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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-08-18 Conservation Commission MinutesConservation Commission, August 18, 2010 MINUTES Reading Conservation Commission Meeting Selectmen's Meeting Room, 7:00 PM Wednesday, August 18, 2010 C{ SP I b Present: Bill Hecht, Chairman; Annika Scanlon; Tina Ohlson; Barbara Stewart; Brian Tucker; Fran Fink, Administrator; Maureen Knight, Recording Secretary. Absent: Jamie Maugham Old/New Business 489 Pearl Street, RGB 2010-5 - Plan revision Gloria McNeil, owner, presented a plan revision to cut tree #30 and leave tree 93 on site. Motion made by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Ms. Ohlson, to approve the proposal as minor plan revision. Vote was 5-0-0. 17 Partridge Road, RGB 2009-37 - Plan revision The Commission reviewed a revised plan to install a patio and a retaining wall, with associated grading. Motion made by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Tucker, to approve the proposal as a minor plan revision. Vote was 5-0-0. 39 Old Farm Road, DEP 270-563, RGB 2009-27 - Request for Certificate of Compliance The Commission did a site visit. Work is complete and the property is vegetated. Motion made by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Ms. Stewart, to issue a Certificate of Compliance with conditions in perpetuity. Vote was 5-0-0. 22 Lindsay Lane, DEP 270-566, RGB 2009-29 and DEP 270-170, RGB 1987-8 - Request for Certificate of Compliance The Commission did a site visit. Work is complete and the property is vegetated. Motion made by Ms. Stewart, seconded by Ms. Scanlon, to issue a Certificate of Compliance with conditions in perpetuity. Vote was 5-0-0. Motion made by Ms. Stewart, seconded by Ms. Scanlon, to issue a Partial Certificate of Compliance for all work on the lot at 22 Lindsay Lane under the Order of Conditions for Fairwood Acres Subdivision. Vote was 5-0-0. 1503 Main Street, DEP 270-425, RGB 2004-15 - Request for Extension Permit Motion made by Ms. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Tucker, to extend the Order of Conditions for three years. Vote was 5-0-0. ' 107 Main Street, DEP 270-561, RGB 2009-23 - Status of work The Commission did not receive a response to the letter sent on July 15, 2010. The Commission will schedule a site visit, send a reminder letter, and continue the matter to the next meeting. 1. Conservation Commission, August 18, 2010 212 Main Street, DEP 270-505, RGB 2007-15 Status of work, plan revision Ms. Fink reported that the back of the property has been paved as approved, and four or five new spruce trees have been planted to replace those that died. The land along the edge of pavement needs planting or gravel. The owner wants to put up 25' of fencing along the curve in the pavement as screening for Knollwood Road abutters. The Order of Conditions expired on August 10, 2010. Motion made by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Mr. Tucker, to approve the fence and gravel application as a minor plan revision, provided that it is completed by September 30, 2010. Vote was 5-0-0. 41-43 Wilson Street, DEP 270-571, RGB 2010-4 - Status of work Ms. Fink reported that the drainage basin was installed. All was in place and grass was growing. The backyard was also seeded. The zone of natural vegetation bound was not visible and should be uncovered. Some silt fence and debris needs removal. Ms. Fink will follow up with Engineering. 26 Sunset Rock Lane, DEP 270-483, RGB 2006-27 - Status of work The Commission reviewed a letter from Mr. Beckman, owner. They will inspect and discuss further at the next meeting. Kylie Drive Subdivision, DEP 270-462, RGB 2005-41- Status of work, as-built site plan Ms. Fink received as-built plans that she distributed to the members and reviewed with them. The ZNV bounds need to be added. The grass starting to grow on Lot 4. The Commission asked Ms. Fink to check on disposition of Lot A, and trail and drainage easements. Public Meeting, Request for Determination of Applicability, Calareso's Fruit Stand, 80-100 Main Street and 370 South Street, RGB 2010-19, retail farm stand and greenhouse Present: Joseph Musgrave for Calareso's Mr. Musgrave described the site and plan. The Commission reviewed site inspection reports. Motion made by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Ms. Stewart, to issue a negative Determination of Applicability with the finding that there are no resource areas or buffer zones on site and the work will not require a Notice of Intent. Vote was 5-0-0. 20 Chequessett Road, Enforcement Order - Status of work The owner has not responded to the Enforcement Order. The Commission will schedule an inspection and continue the matter during their next meeting. Ms. Fink will contact the owner. 22 Roma Lane, Enforcement Order. Status of work The Commission reviewed the site visit report. Four maple trees have. been delivered but have not been planted and are wilting. The truck left some tire ruts on site. Ms. Fink will contact the owner. Public Meeting, Request for Determination of Applicability, 153 Haverhill. Street, RGB 2010- 17, addition to house and deck Present: Anastasia Roache, applicant Ms. Roache describe the proposed work. The Commission reviewed site visit reports. There is some brush to be cleaned up and the underlying slope will require stabilization. The Commission reviewed and revised draft findings and conditions for the Determination. Conservation Commission, August 18, 2010 Motion made by Ms. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Tucker, to issue a,negative Determination of Applicability with the findings and conditions as amended. Vote was 5-0-0. 4 Johnson Woods, DEP 270-416, RGB 2004-10 - Status of work Ms. Fink gave a site visit report. The erosion and sediment problems have been corrected between Buildings 20-28 and landscaping is going in around 22 and 23. The drainage systems are installed and operating. Several other actions requested in a July letter have not been addressed, and a stockpile near Building 23 needs stabilization. The Commission will send a letter and schedule a site visit in early September. Public Meeting, Request for Determination of Applicability, Mass DOT-Highway Division, Route I-93/I-95 Interchange, RGB 2010-18, lighting, camera, and traffic sensor systems Present: Jen Ducey, Engineer, Fay Spofford Thorndike, and Robert Bennett, Mass DOT Ms. Ducey explained the upgrades that will be done on six miles of Route 93 to update lighting and traffic sensor equipment. Work will take place in the Buffer Zone and Riverfront Area within the 93/93 interchange in Reading. They will installing surveillance equipment on two new 45' poles with a new foundation. They will install new light poles and fixtures on the existing foundation in the interchange, and attach other equipment to the bridge. They will use existing access roads to minimize disturbance of soils and vegetation, and will work from paved areas where possible. Mr. Hecht asked whether the new lights were energy efficient. Ms. Ducey was not certain but said they were halogen lights. Mr. Tucker asked whether one camera could be moved out of the Buffer Zone. Ms. Ducey said the guard rail prevented relocation. Joe Hoy, 85 Border Road, asked about the wattage of the lights and effect on Border Road. Ms. Ducey said the wattage and light locations would be the same as the existing fixtures. Mr. Hoy wanted to know what the cameras were for. and he was told just. Ms. Ducey said they are to monitor traffic flow, and the results are visible on the MassDOT website. Mr. Hoy reported that he has seen moose and deer in the area. Bill Webster, 245 Walnut Street, asked if this was part of the reconstruction of the interchange. He was assured it was just updating what is already in place. In response to further questions-, Ms. Ducey said that work would probably begin in fall of 2011, that hours of work would probably be at night depending on the contractor, and that FST is planning to file an ANRAD soon for wetlands that were flagged last spring. The Commission reviewed the draft findings and conditions. Motion made by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Ms. Stewart, to issue a negative Determination of Applicability with findings and conditions as drafted. Vote was 5-0-0. Memorial Park and Harrison Street, DEP 270-546, RGB 2008-45 - Status of work Ms. Fink gave a site visit report. DPW has begun paving on Harrison Street. The curbs are not installed yet, and some of the catch basins do not have filters and are full of sediments. The r basketball and tennis courts are nearly complete. The organic soils are being spread in the ponds, but the contractor has not been on site recently. The stream is still flowing in spite of the official Conservation Commission, August 18, 2010 drought condition. The connecting pipes were visible. Some of the guardrails are in. Ms. Fink will follow up with Engineering, and the Commission will do a site visit in September. Colburn Road - Drainage system The Commission reviewed a site visit report and a plan of the recently installed drainage system provided by Engineering. The plan did not include soils data to support the infiltration design. The system did work.during a recent storm. The grass is growing in over the pipe. The catch basin on Dunbar Road is not in good shape and needs to be repaired and cleaned. Ms. Fink will follow up with Engineering. The Commission will monitor the system next spring when groundwater is high to see whether it functions well in wet conditions. Castine Field - Permit records This will be tabled until the next meeting when Mr. Maugham will be present. 52 Munroe Avenue Motion made by Ms. Ohlson, seconded by Ms. Scanlon, to approve a minor project permit for tree removal. Vote was 5-0-0. 25 Arnold Avenue Motion made by Ms. Ohlson, seconded by Ms. Stewart, to approve a minor project permit for tree removal. Vote was 5-0-0. 295 Main Street Motion made by Mr. Tucker, seconded by Ms. Stewart, to approve a minor project permit for tree removal. Vote was 5-0-0. 16 Puritan Road Motion made byMs. Ohlson, seconded by Mr. Tucker, to approve a minor project permit for tree removal. Vote was 5-0-0. 64 Glenmere Circle Motion made by Ms. Scanlon, seconded by Ms. Stewart, to approve a minor project permit for. above-ground pool. Vote was 5-0-0. Ms. Stewart left the room. 80-100 Main Street and 370 South Street The Commission reviewed draft comments to the CPDC for Site Plan Review. Motion made by Ms. Ohlson, seconded by Mr. Tucker, to submit the comments to the CPDC as drafted. Vote was 4-0-0. Maplewood Village Someone complained to the Town Manager that some of the cinder blocks are coming out of the boardwalk. Ms. Fink will inspect and speak to the Trail Committee. She will also follow up on the easement. Ms. Stewart returned. 4 Conservation Commission, August 18, 2010 58 Mill Street The Commission reviewed the proposed planting plan, including three red maples trees and three arborvitae trees in the ZNV. Motion made by Ms. Ohlson, seconded by Ms. Stewart, to approve the planting plan. Vote was 5-0-0. Minutes for approval Motion made by Mr. Hecht, seconded by Ms. Stewart, to approve the minutes of July 14, 2010. Vote was 5-0-0. REI The Commission reviewed site visit reports. Some trees were trimmed back from the building. The work area is satisfactory. 15 Criterion Street A tree fell on this house from the abutting Higgins Conservation Area. The tree was cleared by DPW and the owner was referred to the Town Manager concerning repairs. The owner wanted the Town to check on three others. Ms. Fink inspected the trees with the Tree Wardens, who concluded that they are healthy. The Tree Wardens will cut several branches that extend over the abutting property. 213 Lowell Street The Commission reviewed a site visit report. Work is done and the site is stable. Motion made by Mr. Hecht, seconded by Mr. Tucker, to close the Minor Project Permit file. Vote was 5-0-0. 127 Hopkins Street The Commission reviewed a site visit report., Work is done and the site is stable. Motion made by Mr. Hecht, seconded by Ms. Ohlson, to close the Minor Project Permit file. Vote was 5-0-0. Bike Racks Engineering asked the Commission if they would like bike racks installed at some of the conservation areas. The Commission thought Lobs Mill and Symonds Way would be good spots for bike racks. Adjournment Motion made by Ms. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Tucker, to adjourn the meeting. Vote was 5-0-0.