Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-08-14 Conservation Commission MinutesMinutes, Reading Conservation Conunission, August 14, 2002, Minutes of the Reading Conservation Commission Selectman's Meeting Room, Town Hall Wednesday, August 14, 2002 Present: Karen Schneller, Doug Greene, Larry Goulet, Commissioners; Pat Lloyd, Vice- Chair; Will Finch, Chair; Fran Fink, Administrator;. Absent: Thad Berry, Commissioner; Leo Kenney, Harold Hulse, Consultants; Kelley Meier, Recording Secretary. The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM. Old/New Business Governor's Drive - Proposed affordable housing on Town land Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner passed out a site plan for a proposed affordable housing development. Wetlands have been flagged by Conservation Administrator and surveyed onto plan by Engineering Division. Soils tests have been completed for house foundations. Proposed work will need a zoning variance for lot size. Town would like to include drainage improvements and sidewalk from Melendy Drive to Baystate. Abutter now dumps sump pump discharge onto Town land, and Town would like to deed a 10- foot strip to owner. Then begin two 7500 s.f. lots, with north end of site deeded for Conservation purposes. Can meet 35-foot minimum setback from wetlands for buildings. Slab on grade construction due to high water tale. Probably LIP project, will require ZBA abd BOS approval. The Commission generally responded favorably to the plan. Discussed maintaining 25- foot ZNV. Recommended filing ANRAD to formally confirm the wetlands delineations. Linnaea Thelin Sanctuary - Jim Kirlin, Boy Scout Project Jim Thelin proposed work to improve trails and access in the Thelin Sanctuary off Hancock Street. Work will include removing overgrown weeds, stabilizing entry with erosion bars and stone dust, removing trash and debris, and posting signs and boundary markers. The Commission suggested extending the trail to the railroad track, checking with Engineering Division for maps of boundaries and features, talking to the neighbors about keeping area clean, and updating the trail map. The Chairman signed the proposal. Public Meeting, Request for Determination, Haverhill Street improvements, RGB 2002-22 Joe Delaney, Town Engineer presented plans to resurface the south end of Haverhill Street, add sidewalks on the western side, and upgrade drainage structures. The sidewalk is to provide safe access to the Killam School. Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, August 14, 2002 The Commission discussed saving as many of the mature trees along the route as possible, maintaining a wide paved shoulder for bicycle use, and assuring that sidewalks would be graded to base of silt fences to avoid problems upon removal of fences. Virginia Adams questioned whether the sidewalk was really needed. Mr. Delaney responded that there are no school busses from this neighborhood to the Killam School. Mrs. Adams was concerned about the potential loss of trees and historical character. She noted that the street is an early coaching road. Mr. Delaney stated that he is working with several abutters to obtain permission to route sidewalks around the existing trees. The Commission reviewed draft Findings and Conditions to attach to the Determination. A motion was made and seconded to issue a negative Determination with the Findings and Conditions attached as drafted. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. 33 Line Road, Order of Conditions, DEP #270-366, RGB # 2002-4 Mr. and Mrs. Levesque, the owners, were present and requested that the Commission sign off on the Certificate of Occupancy for the new house. They need to move into the house before the trailer can be removed and the landscaping completed. They also asked to cut down the large tree in front of the house, and were concerned that the roots had been damaged during construction. They were working with their insurance company to have an arborist evaluate the tree. Ms. Fink reported that she had visited the site with Bruce Fenton (Assistant Tree Warden), and had spoken to Jim Richardson (Water and Sewer Division) and Glen Redmond (Building Inspector) about construction work near the tree. None of them had observed any significant damage to the roots of the tree. Mr. Fenton recommended trimming the branches that hang over the roof of the house, but concluded that the tree was healthy. The Commission discussed monitoring the tree for signs of decay and coming back to the question of removal if problems became visible. A motion was made and seconded to authorize the Administrator to sign off on the Certificate of Occupancy. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. A motion was made and seconded to authorize trimming of tree branches over the house, provided that the person doing the trimming meet on site with the Administrator to determine which branches could be cut. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. Public Meeting, Request for Determination, 33 Dividence Road, RGB #2002-20 Andrew Murphy, applicant was present. He was considering purchasing the property and wanted the Commission to determine whether there were wetlands in or near the site. that had some wetlands characteristics. They determined that the area is too small to qualify as isolated land subject to flooding under the Wetlands Protection Act and does Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, August 14, 2002 not border a water body. They determined that the area is a freshwater wetland with some flood storage capacity under Reading General Bylaws, Section 5.7, and that the lot appears to have adequate room to construct a house outside of the wetlands and ZNV. A motion was made and seconded to issue a negative Determination under MGL CH. 131, Sec. 40 and a positive Determination under RGB, Section 5.7. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, 1498 Main Street, RGB 2002-21 Greg Saab, engineer, presented the site plan for a septic system replacement project. System will be located as far from wetlands as the lot will allow. Board of Health has issued waiver to reduce groundwater separation from 4 feet to 3 feet below leaching area. Existing system is in water table, so proposed system will be an improvement. Existing system to be pumped and abandoned in place. Ms. Fink noted that DEP had not yet issued a file number and comments had not yet been received from NfNHESP. Draft Findings and Conditions were distributed. A motion was made and seconded to continue the public hearing to August 28, 2002 at 7:30 PM. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. - Public Hearing, Request for Amended Order of Conditions, Walkers Brook Crossing, Walkers Brook Drive, DEP #270-352, RGB # 2001-14 Present: Dave Pickart and Mark Noguiera, VHB; Ed Shaw, Dickinson Development; Brad Latham, Latham, Latham and Lamond Mr. Pickart presented amended site plans. Hotel, office, and parking garage not to be built at present time. Restaurant layout slightly different. Mechanically stabilized fill wall to replace long fill slope on north side of site per DEP recommendation to eliminate long slopes. Cap will end behind wall in this area instead of extending into wetlands. Trash will be pulled back from wetlands. Larger parking lot for Jordan's. Ms. Fink distributed memorandum and reviewed questions raised. Scott Miller, abutter, asked whether mechanically stabilized walls have been installed at other landfills. Mr. Shaw responded that they had been used successfully before. The design has also been reviewed and approved by Weston and Sampson on behalf of Jordan's and Home Depot. Mr. Miller asked what it would look like. Mr. Pickart showed photos of a similar existing wall. He stated that trees can be planted along the base of the wall to provide screening, now that the cap does not extend beyond the wall. Kin Zecker, abutter, asked about appearance from Carnation Circle. Mr. Pickard stated that the CPDC would conduct a hearing on this matter on August 26 and they would have drawings on display. Mr. Noguiera reviewed the proposed changes in the drainage design. Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, August 14, 2002 The Commission asked the proponents to meet with the Administrator to work on the issues raised in the memorandum. A motion was made and seconded to continue the public hearing to august 28, 2002 at 7:45 PM. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. Public Meeting, Request for Determination, 36 Chequessett Road, RGB #2002-23 Mr. Carroll, owner, presented plan for porch addition. The Commission reviewed draft Findings and Conditions. A motion was made to issue a negative Determination with the Findings and Conditions as drafted. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. Sunset Rock Lane, Enforcement Order Peter DeGennaro, developer of the subdivision, was present. Mr. Finch reported observations made on Lots 2, 3, and 4 during the most recent site visit. He also reported that the street trees had not been planted and noted that the Grant of Conservation Restriction has not been completed. Public Hearing, ANRAD, 1503 Main Street, RGB 2002-19 The applicant was not present and no new information was submitted. A motion was made and seconded to continue the hearing to August 28, 2002, at 8:00 PM. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, Harvest Road, RGB #2002-17 The applicant was not present and no new information was submitted. A motion was made and seconded to continue the hearing to September 12, 2002, at 7:30 PM. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. 468 West Street, Longwood Estates Comprehensive Permit Application Ms. Fink reported that she had met with Bill Bergeron and Brad Latham on August 7 and reviewed a revised site plan. They would like time on the August 28 agenda to present the revisions to the Commission and hear the Commission's response. 40-70 West Street; Archstone Comprehensive Permit Application Ms. Fink reported that comments were submitted to the ZBA for their hearing on August 1. ZBA will discuss engineering and conservation issues on August 22. 10 Cory Lane, Grant of Conservation Restriction By a vote of 5-0-0 in favor, the Commission approved and then signed the proposed 4 Minutes, Reading Conservation Commission, August 14, 2002 26 Ridge, 76 Colburn, Minor Project Permits Ms. Fink reported that work had been completed and sites were stable. A motion was made and seconded to close the files for these two projects. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. 87 Walkers Brook Drive, Minor Project Permit A motion was inade and seconded to approve a minor project permit for soils tests at the Texaco station. 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 fencing at 311 Haverhill. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. Commission officers A motion was made and seconded to elect Doug Greene as Chairman and Pat Lloyd as Vice Chairman for the coming year, and to reappoint Leo Kenney as a consultant. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. Pitman Bicycle Path The Town has received funding to construct a bicycle path from Birch Meadow Drive to Grove Street . Ms. Fink will look for old plans. A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. The Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor. 5