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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-09 Conservation Commission MinutesMinutes, Reading Conservation Commission, October 9, 2002 Minutes of the Conservation Commission Selectman's Meeting Room; Town Hall Monday, October 9, 2002 Present: Harold Hulse, Leo Kenney, Consultants; Doug Greene, Chair; Pat Lloyd, Vice- Chair; Larry Goulet, Will Finch, Thad Berry, Karen Schneller, Commissioners; Kelley Meier, Recording Secretary; Fran Fink, Administrator. The chair called the meeting to order at 7 PM. Old/New Business Coolidge Middle School, DEP 270-306, RGB 1998-17 The Commission and the Administrator reported site visit observations. Ms. Fink had reviewed the file. She will send a letter with items that need to be addressed for a Certificate of Compliance. 1375 Main Street, DEP 270-353, RGB 2001-11 The developer would like to close on Units 7 and 8 on 10/15/02 and has requested sign off on Certificate of Occupancy. The Commission and the Administrator reported site visit observations. Ms. Fink had reviewed the file. The 4th building has not been started yet. The Commission decided to send a letter stating that they are not prepared to authorize occupancy until the following items are addressed: Loam and seed completed areas, connect roof gutters to infiltrators, submit as-builts of infiltration beds, provide temporary stabilization for bare areas, provide condo documents and get approval from ZBA, sweep pavement, install dumpster, provide OOC's to buyers and submit receipts from them, update filter fabric in catch basin. 1321 Main Street, Enforcement Order Ms. Fink reported that the owner had a contractor lined up, but he had not yet come to fix the problems. 205 Pearl Street, DEP 270-369, RGB 2002-12 A site visit was done. The owner would like to move the silt fence back and reseed the whole lawn at once. Mr. Berry made a motion to accept the change as an insignificant revision. Ms. Lloyd seconded. Voted in favor, 5-0-0. Gray Coach Lane detention basin The DPW would like to remove the trees that have grown in the detention basin. Ms. Fink had.reviewed the file and visited the site. She went through a memo dated 10/8/02 regarding this project. The Commission asked her to go out with Mike Debrigard of the DPW, discuss access routes and methodology in more detail, and return to the October 23 meeting with a plan. Ms. Schneller arrived at 7:23 PM Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, October 9, 2002 7:26 PM - Public Meeting, Request for Determination of Applicability, 23 Buckskin Drive, RGB 2002-30 Mr. and Mrs. Swanson were present and described the trees that they have cut and would like to cut. Mr. Greene reported site visit observations. Ms. Fink reviewed draft Findings and Conditions and the Commission made several amendments. Mr. Berry made a motion to issue a negative Determination with the amended Findings and Conditions. Ms. Lloyd seconded. Voted in favor, 6-0-0. 7:45 PM - Public Meeting, Request for Determination of Applicability, Strout Avenue, RGB 2002-31 Joe Delaney, Town Engineer presented the plan to move stockpiled water treatment plant residuals from area near Strout Avenue to former Town Landfill before it is capped, per DEP Consent Agreement. There are 6000 cubic yards of residuals. Peter Tassi was also present for the Water Department. A contractor had not yet been identified, so the exact methodology was not known. Mr. Greene reported site visit observations. Mr. Kenney saw no issues related to the vernal pool because theer is a natural berm between the work area and the pool. His concern is in the future with the dumping area. Mr. Delaney said that the area would be graded smooth, loamed, and seeded and allowed to revert to nature. The Commission reviewed and amended draft findings and conditions. Mr. Berry made a motion to issue a negative determination with the findings and conditions as amended. Ms. Lloyd seconded. Voted in favor, 6-0-0. 8:10 PM - Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, Harvest Road, DEP 270-372, RGB 2002-17 Present: Steve Eriksen, Richard O'Neill, Bonnie Karshbaum for applicant. The Commission reviewed a report from their consultant, Michael Marcus. Mr. Eriksen stated that the work proposed by Mr. Marcus would cost about $20,000 and that the applicant was willing to do the work. He thought that the project would be beneficial to the bank and stream. Mr. Finch asked whether both banks should be treated. Ms. Fink reported that Mr. Marcus thought one side could be done without damaging the other side. Mr. Marcus has also chosen the recommended downstream end of the work due to the shape of the bank and a large tree at that location that would help anchor the work. - Mr. Denney asked about the proposed cut in the -upper bank, -and howclose it would.: come to the proposed house. Mr. Eriksen said it would probably end about 10 feet closer 2 Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, October 9, 2002 to the house than at present. However, the work offered a good long-term solution to the problems in the bank now. Mr. Berry raised questions about changing the contours of the bank, especially the lower portion. Mr. Greene and Mr. Finch also had questions. Ms. Fink recommended continuing the hearing to October 23`d so that Mr. Marcus could attend and answer technical questions. She recommended considering the proposed work as a limited project for resource area restoration and improvement. The Commission was also interested in comments from the Town Engineer. Mr. Kenney said that the applicant must convince the Commission that the proposed work would be such an improvement that it would justify a variance for the 25-foot ZNV setback. Mr. O'Neill asked for a site visit and for further comment from Mr. Marcus. He stated that the applicant was willing to carry out the proposed work. The Commission agreed to a site walk with the consultants on October 20. Paul MacDonald, abutter, asked whether the 25-foot setback had been waived. The Commission said they had not yet voted on this question. Ms. Lloyd moved to continue the hearing to October 23, 2002, at 7:30 PM with no further notice to abutters. Mr. Goulet seconded. Voted in favor, 6-0-0. 8:43 PM - Public Hearing: Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation, Governors Drive parcels 33-45, RGB 2002-32 The Commission reported site visit observations. There were no problems with the flags. Ms. Fink had set the flags based on soils and vegetation. The Commssion reviewed draft findings. Ms. Lloyd made a motion to issue the ORAD and include findings as drafted. Mr. Berry seconded. Voted in favor, 6-0-0. 8:46 PM - Public Meeting: Request for Determination of Applicability, 57 Longwood Avenue, John Santullo, single-family house, RGB 2002-24 Mr. Santullo gave a revised site plan to the Commission. Joe Delaney mentioned that it looked good to him. Next up is a soils test. Mr. Berry makes motion to move this meeting to October 23 at 7:40 PM. Ms. Lloyd seconds. Voted in favor, 6-0-0. 8:49 PM - Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, 87 Walkers Brook Drive, DEP 270-376, RGB 2002-27 Motiva Enterprises had asked for a continuance. Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, October 9, 2002 Ms. Fink reported that the Fire Department wanted the pumps closed and the fuel tanks emptied during excavation. The owners do not want to close the station for two weeks and lose the revenue, so CEA is trying to come up with another plan. They would like to push their DEP deadline out from November to another date. Mr. Berry made a motion to continue the hearing to October 23, 2002, at 7:50 PM. Ms. Lloyd seconded. Voted in favor, 6-0-0. Old/New Business Revay Well, Beverly Road - DEP report and Minor Project permit Ms. Fink reported the test well had been installed and the site was stable. She also reported that DEP had identified two hazardous waste sites, AGFA and MHD, that had groundwater pollution plumes flowing towards this well. DEP is working with them to clean up the groundwater. Ms. Lloyd made a motion to close the minor project file. Mr. Goulet seconded. Voted in favor, 6-0-0. 468 West Street, Comprehensive Permit Application The Commission reviewed a letter from Bill Bergeron sent in response to Ms. Fink's last letter. 1090 and 1100 Main Street, Enforcement Order Ms. Fink will meet with Tom Goddard on October 11 to inspect progress. On the advice of Town Counsel, she will ask him to sign the settlement letter sent by the Commission for the record. 41-43 Wilson, Reading Housing Authority Ms. Fink inspected the site with RHA yesterday and discussed work and information needed to obtain a Certificate of Compliance. She presented a draft letter for Commission approval. The Commission asked for revisions and then authorized sending the letter. Enforcement Order, Sunset Rock Lane Ms. Fink reported that Peter DeGennaro had come to the office today and asked for final bond release and a Certificate of Compliance. She had reviewed the final items that needed to be done, including street trees and the Conservation Restriction. She had asked him to sign the CR for Lot 4, but he had refused. She had asked him, if he did not intend to plant the trees, to send a letter stating his intentions so that the Town could proceed to use the bond and plant the trees. Mr. DeGennaro had then faxed a letter dated October 9, 2002. The Commission reviewed the letter and decided not to release the bond until the Town determined whether it was needed to help pay for street trees. - Mr. Berry left at 9:15 PM. - - - - - - 4 Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, October 9, 2002 Town Forest, Strout Avenue The Commission discussed recent ATV use of Town Forest and Ipswich River stream bed. They asked Ms. Fink to call the Police to find out what response they made to Mr. Finch's phone call reporting the ATV's. Summer Avenue reconstruction, Determination of Applicability Ms. Lloyd moved to close the file on the Summer Street reconstruction because the work had been completed satisfactorily. Mr. Finch seconded. Voted in favor, 5-0-0. Minutes, August 28, 2002 Joint meeting Mr. Goulet moved to accept the Minutes of 8/28/02. Mr. Finch seconded. Voted in favor, 5-0-0. Administrator Reports Ms. Fink reported that: DRT had reviewed plans to upgrade central Main Street area; PCB's had been discovered on the land behind the Motor Vehicle Registry; The Selectmen had received a LIP proposal for condos at 119 Van Norden and end of Fairchild; DPW wants to install a water main through the wetlands from Ash Street to Walkers Brook Drive; Construction has commenced on south end of Haverhill Street; The appeal of the OOC for 38 Cross Street was nearing the final stage; A letter had come from Brad Latham concerning Longwood Estates. Ms. Lloyd made a motion to adjourn at 9:37 PM. Mr. Greene seconded. Voted in favor, 5-0-0.