Conservation Commission, September 3, 2014
Conservation Committee
September 3, 2014
7:00 PM
Holden Senior Center
Present: Matthew Kennedy, Kenneth Strom, Robert Lowell, Mike Krikonis, Luke Boucher, Anthony Costello
Members Absent: Michael Scott
Staff Present: Pam Harding, Conservation Agent; Liz Fotos, Recording Secretary
Others Present: Gary Kazcmerek, Town of Holden; Matthew Kay, CTA Superintedent; Scott Morrison, EcoTec. Inc,; Paul McManus, EcoTec. Inc.; Mark Popham, Wachusett Valley Estates Wetland Scientist; Robert Himmer; Wade Bergeron.
7:00PM Meeting called to order by Matthew Kennedy.
M. Kennedy informed the public that there were six members present and therefore a quorum.
ENFORCEMENT ORDER- 270 Shrewsbury Street – DEP File #183-578- Mt. View Middle School Mr. Scott Morrison from EcoTec, Inc. was present. He stated there was a small area that had sediment runoff through the construction site into the wetlands. S. Morrison provided the restoration plan and stated that sediment had been removed and hay was spread out. He stated that at this time there was no planting proposed. S. Morrison also stated that the discharge point into the construction area was relocated. It was rerouted and they believe the issue to be remedied. At this point there have been no further issues even though we have experienced more rain events.
P. Harding stated that she had been to the site and witnessed the hand removal of sediment. She stated that it appeared that they had done an adequate job.
M. Kennedy asked S. Morrison about sediment and erosion control moving forward.
S. Morrison didn’t believe there would be any additional issues. He stated that initially the storm water from the building went directly into the area and now it has been routed around the work area. They also put sand bags down to try to make sure the water gets routed into the catch basin. Finally he stated that they are trying to get the foundation in before winter so the basin will be completed; in the meantime there are sediment traps in place.
R. Lowell asked if everything held up after the storms.
S. Morrison stated that it appeared to have.
M. Kennedy asked if anyone else should go out to inspect the site.
P. Harding stated that Gary Kaczmarek, was project manager for the Town.
G. Kaczsmarek stated he does weekly reports.
M. Kennedy reminded everyone how serious this event was. He stated that they could have received a fine under the Clean Water Act.
M. Kennedy asked the public if they had any questions. No members from the public came forward.
Motion by A. Costello, second by R. Lowell, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED THAT THE BOARD WAS SATISFIED THE SEDIMENT HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SITE AND THAT THE COMMISSION WANTED FURTHER REPORTS IN THE SPRING DETAILING REGROWTH.
NOTICE OF INTENT- Wachusett Valley Estates, Greenstone Properties, LLC – 36 Lot Subdivision M. Kennedy began by reminding that Commission that Eco Tec, Inc. looked at the Wetlands as peer review consultant for the Commission.
Mr. Paul McManus, Eco Tec Inc was present. He stated that they visited the wetlands site with the applicant present and had proposed revisions. He stated that there were some flags that were not originally shown on the plans and that they wanted the modifications added to the plans. P. McManus also stated that the biggest issue they found was an area that hadn’t been delineated in the center of the site that qualified as wetlands under the Wetlands Protection Act. The applicant had since delineated it and new flags were put out; it was set to be surveyed today (September 3, 2014).
M. Kennedy asked what extent of the delineation was.
P. McManus gave an approximate location of the missed BVW on the plans to the Commission.
M. Kennedy asked P. McManus if he agreed with the other delineations other than a few feet.
P. McManus replied it was more than a few feet. He showed the Commission where the other changes were located; near the storm water basins (that were set to be relocated). He also stated there was dug channel that he believed to date back to agricultural days. P. McManus showed where the intermittent stream was located. He stated that he believed there was going to be detailed survey distributed showing all of these designations.
M. Kennedy commented that the details P. McManus described will impact the design. He also asked if there would be any other questionable areas.
P. McManus stated that in the proposed open space there is a spring and a little channel that travels to a dug out area. This is a small area of vegetative wetlands with an intermittent stream. They have since placed 9 flags to survey the area.
Mr. Mark Popham of Greenstone Realty was present.
M. Popham said that at this point the entire site had been walked and that most of the modification to the plans would occur to the center area of the property. He stated that there were a few features, lots, utility layouts that may require some revisions. M. Popham stated that the applicant would review the flags, see what impact they have on the current plans and move forward from there.
M. Popham told the Commission that the survey was under way. Once they had that Meisner Brem Corp. would analyze the stormwater and see if any revisions or logical changes needed to occur.
M. Kennedy asked about the schedule for the work.
M. Popham replied before October.
M. Kennedy remarked that it seemed to be a tight schedule.
M. Popham replied the major work from the last request was completed.
M. Kennedy asked if the new information could change the present layout.
M. Popham responded only part of it.
L. Boucher asked about the 25FT wetlands buffer (no disturb zone) and if the basins had been moved
M. Popham confirmed they had.
M. Kennedy asked to see the new basins; and confirmed they were different.
P. Harding asked about the discharge.
M. Popham stated the flags were adjusted and discharge is within 100’. He stated it straightened the line on the side similar to the rear line on the lot. He confirmed that there may need to be some changes.
K. Strom asked for a complete one page site plan that Mr. Jeff Brem of Meisner Brem was going to provide and asked for it a few weeks prior to the next meeting.
M. Kennedy asked the public if they had any questions. No members from the public came forward.
P. Harding reminded the Commission that White Oak was contemplating taking ownership of the open space. She stated that while nothing was finalized and there was no conflict of interest there was the need to disclose the information.
M. Kennedy asked if it was a requirement for open space to be managed.
P. Harding replied that it was not a requirement; there were 3 options that they could choose from but that it did need to be permanently protected open space.
M. Kennedy continued this hearing to October 1, 2014
NOTICE OF INTENT-Fisher Terrace Phase II –Construction of 12 additional condominium units. P. Harding stated that it is currently waiting for revised plans; continued to to October 1, 2014 meeting.
REQUEST FOR DETERMINATION OF APPLICABILITY-72 Old Salisbury Street- Robert Himmer-Construction of Garage on Slab
R. Himmer addressed the Board and requested to put a 20x40 Garage on his property. He stated there was no proposed grade change.
M. Kennedy asked what was located where the garage would be going.
R. Himmer replied it was a yard.
P. Harding stated the purposed area is already flat and is about 75Ft away from the wetlands. (Requirement is 100FT)
M. Kennedy asked if anything needed to be excavated.
R. Himmer replied it was ready with silt fence and hay bales and nothing needed to be excavated.
Motion by L. Boucher, seconded by K. Strom, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ISSUE A NEGATIVE DETERMINATION FOR 72 OLD SALISBURYT STREET REGARDING THE REQUST FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE GARAGE ON A SLAB.
M. Kennedy told R. Himmer if he built it the way that he presented it; there would be no need for a permit.
R. Himmer thanked the Commission.
NOTICE OF INTENT- 175 Quinapoxet Street- Chad Bergeron- Construction of Single Family Home
P. Harding read the public hearing notice. She stated the applicant proposed to demolish an existing single family home and rebuild a new one.
Scott Morrison from Eco Tec, Inc. was present. He stated that there was an existing single family home that was in poor condition. The applicant wanted to demolish it and build a new three bedroom within the same general footprint. The wetlands consisted of BVW and there was riverfront area at the back of the property. S. Morrison stated that there were flags put up to confirm that the new building would be outside of the 200FT riverfront area and that there was an application with DCR pending. He further stated that they were able to maintain 25ft of no touch. He stated that they needed to tie into the existing municipal sewers and that they were proposing haybales and silt fence in the rear.
M. Kennedy asked if there were grade changes proposed
S. Morrison replied that they were going to match the grades around the house.
L. Boucher asked if proposed house was within the existing footprint.
S. Morrison showed the placement of the wetlands and stated the abutting lot touches the wetland area.
M. Kennedy asked the public if they had any questions. No members from the public came forward.
K. Strom asked if there was a deck. S Morrison replied no
L. Boucher asked about the wing wall. S. Morrison replied that a portion of the driveway will be eliminated and there will be a garage.
Motion by K. Strom, seconded by L. Boucher, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR 175 QUINAPOXET STREET; CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
P. Harding stated the property was overgrown.
M. Kennedy stated that there would be a standard order plus placement of a permanent barrier at the 25ft. and that they needed to denote the fence post so there is no dumping into the wetlands
Motion by K. Strom, seconded by M. Krikonis, it was UNANIMOULSY VOTED TO APPROVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SINGLE FAMILY HOME AT 175 QUINAPOXET STREET with standard Orders of Conditions and the special condition that are permanent barrier be placed at the 25’ buffer zone mark from the wetlands.
MINUTES
Motion by L. Boucher, seconded by M. Krikonis, it was VOTED TO APPROVE THE JUNE 4, 2014 MEETING MINUTES CHANGING THE WORD TO “STATED” IN THE 2ND PARAGRAPH AND “SPILLS” ON THE 3RD PAGE BY A VOTE OF 5-0-2(K. Strom: abstained; R. Lowell: abstained).
Motion by A. Costello, seconded by L. Boucher, it was VOTED TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 6, 2014 MEETING MINUTES BY A VOTE OF 5-0-2(M. Kennedy: abstained; R. Lowell: abstained).
Motion by M. Krikonis, seconded by L. Boucher, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED ADJOURN THE SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 CONSERVATION COMMISSION AT 7:46PM.
The September meeting minutes were approved on October 1, 2014.
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Pamela Harding, Conservation Agent