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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-06-07 Conservation Commission MinutesMinutes of the Reading Conservation Commission - June 7, 2000 Minutes of the Conservation Commission Town of Reading Selectmen's Meeting Room L Wednesday, June 7, 2000 - 7:00 pm Present: Nancy Eaton, Chair, Mark Gillis, Vice Chair, William Finch, Vincent Falcione and Patricia Lloyd, Commissioners; Harold Hulse, Consultant; and Conservation Administrator Karen Mullins Absent: Leo Kenney, Consultant 7:00 PM - Presentation - Alexis Horn, Girl Scout Gold Award Project - Ms. Horn described her project for the Pinevale Conservation Area. It will include updating the map with a scale, color coding the trail, adding abutting streets. The Chair reminded her of disability access criteria when building boardwalks and a fact sheet to accompany the map with plant species and things to look for in the natural environment while enjoying Pinevale. Eaton also asked how she was going to deal with the poison ivy. Ms. Horn said workers would cut it back. Mr. Gillis asked about herbicides. Eaton suggested getting DPW to spray. Mr. Falcione asked whether she had volunteers to help her and she described the process. Her application needs to be submitted to the Girl Scout Council by June 13, have an interview, receive suggestions from that group and represent to the Conservation Commission. The Chair suggested taking before and after photographs to document the work. The Commission agreed that they liked her project and thanked her for undertaking the work. 7:25 PM - Minor Project Sign-Off - 23 Johanna Drive. Mark Gills moved and Will Finch seconded a motion to approve the administrator's sign-off. Vote: 4-0-1, Pat Lloyd abstaining. 7:28 PM - Tree Removal -224 Salem Street. This parcel will be reviewed later in the meeting for a Certificate of Compliance. Mark Gillis moved and Will Finch seconded a motion to authorize the cutting and dropping of the tree and leave for habitat within the Conservation Restriction area. Vote: 4-0-1, Pat Lloyd abstaining. 7:30 PM - Public Meeting - RGB 2000-24 - 669 Pearl Street, Proposed 18' x 15' addition with open deck to rear of existing house. Mrs. Cronin-Golomb and her building were present. Project will be a 1 %a story addition. Richard Harper of 695 Pearl Street disagreed with the wetland determination and his land that abuts is not wetland. The Chair reviewed the three criteria for determining wetlands: vegetation, soils and. hydrology. Mr. Still disagreed and objects to the Commission calling it wetlands and will appeal the decision if we call it wetlands. The Administrator suggested he wait to hear how the Commission decides the issue. Any decision will be for 669 Pearl Street, not for 695. The builder said there were be excavation for a four-foot frost wall. Motion was Minutes of the Reading Conservation Commission - June 7, 2000 2 Mark Gillis moved and Vincent Falcione seconded a motion to issue a Negative Determination with the following conditions: dewatering, stabilization, and removal of excess material. Vote: 4-0-1, Pat Lloyd abstaining. 7:40 PM - Extension of Order of Conditions - DEP 270-232, RGB 1991-03, 40 Azalea Circle, Lot 35. Janice Hannert from Fafard Construction described the project to construct a single family house within the 100' buffer zone but observing the 25' zone of natural vegetation. The Chair updated newer members about the past appeal and decision of the Supreme Judicial Court. The Commission has received an opinion from Town Counsel to extend the order for two years as DEP has done. Applicant will need to send an additional $25 check for the second year extension. Mark Gillis moved and Vincent Falcione seconded a motion to extend the Order of Conditions from June 11, 2000 to June 11, 2002 but not to release the extension until the additional $25 check is received. Vote: 4-0-1, Pat Lloyd abstaining. 7:45 PM - Extension of Order of Conditions and Plan Change - DEP 270-319, RGB 1999-15, 25 Cory Lane, Lot 3. Jim Goddard, Emmanuel Brothers Landscaping of Chelmsford described the plan change to do limited landscaping. The rear yard is too shady and wants to replace grass with shade-tolerant plants. The Chair asked if he had received a copy of the Order of Conditions from either the home owner or the developer. He said no and she advised him to get a copy. Site notes were given to him. The Chair reviewed the issues that need resolution: (1) grading by haybales should be to the bottom of the haybales and needs to be fixed; (2) will the damaged/dead trees need to be removed; (3) erosion problems from Lot 4 and also to the left of the house by Lot 2. She stated she did not have a problem with shade-tolerant plants but wanted to see the erosion problems resolved. Mr. Goddard said he wanted to be able to continue with the work in order to stabilize the site. The Chair also mentioned erosion from roof runoff from gutters and that owner may wish to consider crushed stone and to fix the roof runoff at the drip line at the rear of the house. Mr. Goddard said the plantings were blend in with the existing natural area and consist of vinca, pachysandra, mountain laurel, rhododendrons to fill the area. He guarantees his plant materials for two years and will replace if they die. Mr. Hulse asked Mr. Falcione whether he thought the 3-stem tree with fill on its foot structure would survive. Mr. Falcione said it did not look good. Commission requested Mr. Goddard work with the Administrator to try to improve the health of that tree. Mark Gillis moved and Will Finch seconded a motion to find the work an insignificant plan change subject to the following conditions: allow granite steps and stepping stones; no plantings will be done until the Administrator approves the grading; splash guards will be placed at the gutter outlets, crushed stone will be placed along the drip line at the rear of the house, top and drop dead tree at rear of house and leave for habitat; fix erosion controls. Vote: 4-0-1, Pat Lloyd abstaining. Will Finch moved and Vincent Falcione seconded a motion to issue an extension of the Order of Conditions from 6-17-2000 to 6-17-2001. Vote: 4-0-1, Pat Lloyd abstaining. Minutes of the Reading Conservation Commission - June 7, 2000 8:00 PM - Public Meeting - RGB 2000-25 - 58 Chequessett Road, Proposed demolition of existing porch and construct addition with open deck. Kevin and Debra Frazier were present and described the project. There will be a full basement with four-foot frost wall. Administrator stated the work was in the buffer zone and recommended erosion controls, stabilization, dewatering, removal of excess materials off site, no change is grading post-construction and stabilization with shade-tolerant plantings. Motion was made and seconded to close the Public Meeting. Vote: 4-0-1, Pat Lloyd abstaining. Mark Gillis moved and Will Finch seconded a motion to issues a Negative Determination with the conditions specified above. Vote: 4-0-1, Pat Lloyd abstaining. 8:20 PM - DEP 270-305, RGB 1998-18 and DEP 270-320, RGB 1999-19 - 218 and 224 Salem Street - Certificate of Compliance. The Administrator updated the commission on compliance issues and recommended releasing $1,500 of the bond and holding $1,000 to guarantee removal of erosion controls and spot seeding. Mark Gillis moved and Vincent Falcione seconded a motion to issue a Certificate of Compliance on these file numbers subject to survival of plantings. Vote: 4-0-1, Pat Lloyd abstaining. 8:30 PM - Continued Public Hearing - DEP 270-329, RGB 1999-42 - Harvest Road, Lot 198, Proposed construction of a single family house. Applicant has requested a continuance to June 21, 2000. Mark Gillis moved and Vincent Falcione seconded a motion to continue the Continued Public Hearing for Lot 198 Harvest Road to June 21, 2000 at 8:30 pm at the request of the applicant. Vote: 5-0-0. 8:35 PM - Amendment of Order of Conditions - DEP 279-322, RGB 1999-24 - 379 Haverhill Street. Administrator asked the Commission to amend the order to clarify the water quality testing that needed to be done. Mark Gillis moved and Vincent Falcione seconded a motion to issue an Amended Order of Conditions as revised by the Administrator. Vote: 4-0-1, Pat Lloyd abstained. 8:40 PM - Order of Conditions - DEP 270-336, RGB 2000-16 -54 Zachary Lane. Commission reviewed the draft. Mark Gillis moved and Will Finch seconded a motion to approve and issue an Order of Conditions as amended for 54 Zachary Lane, DEP 270- 336, RGB 2000-16. Vote: 4-0-1, Pat Lloyd abstaining. 8:50 PM - Legal Evaluation Services Reappointment. Bethann Matathia was the Commissions representative to this committee. She resigned citing a conflict of interest and later resigned from the Commission. Eaton attended the last meeting. Mr. Gillis said he was willing to serve on the Committee. Vincent Falcione moved and Will Finch seconded a motion to nominate Mark Gillis as the Commission's representative to the Legal Services Committee. Vote: 5-0-0. 8:58 PM - Biodiversity Days Update. Eaton reviewed the plans citing two main objectives: inventorying species and educating the public. Mr. Finch checked out the -mowing DPW did at Lobs Mill Commission needs to address maintenance issues in the land management plan. Minutes of the Reading Conservation Commission - June 7, 2000 4 Miscellaneous - Commission briefly reviewed legal notice of work at MSM, 60 Concord Street, North Reading, one of the Tier IA sites. Administrator said applicant has filed PRD plans with Planning Board for 119 Van Norden. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Commission, on motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 PM. Vote: 5-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Nan 7Laton, Chair, from notes of the Administrator