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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-01-14 Conservation Commission MinutesMinutes, Reading Conservation Commission, January 14, 2004 Im 'J S. Minutes of the Reading Conservation Commission Selectmen's Meeting Room, 7:00 PM , u' 1 A Wednesday, January 14, 2004 Present: Bill Hecht, Jamie Maughan, Doug Greene, Kelley Meier, Will Finch, Becky Longley, Commissioners; Fran Fink, Administrator The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM. 7:00 Old/New Business 1375 Main Street, DEP 270-353, RGB 2001-1 Donald Van Dyne and Patrick Woods, developers, were present. The Commission reviewed the status of work on the site and draft Conditions in Perpetuity. Mr. Finch made a motion to issue the Certificate of Compliance with the Conditions in Perpetuity attached as drafted, and to release the bond in the full amount of $50,000. Mr. Hecht seconded. Voted 6-0-0 in favor. Ash Street to Walkers Brook Drive, Water Main, DEP 2790- RGB 2003- Ted McIntire, Director of Public Works, and Bruce Adams, Project Engineer, were present. They submitted a sketch plan and memorandum dated January 19, 2004 describing a new approach to work in the wetter portions of the water main easement. The contractor has had difficulty operating machinery in the thick peat soils. To stabilize the peat, they propose to place stone and gravel over the intended route to support the machinery. Mats will be used on top of the stone for additional support. They also propose to backfill the water main trench with gravel rather than the native soils. They will construct the temporary travel bed from edge of pavement to the train tracks, then install the pipe from tracks backwards. The excess stone fill will be removed after use and the original grades will be restored so that the work will not result in filling the floodplain or widening of the travel way, and will not create berms. Hay bales will be installed along the limit of work. They will plant the area and monitor for invasive species and erosion as required by the Order of Conditions. They will install clay check dams in the water main trench as required by the Order. They are not planning to mow or otherwise maintain the travel way after the main is complete. If the modified method still does not work, they will call off work until the dry season. The Commission asked whether the contractor could use special machinery with large tires designed for work in swamps. Mr. Adams said the contractor does not have such machines, and the contract is already in place. The Commission asked whether the pipe could be installed by jacking, boring, or drilling instead of excavation. Mr. Adams said the MBTA would not allow these methods under the tracks and the peat soils would not support the pressures created. - -The Commission asked whether the existing travel way could support machinery if they just wait until the dry season next summer. Mr. Adams said that the eastern end would probably still be too wet, but he had not done soil borings on the Ash Street side. Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, January 14, 2004 The Commission asked whether the travel way could be lowered all the way down to existing grade to restore the wetland. Mr. Adams said this was possible, but would severely limit future access. Mr. Hecht made a motion to allow the construction as described as an insignificant plan change under the Order of Conditions, provided that there is adequate supervision by the DPW and the engineer to assure that the contractor carries out the work as agreed. Ms. Longley seconded. Voted 5 in favor, 1 against. The motion carried. 7:30 Lot 45, Longfellow Road - Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, DEP 270-415, RGB 2003-52 At the request of the applicant, Mr. Hecht moved that the Commission continue the hearing to January 28, 2004 at 7:30 PM. Ms. Meier seconded. Voted 5-0 in favor. (Mr. Maughan was not present during this vote.) 7:45 40-42 and 70 West Street, Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, DEP 270-412, RGB 2003-46 Mr. Greene opened the hearing. Rick Latini, engineer, and Bob McCullough, project manager, were present for Archstone-Smith. Mr. Latini stated that the ZBA had recently reviewed and approved a revised grading plan for the site under the Comprehensive Permit. The Commission received revised grading and other plans. Mr. Latini reviewed the changes that had been made including: parking layout, sewer layout, restoration of the degraded wetland area, and certain details in the drainage system design. To resolve questions raised previously about the water table at Detention Basin #l, he proposed that a new soil test be conducted during the spring high water season to observe the actual water table. If needed, the basin could be revised after the test. Mr. Latini also discussed whether any drainage improvements would be needed in West Street. Ms. Fink reviewed her memorandum. The Commission asked questions about the number of units, the drainage system details, and the existing outfalls of the drainage systems in the area. Mr. Latini answered them. Mr. Finch moved that the Commission continue the public hearing to January 28, 2004 at 7:45 PM to allow time to review the new materials. Ms. Longley seconded. Voted 6-0 in favor. 8:00 Barrows Elementary School, 16 Edgemont Avenue, Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, School Building Committee, DEP 270-414, RGB 2003-49 At the request of the applicant, Ms. Meier moved that the Commission continue the hearing to February 11, 2004 at 7:30 PM. Mr. Hecht seconded. Voted 6-0 in favor. 8:15 Reading Memorial High School, 82 Oakland Road, Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, School Building Committee, RGB 2003-51 Mr. Greene opened the hearing. Josh Alston and David Conway of JNEI, design engineers, were - -present, along with Keith Hoffses of Design Partnership, architects: fi Mr. Alston presented site plan revisions including: replacement of the south parking lot with landscaping, thus reducing the increase in impervious cover to 1.86 acres; provision of infiltration Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, January 14, 2004 through Detention System #1 under the raised ballfield to offset the increase in impervious cover; replacement of part of the arch culvert under the proposed 12-foot road north of the football field to assure that it will support vehicular traffic; and reconfiguration of eastern parking lot to reduce height of retaining wall. Mr. Maughan asked whether the drainage calculations had been revised to reduce the peak volume discharge from Detention System #1, due to the infiltration provided. Mr. Alston said the peak had not been revised, to keep the calculations conservative. Mr. Maughan asked whether surface detention would be possible. Mr. Alston said the only spaces available were presently in use as playing fields. Mr. Hecht asked whether both the football and lacrosse fields would be artificial turf. Mr. Alston said the budget will be a factor, but the drainage calculations only assume detention in the football field. Mr. Maughan asked whether dewatering will be needed when the arch culvert is replaced. Mr. Alston said it would. They discussed timing the work for the low flow season and handling sediments properly. Mr. Hecht supported the reduction in impervious cover and the addition of recharge. Mr. Greene noted that there might be piping in the area near Longfellow Road from the old swimming pool. Ms. Fink reviewed her memorandum. Mr. Alston said that the applicant was willing to assume that the upper Aberjona was a perennial stream and he submitted an alternatives analysis for Riverfront Area impacts. The Commission and Mr. Alston also agreed that the 197-foot contour on the site plan is the best depiction of the top of the Bank along the stream channel, although there is some variation in the vicinity of the upstream headwall. The Commission discussed possible alternatives to placing pavement under the football bleachers. The applicant's concern is making it as efficient as possible to clean up trash that falls under the bleachers. The Commission's concern is minimizing impervious cover. Mr. Hoffses reported that the School Department wants to put the project out to bid on February 9, with responses due 6 weeks later. They would like the Order of Conditions to be issued before they publish the bid documents, due out on February 26. The last opportunity for a bid addendum would be 1 week prior to the 6-week deadline (March 15). The Commission noted that the sooner the questions raised during the public hearings are answered, the sooner they can draft the Order. Mr. Hecht moved to continue the hearing to January 28, 2004 at 8:00 PM. Ms. Meier seconded. Voted 6-0 in favor. 8:30 538 Pearl Street, Public Meeting, Request for Determination of Applicability, RGB 2004-1 Mr. Greene opened the meeting. Mr. O'Neill, the applicant, described the proposed plan to remove an existing deck from his house and to construct an addition on a full basement foundation, and a new deck. The Commission discussed the site visit findings and set the BVW boundary. They recommended that Mr. O'Neill conduct a soil test prior to construction to determine the water table and Minutes, Reading Conservation Conunission, January 14, 2004 percolation rate. The floor of the addition may need to be adjusted. The Commission recommended that roof runoff be recharged through a drywell if site soils can support one. The Commission reviewed and amended draft Findings and Conditions. Mr. Hecht moved to issue a negative Determination with the Findings and Conditions as amended this evening. Ms. Meier seconded. Voted 6-0 in favor. Old/New Business: Pondview Lane Subdivision, Order of Conditions, DEP 270-345, RGB 2000-52 The Commission reviewed the status of work from site visit reports, a request for Occupancy for Lot 4, a foundation as-built plan for Lot 1, and a request for an Extension Permit from the developer. Mr. Finch moved to authorize the Administrator to sign off on the request for Occupancy for Lot 4. Ms. Meier seconded. Voted 5-0 in favor. (Mr. Maughan was not present during this vote.) Ms. Longley moved to accept the foundation as-built for Lot 1. Mr. Hecht seconded. Voted 6-0 in favor. Mr. Hecht moved to issue an Extension Permit to May 11, 2005 for the subdivision. Ms. Meier seconded. Voted 6-0 in favor. Water Treatment Plant Residuals, Symonds Way, Determination of Applicability, RGB 2003-31 The Commission reviewed the status of the site and the request to close the file. Ms. Meier moved to close the file for this project. Mr. Maughan seconded. Voted 6-0 in favor. YMCA, Order of Conditions, DEP 270-304, RGB 1998-16 Ms. Fink reported on the status of work to complete the project. The Grant of Conservation Restriction and a final report on the success of the wetland plants are pending. 281 and 285 Main Street, Phase II Comprehensive Site Assessment The Commission will send a letter to the owner concerning the continuing presence of hazardous materials on site. 6 F Street The owner rescinded a request for a Minor Project permit for a porch and requested a refund of the filing fee. Mr. Finch moved to grant the refund in the amount of $50.00. Mr. Hecht seconded. Voted 6-0 in favor. Minutes Mr. Finch Moved to approve the Minutes of September 10, 17, and 24, October 8, November 5, December 10, 2003 as drafted. Ms. Meier seconded. Voted 6-0 in favor. Annual Report The Commission reviewed the draft Annual Report and requested that additional information be added concerning the-court decision for 38 Cross Street. The meeting adjourned at 10:30 PM.