HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-03-15 Conservation Commission MinutesREADING CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Minutes of Wednesday, March 15, 2000
Town Hall Selectmen's Meeting Room
Present: Chair, Nancy Eaton, Members Bethann Matathia, William Finch, Vincent
Faicione, and Conservation Administrator Karen DeFrancesco
Notified Absent: Consultant Leo Kenney. No Recording Secretary.
7:10 PM Discussion - Summer/Willow Street - Kevin Fulgoni. Mr. Fulgoni submitted
a proposed plan and we gave him a copy of the site notes dated 3-12-00. The history of
the site was reviewed: Our Order of Conditions was appealed by an abutter and DEP
issued a Superseding Order, both of which have now expired. DEP ordered in a letter
dated 5-5-98 that the piles of earth be moved away from the Aberjona River but he said
he was under the impression he was not supposed to do anything with them. He stated he
had obtained a building permit to install the foundation but that was appealed and a
hearing held before the Zoning Board of Appeals and was denied a building permit. This
decision was upheld in Superior Court. He stated he has to start over again. Commission
told him he would need to get a new BVW delineation, a Riverfront Area delineation as
well as any vernal pools and floodplain and he should file the ANRAD to delineate the
resource areas. Mrs. Matathia suggested the prior line could be restaked in the field and
the Commission could review it. The Chair informed Mr. Fulgoni that the administrator
could assist him with the filing requirements.
7:30 PM Public Meeting - RGB 2000-11 11 Nelson Avenue - Proposed demolition
and construction of a single family house. Richard Chase was present. The Chair
reviewed the project which was to demolish the existing house and construct a new house
7' further from the wetlands and he will install haybales. She inquired what was
proposed for the rear of the structure. Mr. Chase stated there would be no deck, just
stairs to the rear yard. Administrator will work with Mr. Chase regarding improper
dumping of yard debris in the wetlands.
William Finch moved to close the Public Meeting and it was seconded. Vote: 4-0-0.
William Finch moved, and it was seconded, that the Commission issue a Negative
Determination with the following conditions: erosion controls, removal of demolition
materials, backfill around the new foundation with no grade change, and stabilization.
Vote: 4-0-0.
7:40 PM Continued Public Hearing - Land Use and Management Plan, Marion
Woods. The Commission read a letter dated 3-15-00 submitted by John Costigan, 75
Mill Street re: access and the proposed parking lot. The Chair expressed confusion about
removal of a 14" oak. The Administrator said it is the 7" dbh oak which was previously
mentioned. The Administrator suggested the Commission do a site visit to review access
issues raised in Mr Costigan's letter. The hearing on the curbcut from a scenic way has
been continued to the April 1 0th meeting of the Community Planning and Development
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Commission. There was a discussion on the handicapped accessibility of any trails that
were developed. The parking lot and signage must be in place by June 1 in order to get
the Self-Help Grant reimbursement. Mr. Falcione moved and it was seconded that the
Commission continue the Public Hearing for the Land use and Management Plan to April
5th at 7:00 PM. Vote: 4-0-0.
7:55 PM - 8 Oakridge Road. This item came in after the agenda was published. Mr.
McGee proposes to do an addition at his house. The question is whether the Commission
wants a filing to be made or whether the work can be delegated to the Administrator.
William Finch moved and Vincent Falcione seconded a motion to allow the
Administrator to sign off on the proposed addition at 8 Oakridge Road as long as no earth
moving activities will occur. Vote: 4-0-0.
Issuance of Order of Conditions - DEP 270-331, RGB 2000-04,101 Willow Street,
Austin Prep. The Draft Order of Conditions was reviewed and edits made, including
adding subsection d to #25. The applicant should check to clarify if they need a 401 or
404 certification for discharging to the vernal pool. Vincent Falcione moved and Will
Finch seconded a motion to issue and approve the Order of Conditions as amended.
Vote: 4-0-0.
Attorney Latham asked about two issues: Does the Commission know who did the
dumping? No. Regarding maintenance activities at the baseball field, the Administrator
will look at on Friday and see what erosion issues might need to be addressed.
Old/New Business: Plan Change - DEP 279-323, RGB 1999-27, 908 Main Street.
The existing house wishes to connect to the Town's sanitary sewer system. All work will
be within the limit of work area proposed for the new construction. Bethann Matathia
moved and Will Finch seconded a motion that the Commission determine that the
proposed work is an insignificant plan change. Vote: 4-0-0.
Minor Project - Tree Removal, Pleasant/Wilson Street - the Commission after site
visit said they would like to wait until leaf-out in the spring to see the status of the tree.
Administrator said the request had been made a year ago and there was minimal leaf-out
and limbs were falling. The Administrator was directed to send a letter to the abutter
stating that action would be deferred until the Commission's meeting on May 3rd
8:00 Continued Public Hearing - DEP 270-334, RGB 2000-10, 292 Grove Street,
Meadow Brook Golf Club. The hearing was kept open from the last meeting pending
receipt of DEP number and potential for a response from Natural Heritage and
Endangered Species Program (NHESP). We will need a few days extension from the
applicant to issue the order. Bethann Matathia moved and it was seconded that the
Public Hearing be closed. Vote: 4-0-0.
Executive Session. Vincent Falcione moved and Bethann Matathia seconded a motion
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return to Open Session at the conclusion. Roll call Vote: Vincent Falcione, yes;
William Finch, yes; Nancy Eaton, yes; and Bethann Matathia, yes.
(See separate Executive Session Minutes.)
Old/New Business: Issuance of Order of Conditions DEP 270-332, RGB 1999-41,
1090-1100 Main Street. The Commission reviewed the draft Order of Conditions and
edited it to include among other things adding all Site Visit Notes since the original
violation, copies of the enforcement orders and Dan Lenthall's reports. Bethann Matathia
moved and Will Finch seconded a motion that the Commission approve and issue the
Order of Conditions and as revised by Town Counsel partially approving and partially
denying the proposed work. Vote: 4-0-0.
Miscellaneous:
Biodiversity Days. Nancy Eaton reminded members that the first state-wide
Biodiversity Days will be held June 9-11 and requested volunteers to help lead inventory
walks. She volunteered to be the town organizer. Guidelines will be coming out from
the state in April.
The Commission discussed continuing violations by the DPW crews regarding drainage
work and recommended sending a letter to the Town Manager asking that DPW crews be
given wetlands training.
Bethann Matathia said the Legal Services Review Committee had been temporarily
disbanded. She asked for Commission feedback for issues to discuss with the Board of
Selectmen on conservation legal issues and conservation priorities.
The Chair advised the Saugus River drainage basin restoration activities would be taken
off the capital plan or delayed as the consulting fund was not passed due to the failure of
the override. She said she presented ideas to the Board of Selectmen at their March 14,
2000 meeting regarding tax title parcels and whether some of these parcels could be used
as compensatory flood storage capacity within the basin.
Adjournment. There being no further business to discuss on motion duly made and
seconded the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted
Nancy L. E ton, Chair, from notes of the Administrator