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HomeMy WebLinkAboutConservation Minutes 7/14/1986MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COTQPffSSION MONDAY, JULY 14, 1986 Members Present: Chairman Sweet, Commissioner: O'Neill, Ouellette The meeting was called to order at 7:34. Prof. en Archey, representing the Cooperative Extension Service, presented the results of a study of 1034 acres in five different parcels of Mansfield's conservation land. Included were a management plan, maps of the area, and statistics developed and collected by students, at no cost to the town, as part of their field curriculum work. The reports include: 1. A forest inventory showing the current dollar value of the timber as a comparative index of the worth of various areas. 2. The same inventory with the potential dollar value of the timber if the area were selectively cut. 3. List of consultant foresters. This information is intended to aid in developing a management plan for Mansfield's conservation land and in creating a viable watershed which maximizes desirable qualities such as water production/ protection, etc. In addition, such management is a potential source of revenue/ leverage for the Commission to use in carrying out its aims. The Commission was advised to use the services of a forester to oversee any management project. The forester would mark and measure timber, write a contract, and then would supervise the project, beginning with the bidding process. A conservation agent could act in this role, particularly if in the hiring process, attention were paid to qualifications such as experience with soil, land management, and biology. File SE211 -114: Certificate of Compliance, 24 and 28 Old Elm St. Commissioners reviewed the as -built plans for these two lots in preparation for issuing a Certificate of Compliance. Two points were noted: 1. Despite initial plans, the grade not a major difficulty. 2. Elevations are shown on the swale, has been altered, although this was as requested. It was decided that the certificate can now be issued as voted at the July 7th meeting. File SE211 -145 - William Eager, 1803 West St. Chairman Sweet read a written request for a Certificate of Compliance sent by Mr. Eager and noted that he had looked at the property and was satisfied that all work has been completed appropriately. MOTION: To issue the Certificate pending an additional site inspection by Commissioner Mahoney. (Graham - Ouellette; all in favor) VOTED 1 riANSF{ LD.coi OMMMISSION MONDA t JULY 14, 1986 # Public meeting - Crow Pond Commis iduaiAelj read aloud the Commission's public meeting for Crow Pond. This meeting will begin one hour. The Commissioners agreed for publication. MINUTES PAGE TWO his draft of a press release announcing the purpose of gathering information about at 8 :00 p.m. on July 28 and will last for to submit this information to the press WETLAND PROTECTION ACT HEARING - File SE211 - 167 John Moynihan and Louis Zuliani, Forbes Boulevard - sewer project Mr. James Dunn represented Moynihan and Zuliani, and Mr. Dave Grant represented the property owners, Inn Corp. Development Corporation. The proposed project would install a sewer connection which crosses the Foxboro /Mansfield town line near the Quality Inn and proceeds along the banking to an existing manhole. Approvals will be necessary from both towns' selectmen as well as both Conservation Commissions. A sewer main will be constructed between the asphalt and a drainage ditch. A revised plan, dated June 27, 1986, was presented to the Commission, with the only change from those originally submitted being the addition of a manhole. An 8 -inch pipe will be installed at a depth of 7 feet. The proposed excavation would place removed material on the uphill side of the slope during the work. After pipe is laid, the material would be replaced in the ditch and the slope sodded to prevent erosion. The work can be completed in approximately one week. An existing pumping station will also be connected at this time, thus doing away with one station. Work will be done during the dry season, as exposed groundwater is now flowing. Orders of Conditions have already been issued for all the existing sewers with which this project connects. Commissioners felt that hale bales might be appropriate and preferable along the edge of the bank, depending on the season, though it will be difficult to control siltation in one particular area if there is a lot of water when the work is done. There were no additional questions or comments from the audience, and the hearing was closed at 8:58 p.m. Commissioners will inspect the site on Tuesday, July 15, at 2:00 p.m. Orders will be written at the next scheduled meeting, on the 28th of July. WETLAND PROTECTION ACT HEARING - File SE211 - 168 Broderick Corporation Plymouth Street and King Arthur Way The hearing opened at 9:00 p.m. Mr. Broderick presented site and sewer easement plans for a connection from Plymouth St. along property lines shown, to Camelot Estates. Eight -inch pipe will be laid from 3 to 8 feet deep. Most of the land in question is firm wetlands. One area, shown as a brook, is mostly flat with little water movement. A filter fence is proposed for both sides of the construction. In at least one area, and possibly more, water will be pumped into a retention area constructed on the ground, with a fabric fence to contain silt. This project is intended to serve only the thirty homes of Camelot Estates; any permission granted by Cabot, Cabot and Forbes for this project will be with this understanding. MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMMISSION MINUTES MONDAY, JULY 14, 1986 PAGE THREE After reviewing the plans, Commissioners asked whether an access road will be necessary, and if so, what surfaces would be used; what the final grade will be when work is completed; and whether manholes will be required. Air. Broderick stated that current plans are to return the land to its original condition, though there will be an easement recorded. The question of access complicates this case, because no roads or manholes are shown on the plans. Digging and filling would be involved in the construction of any road, which might impact more than 5000 square feet. An additional question was raised as to whether additional material (i.e., fill) might be necessary to get vehicles into the area to work. Mr. Broderick believes that using equipment on pontoons will eliminate any such need. Mr. Wieczorek, a member of the audience, asked whether this project would be crossing Hodge's Brook. There was some disagreement about the exact location of this brook relative to the work to be done. Mr. John Thomson, member of the audience, asked about the flood levels in the area. He noted that this information would be relevant to the placement of manholes. In addition, he noted that the brook referred to as having very little movement may be quiet now, but if divided in half by a road or other construction, might be affected adversely. Commissioner Graham added that water table information is necessary so as to compare pre- and post - hydraulic connections. Mr. Joe Zeneski commented that good construction practice in a project like this would dictate a solid foundation, usually gravel. However, gravel might then enable ground water transfer along the sewer route. Barriers such as clay can prevent this migration, but would have to be mandated and specified by the Commission. Mr. Broderick commented that thus far, the material encountered in digging is bony gravel, usually about one foot below ground level, with clay strata holding the water in large sheets. However, he added, no borings have yet been done along the route. Mr. Broderick will return to the Commission with additional information with regard to access roads, manholes, flood levels, and location of Hodge's Brook, as well as more detail about contours and elevations. He also noted that for purposes of a site walk, the area is flagged and marked; boots are necessary though there is not much moving water. MOTION: To continue the hearing until 10:30 on July 28, 1986 when additional information will be available. (O'Neil - Ouellette; all in favor) VOTED The hearing was continued at 9:45 p.m. CONTINUATION: WETLAND PROTECTION ACT HEARING Paul and Laura Cannata, 287 Elm Terrace The hearing was resumed at 9:48 p.m. Commissioners reviewed a revised plan which showed elevation lines and siltation barriers, per their request at MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMMISSION MINUTES MONDAY, JULY 14, 1986 PAGE FOUR the June 23rd meeting. Final grades were shown, with the Cannata property being lower in elevation than the adjacent abutter, at 143.5'. Where the two lots abut, the land is level, then the neighbor's lot slopes upward. Commissioner O'Neil has been to the site. Other Commissioners will walk the site on Tuesday afternoon, July 15. Atty. Steven Dean, representing the Cannatas, will be contacted about the time of the site walk. This hearing was closed at 10 :09. The Order of Conditions will be written within 21 days, pending receipt of a DEQE file number. CONTINUATION: WETLAND PROTECTION ACT HEARING Mark Audet, Bird Road The hearing was resumed at 10:13 p.m., in Mr. Audet's absence. MOTION: To continue the hearing until after the hearing for Home Developers Lots 1 and 2. (Ouellette - O'Neill; all in favor) VOTED Joint Meeting Conservation Commissioners are invited to a joint meeting with the Selectmen, Planning Board, and Board of Health on July 30 at 9:15 p.m. Conservation Agent The town of Sharon is also searching for a part -time conservation agent and is essentially at the same stage as Mansfield. However, it is the Sharon Commission's intent to use their agent for on -site compliance and inspection, whereas the emphasis in Mansfield will be on having a person who can be accessible, at regularly scheduled times, to the public as well as to town boards and commissions. The intentions of the two towns may, therefore, not be conducive to sharing an agent as Town Manager Wilson had suggested. Chairman Sweet explained that he had been evaluating the resumes received by assigning each a score from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest rating, and then ranking them. Commissioner Mahoney, he said, has done the same. The Commission will hold a work session on Monday, July 21, at Town Hall for the purpose of discussing the resumes. WETLAND PROTECTION ACT HEARING Home Developers, Inc., Lots 1 and 2, Branch Street The hearing opened at 10 :38. No DEQE file number has been issued as yet. Plans show that hay bales will be staked on site. All leaching fields are shown at least 75 feet from wetlands. Commissioners noted that elevations shown on the two sets of plans [for lots 1 and 2] do not agree with regard to the elevations shown between the two property lines. This issue must be resolved. In addition, the plans should show elevations of wetlands as well as the 100 -foot buffer area. Discussion took place about whether work should continue. Commissioner Sweet said that DEQE has advised him that any work done before an Order was issued progressed at the risk of the owner. Commissioner Ouellette noted the MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COHMMISSION MINUTES MONDAY, JULY 14, 1986 PAGE FIVE difference between continuing work on a project which may end up in appeal and which may have problems, and work on a project which has little potential for i difficulty. Certainly, it was noted, hay bales must be in place and a sign must be displayed before any work is done. The letter of the law, as noted by Commissioners Barr and O'Neill, is that the Order of Conditions must be issued before work takes place. A member of the audience who is waiting to purchase lot 2 requested all possible haste in this matter, since his family will be without a place to live. Commissioners responded that they could write the Order of Conditions with all due haste - possibly at the end of the evening - but that issuing the Order would have to wait until DEQE issued a file number for the project. NOTION: To close the hearing on Lots 1 and 2. (Ouellette - Mandell; all in favor) VOTED CONTINUATION: WETLAND PROTECTION ACT HEARING Nark Audet, Bird Road The hearing was continued in Mr. Audet's absence. MOTION: To issue a denial to Mr. Audet, since this is the third evening the hearing has been held and the Commission still is not in receipt of appropriate plans. (O'Neill) Commissioner Ouellette suggested using current information to issue an order of conditions, including in the conditions a requirement that he appear with the requested plans. Discussion ensued about how to best achieve a desirable end, since the work that Mr. Audet has already done is not currently in compliance with the Wetlands Protection Act. Chairman Sweet was inclined not to close the hearing, but to insist on his coming in. MOTION: Rather than deny Mr. Audet, write a letter informing him that he must appear before the Commission on July 21 at 7:35 p.m., and that if he doesn't, the Board will consider taking enforcement action, including removal of the system. (O'Neill) Chairman Sweet indicated a preference for an appearance of the Conservation Constable and Commissioner Barr, with a verbal warning issued. MOTION: To move the original motion for denial. (O'Neil) MOTION: To visit Mr. Audet's property and issue a verbal warning requesting that he appear before the Commission. (Barr - Mandell; all in favor) VOTED Chairman Sweet will check with DEQE about avenues to pursue with regard to this matter, since there have been three sessions and a site walk with no resolution as yet. MANSFIELD CONSERVATION COMMMISSION MONDAY, JULY 14, 1986 ORDER OF CONDITIONS Home Developers, Inc., Lots 1 and 2, Branch Street MINUTES PAGE SIX Commissioners wrote the following orders for Lots 1 and 2, Branch Street, in anticipation of receiving a DEQE file number for this case. 1. Hay bales shall be installed for both lots per plans revised June 23, 1986. 2. The discrepancy between finished contour line elevations between the houses on lots 1 and 2 must be resolved. 3. Elevations of the edge of the wetlands must be shown. 4. Elevations of the 100 -foot buffer zone must be shown. 5. The sign required by General Condition 9 shall be visible from and next to the road. No work shall be done until the sign is posted. This Order of Conditions will not be issued until a DEQE file number has been received. [Commissioner Graham left at 11 :34 p.m.] Site Walks: The Commissioners agreed to begin their site walks at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, at the Forbes Boulevard location near Quality Inn, and proceed from there to 283 Elm Terrace. MOTION TO ADJOURN: (O'Neill - Ouellette; all in favor) VOTED The meeting was adjourned at 11 :56 p.m. The next meeting of the Conservation Commission will be held on July 21, 1986. Approved by: Date to Town Clerk: /!- .? U • 96 /pkf