FINAL
Present for the Conservation Commission and attending the meeting were: Sandy Broyard, Chairman, Pam Goff, Bob Hungerford, Chris Murphy, Joan Malkin and Chuck Hodgkinson. Chris Alley, Kris Horiuchi, Nick Negroponte, Arnie Fischer, Kristen Reimann, George Sourati, Kate Warner, Maureen Eisner, Tom Tate and Chris Kennedy also attended. Wesley Cottle and Candy Shweder were absent.
The meeting came to order at 12:30 PM.
NOI (NO DEP FILE # LOCAL BYLAW ONLY) CHRIS ALLEY FOR LEONARD BELL; 11 East Lane; AP 32-72: Ms. Broyard opened the public hearing at 12:30 PM. Mr. Alley summarized the history of the roadway and reviewed the proposal to relocate a 10 foot wide section of roadway and restore the path of the existing roadway with topsoil and native meadow grass and woody plantings. The activity is within the 100-foot buffer zone of an isolated wetland. The closest work will be approximately twelve feet from the wetland edge. The Site Review Committee reports dated 7/10/13 and 12/11/13 were read for the record. A letter from abutter Anne Bell Robb was also read for the record. Mr. Alley stated the Commonwealth’s private water well
regulations call for at least 25 feet of separation between the well and a roadway. The current road is 27 feet from the road and the well will be 29 feet from the proposed new roadway.
Ms. Reimann reviewed the proposed re-landscaping plan for the abandoned section of roadway. The plan also included additional screening between the Bell’s new house that is under construction and the Robb lot.
Mr. Fischer is not an abutter but, works for several property owners in the neighborhood. He asked if the new roadway will still be on the Bell’s property. Mr. Alley said it will. Mr. Fischer added that if the current roadway is re-vegetated, it will be disturbed when the buried utility lines need service as they are under the existing roadway. Mr. Alley commented there are no plans to relocate the utility lines.
Mr. Sourati representing the Robb family said they are opposed to relocating the roadway because it will be closer to their house when it is eventually relocated north – farther away from the bluff. He also asked about a water drainage plan for the new roadway. Mr. Alley said there will not be a significant change in the water drainage that will adversely impact the wetland resource.
With no further comments from the public a motion was made to close the hearing at 1:05 PM. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. A subsequent motion was made to approve the site plan dated 1/15/14 and the landscape plan that is hand-dated 1/15/14 with the following special conditions: 1. Any future disturbance in the buffer zone to service the underground utilities shall be reviewed by the Commission or its Agent before work begins. 2. Hay bales and silt fencing shall be installed between the work area and the wetland and approved by the Conservation Agent before work begins. 3. There shall be no underground storage of fuel oil. The motion was seconded. In discussion the Commissioners commented the plan seems to be a moderate proposal that is in our
jurisdiction. The motion came to a vote and passed unanimously with five in favor.
NOI SE 12 - 697; CHRIS ALLEY FOR NICHOLAS NEGROPONTE; 0 Signal Hill Lane; AP 34-1.3: Ms. Broyard opened the public hearing at 1:12 PM. Mr. Alley reviewed the history of the property, the subdivision and the special development deed restrictions the Howland family placed on the parcel. He added this is a plan to develop the vacant lot by building a single-family residence, detached bedroom with the associated power, water and septic facilities. A corner of the detached bedroom is within the 100-foot buffer zone of a Bordering Vegetated Wetland. A portion of the main house will be cantilevered over the wetland buffer zone. The septic tank, septic pump chamber and related plumbing are located within the buffer zone. An expanded re-landscaping plan is also
proposed for the buffer zone. The activity is within NHESP jurisdiction and the closest work will be approximately 80 feet from the wetland edge. He commented The Trustees of Reservations (TTOR) holds a Conservation Restriction (CR) over the subdivision and the Trustees approved the building envelope as shown on the site plan dated 10/22/13 which was reduced from 31,000 sq. ft. to 27,921 sq. ft. The driveways from the road to the new house are within TTOR’s jurisdiction.
The well and septic plan have been approved by the Board of Health and the Site Review Committee report dated 9/18/13 was read for the record.
Ms. Horiuchi reviewed a landscaping site plan dated 1/14/14 that indicated the buffer zone is at the edge of the foundation. The proposed cantilevered “bow sprit” will be 8’ 10” above grade at its farthest end from the house.
The Commission asked why the grade needs to be changed in the buffer zone. Ms. Horiuchi explained the detached bedroom is buried into the side of the land contour that is outside the buffer. There will be retaining walls and the activity will however impact an area of the buffer zone. The Commission further asked why the meadow area needs to b expanded in the buffer zone. Ms. Horiuchi said it is being proposed to provide more open space for the detached bedroom. The re-landscape plan indicates the buffer zone will be restored to a mowed meadow with woody vegetation. The Commission asked how the water view will be maintained. Ms. Horiuchi said the cedar trees in the buffer will come down.
When asked about roof water runoff and the foundation Mr. Tate stated the 13-foot high roof will slope toward the driveway and have gutters and downspouts to air. He added dry wells could be added if the Commission thought they were needed. The detached bedroom will have a slab-on-grade foundation and the main house will have a partial full basement foundation in the low grade section and a partial crawl-space foundation in the higher-grade section of the house. This foundation plan is still under review and may change.
Mr. Kennedy explained TTOR’s jurisdiction and expressed the following concerns:
- The height of the chimneys will impact the view shed. Mr. Tate said one of the proposed chimneys has been eliminated.
- The proposed house has a wall of glass facing the pond which will have a significant impact on the night sky.
- He asked the Commission to carefully evaluate the current landscape against the proposed re-landscaping plan. TTOR’s experience at Wasque Point suggests this is a prudent measure.
- Will the house have external lighting running along its full length?
- He asked the Commission to seek a natural solution for erosion control – rather than the suggested engineered solution of a berm.
- What is the on-going landscape maintenance plan for the restored areas?
The Commission commented this proposal and landscape restoration is artificial and will create a huge change to the land’s natural slope, contours and natural vegetation. It added a specific site-management plan will be needed that indicates how the wetland will be protected during construction and until the new landscape is fully established. All of the existing topsoil will be scraped and removed from the site. The Commission suggested adding a limit of construction zone that is within the proposed limit of work zone.
Mr. Murphy left the meeting at 2:15 PM. After much discussion the Commission suggested a continuation of the hearing to February 5. It would also like to make another site visit on February 4 and asked the landscape be staked in a way that indicates the area for construction, soil stripping and the outer limit of work and new meadows. The applicant agreed and asked for a continuance to February 5 @ 12:45 PM. A motion was made and seconded to accept the request. The motion passed unanimously with four in favor.
ADMINISTRATION:
The December 4, 2013 meeting minutes were reviewed and approved as presented with four in favor.
The draft RFD policy review was deferred to the February 5 meeting. The amended 2013 Annual Report was unanimously approved. The next meeting will be Wednesday, February 5, 2014 @ 12:30 PM.
The following document was signed:
Order of Conditions No File #; Local Bylaw Only; Bell; AP 32-72.
With no further business to conduct the meeting adjourned at 2:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Chuck Hodgkinson, C.A.S.
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