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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin of conservation com 01/13/2003 -., , , ! r Mansfield Conservation Commission Minutes of January 13, 2003 i..1:., '! ...1 Fil 3: !r,9 I,'" ''',..,. Present: Paul Boyden, Chairman; Bob Bean, Chris F1ass, Jack Smith, <t~1: l\fatth~~ E T T S Diane Ready; Dick Lewis, Environmental & Conservation Planner Meeting called to Order at 7:35 p.m. (' 1. Discussion with Town Manager John D' Agostino re: Land Acquisition, Essex Street Mr. D' Agostino described the parcel as the property owned by the Winslow's and adjacent to the property that was purchased last year. The Winslow's approached the town about this land. Given the purchase last year, there is interest in acquiring this additional parcel. Given the layout of the land, with scattered wetland areas present, the land would be best suited for conservation uses as opposed to active recreation. The potential development plan that the Winslow's have had prepared was reviewed. Discussion on whether all of the land might be purchased or whether some limited number of the house lots could be developed separately to reduce the overall acquisition cost. If some limited development took place, we would want to make sure that a buffer between the new homes and the open space was maintained. General question as to whether the state, through the Division of Conservation Services and the Self-Help Fund, will have money to assist towns in these types of purchases. Dick Lewis will contact Joel Lerner's office to check on the status of available funding assistance. Question of whether any vernal pools or endangered species are present. This could help in obtaining funding. If the land were purchased for conservation purposes Mr. D' Agostino indicated that it would be retained as conservation land for passive conservation activities. The parcel purchased last year is being mowed. Dick will check into the question of contracts for this activity. Motion: (Bean/Smith) to allow the Town Manager to proceed with discussions with the Winslow's about potential purchase of this land and to contact Joel Lerner to open discussion about a Self-Help application; voted 5-0-1 [Ready abstains as not present for entire discussion) 2. Request for Determination Hearing - Lori and Chris Graham, 35 Perkins Avenue The applicants were present along with Ralph Maloon. It was explained that the house has frontage on both Perkins Ave. and Prince Street. There is a wetland area, the river front area associated with Robinson Brook and Flood Plan area. The elevation of the proposed garage will be approx. 175 ft. The area where the addition will be placed is existing lawn and landscape area. The brook is well distanced from the work area, with only minimal work taking place within the second lOO-foot zone of the riverfront area. Dick Lewis and Chris Flass have visited the site and found no problem with the work. Ms. Flass did ask about the close proximity of the lawn and the wetland boundary. The house was constructed prior to the local wetland bylaw. The Graham's indicated that there is no intent to expand the lawn area any further. Question of where any excess fill from the project would be placed. Motion: [FlasslBean] to close the hearing and issue a Negative 3 Determination with the conditions that a haybale line be placed around the proposed work area, 10 feet away from the foundation line of the new structure; that no excess fill be placed within 25 feet of the wetland boundary; and, that the project engineer certify the installation of the haybales prior to start of any excavation work; voted 6-0-0. r (' 3. Other Business: a. Request for a Certificate of Compliance for the remaining lots in the Mill Farm subdivision [SE 211-518]. Motion: [BeanlMatthew] to issue the Certificate; voted 6-0-0. b. Request for an Extension Permit for James Flanagan for the constriction of a garage addition to his home at 69 Kerry Drive. It was noted that this is one of several extensions for this project. Motion: [BeanlFlass] to issue a One-year Extension only and to let the homeowner know that if a new application was filed that the work should conform to the requirements of the local by-law; voted 6-0-0. c. Discussion of an offer of a gift of land that is associated with the open space land of a Residential Compound on Mill St. The open space land is surrounded on three sides by other town-owned conservation or Water Dept. land, and the site is within the Canoe River aquifer area. Motion: [Matthew/Smith] to accept the gift ofland for conservation purposed; voted 6-0-0. d. Paul Boyden mentioned that Ralph Maloon should have, for the Graham project on Perkins Ave., placed something on the plan indicating the basis for the flood plain elevation. Dick will raise this issue with Ralph. e. Review ofClemmey project on South Walnut Street. The Commission had issued an Order that denied work in this Isolated wetland area. On or around the 23rd of December, Mr. Clemmey or his agents cleared the land and initiated grading operations. Paul Boyden, over the Christmas holiday, visited the site with Ed Burke, from DEP, who said that the state wetland regs did not apply to this site. Dick Lewis has spoken with Town Counsel about drafting a court filing regarding this violation of the local wetland by-law. Town Counsel will draft the appropriate documents and get approval from the Board of Selectmen to pursue the suit. f. Carol Matthew asked about the flooding on Maple Street. Dick said he will check into it. g. Motion: to accept the Minutes of December 16, 2002; voted 6-0-0. h. Review of the new hearings for the meeting on January 27th. (' Motion: to adjourn at 9:05 p.m.; voted 6-0-0. J- "It ~'( I j) ~ \~ ~ ~( uJ ~ L~ \IJ \,;"- u--\/ ~~~ .~o l~~, t ~.j \ '\ r--