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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-01-22 Conservation Commission MinutesCLERK Reading Conservation Commission G , MASS. Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Hall Monday, January 22, 2003 LUG J AR 13 2: 4 I Present: Doug Greene, Chair; Pat Lloyd, Vice-Chair; Will Finch, Larry Goulet, Commissioners; Leo Kenney, Consultant; Fran Fink, Administrator; Kelley Meier, Recording Secretary. Absent: Thad Berry, Karen Schneller, Commissioner; Harold Hulse, Consultant. The meeting has been called to order at 7:20 PM. Old/New Business Walkers Brook Crossing, DEP 270-352, RGB 2001-14, Pre-Construction submittals for approval Brad Latham is present. Ms. Fink updates Commission about some of the recent changes. Ms. Lloyd moves to approve the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan. Mr. Finch seconds. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. Mr. Kenney arrives at 7:26 PM. The Commission asked for specifications about which Vortechs model will be used at each location on the site and for information on the bypass configuration and long-term maintenance from the manufacturer. The Commission asked for more information on the proposed pest management plan (types of traps, locations of traps, frequency of inspection and removal of animals, poisons used, ways to avoid trapping non-target species, etc.) Mrs. Fink will arrange a meeting with the Health Director and the pest control consultant. The plan has not been sent to the Board of Health. Ms. Lloyd makes motion to authorize the Administrator to approve the Pest Management Plan with agreement that there will be further discussion with and approval by the Board of Health. Mr. Finch seconds. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. Ms. Lloyd makes motion to approve the wetland restoration plan. Mr. Finch seconds. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. The contractor presented the proposed construction phasing plan. Phase 1 will include construction vehicle access routes, installation of construction trailers, erosion control barriers, temporary detention basins, and clearing and grubbing. Phase 2 is where the big excavation will take place, retaining walls installed, and pilings and foundations for buildings. The gas collection layer and cap will be installed. Furrows will be created in the cap for later utilities. They will use the northwestern portion of-the site as -a staging - - - area and will cap it last, unless tenants have been identified and are ready to build. Phase 3 will be the utilities, drainage layer, final grading and binder coat on paved areas. The binder has to be finished by November 30, 2003. The completion of the project will be April 2004, although some of the plants may or may not be put in due to the time that the plants or shrubs can be put in. The roadway improvements will be done between April and November 2003. Mr. Latham would like the Commission to approve the time frame as shown tonight. Ms. Lloyd moves to approve the work sequence. Mr. Finch seconds. Voted in favor, 4- 0-0. 8:05 PM - Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, 14 Strawberry Hill Lane, RGB 2002-35 Mark Favaloro, John Ogren, Nicole Hayes, and Mona DeAngelo were present. Mr. Finch raised the subject of the filing fee under the Town Bylaw. The applicant has requested a 75% reduction in the fee for work in vernal pool habitat. There was discussion about the amount of time that might be spent on review and oversight of the project. After some discussion, Mr. Favaloro withdrew the request to reduce the fee. Mr. Ogren stated that the project would alter 2,835 square feet of vernal pool habitat on the site, and the Commission determined that the filing fee for that alteration would be 52,835. Mrs. DeAngelo submitted a check for that amount. The public hearing was opened at 8:20 PM. The Commission discussed the HEP analysis prepared by Ms. Hayes. Mr. Greene distributed copies of a study by DeMaynadier, et al, and questioned Ms. Hayes's assumptions about the distances that wood frogs migrate. He noted that her calculated HSI's showed no difference between the site with or without the proposed house. He presented a revised set of calculations including a sixth variable to account for the amount of closed tree canopy that did result in a difference with and without the proposed house. Ms. Hayes questioned whether the site had enough canopy at present to support a wood frog population. She stated that she had added a fifth variable to her analysis to account for changes in shrub canopy after consulting with Mr. McCoy in Pennsylvania, the author of the model. She had assumed that a shrub canopy would provide half as much habitat value as a tree canopy in her calculations, and had concluded that the applicant's proposed addition of a shrub layer in the undisturbed forest on site would mitigate the loss of the forest where the house was proposed. She went through her assumptions and calculations in detail and explained that she had rounded certain numbers. Mr. Finch asked why she had given the existing shrub layer a value of zero when her previous analysis had documented 25% cover by shrubs. Ms. Hayes answered that the 25% was from one sample plot near the vernal pool, but that much of the site lacks a shrub layer. Mr. Finch asked whether the proposed shrubs would survive and cover 100% of the -remaining forest, given the presence of Norway Maples which are known to release chemicals that inhibit growth of other species. Ms. Hayes answered that juvenile frogs really depend upon shrub cover and would benefit from more cover than the site has at t 1 present. Mr. Finch said that he understood that wood frogs need a forest canopy at least 20 meters wide around a vernal pool. Ms. Hayes referred to the presence of forest off-site near the pool, but acknowledged that the applicant does not control these areas. Mr. Kenney questioned the rounding of certain numbers in the analysis, for example the rounding of .067 acres to .06 acres. Ms. Hayes was not sure. Mr. Kenney suggested using square feet instead of acres because the site is relatively small. Ms. Lloyd announced that she had an obligation and had to leave the meeting. Due to the absence of a quorum at that point, the hearing was continued to February 12 at 7:30 PM. Ms. Fink handed out copies of Section 8-7 of the Town Home Rule Charter which sets forth the number of votes needed in order for a multi-member board to pass a motion. Mr. Ogren quoted the section of 310 CMR 10.00 which deals with the same question. Mr. Favaloro said that the Charter probably overrules the state regulation. Ms. Fink will check with Town Counsel. Old/New Business 10 Cory Lane, DEP 270-287, RGB 2001-14, Grant of Conservation Restriction, request for Certificate of Compliance and request for bond release This matter requires a quorum and will be placed on the next agenda. Annual Report of the Conservation Commission This matter requires a quorum and will be placed on the next agenda. 49 Grey Coach Lane, Notice of Activity and Use Limitation, RTN 3-19494 Ms. Fink reported on information received from NEDT. The applicant finished cleanup, except for a few puddles underneath the pilings under the garage. There may be a deed restriction having the floor be kept in good condition. There is a 45-day comment period. This matter will be brought to next meeting. Ipswich River/I-93 Restoration project, DEP 270-246, RGB 1992-21, Request for Certificate of Compliance BSC submitted a final report on the restoration area and requested a COC. Everything has been cleaned up and the wetlands have been restored. The Commission might want to make a site inspection. This matter requires a quorum and will be placed on the next agenda. Sanborn Lane between #51 and #67, Comprehensive Permit Application The applicant brought back a revised site plan. Ms. Fink shows the Commission the revised plan. She goes over a draft memo to the ZBA dated 1/21/03. This will be sent to ZBA for their meeting on February 6. 468 West Street, Comprehensive Permit Application There is a new site plan for this site. Ms. Fink passed out a memo to the ZBA dated 1/23/03. She goes over the site plan and the memo. Ms. Fink will send out the memo to them tomorrow. 40-70 West Street, Comprehensive Permit Application The applicant brought a one-sheet revised plan. They will be back for a hearing tomorrow night. Ms. Fink passes out a draft memo to the ZBA dated 1/23/02. Ms. Fink will send out the memo to them tomorrow Minor Projects - 33 Dividence Road and 166 Grove Street This matter requires a quorum and will be placed on the next agenda.. Bedrock Well Exploration, Bare Meadow Conservation Area Mrs. Fink reported that Peter Tassi had submitted a draft proposal by CDM for, development of bedrock wells in Bare Meadow. Mr. Tassi requested comments from the Commission. The Commission asked Mrs. Fink to invite Peter Tassi and Ted McIntire to the next meeting to discuss the proposal. The meeting ends at 10:10 PM.