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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-23 Conservation Commission MinutesMinutes, Reading Conservation Commission, October 23, 2002 Minutes of the Conservation Commission Selectman's Meeting Room; Town Hall Wednesday, October 23, 2002 Present: Doug Greene, Chair; Pat Lloyd, Vice-Chair; Thad Berry, Will Finch, Karen Schneller, Commissioners; Harold Hulse, Consultant; Fran Fink, Administrator; Kelley Meier, Recording Secretary. The meeting was called to order at 7 PM. Old/New Business Linnaea Thelin Sanctuary Jim Kirlin reported to Commission on his Eagle Scout project. He had installed terraces at the entry to correct the erosion problem, cleared trails, made the signboard visible, and installed directional signs. Pictures were passed out to show the progress of the project. Ms. Lloyd moves to release $100 from the Conservation Trust Fund for reimbursement to. the scouts for materials. Mr. Berry seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. 1375 Main Street, DEP 270-353, RGB 2001-11 Present: Donald Van Dyne and Patrick Wood, developers, and intended purchasers of Units 7 and 8 Mr. Van Dyne requested that the Commission sign off on the Certificates of Occupancy for Units 7 and 8. He has reported on progress made and work pending. He noted that the two families are living in hotels until they can move in. A site visit had been done by the Commission on Sunday. A site visit had been done by Ms. Fink on Monday. Ms. Fink reviewed a memo concerning the status of various required work itemized at the previous meeting. Some work had been completed, but other items had not. Other Town officials, including the Town Planner, Building Inspector, Fire Chief, Health Administrator, and Town Counsel had been working with Mr. Van Dyne on various items (condo documents, impervious cover calculations, drainage system, dumpsters, etc.). After some discussion, Mr. Berry made a motion to authorize Ms. Fink to sign off on the Certificate Of Occupancy on Units 7 and 8 as soon as the following items have been addressed: engineering analysis of impervious cover is submitted and final plan proposed meets 38% impervious cover limit; engineering calculations are submitted to determine whether additional infiltration chambers are needed for the porch roof and if so, how many units in each bed; concrete patios are removed; all gutters are tied to infiltration beds. Ms. Lloyd seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0 _ 7:43 PM - -Public Hearing: Notice Of Intent, 266 Lowell Street, DEP 270-378, RGB 2002-25 Patrick and Marianne Tompkins, the owners, were present. Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, October 23, 2002 Mr. Tompkins submitted a revised plan to remove the paved driveway and walkway and `replace them with pervious materials. This would change the proposed impervious cover on the site to 18.34% including the roof of the proposed addition. Mr. Berry requested more detailed specifications on the materials proposed for the pervious surfaces. Ms. Fink asked about recharging the roof runoff. Mr. Berry made a motion to continue this hearing to November 6, 2002 at 7:20 PM with no further notice to abutters. Ms. Lloyd seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. 7:50 PM - Public Hearing, NOI, Harvest Road, RGB 2002-17 Present: Michael Marcus, Steve Eriksen, Bonnie Karshbaum, Richard O'Neill Mr. Marcus described the proposed work to stabilize the stream. Mr. Berry stated that he had to leave the meeting soon and had some reservations about the proposal. However, he was not completely opposed to the proposal and would go along with the rest of the Commission on the final decision. Mr. Greene asked whether Mr. Marcus had incorporated the methodology of Rosgen in the design. Mr. Marcus stated that he had used the Rosgen methodology and had worked directly with Mr. Rosgen for three years. He has used this type of design on a number of streams within the past ten years with success. Because Mr. Berry had to leave and Ms. Schneller had not yet arrived to complete a quorum, the Commission put the hearing on hold until later in the meeting. Mr. Berry left at 8:02 PM. The Commission turned to various matters that did not require a quorum or a vote. Old/New Business 57 Longwood Drive Ms. Fink reported that soils tests were scheduled for October 24, 2002. 87 Walkers Brook Drive Ms. Fink reported that the applicant had withdrawn the Notice of Intent. 1090-1100 Main Street Ms. Fink reported that Tom Goddard due to plant wetlands shrubs and herbaceous species in the areas he has cleared for restoration. He has blocked the culvert that drains the pond to keep the fish from migrating. 306 Main Street Ms. Fink updated the Commission on a recent hazardous waste report to DEP. 2 Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, October 23, 2002 ATV issue Ms. Fink reported that the Police and the Water Department had responded to Mr. Finch's call and would continue to monitor the situation. Tennessee Gas Pipeline Ms. Fink received a proposal for repairs on the pipeline between Haverhill Street and Camp Curtis Guild. This is exempt from the state and town wetlands laws, but the work will be conducted to minimize wetlands disturbance and restore wetlands after the repairs are made. Bedrock Well Exploration Ms. Fink reported that the Water Department is preparing to drill bedrock wells in the Bare Meadow Conservation Area, because the Town Forest exploration had not yielded any suitable wells. They would be filing a Notice of Intent and work was expected in buffer zone and wetlands. 1498 Main Street Ms. Fink reported site visit observations. 1321 Main Street Ms. Fink took a look at it today, some fill has been removed, loam and seed on top, nothing showing yet. Karen Schneller arrived at 8:28 PM, restoring the quorum. 8:28 PM - Public Hearing, NOI, Harvest Road, RGB 2002-17 The Commission opened the hearing. Present: Michael Marcus, Steve Eriksen, Bonnie Karshbaum, Richard O'Neill Ms. Lloyd thought that the proposal was a good plan, but doesn't know everything about erosion control. Mr. Greene asked for more technical details. Mr. Marcus stated that the flow is less than 15 feet per second, so the stream can be stabilized with vegetation. A faster flow rate would require an armored approach. He encouraged exploring possible grants to restore the opposite bank in the same manner. He stated that his approach was to study the morphology and hydrology of the stream with both longitudinal- and cross-sections, and determination of the thalweg. He chose the recommended end point of the restoration because there is a clump of trees that can be incorporated into the work, and because the distance should be adequate to assure stability for the proposed house. The stream is a down-cutting stream with a sand/silt bottom. This type of stream does not tend to repair itself, and gets wider and deeper over time. Erosion at the site is presently moderate to severe. The proposed restoration work -would-definitely-help the stream. Because the proposed- materials are-soft-they will not - reflect excess energy onto the opposite bank and cause problems there. The coconut fiber rolls will lose their strength after about 5 years, but by then they will be filled in with silts Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, October 23, 2002 and the plants will be well-rooted. The proposed grading plan will slightly increase the flow rate in the low-flow portion of the stream, but will reduce velocity above the bankfull bench when flow is greatest and most likely to cause erosion. The oozy muck should also be cleaned out of the bottom of the stream and the pool and riffle topography can be improved. Mr. Marcus thinks that this is a good plan, but it really depends on what the commission wants to do. The cost of materials would be about $13,400, plus about $2,000 for excavation. Ms. Lloyd asked whether the plan would make the site better for construction of the proposed house. Mr. Marcus said that, whether the house is built or not, the native trees at the top of the bank that will be lost unless the bank is stabilized. This plan will replace invasive species with native species Mr. O'Neill and Mr. Eriksen stated that the applicant was willing to carry out the proposed work. Mr. Marcus stated that the grading and matting could be done during the fall and winter, with planting in the spring. He advised against the proposal to plant multiflora rose along Track Road, because it is invasive. He recommended hawthorn. The Commission discussed the proposed work. They would like to discuss doing the opposite bank with DPW and Engineering, and look into funding sources. They asked Ms. Fink to draft findings and conditions. Ms. Lloyd moved to continue the hearing to December 4, 2002 at 7:20 PM. Mr. Finch seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. 9:10 PM -Public Meeting, Request for Determination, 57 Longwood Road, RGB 2002-24 Ms. Lloyd moved to continue this meeting to November 6, 2002 at 7:40 PM, pending soils test results and drainage revisions. Ms. Schneller seconded. Voted 4-0-0. 9:11 PM - Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, 87 Walkers Brook Drive, DEP 270-376, RGB 2002-27 The Commission closed the hearing because the applicant had withdrawn the Notice of Intent. Old/New Business 28 Francis Drive, proposed swimming pool in existing drainage swale Present: Steve Aronis, owner, and several abutters. Mr. Aronis had submitted a surveyed site plan showing exiting grades and proposed grades and swimming pool. This project is more than 100 feet from the wetlands, but the drainage swalewas established in the Order of Conditions-for-the subdivision and must be maintained to prevent flooding on abutting lots. The Commission and the visitors reviewed the proposed plan. 4 Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, October 23, 2002 Ms. Lloyd made a motion to approve the change in drainage swale, provided that an as- built survey plan is submitted after work is done to verify that the swale is maintained. Mr. Finch seconded. Voted 4-0-0. Pleasant Street sewer project Ms. Lloyd made a motion to accept the work as completed and to close the file. Mr. Finch seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. 115 Charles Street The owner requested that the Commission sign off on the Certificate of Occupancy. Ms. Fink reported that the site is in good shape, but final landscaping will probably have to wait until next spring. Ms. Lloyd moved to authorize Ms. Fink to sign off on the Certificate of Occupancy. Mr. Finch seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. 59 Forest Street, DEP 270-326, RGB 1999-36 Ms. Fink reported that the work was completed and the site was stable. One ZNV marker is not correctly located on the as-built plan, but is correct on the site. Ms. Lloyd moved to issue a Certificate of Compliance with a note about the ZMV marker. Mr. Finch seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. Ms. Lloyd moved to release the $2,000 bond. Mr. Finch seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0- 0. Fleet Bank, 294 Main Street Ms. Fink reported that work had not commenced. The Commission asked her to call the bank's representatives. Work may need to wait until next year. 3911 Haverhill Street Ms. Lloyd moved to close the minor project file for tree removal. Mr. Finch seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. 205 Pearl Street The owners would like to be excused from the final as-built requirement. They have submitted a foundation as-built and have not significantly changed the grading. The Commission decided to wait until the final landscaping is completed before they make a decision on the as-built. Walnut Street reconstruction project Ms. Fink reported that the work was completed and the site is stable. The silt fences can be removed. Mr. Finch moved to close the file for the Walnut Street project. Ms. Lloyd seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. 5 Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, October 23, 2002 Grey Coach Road Detention Basin Ms. Fink presented a plan for removing the trees from the basin that was agreed upon by Mike Debrigard. The Commission accepted the plan and asked Ms. Fink to notify Mr. Debrigard. After the trees have been removed, the DPW will institute an annual mowing program to discourage trees from growing in the basin in the future. Ms. Lloyd made a motion to adjourn at 9:50 PM. Mr. Finch seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0.