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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-08-29 Conservation Commission MinutesMinutes, Reading Conservation Commission, August 29, 2002 Minutes of the Reading Conservation Commission Selectman's Meeting Room, Town Hall Wednesday, August 29, 2002 Present: Will Finch, Larry Goulet, Thad Berry, Commissioners; Pat Lloyd, Vice-Chair; Doug Greene, Chair; Fran Fink, Administrator;. Absent: Karen Schneller, Commissioner; Leo Kenney, Harold Hulse, Consultants; Kelley Meier, Recording Secretary. The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM. Old/New Business 468 West Street, Longwood Estates Comprehensive Permit Application Bill Bergeron, engineer, and Brad Latham, attorney, present. Mr. Latham quoted excerpts from the MACC Newsletter, a Housing Appeals Committee decision, and Mass. Legal Continuing Education publication concerning the applicability of local wetlands bylaws to Comprehensive Permit proposals. Mr. Finch asked him to submit copies of the documents that he had quoted for the Commission to review. The Commission will consult Town Counsel. Mr. Latham questioned the applicability of the 35-foot setback for structures under RGB Section 5.7, particularly with respect to roadways and parking lots. Mr. Bergeron referred to a letter to the Commission dated August 20. He stated that the applicant would file a Notice of Intent with the Commission under state law, but not Town bylaw. He stated that the applicant would address Town requirements in the Comprehensive Permit. He presented a revised site plan that showed some increases in setbacks between proposed structures and wetlands. Certain retaining walls had been removed and replaced with vegetated slopes. Slopes were as steep as 1.5:1. Use of erosion control mats was proposed for initial stability. The alternative would be terraces with vertical retaining walls. Roof runoff would be piped to the B-wetland. The full drainage system, including the detention basin on proposed lot C, would be submitted under the NOI. They do not expect to have final definitive plans until after the Comprehensive Permit is issued. 46% of the site will be impervious. They have completed some soils tests and expect to recharge about half of the roof runoff. Some soils are not suitable for recharge. The sewer line will be routed through Kelch, rather than past the E-wetland. They are working on a response to questions raised by the Town Engineer recently. Mr. Berry stated that he had seen erosion mat applications work if they are properly installed. Timing of seeding and seed mix is important, along with watering. Need to plan and monthly reports on vegetation. Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, August 29, 2002 Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, 1498 Main Street, RGB #2002-21 The Commission had received the file number from DEP and comments from MNHESP. The Commission reviewed the draft Findings and Conditions and amended them. A motion was made and seconded to close the public hearing. The Commission voted 5- 0-0 in favor. A motion was made and seconded to issue an Order of Conditions with the Findings and Conditions as amended during the hearing. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. Public Meeting, Request for Determination, 57 Longwood Avenue The Applicant did not appear. A motion was made and seconded to continue the meeting to September 25, 2002, at 7:30 PM. Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, 266 Lowell Street, RGB 2002-25 Present: Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins, applicants, and Laurie Powers, wetlands consultant Ms. Powers submitted certified mail cards and affidavit of service. She presented the proposed site plan to remove an existing deck and construct an addition to the house. DEP file number and MNE3ESP comments have not yet been received. Ms. Fink raised questions about the filing fee, the 35-foot setback, and the impervious cover limit in the Aquifer Protection District. Mr. Tompkins stated that the addition would be on a concrete foundation. Construction access would be from east side of house. He is working with the architect on the 35-foot setback. Mr. Finch noted that the lot next door had flooding and Mr. Tompkins stated that he had seen water in the lower part of his own back yard. The Commission discussed the impervious cover limit and the possibility of roof runoff infiltration. A motion was made and seconded to continue the hearing to September 25 at 7:40 PM. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. Public Hearing, ANRAD,1503 Main Street, RGB 2002-19 Steve Eriksen, Norse Environmental, represented the applicant. The Commission reviewed draft Findings. The Commission will order the removal of trash in the wetlands by September 8. A motion was made and seconded to close the hearing. The Commission voted 5-070 in favor. 2 Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, August 29, 2002 A motion was made and seconded to issue the ORAD with the Findings as drafted. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. Public Meeting, Request for Determination, 46 Martin Road, RGB #2002-26 The Commission and the Administrator reported observations made during recent site visits. The existing shed appears to be located in the wetlands, but was placed there under a Minor Project Permit issued in the past. The Commission discussed the impervious cover limit under the Aquifer Protection District bylaw. The Commission reviewed draft Findings and Conditions and amended the Conditions. A motion was made and seconded to issue a negative Determination with the Findings and Conditions as amended during the meeting. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, 87 Walkers Brook Drive, Texaco, RGB # 2002-27 Frank Postma, CEA, hazardous waste consultant stated that the legal ad had not been published by the local paper, although it was submitted for publication. Abutters had received notice of the hearing by mail. The applicant is publishing the notice in the paper for the September 12, 2002 meeting. Mr. Postma described the history of hazardous material releases at the site and the plan to excavate and remove contaminated soils to meet DEP regulations. They are obligated to clean the site by November. Pavement will be removed over the soils. Soils will be ` excavated and tested. Where they exceed DEP standards, they will be transported to a treatment facility. Where they do not exceed standards, they will be returned to the site. Then soils will be treated with an oxygenating compound to encourage microbial decomposition. Mr. Finch asked about leaks in the present system. Mr. Postma said the tanks were double-walled fiberglass installed in 1989. They have a monitoring system between the two walls. The piping to the pump islands is also double-walled. They conduct annual tightness tests. Mr. Berry asked about encircling the proposed soil stockpile area with haybales to create a bowl lined with plastic tarps. Mr. Postma said they could do this. Mr. Goulet asked about specific types of chemicals they will test for, including PCB's. Ms. Fink distributed memo dated August 29 and requested a response to questions raised. Mr. Postma discussed some possible options for drainage improvements. A motion was made and seconded to continue the hearing to September 12 at 7:45 PM. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. Public Hearing, .ANRAD, 40-70 West Street,_RGB 2002-28 Kurt Olson of Daylor Consulting presented the site plan for the applicant, Archstone. Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, August 29, 2002 There are two wetlands systems along the western side of the site. Outlets have not been determined, but appear to be linked to street drainage in Route 93 or West Street. The northern wetland includes a well which was abandoned and filled with gravel and a catch basin outlet. Warren Cochrane, abutter, asked whether the northern wetland was connected by a swale or channel to a drainage outfall from Jere Road. Ms. Fink stated that the legal notice had not been published in the newspaper and recommended re-opening the hearing on September 12. The Commission scheduled a site visit on September 8 for the area off Jere Road. A motion was made and seconded to continue the hearing on September 12 at 8:15 PM and place a new ad in the paper. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. 294 Main Street, Fleet Bank, Enforcement Order Peter Flink of Griffin Engineering reviewed the history of the site and presented a plan to correct the flood storage capacity and vegetation on the site. The Commission reviewed a memo from Joe Delaney dated August 29 and a draft Enforcement Order. Gary Siden, architect for Fleet Bank, stated that the bank might have difficulty obtaining bids and authorizing funds in time to meet the proposed September 24 deadline. After some discussion about timing, the Commission amended the Enforcement Order. A motion was made and seconded to issue the Enforcement Order as amended during the meeting. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. 306 Haverhill Street, St. Athanasius Church, Enforcement Order Justin Ayer described the history of the site and an erosion problem at the lower corner of the parking lot. He presented a plan to construct a vegetated swale with check dams to slow down and treat the runoff. The Commission reviewed a draft Enforcement Order and amended it. A motion was made and seconded to issue the Enforcement Order as amended during the meeting. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. 69 Eastway, Request for Certificate of Compliance, DEP 270-358, RGB 2001-21 During the site visit, some of the blueberry bushes were dead and the roof downspout was not connected to the infiltrator. The lawn was being mowed around the blueberry bushes. A motion was made and seconded to deny the Certificate of Compliance because the 'infiltration system was not complete and the RFA restoration was not successful. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. A letter will be sent. 4 Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, August 29, 2002 1090-1100 Main Street, Enforcement Order - Woburn District Court extended the date of the hearing. 49 Grey Coach Road Ms. Fink reported on observations made during a site visit with Steve Eriksen. A motion was made and seconded to accept the wetlands delineation as set forth in the August 24, 2002 letter from Mr. Eriksen. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. 311 Haverhill, Minor Project Permit A motion was made and seconded to approve a minor project permit for deck at 311 Haverhill. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. 5