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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-03-10 Conservation Commission MinutesMinutes, Reading Conservation Commission, March 10, 2004 TJ Minutes of the Reading Conservation Commission Q C Selectman's Meeting Room, Town Hall March 10, 2004 31 Present: Doug Greene, Kelley Meier, Jamie Maughan, and Rebecca Longley, Commissioners; Fran Fink, Administrator The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. OWNew Business Harold Avenue PRD, Conservation Restriction Mr. and Mrs. Mahoney were present and asked about the status of the Conservation Restriction. Ms. Fink stated that Town Counsel had been asked to review the liability section as amended by Mr. Mahoney and Mr. Lynch. Comments were expected for the March 24 meeting, and the matter was continued until that date. 80 New Crossing Road, Order of Conditions, DEP 270-298, RGB 1998-1, and DEP 270-235, RGB 1996-9 A site visit was scheduled for March 21, 2004 before issuing a Certificate of Compliance for the 1998 Order, under which work never commenced. A letter has been sent to Fraen Corporation detailing the items that need to be addressed to close the 1996 Order. Public Hearings 7 Beaver Road, Public Hearing, NOI9 RGB 2004-5 Mr. and Mrs. Lydecker, the applicants, were present. The Commission had determined that the BVW along the stream extends up onto the top of the bank farther than the flags indicate. The Lydeckers agreed to plant native vegetation in this area to restore the wetland and riparian buffer zone. Ms. Fink reported that she had determined the size of the watershed and percentage of stratified drift deposits in the watershed above the site. The stream does not meet the definition of perennial. Ms. Meier moved and Ms. Longley seconded to close the public hearing. Voted 4-0 in favor. Ms. Longley moved and Mr. Maughan seconded to permit the work and issue an Order of Conditions on March 24, 2004. Voted 5-0 in favor. Longfellow Road - Lot 45, Public Hearing, NOI, DEP 270-415, RGB 2003-52 Tony Salamanca, engineer, and Angela Taibbi, applicant, were present. . Ms. Fink distributed revised drainage calculations received March 8, 2004 and a memorandum commenting on recent submittals. Mr. Salamanca noted that the calculations were based on a revised soil type C, as requested during the previous hearing. He stated that the 100-year flood elevation was 94 feet now, based on the elevation of the northern lot boundary, and would be just below 94 feet in the proposed condition. Ms. Fink reviewed the points in her memorandum. Mr. Salamanca questioned the accuracy of the planmeter used by the Engineering Department to measure the area of BVW to be altered and the area to be replicated. Ms. Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, March 10, 2004 Fink said that a meeting could be arranged to review the measurements. She also noted that the Engineering Department did not include the area between the 92-foot and 94-foot contours as replication area because this area is proposed to have a 1;1 slope and rip-rap cover. Mr. Maughan noted that the plan does not provide an adequately wide buffer zone adjacent to -the wetlands. Ms. Longley concurred. The applicant was asked whether she intended to submit any additional information for the hearing record. Ms. Taibbi stated that she did not intend to do so. Ms. Longley moved and Ms. Meier seconded to close the public hearing. Voted 4-0 in favor. Ms. Longley moved to issue an Order of Conditions to deny the project under MGL Chapter 131, Section 40 because it does not comply with the performance standards for Bordering Vegetated Wetlands. Mr. Maughan seconded. The Commission voted 4 in favor of denying the project, and 0 against denying the project. Mr. Maughan moved to grant the applicant's request for variances from the Reading Wetlands Protection Regulations, Section 3.C.b. and d, for alteration and replication of Fresh Water Wetlands. Ms. Longley seconded. The Commission voted 0 in favor and 4 against, and the motion did not pass. Ms. Longley moved to grant the applicant's request for a variance from the Reading Wetlands Protection Regulations, Section 3.1), for setbacks in the Buffer Zone and Zone of Natural Vegetation. Ms. Meier seconded. The Commission voted 0 in favor and 4 against, and the motion did not pass. Mr. Maughan moved to grant the applicant's request for a variance from the Reading Wetlands Protection Regulations, Section 3.I, for slope stabilization. Ms. Meier seconded. The Commission voted 0 in favor and 4 against, and the motion did not pass. Ms. Longley moved to deny the project under Reading General Bylaws, Section 5.7 because the proposed work does not meet the performance standards under the Bylaw. Mr. Maughan seconded. The Commission voted 4 in favor of denying the project, and 0 against denying the project. The Commission asked Ms. Fink to draft the Order for final review on March 24, 2004. 58 Lawrence Road, Public Hearing, NOI, RGB 2004-4 Dave Johnson, applicant, presented revised plans to demolish an existing house and construct anew house. The existing stone wall had been added to the plan. The proposed lawn provided a 45-foot wide undisturbed buffer zone. The foundation had been raised and the extent of excavation had been reduced. Soils tests determined that bedrock was not near the surface and soils had a fast perc rate. Mr. Johnson had marked a_number of trees to besaved along the lot line next to the Trevor's house at their request. Ms. Fink reported that soils and vegetation were sampled and the northern end of the 2 Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, March 10, 2004 BVW flagging should be moved to the stone wall, including a low area within the delineation. There was further discussion about which trees would be cut and which would be saved, and the need to protect those to be saved from construction machinery. The Commission called for bounds to be set along the edge of the 45-foot ZNV. Mr. Maughan moved and Ms. Longley seconded to close the public hearing. Voted 4-0 in favor. Ms. Longley moved and Ms. Meier seconded to issue an Order of Conditions permitting the work, with final wording to be determined during the meeting on March 24, 2004. Voted 4-0 in favor. Archstone Reading, 40-70 West Street, Public Hearing, NOI, DEP 270-412, RGB 2003-46 The Commission reviewed the draft Findings and Conditions to be attached to an Order of Conditions with representatives from Archstone. The ZBA had issued a decision permitting the reduced setbacks for the level spreaders on the western side of the site. Ms. Longley moved and Ms. Meier seconded to close the public hearing. Voted 4-0 in favor. Ms. Longley moved and Ms. Meier seconded to issue the Order of Conditions with the Findings and Conditions as amended this evening. Voted 4-0 in favor. Barrows Elementary School, Edgemont Avenue, Public Hearing, NOI, DEP 270- 414, RGB 2003-49 Josh Alston, project engineer, presented revised site plans to the Commission. The sizes of the proposed gymnasium addition and paved playground had been reduced, but the drainage system had been left the same size. The basketball court will not be converted into a parking lot. Ms. Fink stated that she had reviewed the plan and thought that it met the performance standards under State and Town regulations. Ms. Longley moved and Ms. Meier seconded to close the public hearing. Voted 4-0 in favor. Ms. Longley moved and Ms. Meier seconded to issue an Order of Conditions permitting the work, with final wording to be determined during the meeting on March 24, 2004. Voted 4-0 in favor. 10 Whittier Road, Publie Meeting, Request for Determination, RGB 2004-7 Mr. and Mrs. Rhein, applicants, presented a plan of the proposed additions to the house. The Commission asked about existing and proposed roof drainage. Soils data was not available. The work area is set back far from the wetland. The Commission reviewed draft Findings and Conditions. Ms. Meier moved and Ms. Longley seconded to issue a negative Determination with the Findings and Conditions as dratted. Voted 4-0 in favor. Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, March 10, 2004 Old/New Business Lob's Pound Mill Conservation Area Ms. Fink will inspect the site on March 11 with Butch Conary to review the approved work and conditions. 9 Mill Street, North Reading, Notice of Intent The Commission reviewed comments sent by the Administrator to the North Reading Conservation Commission. The site abuts Town Conservation Land. Ms. Fink will contact the North Reading office to find out what happened at the hearing. 7 Harvest Road, Order of Conditions, DEP 270-371, RGB 20032-17 The Commission reviewed a revised site plan to add a fence around the house. Ms. Longley moved and Ms. Meier seconded to accet the plan as an insignificant change under the Order of Conditions, provided that the fence is set inside the ZNV markers. Voted 4-O in favor. 211 Pearl Street, Order of Conditions, DEP 270-396, RGB 2003-15 The Commission received an as-built site plan and request for Certificate of Compliance and bond release. A site inspection will be made. The matter was continued to the March 24, 2004 meeting. - 16 Bolton Street, Violation Ms. Fink reported that the erosion barrier had been set and a Notice of Intent is expected soon. A building permit has been granted for interior work on the. existing house. 538 Pearl Street, Determination of Applicability Ms. Fink reported that construction had commenced and she had inspected the site. There is a thick buried organic layer several feet below the present lawn, and groundwater had to be removed from the foundation excavation before pouring the concrete. Willow Street at train tracks Ms. Fink reported that she had flagged the BVW boundary at the request of the Engineering Department. They are planning to_regrade the roadway to reduce the present bump at the train tracks. The Commission had inspected the flags during their site visits on Sunday and confirmed the delineation. EPA policy The Commission reviewed a new, policy from the EPA. A storm water pollution prevention plan is now mandated for any project that will disturb one acre or more of earth. Meeting adjourned at 10:20 PM. 4