stated the site inspection revealed that the permanent markers were up. The Emerald Queen Maples turned out not to be a wetland species. She stated that the applicant asked if the trees could stay and plant a wetland species in the spring. Court session didn't happen. Atty. Favaloro asked if Thomas Goddard could make a contribution to the Conservation Trust Fund in lieu of fines. The owner advised he would replace the trees with Red Maple by 5/1/96. The Commission initially recommended that the owner remove the Emerald Queens but because of the nature of the area, they approved adding the Red Maples along with the Emerald Queens. Atty. Favaloro advised that Mr. Goddard, to make right what he did wrong, would make a contribution of $500. Chair Eaton mentioned that court proceedings could wait until spring when vegetation had come in. Chair Eaton mentioned that Town Counsel suggested an amount of $1000 or over. Atty. Favaloro said he couldn't act on anything tonight. H. Hulse wanted to make clear to Atty. Favaloro that this was not intended to be a bribe. Atty. Favaloro expressed that he didn't feel that it was. Chair Eaton stated that the contribution was intended to be a resolution to the matter. Atty. Favaloro mentioned that it was stated previously that Mr. Goddard be given until springtime to come into full compliance. Atty. Favaloro will ask Mr. Goddard if he is agreeable to a $1000 contribution. Chair Eaton volunteered to act as a go between for negotiations between the Commission and Mr. Goddard. 9:50 PM Minutes for the 10/02/96 meeting reviewed. Motion made and seconded to accept the Minutes of 10/2/96 with corrections. Voted: 4-0-0 10:15 PM Senior Citizen Tax Work Program. A couple of projects were discussed that need to be done. One, a list of projects that never received COC's; two, a list of the property owners adjacent to wetlands that might have property available for open space; three, a flyer sent out to those property owners. S. Chapman stated that he liked the idea of a list of projects that hadn't received COC's. Reading Conservation Commission Minutes 11/06/96 Page 5 10:25 PM Motion made and seconded to adjourn. Voted: 4-0-0 Respectfully, Kafhy Morgan Recording Secreta