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Home My WebLink About2001-02-07 Conservation Commission MinutesMinutes of the Conservation Commission R E C L I V ED iDWN CLERK Town of Reading REEADING, HASS. Selectmen's Meeting Room P* 1 Wednesday, February 7, 2001 - 7:00 pm 2001 MAR ° 5 3 Present: Chair, Nancy Eaton; Will Finch, Doug Greene, Pat Lloyd, Commissioners; Harold Hulse, Consultant; Conservation Administrator Fran Fink Absent: Mark Gillis and Vincent Falcione, Commissioners, Leo Kenney, Consultants 7:10 meeting called to order - Fran passed out documents for commission's review. 7:15 Public meeting RGB #2001-02 Request for Determination of Applicability, 128 Van Norden Road - Front porch addition. Arthur Giangrande, G & Z Development Corporation. Applicant wants to construct a 24X6 front porch. There is no anticipated impact on wetlands. On approved plan, had proposed additional parking space that wasn't put in, so he believes total pervious area won't change. Commission discussed standard conditions. Will Finch moved and Pat Lloyd seconded a motion to close the Public Meeting. Vote: 4-0 in favor. Pat Lloyd moved and Will Finch seconded a motion to issue a negative determination with conditions regarding limiting work to front yard and driveway. No grade change. Vote: 4-0 in favor. 7:25 - MINUTES: Will Finch moved and Doug Greene seconded motion to approve Minutes dated January 24, 2001 as distributed. 7:28 - OLD/NEW BUSINESS: Fran Fink reported on the DEP site walk on Dividence Road. Lots of people were present. Appellant's engineer presented arguments regarding water quality swales on Lot 7, flat spot with few trees, and land between driveway and house on lot 6 and whether water would make it to the basin or whether it would flow down driveway to drainage for Sunset Rock Road. Fran believes it's a matter of tweaking engineering; won't kill project, just drag out design a bit longer. School department engineers are already working up response to letters. Woman from DEP, Margaret Finn, said within two weeks of site visit, she would request additional info then make a decision within 60 days. New town counsel Yvonne Gonzalvez is working on court case. 7:30 - Continued Public Hearing - DEP #270-345, RGB #2000-52, Notice of Intent, Ashley Place Extension - 8-lot subdivision, 450' roadway, grading, and stormwater management system. Ranger Development Corporation. Chair read hearing rules, the Commission introduced themselves and witnesses were sworn. Since the last hearing, the Commission has dug in area, a memo from the town engineer, a supplemental drainage analysis, which included is plan sheet that is deficient in title block info. The Chair asked Ogren if he intend to direct water to the ice pond without talking to that landowner? Ogren stated it was already disturbed there. Someone built a dike years ago but they haven't harvested ice in a while. Now, it's meadow like and wet. In his opinion water probably belongs in that location even though historically flowed down to culvert, should go off to north. Ogren said the decision not to go forward was made due to his walk with the prior administrator. She and he estimated 35 feet back from wall was pool, so that boundary was what he considered. Took grading. High water mark consistent with walk with Karen Mullins. Doesn't think the filing is as void of info about vernal pool as commission thinks. Eaton said at the last hearing, we spent time discussing not waiving determination of vernal pool. That responsibility can't be delegated to administrator. One of the things to do was look at high water marks and come back and tell commission where it was. The administrator stated Natural Heritage sent a letter saying they anticipated no impact on endangered species. There were no other audience comments. Ogren said the applicant would like to continue the hearing one more time to get handle on access issue and asked Conservation to say what hope to accomplish. The Applicant is not building a parking lot and that would need to be on Commission land. Will Finch noted all parties were remiss in not communicating earlier about access issue. Will Finch moved and Doug Greene seconded a motion to continue the of hearing to Wednesday, February 28, 2001 at 8:00 PM at the request of the applicant with no further notice to abutters. Vote: 4-0 in favor. 8:10 Public Hearing - DEP 270-XXX, RGB#2001-03, Notice of Intent, 87 Walkers Brook Drive-Demolish existing service station and construct convenience store, canopy, gasoline dispensers, parking, and landscaping. Motiva Enterprises, LLC. The Chair read the hearing process, the Commission introduced themselves and witnesses were sworn. Nancy Eaton disclosed Mark Gallant, applicant's attorney, was a court- reporting client of her firm over 10 years ago. Consultants Conrad Molesa, Kevin Leverone and Nick Balboa were present to answer engineering questions. Project would demolish structure at the Texaco station on Walker's Brook Drive and rebuild a new station and convenience store. Filed for site plan review to demolish existing station, canopy, and fuel dispensers and replace with a new, smaller station. No damage to tanks anticipated. Also part of site plan review. Background. Site was reviewed in 1989-1990 by commissions and tanks were replaced. Project complies with zoning requirements. New project has drive thru for coffee and doughnuts, BVW on side that is furthest from highway. Rest of structure is surrounded by pavement. They don't plan to work outside the existing disturbed area. Feels project will have no impact on wetlands area. Maintenance provisions included will improve stormwater flow rate. Kevin Leverone stated the entire lot impervious. Last three tanks will be taken out. Gasoline and diesel tanks will remain. All piping to gas dispensers will be new. There is an office building to east and parking to south. Stormwater management improvements: Site is currently 100% impervious, no catch basins on site and all water flows off site. Four watershed zones. Two quadrants go to wetlands. Also detention basin in front of site. Proposed condition provides for substantial control of runoff and treatment. Site will be regraded and runoff controlled. Catchbasins will be located on site. On site catch basins will provide for control of sediment. The maintenance plan is in the report. Hooded outlets to contain oil or contaminants. In addition, Stormceptor controls flow and sediment; stores up to 280 gallons of gas or oil. The Chair noted we had received memo from administrator and town engineer and she noted other items of concern. She informed applicant that Walker's Brook Drive was expected to be restructured with the development of the landfill and suggested the consultants should confer. Nancy discussed infiltration inconsistencies, fee, etc., where riverfront area starts. She also, questioned whether the 10-year storm event is the appropriate standard. She asked applicant if they could remove any pavement along western property line. How can we guarantee parking lot sweeping occurs? She didn't feel operations and maintenance plan satisfactory and not detailed enough. There are no buffer zone lines, and no local abutter plan to show distance to river. There is no legend on site plan sheet. She also requested a copy of their emergency plan to deal with spills and suggested pill containment lips around dumpsters. What type of security so no dumping by non-employees, etc. Audience comments: Andrew Bramhall 11 John Street Court noted the applicant had mentioned the Stormceptor could hold 1200 gallons. What happens after that? The consultant stated it was not meant to contain entire storm, just to moderate flow. It is sized for one acre, and the site is less than acre. It appears the front detention area is now part of Mass. Highway and asked if Texaco has an easement for detention basin. There is no easement. Property originally was owned and that area was taken by the state. They will have to go back and look at whether detention basin will be paved over, etc. Will Finch moved and Doug Greene seconded a motion to continue the public hearing. Hearing until Wednesday, February 28,2001, at 8:15 PM, at request of applicant, with no further notice to abutters. Vote: 4-0 in favor. Continued Public Hearing - DEP # 270-342, RGB@ 2000-39, PRD off Fairchild Drive/Van Norden Road - PRZ - Proposed construction of two access roads and six single family homes. Will Finch moved and Doug Greene seconded a motion to continue the Public Hearing until Wednesday, April 11, 2001 at 7:30 PM, at the request of the applicant, with no further notice to abutters. Vote: 4-0 in favor. Combined Public Hearing with Community Planning and Development Commission - Preliminary Planned Unit Development Plan under Sections 4.9.3.7 and 4.9.3.1.1 of the Reading Zoning by-law, Walker's Brook Drive (formerly Reading Landfill) Dickinson Development Corporation. See separate transcript of joint meeting, reported by Nancy Eaton. The Administrator noted the Town is encouraging change in fee structures. We would need to change the regulations and would be good time to add, modify and update other provisions. Plan changes eat up a lot of time, so potential place for increasing fees. RDA filings don't have a fee now either. Chair will ask Town Manager to authorize town counsel time for changing regulations, bylaws, and providing proactive advice. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Commission, upon motion duly made and seconded the meeting was adjourned at 12:05 AM. Respectfully submitted, Nancy L. Eaton, Chair, from notes taken by Patricia Lloyd, Commissioner