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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-05-22 Conservation Commission Minutestr Minutes, Conservation Commission, May 22, 2002 Minutes of the Reading Conservation Commission Selectman's Meeting Room, Town Hall Wednesday, May 22, 2002 L Present: Dan Thibeault, Doug Greene, Thad Berry, Commissioners; Will Finch, Chair; Kelley Meier, Recording Secretary; Fran Fink, Administrator. Absent: Leo Kenney, Harold Hulse, Consultants; Larry Goulet, Commissioner; Pat Lloyd, Vice-Chair. The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM. Sunset Rock Lane Peter DeGennaro was present. Mr. Finch stated that a site visit was done. A site visit report was passed out. The Commission found the replication area to be in good condition. Ms. Fink passed out a letter dated May 21, 2002, from Bill Bergeron. She updated the Commission about the status of the Enforcement Order. There was talk about the proposed forebay design. The berm needs to be at least two feet above the bottom of the forebay and detention basin. The berm can be made of stone 4-6 inches or smaller. The filter fabric should be installed vertically in the berm as proposed. The work should be done by hand to avoid disturbance of the vegetation and to fit the stones properly. The Commission also discussed the proposed alterations to raise the outlet elevation of the detention basin. Mr. Greene made a motion to approve the forebay and detention basin outlet alterations as discussed and amended on lot 2 and 3. Mr. Berry seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. The Commission discussed the grading and the boulder walls on lot 2. Earth is washing through the walls in gaps between the stones. There is no filter fabric behind the wall to help hold the soil. The gaps between the boulders may need to be plugged with more stones so that the earth behind the walls does not go through. The terrace between the two walls needs to be loamed and seeded - some excess soils may need to be removed before the loam is applied. There are erosion problems above the upper wall - grades may need to be pulled back, more loam applied, erosion mats used, etc. to achieve stability. Planting an erosion control mix may be better than ordinary grass seed. The seeded areas will need to be monitored closely, watered, repaired, etc. The Commission is also concerned about erosion on the steep slope just west of the upper boulder walls. Mr. DeGennaro stated that this area had been filled with a number of large boulders blasted from Lot 4, then covered with soils and seeded. Mr. Berry suggested that a drought resistant grass seed mix might work better because the soils are probably excessively well drained. The Commission determined that the boulder walls may remain if the gaps are filled in and an effective combination of the suggested grading, loaming, seeding, and temporary erosion control measures are employed until the site has good vegetative Minutes, Conservation Commission, May 22, 2002 2 Mr. Berry made a motion to require an amended design for Lot 2 with additional grading, loaming, seeding, and reinforcement of the boulder walls with more stones. Mr. Greene seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. The Commission requested that Mr. DeGennaro submit a written plan by June i for Commission review and approval at their next meeting. The Commission then discussed Lots 4 and 5, and determined that the boulder wall is already showing signs of instability and the grading above it is too steep. The slope is not highly vegetated. Mr. DeGennaro talked about the original proposed grades and the problem of meeting them when ledge was hit. Ms. Fink: stated that the Order of Conditions required the submittal of a revised plan and its approval by the Commission in cases where the original approved plan could not be completed. Mr. Welch (owner of lot 5) asked how strict the 3:1 slope requirement is. . He doesn't want to have his land to fall into his neighbor's driveway because of the improper structure of the wall. He would like to see the Conservation Commission to stand by what they say about the 3-1 slope. Mr. Finch stated that slopes steeper than 3:1 should be stabilized with rip-rap or retaining walls. Mr. Berry stated that he thought the eastern end of the wall from the roadway to approximately the end of the sidewalk that connects the front door to the driveway was probably okay, although it also needs hand placement of more stones to fill gaps between the boulders. This end of the wall is lower and the fill behind it is less steep that the section of the wall from the end of the sidewalk to the ledge outcrop between the two houses. He thought the stability of the western half of the wall was questionable and that the slope above it was too steep. Mr. DeGennaro asked whether planting junipers on the slope would provide adequate stabilization. Mr. Berry thought that this would not be adequate. Mr. Berry made a motion to continue the requirement for a revised site plan and additional work on Lot 4 as ordered by order #15 of the January Enforcement Order. Mr. Greene seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. The Commission requested that Mr. DeGennaro submit a written plan by June 1 for Commission review and approval at their next meeting. Mr. DeGennaro requested the release of the bond for the project. No motion was made, but the Commission discussed their preference to retain the bond until the remaining work was completed. 8:42 PM: Public Hearing, Notice of Intent, RGB 2002-13, 25 Brook Street Charles Donahue, builder, was present and described what he is going to do for the house: remove and replace front porch, install new footings under side nearest wetlands, add second story, remove back mudroom. Ms. Fink passes out the memo from Joe Delaney and the Commission's site visit notes for this project. The Commission reviewed draft Findings and Conditions for an Order. The Commission discussed the riverfront area boundary and possible need to trim some tree branches for the new roofline. Lcuuic Lmran, a resiuent irom i-) tsrook atreet, wanted to know wnetner the tc would affect the water levels. They have a big flooding problem already. The Minutes, Conservation Commission, May 22, 2002 Commission responded that the work should not increase flood levels because there is no increase in impervious cover. Mrs. Duran asked whether the Commission could help with the flooding problems and said the neighborhood had not gotten much response in the past from other Town boards. The Commission noted that yard wastes and other materials had been dumped in the wetlands next to #25 and that such filling does not help. There was discussion about talking with the dumpers, posting no dumping signs, and calling the Commission or the police next time someone is seen dumping. Other solutions might include increasing flood storage areas upstream and making sure that downstream culverts are not blocked. Mr. Berry made a motion to close the public meeting. Mr. Greene seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. Mr. Berry made a motion to approve the project and the issue Order of Conditions with and added Finding that tree branches could be trimmed where they interfered with the new roof, pending receipt of the DEP file number. Mr. Greene seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. Mr. Berry moved to go into executive session to discuss legal matters. Mr. Green seconded. All Commissioners voted in favor. The Commission entered Executive Session at 9:09 PM. The Commission came out of Executive Session at 10:25 PM. 40 Azalea Circle, DEP 270-232, RGB 1991-3 Mr. Berry made a motion to issue a two-year extension of the OOC to June 13, 2004. Mr. Greene seconded. Voted in favor, 4-04 33 Line Road Ms. Fink mentioned that the foundation as-built plan is here, and substantially in compliance with the approved plan. 468 West Street, Longwood Farm The Commission agreed that it's ok to send the memo to CPDC and ZBA drafted by Ms. Fink concerning the proposed Comprehensive Permit and Subdivision plans. Minutes - March 27, April 10 and 24, May 8, 2002 Mr. Berry made a motion to approve all the minutes. Mr. Thibeault seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. Fanta Lane The Commission received a planting proposal from Ed Oteri. They approved the number and location of the shrubs, but changed the species to lilacs and red cedar. 82 Fairchild Road Mr. Berry made a motion to accept minor project for shed. Mr. Greene seconded. Voted Minutes, Conservation Commission, May 22, 2002 4 42 Colburn Road Mr. Berry made motion to accept minor project for shed. Mr. Greene seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. 39 Farm Road Mr. Berry made a motion to accept minor project for shed. Mr. Greene seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0. Mr. Berry made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Greene seconded. Voted in favor, 4-0-0.