Town of Bellingham
Conservation Commission
North Community Building
Bellingham, MA 02019
Minutes of the meeting of April 13, 2011
Project: 105-615 Project Description:
CNOI Hartford Avenue / Shoppes at Bellingham Phase I
14 building, parking areas, stormwater & wastewater mgt., & new access road off North Main Street
Applicant: Representative:
Robert Frazier ERM / Ann McMenemy
W/S Development 399 Boylston St.
1330 Boylston St. Boston, MA 02116
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Plans: NOI Supplemental Submittal for Site Access August 2010
Plans: Wetland M Crossing Sheets M1 –M16, August 6, 2010
Continuation time: 7:30 PM
The hearing for the Hartford Avenue / Shoppes at Bellingham Phase I was opened by Neal Standley. He entertained a motion by Brian Norton, seconded by Lori Fafard to continue the hearing at the request of the applicants; to May 11th. There was no discussion.
The hearing was continued to May 11th at 8:00 PM by unanimous vote.
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Informational Presentation/ NSTAR/
Time: 7:35 PM
An informational NSTAR presentation was made on proposed work on their Right of Ways (specifically Right-Of-Way #13) by Kevin McKune
He informed us that utility is looking into sensitive environmental areas. Maps are being developed with policies and procedures for accessing the right-of-way for power lines. The four areas that were discussed included: tree work (danger trees), counterpoise work (ground wires), static work, and roadwork.
No new transmission work was being proposed at this time, the planning was just for upgrading/maintenance work.
George Holmes, our administrator asked who would decide if NSTAR was going to go through or work in wetlands, and how they would let us know. We would want to make sure that they had repaired the impact/damage. It was agreed that it was important to map all roads and upgrade roads for better information about impacts to the wetlands, when access was being made to work areas. Sometimes there's more impact from trying to access sites, than the actual work in them.
The Yearly Operating Plan -- Vegetative Management Plan (VMP) was also briefly discussed with reference to the mechanical cutting, herbicide use, and biological use (cut and treat) aspects of the program.
Of the three methods that the VMP utilizes, the following points were made by Mr. McKune:
Mechanical cutting -- is done as maintenance on the Wetlands Protection Act
Herbicide use -- is no regulated by Con Com - the state rules apply - however, we need notification for review and input
Biological use – cut vegetation in the area and apply growth inhibiting chemicals
Conservation Commission
Minutes of the Meeting of April 13, 2011
Page #2
There is a state and local (i.e. Bellingham) maintenance exemption for utilities.
Regarding the Natural Heritage areas in Bellingham -- there are some sensitive areas that NSTAR is looking at carefully, and we need to work closely with them. George Holmes requested that the commission get information from NSTAR on re-delineated wetlands in the area right of ways (VHB data).
We were informed that herbicide treatment by NSTAR can be done within 10 feet of the wetlands water. There would be a 30 day advance notification and advertisement (In a local paper by NSTAR) and a public hearing (with a certified mailing to abutters), and notification of the town administrator and Conservation Commission. If we wish to do a site walk, we must notify landowners of our wish, and get permission, even after the notification by NSTAR.
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Project: 105-684 & BWP-1 Project Description:
NOI 323 Lakeshore Drive, proposed addition
Applicant: Representative:
John Csizmesia Bill Halsing, Land Planning Inc.
323 Lakeshore Drive 167 Hartford Avenue
Bellingham, MA Bellingham, MA 02019
Plans: NOI & Site Plan located at 323 Lakeshore Drive, Feb. 7, 2011
Hearing time: 8:30 PM
Notice of Intent for 323 Lakeshore Dr. -- a proposed addition with 360 ft. BVW alteration. The applicant John Csizmesia, and his consultant Bill Halsing of Land Planning Inc., presented their proposal to modify the existing single-family home on the property. The conservation commission requested that the full delineation on the lot of the wetlands line be provided. The commission also requested that the septic system on the lobby located on the plan, and a site walk was scheduled for April 30 at 8:00 AM. A motion was made by Brian Norton and seconded by Lori Fafard to continue the hearing to May 11th at 8:30 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
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Informational/ 21 Mann Street/ Justin & Amanda Sachs
Time: 9:00 PM
An informational presentation was made for 21 Mann Street for the construction of a fish pond (which already had been started). Amanda Sachs and her mother were present at the opening of the meeting. Neal Standley stated that he remembered the septic system replacement at this site had been done in 2008 -2009. A request to check for a certificate of compliance for the septic system was made. The work was in process and the activity included the construction of a fish pond near an existing fence located in the buffer Zone and in close proximity to BVW. The Conservation Commission administrator George Holmes asked for a Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) and stated we could approve it and condition it as needed to meet our requirements. It was also stated that we would put a replacement
fence on the RDA for future work. A hearing on the RDA was scheduled for April 27th.
The minutes of the meetings of: March 9 and March 23 were not approved, because they had not been read by all members.
The commission briefly discussed the revisions to the bylaw fees, and made one minor correction inserting a $ in section 4, as shown: ----- ($25/min. or $2000/ max.)
Conservation Commission
Minutes of the Meeting of April 13, 2011
Page #3
The Commission signed:
Cert. of Compliance: Bellingham Estates
CR: for Crystal Springs
The Commission was reminded that there would be a Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday, April 19th to discuss Article 12: Revolving Accounts. The question was asked -- What would happen to any money that was left in the account each year -- would it go into the Land Acquisition Fund? It was determined to try to get the answer at that meeting.
Attending the meeting were: Neal Standley, Lori Fafard, Brian Norton, Michael O’Herron and Administrator George Holmes.
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