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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin of conservation com 11/17/2003 I r Conservation Commission Meeting November 17,2003 Present: Paul Boyden, Chair; Carole Matthew, Jack Smith, Chris Flass, Bob Bean, .Diane Ready, and Jerry St. Hilaire. Richard Lewis, Conservation and Environmental Planner . b' i. ,~ ~ ,) f Ii II. ..... ....... te ..... at 7;31,.... 2. Notice ofR.esotaRe Area DeliDeatio. - S1ISaDIIC Mary DevelopDaeat -1Mt & EastDum Streets (.Assessor's Map 41, PareeIs 44-46] Ralph Maloon, RIM Engineering, presented a revised plan dated 11/15/03 with the changes discussed during the site visits. He checked the soils in the areas requested by the Commissioners on the field walk. There was no evidence of hydric soils in these areas. It was noted that in some places the wetland line and the edge of the vernal pools are consistent with each other. Motion: To close the public hearing and issue the Order of Resource Area Delineation for the flagging around Vernal pools Band D, and wetland flags A95 through A 158. The remaining flagging on the site will, most likely, not be impacted with any potential development on the site. (Flass/Matthew) All in favor. PASSES r 13. Request for Dete.....tio. of Ap~ -Mecko Tool, 576 West Street The chair read the public hearing notice for the installation of utilities and the construction of a portion of a building within 100 feet of a wetland resource area. Dave Hickey, an engineer with Green Environmental, presented the plan. The site is adjacent to the Petco building on West St. It is a very flat site that has been used by sports teams in the past as a play field. The site is lower than the road and the jurisdictional wetlands are across the street from the site. The closed activity to the resource area will be the installation of utilities in the roadway. Siltation controls will be in place as needed as work progresses on the project. It is pointed out that the project has been through the Site Plan review process and the Town Engineering Dept. has reviewed the various stormwater issues. Motion (BeanlSt. Hilaire) to close the hearing. All in favor. Motion (Flass/Matthew) to issue a Negative Determination # 3 to permit the work as shown on the site plan. All in favor. 14. Reqaest for Detent;..... of Applicability - M-. mctaway Dept. Reute 495 I The chair read the public hearing notice for the proposed grinding and repaving of certain portions of Route 495 as it passes through Mansfield. ,.-- ConComm Minutes 11/17/03 Page 1 of 5 -1'\ 1(..'.,. ':l '''':1 ." '.J.) -TTS Tom McGuire, Environmental Engineer with Mass Highway, presented the plans and r review the work. The existing cement areas of the roadway will be removed and replaced with asphalt, and some grinding of other portions of the road surface will be done and new topcoat installed. He stated that there is an intermittent stream near some of the proposed work. Haybales will be placed where shown on the submitted plans. This is a re-filing of a project brought before the Commission just over three years ago. Motions (St.Hilaire/Smith) to close the hearing, and (BeanlFlass) to issue a Negative Determination # 3 consistent with the plans and the previously issued Determination. Both motions voted 7-0-0. I 5. Request for DeterJJlli..tion of Applicability - WiIIUun CIeary,28 Ware Street On a Motion (Bean!Flass) and vote of 7-0-0, the reading of the hearing notice was waived. Michael Trowbridge, Hutchins-Trowbridge Associates, presented the plan. He stated that there is an existing cesspool on the site, and the only place for the replacement system is as shown on the plan behind the house. Silt fence will be installed as shown. If there are any changes to the plan due to comments from the Board of Health, then a revised plan will be presented to the Commission, but in any event, the proposed system will not be any closer to the wetland area. Dick Lewis said he has inspected the property and did not see any problems as long as the silt fence is installed as shown. Motions (Smith/Ready) to close the hearing, and (BeanlReady) to issue a Negative r Determination # 3 indicating conformance with the plan submitted; both Motions approved 7-0-0. I 6. Request for Detenaiaation of Applicability - KeD Olson, n6 Willow Street On a Motion (Flass/Bean) and vote of 7-0-0, the reading of the hearing notice was waived. Dean Moines, project engineer, represented Ken Olson. He indicated that the system will be a pump system, with the required alarm mechanism. Between the work area and the intermittent stream that forms the resource areas, there is existing lawn that will not be disturbed. The existing above ground pool will be removed. The proposed septic system is designed to meet Title V requirements. Motions (Flass/Smith) to close the hearing, and (Flass/Smith) to issue a Negative Determination # 3 to approve the project as shown on the plan; both Motions voted 7-0. 7. Notiee oflDteIlt Hearing - Fairfield GreeD at MusfieId, LLP -Fairfield GreeD eo_pin, m & 848 West Street This is the continuation of the public hearing. Sterling WalL Daylor Consulting Group, opened the presentation. Chairman Boyden first mentioned to everyone present that the Commission has previously issued an Order of Resource Area Delineation determining that Hodges Brook, as it flowed through this site, is intermittent in nature. S. Wall then provided answers to the outstanding questions from the last hearing. First, he stated that r-- the closest building to the wetland boundary is Building 14, which is 30 feet. Second, the ConComm Minutes 11/17/03 Page 2 of 5 r issue of snow removal and storage will be presented at the next meeting. Third, regarding utilities on the site, the question of directional drilling can be done through unconsolidated material and this will be explored through test holes in the area of the existing farm crossing in the footprint of the proposed roadway. Fourth, he presented to the Commission a matrix detailing the wetland filling and replication work, as well as the restoration of portions of the already disturbed areas within the 25-foot no-disturb zone required in the local by-law. Fifth, he distributed on the bridge crossing, showing that there will un-restrictive flow of the brook through the crossing area. Sixth, on the issue of any potential alteration of the bank of the brook, if directional drilling cannot be used, the a trench approximately 3-feet wide would need to be constructed for the utility work. Seventh, as far as stormwater and drainage issues, the project engineer is working with the Town Engineering Dept. to resolve any and all issues in this area of concern. r S. Wall then described the most recent work on the project. Additional land to the west of the original driveway entrance has been acquired, thus allowing the construction of a new primary entrance point; this resolves some of the traffic and safety issues that were raised with the original layout proposal. A new 24-foot driveway will be installed with a swale for drainage. The new roadway will use a retaining wall to minimize alteration. This proposed layout will alter approximately 1400 sq. ft of wetlands. Full replication will be provided for impacts to the wetlands in this area. Andy Montelli, of Fairfield Development LLP, stated that the original roadway entrance would still be used as an emergency entrance. The amount of wetland alteration for the bridge crossing over Hodges Brook will be reduced since this footprint can be reduced in width. Further, Mr. Wall stated that since the amount of alteration of the bank area along Hodges Brook is below the threshold for a wildlife study under the state Act, there are no plans at the present time to conduct any further studies on this matter. The Commissioners present asked that comments be sought from appropriate departments, as well as the traffic consultant for the ZBA, on the issue of the width of the roadway crossing over Hodges Brook. On the issue of allowing the test holes that were discussed relative to drainage and utilities work, on a Motion (Matthew/Smith) to allow the work with notice to the Town Engineer and the Conservation Office; voted 7-0-0. D. Ready says that the applicant should work to maintain a 25-foot no disturb buffer through the reduction of parking areas or buildings. Public Comments: Linda DiCorpo, West St. asked if and when the Commission would walk the wetland line on the newly acquired properties. She expressed concern with the travels lanes and safety issues over the Hodges Brook bridge crossing. She asked if the Board would talk to the ZBA relative to the old original entrance that will now be an emergency entrance point. And she asked if anyone was going to do a wildlife study. In response, the Commission decided to do a site walk on 11/22/03. And the Commission will solicit r' ConComm Minutes 11/17/03 Page 3 of5 input relative to the emergency access. D. Lewis will draft a memo to the ZBA. And r Sterling Wall indicates that the state database on wildlife habitat areas does not show any species of concern on the project site. Kate Larose, Tremont St. expressed concern with the flow in the brook and impacts to the general area. She questioned why the study on Hodges Brook was performed in August and September instead of the wetter months. S. Wall indicated that the study was performed in conformance with the standards and guidelines outlined by the state. Donna Arnold, West St. expressed concerns with the impact of the project on the existing water problem on West Street. There was a general discussion on this issue. The applicant's consulting team noted that this project will be impact the existing water problems on the street and will not be adding to the problems. Lenny Flynn, Jewell St. outlined several concerns. First, he notes that flood protection is one of the interests of the wetland act, and he feels that this project will adversely impact downstream flooding. Second, he feels that the wildlife habitat issues need to be reviewed. Third, he states that Hodges Brook is shown as a perennial waterway on the USGS map. S. Wall notes that the brook is shown as a light blue line on the map that designates an intermittent stream. Overall, Mr. Flynn says that the project needs to be reduced in scope due to the impacts on flooding, wetland, and the neighborhood in general. r Motion (Bean!Flass) to continue the hearing until December 1 at 8:00 pm and hold a site walk at 8:30 am on Saturday, Nov. 22nd. All in favor. I 9. OtIter Busiaas r a. School Street Violation: D. Lewis reviewed the issues and presented the Commission with a proposed Violation Consent Order. Fill was added to an existing stockpile area and the new fill resulted in approximately 400 sq. ft. of wetland alteration when the pile was pushed around when the new fill was brought in to the site. The property is owned by the School Street Corp. and is located at 464-500 School Street. Per the draft Order, the owner will remove the fill that impacted the wetland area and then perform restoration and re-vegetation of the impacted area. The Commission reviewed the Order and discussed the setbacks to the wetland line. Since the work was accidental in nature and the pile has been on the site for many years, the proposal to establish a 10-foot setback, with a permanent barrier placed at the toe of the pile was deemed appropriate for the present time. Once the pile is removed from the site, a 25- foot setback will be required for future development of the site. Motion (Flass/Ready) to issue the Order as discussed; Voted 6-0-1 (Smith Abstains). ConComm Minutes 11/17/03 Page 4 of 5 r' b. Minutes: Motion to approve the minutes of 7/14/03. 8/11/03,9/8/03, and 9/22/03; All in favor. c. Housing Task Force appointment: the proposed Thursday meeting dates created problems for many of the Commissioners. It was decided that Commission attendance would rotate amongst B. Bean, P. Boyden. And J. St. Hilaire. d. The Commission will meet on 12/1/03 and tentatively on December 15,2003. e. No vote was taken to go into Executive Session. the new owners are aware of the above issues. 110. Adj01U'lUDeDt Motion: To adjourn at 11: 1 0 p.m. (Smith-Ready) All in favor. PASSES D e of Next Meeting: December 1, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. ,)J~iv\{ Date of pproval r r' ConComm Minutes 11/17/03 Page 5 of 5