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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin of conservation com 05/03/2004 r' Conservation Commission Meeting May 3, 2004 04 HAY 19 PH ~: 50 Present: Paul Boyden., Chair; Carole Matthew, Chris Flass, Jerry St. Hilaire, Bob Bean Richard Lewis, Conservation and Environmental Planner MA N SF I ELD MASSACHUSETTS I RECE\~EI ' >'nW~,j (':1 rp",S OFF 1 CE . ",",. "." ,~ .....~...... i \ j". It..MeeIq.......U7:3tp.... 2. Notieeof InteDt Pubic Hearing continued - Village LQdiDg, LLC - 631 East Street - SE 211-697 The chair read the public hearing notice for the removal of existing buildings and construction of thirteen buildings with parking areas and the installation of utilities and drainage and stormwater systems, with work within 100 feet of wetland resource areas. Motion: To continue the public hearing to June 14,2004 at 7:45 p.m. (Flass-Bean) All in favor. PASSES 3. Notice of Intent Public Hearing - Mansfield Conservation Commission - Strese Conservation Area, Ware Street - SE 211-700 - Miehael Bibby, Eagle Scout The chair read the public hearing notice for the reconstruction and improvements to a bog bridge and trail near the access to a town conservation area, with the placement of materials to create the bog bridge with the wetland area and some limited grading within .100 feet of a wetland resource area. Mr. Lewis said the file number had been received, with no comments received from DEP. (-, Mr. Bibby said the trail has been graded, the brush has been piled and the fallen timbers and roots have been removed. All that remains is to build the bog bridge and create the maps. Mr. Boyden asked how long the clearing will last; Mr. Bibby said they had widened the trail and removed the undergrowth, and as long as the trail is being used, it will likely take quite awhile to grow back. However, if it is not used, it will grow back within a year or two. He said while he was working on the trail, he saw people using it. Mr. Bean asked how long the bridge would take; Mr. Bibby said he would have to arrange for funding of about $450 for materials, but it should be done in the next few months. He said the base would be assembled off site and brought in. Ms. Flass asked about #2 in the draft order; Mr. Lewis explained approximately six cubic feet would have to be removed for the installation of the bridge. Motion: To close the public hearing (Flass-Smith) All in favor. PASSES Motion: To issue the Order of Conditions with the draft conditions (Flass-St. Hilaire) All in favor. PASSES 5. Notice oflnteDtPublic Heariag. - 97 Balcom Street - Robert Meisterman - SE 211-701 The chair read the public hearing notice for the reconstruction of a single-family house in a new location with a new septic system, with grading and associated work within 100 feet of a wetland resource area ~ 5/12/2004 Conservation Commission Minutes 1 r Ralph Maloon., RIM Engineering, presented the plan for an existing house on Balcom Street. The wetlands have been flagged and they have been to the Board of Health. The lot is small with a lot of wetlands, which wrap around the site and has been disturbed over the years. The Board of Health has requested the leach field be kept 50 feet away from the wetlands; Mr. Maloon said managed to keep it 49 feet away. The house will be slab on grade. Mrs. Matthew asked about the septic system; Mr. Maloon said there is an existing cesspool in the back yard, where the deck is shown on the plan. The cesspool would be pumped and crushed or removed. Mr. Maloon proposes siltation control around the entire project; the driveway will remain in the same place. The construction will be primarily in previously disturbed areas. Mr. Lewis said a file number has been received, and he has drafted an Order of Conditions. He said there may be issues with work within 25 feet of the wetland. Mr. Lewis said the existing house is in very poor shape, and in order for it to be used, a new septic system will have to be installed. Mr. Maloon explained the Board of Health has a 75-foot requirement from a wetland, but the state allows the town to waive that. Mr. Lewis said most of the area is already disturbed. Mr. Lewis said there is a siltation control line shown on the plan; there is a 10-foot separation between the driveway and the siltation control area. He said if that 10 feet r'" were continued around the back of the house, there could be some usable back yard area. Mr. Maloon said the septic tank is sized for three bedrooms, and the house would have to be 10 feet from the septic system. There will be a breakout grade wall between the septic system and the driveway. Ms. Flass asked if the leach field could be more oval instead of rectangular. Mr. Maloon said he was trying to keep the leach field as far from the wetland as possible. He said the tank could be moved as long as it is kept 10 feet from the house. Mr. Boyden suggested moving the tank toward TP 2, pivoting the house toward the leaching field and putting the tank closer to the driveway. Mr. Maloon said that may cause issues with setbacks to the lot line. He said he would likely have to go to the ZBA. Mr. Boyden asked about a trench; Mr. Maloon said that would increase the leaching area by 50 percent. He said the field has to be 500 square feet, but the shape could change. Mr. Bean asked about a design other than. a straight box. Mr. Maloon said he would discuss that with his client. He said he hoped the hearing would be left open pending the ZBA meeting. Mr. Bean said that would give the applicant time to talk to the Board of Health and ZBA, and to discuss other options for the design of the house. r'" 5/12/2004 Conservation Commission Minutes 2 r" Ms. Matthew said the commission would have to decide whether the application conforms to Section 2.5. Ms. Flass said she thought the house would have to stay outside the 25 feet, but the lawn could be inside that area. Motion: To continue the public hearing to June 14,2004 at 8:05 p.m. (Bean-Flass) All in favor. PASSES 6. Notice of Intent PubHc Hearing - 771 Ware Street - James & Carol Unger - SE 2U-XXX The chair read the public hearing notice for the construction of a shed and the grading and expansion of a rear lawn area, with grading and associated work within 100 feet of a wetland resource area Mr. Lewis said there had been an error in notifying the abutters to this project and the public hearing would have to be continued. Motion: To continue the public hearing to May 17,2004 at 7:45 p.m. (Bean-Flass) All in favor. PASSES 7. Request for Determination of AppHcability - Adjacent to 274 Fruit Street - John C. Hurley The chair read the public hearing notice for the construction of a single-family house with grading and associated activity within 100 feet of a wetland resource area. r-- Mr. Boyden asked if this parcel has a lot number and/or parcel number. Mr. Hurley said it is 282 Fruit Street, assessor's parce149, and is across Fruit Street from the airport. Mr. Lewis said he visited this lot and the front portion, where the house would be located, is an open area. The vegetation is toward the rear of the lot. He said the wetland line looked a little conservative, but he spoke with John at RIM Engineering, who explained that was set by the soil line. Mrs. Matthew asked about the contours; Mr. Lewis said the site is very flat with low vegetation and grasses. Mr. Bean asked if there would be any problems with the airport; Mr. Hurley said they have spoken with the Airport Commission and are outside the transition zone. The house will be two stories and will be on sewer. Mr. Lewis said the plan shows work within the buffer zone, but staked hay bales will contain any material. He said there is a slight elevation change around flag 15, toward the back of the site. Mr. Maloon explained the elevation of flag 18 is probably 122 or 123, and said the site is very flat. Mr. Boyden suggested showing spot elevations on plans like this. /r" Mr. Lewis suggested a negative determination with siltation control and a revised plan showing the elevation of flag 18 submitted to his office. Consensus of the board was to vote on the determination with the elevation being pmvided as a condition. 5/12/2004 Conservation Commission Minutes 3 r Motion: To issue a Negative Three determination with siltation control in place per the plans and a revised plan showing elevations toward the back of the site, specifically at flag 18, submitted to Mr. Lewis's office. (Bean-Smith) All in favor. PASSES 8. Notice of Intent Public Hearing - Town of Mansfield Plymouth Street Recreation Area - SE 211-XXX The chair read the public hearing notice for the construction of multi-purpose playfields and associated parking areas, with grading, drainage and associated activity within 100 feet of a wetland resource area Michael Ahern., DPW Special Projects Manager, explained the plan to redo an order that was done in February 2000. The scope of the project has not changed, but because of funding the project was stopped. Trees have been cut and one of the wetland replication areas has been done. The area has been used for stockpiling of snow and loam that will be used on the fields. Ms. Matthew asked if this was the same project for which the commission had asked for a snow plan. Mr. Ahem said snow has been dumped on this site during large storms, but will not be after the fields are completed. Mr. Lewis said this is not located in a Zone II area. Mr. Boyden asked if this site would ever be considered as a well site. Mr. Lewis said he didn't believe it would be. Ms. Matthew said she would like to see the replication report. Mr. Lewis said he has ~ visited the site a number of times and the replication area has come in well with cattails and moss. He said he would provide a report for the file; Mr. Boyden said DPW should produce the report. Mr. Boyden said he was concerned that snow would be stockpiled in parking areas after the fields are completed. Mr. Ahem said they are requesting to use those areas for snow stockpiling only until the fields are completed. Ms. Matthew said the request seems to be asking to continue using the area for snow stockpiling. Mr. Lewis said once the fields are constructed, snow won't be stockpiled there. Mr. Ahem agreed. Mr. Boyden asked if the gates are locked every night. Mr. Ahem said they are. Mr. Lewis explained the filling was done at the entrance. Mr. Ahem said there is no funding for the work, and it could take up to a year. However, he said sometimes the town receives donations from private businesses, such as the loam which is currently being stockpiled on the site. Mr. Lewis suggested getting a letter from DPW saying the fields will not be used for snow stockpiling after the fields are finished. Mr. Lewis said a DEP file number has not yet been received, so the hearing would have to be continued. Public Comment Alan Pillsbury, 55 Old Elm Street, asked the scope of the project. Mr. Ahem said the ,.,-.. town doesn't own any more developable land near this complex, so it will not be 5/12/2004 Conservation Commission Minutes 4 r increased beyond the current plan. He explained the land has already been cleared and is being used to stockpile loam. Mr. Pillsbury asked what the fields could be used for; Mr. Bean said they are multi-purpose fields that could be used for lacrosse, football, and other sports. Mr. Pillsbury asked about drainage systems to keep the fields in good shape; Mr. Ahem said there has been talk about making those fields artificial. For the next meeting, Mr. Ahem will provide the commission with a replication report and a snow removal policy. Motion: To continue the public hearing to May 17,2004 at 8:15 p.m. (Bean-Flass) All in favor. PASSES I 2. Correspondence Mr. Lewis said while he was away last week, Mr. Sullivan had to file for an emergency repair after a sink hole developed on West Street in front of the Police Station. That work has been completed satisfactorily. Work will begin on the East Street water main., which will be done in association with the water treatment facility behind the DPW garage. ,r- 1. Review and Discussion of proposed Conservation Restriction for King Property acquisition. Mr. Lewis explained the management plan has to be done to get the state matching funds. The document spells out the legal protection for the site. The site will share parking with the Strese land and maintenance will be done by civic organizations. Mr. Bean said scouting organizations are always looking for projects, and land like this would be good location. Ms. Matthew suggested there should be signs installed on town-owned land explaining wetland issues. Mr. Lewis asked the commission to sign the conservation restriction for the King Property, which would also have to be signed by the NRT and Board of Selectmen. Motion: To sign the conservation restriction (Smith-St. Hilaire) All in favor. PASSES 2. Canoe River Awareness Day, Easton on May 15th 3. Invitation to the dedication of the Rails-to-Trails project, May 15th at 10:00 am 4. Order of Conditions - Dean Street - Passinissi. The plan was denied under the local by-law. Motion: To sign the order of conditions (Bean-Smith) All in favor. PASSES 5. Discussion on potential land acquisition project adjacent to existing conservation land. He said it would be possible to purchase this land over 10-15 years, which would benefit the town and the current landowner, who would like to retain life tenancy. Motion: To allow the chair and Mr. Lewis to enter into preliminary negotiations on this property (Bean-Flass) Five in favor. Boyden abstained. PASSES r 5/12/2004 Conservation Commission Minutes 5 ~ Ms. Flass asked about rumors of large transformers on Bird Road. Mr. Lewis said he had spoken to representatives of the light department, and he didn't think it was likely to happen on town-owned land. Mr. Lewis said he had spoken with Michelle Grenier, who recently visited Gilbert Street. Mr. Lewis said he hasn't heard anything new on the School Street appeal. Mr. Lewis said there has been a meeting on South Walnut Street with town counsel and the landowner's representatives; Mr. Mangiaratti will be contacting the landowner's attorney. Mr. Lewis said he spoke with the assistant attorney general on Essex Street; the landowner has filed documents that it is an agricultural use. I 4. Adjoul'Dment Motion: To adjourn at 10:00 p.m. (Bean-Smith) All in favor. PASSES Date of xt Meeting: May 17,2004 at 7:30 p.m. sJ )"} } tJLj Date of Approval r r 5/12/2004 Conservation Commission Minutes 6