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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-12-18 Conservation Commission Minutes0E~' rv TU, R _ 7F r INC CONSERVATION COMMISSION 'W ~ 25, 4 8 Ne linuto.fro} Minutes of December 19, 1991 Meeting No. 32 PRESENT: Chair Camille Anthony, Vice-Chair Jennifer Lachmayr (8:20 PM), Harold Hulse, Edwin Loschi, Joan Nickerson, M. Clifton Proctor; Associate Members James Keigley and. Leo Kenney; and Conservation Administrator Donald Nadeau (7:12 PM) ABSENT: James Biller, Jennifer Miksen 7:05 PM The meeting was called to order. The Commission dis- cussed the Town's procedure for notifying it when properties become available to the Town. Minutes Motion made and seconded to accept as presented the minutes of 12-4-91. (H. Hulse) VOTED 4-0-1 Motion made and seconded to accept as amended the minutes of 10-21-91. (H. Hulse) VOTED 4-0-1 7:12 D. Nadeau arrived. 7:15 Motion made and seconded to accept as amended the executive session minutes of 10-21-91. (H. Hulse) VOTED 4-0-1 Motion made and seconded to accept as amended the minutes of 10--30-91 (E. Loschi, H. Hulse) VOTED 3-0-2 Motion made and seconded to accept as amended the minutes of 11-13-91. (H. Hulse) VOTED 4-0-1 7:28 H. Hulse left to attend the Ice Rink Siting Advisory Com- mittee meeting. Motion made and seconded to accept as amended the executive session minutes of 11-13-91. (C. Anthony) VOTED 3-0-1 Motion made and seconded to accept as amended the minutes of 11-20--91. VOTED 4-0-0 Motion made and seconded to accept as amended the executive session minutes of 11-20-91. (M. Proctor) VOTED 3-0-1 The Commission asked the Administrator to obtain an update on the proposed donation of the rear portion of the Batchelder _Esta_tes _property._. i Bill Murphy and Chair John Sullivan of the Hazardous Waste Committee discussed the proposed renovation of the Mobil station at 1320 Main Street. Mr. Sullivan observed that the proposed routing of surface runoff into the McTighe Reading Conservation Commission minutes of 12-18-91 Page 2 separation chamber would be an improvement over the exist- ing condition. He said this was not considering any increased runoff from expansion of the station, and that it would not be able to handle a catastrophic spill, such as a tanker truck-load. He advised that the chamber would need routine maintenance or would eventually cease to function, but the fact that the station would be only self-serve reduces the risk. J. Nickerson asked how the Town could be assured that routine maintenance would be done. Mr. Sullivan responded that Mobil Corp. has a team that does it. He noted that gasoline is much lower impact than oil, so would mean it would be low-maintenance. E. Loschi asked if it made a difference if it were a franchise operation. It was agreed that Mobil Corp. would still require the team at least to protect its environmental image and liability. Mr. Sullivan told the Commission that the Hazardous Waste Committee has been reorganized to focus more on Reading as a whole, rather than Industriplex, which was the original focus . D. Nadeau told the Commission he would copy DPW on his response to DEP's request for file updates on the Order of Conditions file for the Water Treatment Plant addition, DEP# 270-239. 8:20 J. Lachmayr arrived. 8:25 L. Kenney reported on his review of the wildlife habitat evaluation provisions of the draft wetlands regulations. He recommended that in the area of vernal pools, siltation controls be staggered to allow migration. The Commission anticipated that Jeffrey Gould, Town Counsel, will be providing comments on the regulations. Buffer Zones and setbacks and fines will be addressed. The Commission discussed the violation at Maillett Conser- vation Area and Mr. Rindone's property. D. Nadeau read a copy of the new notice he mailed to Mr. Rindone. 8:40 Continued Public Meeting - 74 Qld Farm Road GB# 1991-29 Applicant Richard Savage was present. C. Anthony and J. lachmayr discussed the location of the Bordering Vegetated Wetland line and disturbances, such as leaves dumped into the brook. C. Anthony asked if it would not be possible to move the shed by removing one small tree. J. Keigley said it would be more _disruptive to-_-cut--the--tree and move the shed, and stated for J. Biller and himself that the shed is open under, so it doesn't impede drainage, and no oil will 4` be discharged. Reading Conservation COMiSsion MinUteS of 12-18-91 Page 3 J. Lachmayr said that it was within the 25-foot Buffer Zone, which is inconsistent with the regulations, but the Commission could check with Jeffrey Gould regarding added liability if it is allowed with conditions. J. Nickerson said it would be possible to orient the shed to open toward the house, to avoid impacts in the direction of the wet- land. L. Kenney recommended asking Jeffrey Gould what al- lowing the shed could result in. Mr. Savage agreed to a continuance to 1-22-92. Motion made and seconded to continue the Public Meeting to 1-22-92 at 8:40 PM. VOTED 5-0-0 The Commission asked D. Nadeau to verify the activity and the location of the 25---foot Buffer Zone for Lot 5 at 168 West Street. 9:02 Continued Public Meeting - 1312 Main Street,_ RGB# 19991-30 Applicant Michael Leverone was present. C. Anthony sug- gested pulling back the loose material from the wetland. J. Lachmayr stated that up to a two foot width of material needs to be pulled back from a line drawn between the stump in the front yard and the two small trees growing together in the back of the yard, and shrubs need to be planted along the edge to prevent problems. J. Lachmayr said she would show the Administrator where the line is. Motion made and seconded to issue a Negative Determination with conditions for 1312 Main Street, RGB# 1991-30. VOTED 5-0-0 9:15 A five minute recess was called. 9:20 Public ee - 58 6 a sta e Road, GB# 1_919_1-3I Applicant Tom O'Connor of Tracy Builders was present. Jay Corey of Corey and Donahue gave the following presentation: 1. The site is 58 and 62 Baystate Road, not just #62. 2.a.It is in the Reading Floodplain Zoning District, but is not in the F.E. M. A. 100 or 500 year floodplain. b.The Bordering Vegetated Wetland to the north is between 70-80 feet from the property. There will be a 50--foot no-work zone along the rear of the site, so all work will be outside the Buffer Zone. Future work within the Buffer Zone would require the filing of another Re- quest for Determination. 3. Proposed drainage would tie into existing drains, and would drain to a point about 250 feet from the property into Walkers Brook. Reading; Conservation Commission minutes of 12--18-91 Page 4 The site catchment area as shown on the Town 400-foot scale topographic map drains south to two culverts under Salem Street; the two culverts under Haverhill Street are dis- regarded in the drainage calculations. Three scenarios were considered: clean culverts, 6" of silt (existing condition), and 804 obstructed. All soils were assumed to be hydric soils group 'D' for the calculations, and the F.E. M. A. profiles were used. The difference in 100 year storm elevations for the three scenarios was 7", with the maximum being elevation 192.1. The low point of Salem Street is 192.1 (Reading sewer base) for about a 100 foot length, which has a capacity for 150 cubic feet per second (CFS). The lowest elevation on the site is 194, by on-the-ground survey. As a result, the en- tire parcel is above the worst case design flood elevation. Because the analysis is conservative, the Bordering Land Subject to Flooding elevation is below 192. Also, the runoff peak from the site would be 6-8 hours before the peak at Salem Street. The site is coarse gravel and coarse sand. Drainage for the 10-year design storm event for subdivision rules and regulations will be 2.4 CFS, an increase of 2 CFS from the pre--construction rate. The drain outlet about 250 feet from the site has the capacity to handle that. It is recommended that standard grease hoods and sumps be re- quired on all catchbasins in the subdivision and at the tie in point. J. Lachmayr asked what the maps used for the calculation of total impervious area in the catchment area were dated, and if the resulting number is small. Mr. Corey did not know, but was sure it was within ten years. He stated that a large portion of the area is wetlands, which has remained undeveloped. He recommended that all roof drains drain to drywells on the lots. When asked if they would last, he answered: 50 years; his 140-year old house has old stone drywells that still work. Mr. Corey asked the Commission to recommend to CPDC that a depressed cul-de-sac island be allowed for use as a deten- tion area, and that a reduced right-of-way be allowed. J. Nickerson stated that the 12" culvert under Haverhill Street sometimes flows into the catchment area, and asked if that would affect the results. Mr. Corey said it would be unusual for that to occur, because that catchment and its brook is four feet lower than _theirs_. 10:10 H. Hulse returned. Reading Conservation Commission minutes of 12--18--91 Page 5 C. Anthony asked if there was no runoff to the back of the lots and no increase in runoff to the wetland from the project. Mr. Corey responded that part of the natural runoff would continue and there would be a minor decreage in runoff to the wetlands. Mr. Peters of 62 Baystate Road asked what the layout width of Baystate Road is, and why it would increase for the sub- division. Mr. Corey answered that Baystate Road has a pavement width of 24 feet, which is different than its layout width. J. Nickerson asked is there was no FEMA floodplain flagged on the site and if the property to the left is lower than the site. Mr. Corey responded that there is no FEMA floodplain on the site and the next lot is slightly higher. D. Nadeau asked that the memorandum from DPW Assistant Director Wm. Robertson be noted for the record, and cited 310 CMR 10.05 (4)(d) regarding jurisdiction over point- source discharges within the Buffer Zone for projects outside the Buffer Zone. Mr. Corey maintained that the provision did not apply, but asked the Commission to limit its determination at this time to the Land Subject to Flooding and the location of the BVW and its Buffer Zone. He said the applicant would not have a storm drainage design ready until it was sub- mitted to CPDC. He said that the applicant would file a Request for Determination for that portion at that time, and the Conservation would be able to address it then. This way, the applicant could go before the Zoning Board of Appeals to address the Floodplain Zoning District issue. 10:20 Motion made and seconded to issue a Negative Determination with regards to the Bordering Vegetated Wetland, its Buffer Zone, and Land Subject to Flooding; with the exception of an on--site drainage proposal. No determination has been made to address proposed site drainage. (H. Hulse) VOTED 5-0-1 The Commission added the condition that the 50-foot no work zone shall be shown on all subdivision plans. Mr. Peters questioned the accuracy of the legal notice. Mr. Nadeau responded that the proper Assessor's Plat and Lot number was given. Motion made and seconded to re-appoint all existing as- sociate members through June 30, 1992, retroactive to July L 11 1991. VOTED 6-0-0 Reading Conservation Co mission minutes of 12-18-91 Page 6 Motion made and seconded to meet in 1992 on the second, fourth and fifth Wednesdays of the months, except November and December will be the first and third Wednesdays. VOTED 6-0-0 J. Nickerson mentioned the public hearing on 12---26-91 for the removal of four trees on Franklin Street near Kurchian Woods. The Commission directed the Administrator to ask the Tree Warden if the trees had to be removed for the subdivision. After reviewing the draft Annual Report prepared by the Ad- ministrator, the Commission directed him to complete the final version and submit it to the Town. 10:40 Motion made and seconded to adjourn Respectfully submitted, Donald J. Nadeau Conservation Administrator VOTED 6-0--0