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HomeMy WebLinkAboutConservation Comm 06/17/2019Town of Mansfield Conservation Commission June 17, 2019 Minutes RECEIVED TOWN CLERKS OFFICE 1019 AUG 20 A & 55 MANSFIELD MASSACHUSETTS Present: Michael Healey, Chair; Sarah Joynes, Aaron Roth, Diane Simms, Aaron Gallagher, Katelyn Gonyer, Conservation and Environmental Planner; Christopher George, Recorder; Guests: Paul Achin (30 Potash Road), Jim Schillawski (18 Longwood Circle), Beth Schillawski (18 Longwood Circle), Michael Trowbridge (200 Chauncy Street), Michael McClanahan (104 Cottage Street), Ann Matson (25 Cobb Street), The meeting of the Conservation Commission was called to order at 7:06pm by Chair Michael Healey in Town Hall Room 3A/B. Ms. Katelyn Gonyer suggests that they issue a full certificate to William McDermott. She says her only concern is that they may not have a July meeting. Ms. Simms says she's not comfortable doing a certificate of compliance because she'd like to see the work done first. She says it won't hamper the closing. Mr. Healey says he has a similar question. Dr. Roth asks if the land is stable. Ms. Gonyer says that it is not right now. Ms. Gonyer says each project and timeline should be taken into consideration. Mr. Healey says there is a concern over doing things partially. Ms. Joynes asks if they were just waiting for appropriate conditions to seed. Ms. Gonyer says it was loom and that they needed to bring material in. She says there is no pool. Dr. Roth asks if there is a downside to the owner to delay. Ms. Gonyer says no. Mr. Healey fields for questions. There are none. *Motion to continue to the next hearing made by Mr. Gallagher, 2"d by Ms. Simms, Vote 5-0 PASSED James Schillawski, 18 Longwood Circle, Map 37, Parcel 234. Removal of mature pine trees and construction of a paver patio within 100 feet of Bordering Vegetated Wetland. Ms. Gonyer explains she was on site with the home owner and he has a considerable amount of mature pines. She says the homeowner has been in contact with a tree removal service. She recommends issuing a negative determination for reason number three that the proposed work will not impact the protected resource with the following special conditions: • Removal of trees that are threatening the dwelling unit only. • Agent is to be notified of Start of Work. • Agent is to be notified when work is completed. • Dumping of lawn clippings and/or yard debris into wetland and/or 25(twenty-five) foot No Disturb Zone is prohibited. Storage is prohibited in these areas as well. Mr. Healey agrees that they are quite tall and close enough to their house that can create a concern. He asks how they'll be cutting down the trees. Mr. Schillawski says the plan is for a crane to come in with lugging trucks around the back yard. He says there will be considerable lawn damage and that's why they discussed replanting grass. Mr. Gallagher asks if the paved patio will be within the 100(one-hundred) foot buffer. Ms. Gonyer says yes. Ms. Gonyer displays a map of the property. Mr. Schillawski says it will be a standard paver patio. Dr. Roth asks if they can stipulate that it can be pavers and not concrete. Ms. Gonyer says it is already. Dr. Roth asks how soon they'll do this. Mr. Schillawski says the end of August. He says if the weather stays like this then he'll wait for the ground to be frozen. Ms. Simms asks if this was stamped on May 3, then why it wasn't held at the May meeting. Ms. Gonyer says that it wasn't delayed. She says it was probably an administration error with the use of the stamp. Mr. Healey fields for questions. There are none. *Motion to issue a negative determination for reason number three, proposed work will not impact the protected resource area with the following special conditions of removal of trees that are threatening the dwelling only, the Agent is to be notified of Start of Work, the Agent is to be notified when work is complete, and that dumping of lawn clippings and/or yard debris into wetland and/or 25(twenty-five) foot No Disturb Zone is prohibited with storage being prohibited in these areas as well made by Dr. Roth, 2nd by Mr. Gallagher, Vote 5-0 PASSED u # Paul Achin 30 Potash Road Map 38, Parcel 171. Rear yard of single-family home to be regraded within 100 feet of Bordering Vegetated Wetland. Ms. Gonyer says this is another lot where the sub divisions created in the 1970's and 1980's are starting to have slumping and tipping of the yard. She displays pictures of the property. She shows heavy erosion in the rear yard. She says it's all runoff from streets and aligned properties. She says it's going to happen more over time unless he's allowed to regrade the area. She said she's talked about installing planting to ensure there is no direct exposure to the wetland. She says the end plan is stabilization. Dr. Roth asks how he deals with the pines. Mr. Achin says he's looking to flush cut those. He says that area was always a bed when they first bought the house. He said he didn't even treat it this year because he's hoping to have the work done. Ms. Gonyer says there probably isn't organics there anymore; he'd have to bring in loom. Mr. Achin says they were thinking of planting small trees. Ms. Gonyer says to think of dogwoods or other natives and she offers to provide Mr. Achin a list of the plants. Mr. Gallagher asks where the water comes from. Mr. Achin says everything just grades down from the street and the house. Ms. Gonyer shows pictures of the property. Mr. Gallagher suggests installing a berm; which would help slow down the velocity of the water flow. He suggests it as Mr. Achin is already spending so much money to regrade the property he says it will help keep the regrading in place. Mr. Healey says his concern is that they'll regrade the area that if it rains then it will wash it all away. He suggests trying to terrace the area. He says it doesn't have to be anything fancy but this will help prevent Mr. Achin from having to regrade his property again in the future. Ms. Gonyer agrees with this because it will infiltrate down rather than sheet flow down the back yard. Mr. Achin says that when he first moved here this isn't what the property was like. He said over time the soil has eroded away to show roots. Ms. Gonyer says when they made these subdivisions they didn't focus on the rear yards; only the front yards. She says it will be very difficult to plant grass under that pine. Dr. Roth asks how long it takes for Pine to naturally dry. Ms. Gonyer says between 20-30 years. Mr. Healey fields for questions. There are none. *Motion to issue a negative determination for reason number three, proposed work will not impact the protected resource area with the following special conditions that erosion control shall be installed along limit of work show on plans. The erosion controls shall consist of an 8(eight) inch diameter biodegradable mulch -filled silt sock with wooden stakes every 10(ten) feet on each sides of sock or equivalent. The applicant shall notify the Agent when any such devices or measures are installed so that a site visit can be conducted prior to commencement of work. Agent is to be notified of Start of Work. Agent is to be notified when work is complete. Dumping of lawn clippings and/or yard debris into wetland and/or 25(twenty-five) foot No Disturb Zone is prohibited with storage prohibited in this area as well. Four to Five plantings will be planted along the wetlands, and at the owners discretion a retaining wall can be installed made by Mr. Gallagher, 2"d by Ms. Simms. Vote 5-0 PASSED Michael McClanahan, 101 Pleasant Street 106 Cottage Street, Map 24, Parcel 339 & 358. Demo existing dwelling and construct new single-family dwelling within 100 feet of Bordering Vegetated Wetland. Mr. Trowbridge addresses the Commission and represents Mr. McClanahan. He explains the project. He says both houses will be on sewer. He says it will be within an easement and all utilities will be coming in from the westerly side. He says they do have silk socks shown along the 25(twenty-five) foot no touch zone. He says they've tried to keep the grading as minimum as possible. He says they do have dry wells for both of the structures. He says this isn't a high value wetland but they're still trying to protect it as best they can. Ms. Gonyer displays pictures of the property. She says it's confined to this lot and is acting like a miniature catch basin for the area. Mr. McClanahan says the Town did it about 30(thirty) years ago. Ms. Gonyer shows there is a lot of fill in the wetland area. She shows a tree that had fallen on an abutter's property along with debris in the wetlands. Mr. Trowbridge says they will be handpicking any debris found there. Ms. Gonyer shows a picture of a puddle where the driveway meets the pavement. Mr. Trowbridge says they will be paving that area. Ms. Gonyer says there is an old Linden Tree that needs to come down. She says they may see the area function better once it's cleaned up. She says there may even be improvements to the small functioning pool. Ms. Gonyer says she did put down residential sizing. Mr. Healey asks if when they put in the house they are putting in a basement due to the high water table in that area. Mr. Trowbridge says they will be installing a basement. Mr. Trowbridge says that area will be raised up about 4(four) feet. Mr. Healey asks when they increase the grade, how will that effect the abutters. Mr. Trowbridge says that very little will be brought up on the right side. Ms. Gonyer says it will continue to shed toward the abutters. She says they'll also see more water flowing into the wetland depression area which she determines to be fine to do. Mr. Healey says it would be in their collective interest to clean up that area. Ms. Gonyer says the silt fence will need to be maintained through the life of the project. She says the 12(twelve) inch silt fence should be staked too. Mr. Trowbridge says he'll ensure they're staked in the ground. Ms. Gonyer displays a signage disc that would be used in the area. Mr. Trowbridge asks how they'd be adhered to the tree. Ms. Gonyer says she can provide the hardware to install it. She says one or two would be fine. Mr. Trowbridge says they can install one on each side of the house. Mr. Healey fields for questions. There are none. *Motion to issue an Order of Condition for Michael McClanahan, 101 Pleasant Street 106 Cottage Street, Map 24, Parcel 339 & 358. Demo existing dwelling and construct of 4 2(two) dwellings, a single-family and a multi -family, within 100(one-hundred) feet of an Isolated Wetland according to local bylaw with special conditions of Record Order, Plan of Record, Erosion Controls, Additional Mitigation, Stabilization, Roof Runoff to be Recharged Onsite, Construction Sequence to be Included, Agent to be informed of Start of Work, Agent is to have a pre -construction meeting, OOC Onsite, Wetland Flagging, COC with As -built, Any revisions must be reviewed by the Agent, Residential Signage to be installed, No Synthetic Fertilizer, and No Dumpling of Lawn Debris made by Dr. Roth, 2"d by Mr. Gallagher. Vote 5-0 PASSED. • 310 West Street issues update; Ms. Gonyer says that fines have started to accrue. She says they took 7(seven) truckloads out so far. She says she's been monitoring it on an almost daily basis. Mr. Healey asks if the fines are what got them moving. Ms. Gonyer says yes. • Potential land donation- Stearns Ave Ms. Gonyer says they should put as much protection on this parcel as they can. She displays an image of the parcel. She says it's a certified vernal pool. Mr. Healey asks if they have monies for this. Ms. Gonyer says yes. She says she does need to update GIS to show it's a certified and not a potential pool. *Motion to move forward with acquiring the land and any funds required will be taken out of the Land Acquisition Fund made by Mr. Gallagher, 2"d by Dr. Roth. Vote 5-0 PASSED • MACC Certificate of Achievement to Commission• Ms. Gonyer congratulates Ms. Simms on completing her certificate course for MACC. She thanks Ms. Simms for the time she's investing in both Conservation and Open Space. She says she's looking to get seasonal help because her office is getting busier. • Update from Open Space and Recreation Committee• Ms. Simms asks if there have been any updates to the trespass notifications. Ms. Gonyer says she has contacted VAM but cannot get anyone to call her back. Ms. Gonyer says she will have an update by the next Open Space meeting. Ms. Simms says they've met with Mark Cook to prioritize trail work that needed to be accomplished. She said he prioritized safety issues to be worked on this summer. Ms. Simms says she went to the Canoe River Aquifer Committee meeting with Dr. Roth. Ms. Simms said they talked about their common interest in education opportunities. Ms. Gonyer says she will make the next meeting. She says she'd like to learn more about the ACEC designations and how other communities work with it. Ms. Simms says there was a site walk at Judy's Lane and she had three resident guests attend. She says the next one will be at Great Woods. • Department Updates; Ms. Gonyer says there is a lot of construction going on in the department. She says she'll be taking notes again with recommendations. She says she's going to be asking for a range finder or a distance reader. She says the electric department showed her one that would be very - - useful. She asks they take it out of the Canoe River Gift fund. Mr. Healey provides an update on the Master Plan Committee he attended. *Motion to allot no more than $450 for an outdoor range -finder from the Canoe River Gift Fund made by Mr. Gallagher, 2"d by Ms. Simms. Vote 5-0 PASSED • Approval of May 20, 2019 minutes. *Motion made to accept the Minutes of May 20, 2019 made by Dr. Roth, 2"d by Mr. Gallagher. Vote 5-0 PASSED *Motion to adjourn at 8:52pm made by Mr. Gallagher, 2"d by Ms. Simms. Vote 5-0 PASSED C Q L9.jq_Y Michael Healey, Chair Date E