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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-01-08 Conservation Commission MinutesReading Conservation Commission Selectman's Meeting Room, Town Hall January 8, 2003; 7 PM Present: Doug Greene, Chair; Will Finch, Thad Berry, Larry Goulet, Karen Schneller, Commissioners; Leo Kenney, Harold Hulse, Consultants; Fran Fink, Administrator; Kelley Meier, Recording Secretary. Absent: Pat Lloyd, Vice-Chair. The chair calls the meeting to order at 6:58 PM. Old/New Business Biller Conservation Area Mr. Greene asks if the Commission if they ever sent letter to Andrew Campbell from the Boy Scouts so we can sign off on it. Ms. Fink will send a letter. Quroum and Majority Vote Mr. Goulet expresses his concerns about the section of the Town Charter that requires a majority of the Commission membership, rather than a majority of the quorum present at the time of the decision, to pass a motion. There was a big discussion about this subject. Sanborn Lane, Comprehensive Permit Application Ms. Fink went to the recent ZBA meeting and reported the topics discussed. She hasn't heard anything since. There is another meeting in February. 119 Van Norden Road/Fairchild Drive, ORAD/LIP The applicant appealed the ORAD. Ms. Fink met with Mr. Scarano this past Friday. They had back and forth discussion about certain topics. Mr. Scarano is considering reducing the number of units proposed. Mr. Scarrano needs to get in contact with the Town Planner. The next working group meeting is on 1/3/03. 468 West Street, Comprehensive Permit Application The applicant is back in front of the ZBA on 1/16/03. They would like to close the hearing on 1/16/03 and have the comp permit drafted by then. Ms. Fink passed out her comments that were sent to the Town Planner. 40-70 West Street, Comprehensive Permit Application There is nothing new on Spence Farms. They are at ZBA on 1/23/03. Hunting Policy There is a meeting next week on 1/15/03. iV~LJ CLERK( iNG, M A S L~UU rtt 13 P 2: Ms. Schneller arrives at 7:19 PM. Minutes: August 14, 29; October 9, 23; November 6, 22; December 4, 18, 2002 Mr. Berry makes motion to approve all the minutes. Mr. Goulet seconds. Voted in favor, 5-0-0. Report Site Visits 93 Belmont Street - Mr. Greene emailed a report everyone. Everything looks, straightforward. There was a foot of snow on the ground. Mr. Finch and Mr. Greene were present at the site visit. 7:23 PM - Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, Harvest Road, DEP 270-372, RGB 2002-17, Dorothy Jones Mr. Richard O'Neill is present for the applicant. The remainder of the filing fee was submitted. There was a request for the return of the unused consultant fee. Ms. Fink passed out the updated order of conditions that she emailed out earlier today and went over the new changes. Mr. O'Neill stated that Steve Erikson had taken the pictures in the Documents list. There was a numbering problem that Mr. Greene caught, so that there are only 13 findings, instead of 14. Mr. Finch mentioned that the Commission asked the applicant to contact the Town Engineer about the waterway a while ago. Ms. Fink reported that the Town Engineer had seen the plan and had no objections to it. Ms. Fink mentioned that she found a letter dated back from 1989 with concerns about the waterway when filing some paper work the other day. Mr. O'Neill makes note that Mr. Erikson could not be here this evening due to a last minute illness. Mr. O'Neill mentions that he agrees with the OOC. Public Comment -Paul McDonald, 39 Line Road: Is there a building permit yet? Has anything come back from the ZBA? Mrs. Fink said that no Building Permit had been filed yet, and that the ZBA had finally approved the project. Mr. Kenney had a few questions with findings 9 and 11. There was discussion about the time period needed between doing the bank work and beginning the house to make sure that the bank is stabilized. There was talk about having it be 6 weeks and to do a site walk after the applicant's consultant has filed a written report. Amendments: there cannot be any work for six weeks on top of the foundation and that the Commission gets something written from either Mickey or a supervisor and nothing continues until the Commission gives its OK for the project to continue. Mr. Berry makes motion to close the Public Hearing. Mr. Goulet seconds. Voted in favor, 5-0-0. Mr. Finch goes over the variance objections. Mr. Finch moves to grant the variance of the 25-foot Zone of Natural Vegetation and 35- foot setback for structures under Section 3.1) of the Reading Wetlands Protection Regulations. Mr. Berry seconds. Voted 4-1-0 (Mr. Finch against). Mr. Berry makes motion to approve the Notice of Intent. Mr. Goulet seconds. Voted 4- 1-0 (Mr. Finch against). Mr. Berry makes motion to approve the Order Of Conditions with the Attachment as amended this evening. Mr. Goulet seconds. Voted 4-1-0 (Mr. Finch against). The Conservation Commission collected a $5,000 consultant fee, but only $2,200 was used. Mr. Berry makes motion to give back the $2,800 left over. Mr. Finch seconds. Voted in favor, 5-0-0. 7:59 PM - Public Meeting, Request for Determination, 93 Belmont Street, Thomas Bringola, RGB 2002-40 Mr. Bringola is present and would like to redo the landscaping on the property. He recently removed the existing house on the site and installed a new pre-fabricated house on the same foundation. There is an open stream along the rear lot line. Mr. Bringola stated that he no longer intended to construct the raised planting bed around the tree in the front yard, out of concern that the fill might damage the roots. The Commission reviewed draft Conditions to attach to the Determination. Mr. Berry makes motion to close the Public Hearing. Mr. Finch seconds. Voted in favor, 5-0-0. Mr. Berry makes motion to make a negative Determination with the Conditions as drafted. Mr. Goulet seconds. Voted in favor, 5-0-0. 8:05 PM - Public Meeting, Request for Determination of Applicability, 57 Longwood Road, John Santullo, RGB 2002-24 There is no one here for the project. The Commission reviewed draft Conditions. Mr. Berry makes a motion to close the Public Hearing. Ms. Schneller seconds. Voted in favor, 5-0-0. Mr. Berry makes motion to make a negative Determination with the Conditions as drafted. Ms. Schneller seconds. Voted in favor, 5-0-0. 166 Grove Street Mrs. Fink stated that the work is a shed and the site is pretty straightforward. Mr. Berry makes motion to approve minor project for a shed. Mr. Goulet seconds. Voted in favor, 5-0-0. 74 and 80 Haverhill Street The Commission voted at the last meeting to issue Partial Certificates of Compliance. The Commission signed the Certificates. Walkers Brook Crossing Ms. Fink had a meeting today with a few people for the landfill. They would like to bring a pile of clean fill onto. site. There will be-hay-bales around the, stockpiles. The - - - Commission asked where the stuff is coming from. Mrs. Fink said that the Town Manager had received clean test results from Dickinson Development. The Commission agreed to allow the materials to be brought on site if proper erosion controls were implemented. 30 Applegate Lane Mrs. Fink had found an unresolved violation notice for this site from October 2000. Mr. Berry makes recommendation that an inspection be made after the snow cover melts. 14 Strawberry Hill Lane Mr. Greene speaks about some articles that he has gathered about wood frogs. The articles concern the importance of the forest canopy in providing shade, moisture, food, and cover. He had spoken to Nicole Hayes about the habitat analysis. Mr. Kenney mentions that Ms. Hayes had misquoted the article that she included in her recent analysis. The study she quoted was only about summer habitat, not overwintering and migration.. Mrs. Fink will copy Mr. Greene's articles for the Commission and the applicant. Mr. Kenney recommends that the Commission use its money to buy a digital camera. Mrs. Fink said that the Department had recently acquired one that is available for use. Mr. Berry makes motion to adjourn at 8:28 PM. Mr. Goulet seconds. Voted in favor, 5- 0-0.