Minutes of Meeting
October 27, 2011
To: Town Clerk
cc: Members
File
Present: A. Tolland, J. Fournier, R. Willis, J. Livingstone, R. Ballantyne, A. Riordan,
Associate Member
Absent: M. Allen, M. DePoto, Nick Alfieri, Conservation Agent
There was a motion to accept the minutes of the October 13th meeting with 1 correction. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 5-0-0.
There was a motion to accept the minutes of the September 29th Executive Session with 1 change. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 4-0-1; 4 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstention.
Mr. Nick Alfieri’s Agent’s Report has been appended to the minutes.
A letter has been submitted to the Commission from Stantec, the representative for the project at 3 Forge Parkway, requesting the approval of deleting the rain garden from this project. This letter is attached to Mr. Alfieri’s Agent Report.
There was a motion to accept the correction at 3 Forge Parkway as stipulated in the letter dated October 20th. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 5-0-0.
GENERAL BUSINESS
Enforcement: 887 Lincoln Street – Restoration Plan
Attorney Harvey Trask and Mr. Charles Koshivas, Jr., both appeared before the Commission for the restoration work at 887 Lincoln Street.
The Chairman briefed all present at tonight’s meeting on the findings of the recent site walk of this property. The applicant was required to have erosion controls installed around the clay piles, to have the wetland flagged and once it is flagged, to bring in a planting plan. A recommendation was made that the Commission would consider a row of staggered trees of larger specimens parallel to the high tension lines. Mr. Koshivas informed the Commission that there were no plans to do any further work closer to the river.
Mr. Koshivas informed the Commission members that erosion control will be put in place this coming weekend to contain the gravel piles in the wetland areas.
Attorney Trask stated that Mr. Koshivas will be complying with the suggested planting plan with some new trees. The Chairman asked Attorney Trask if the applicant is flagging the wetlands. Attorney Trask stated that he feels that the farm bureau may have a waiver regarding this and is going to review this material and provide the Commission with the findings. The Chairman informed Attorney Trask that it is his understanding that a waiver is based upon having a Farm Stewardship Plan or a Forestry Stewardship Plan being on file with the State.
Mr. Koshivas stated that he will begin the planting of the trees and was told not to start the planting as it must be known where the wetland line is first.
The Commission members requested that Attorney Trask reappear before the Commission at the November 10th meeting.
Enforcement: 29 James Street - Ciampa
Ms. Carmella Ciampa, the homeowner, and Mr. Wayne Podzka, the landscaper for the property, both appeared before the Commission for this Enforcement matter.
The Commission Chairman gave a brief overview of the findings at the recent site walk.
Ms. Ciampa stated that the wetlands have been flagged as was requested by the Commission and the haybales have been turned and sodding will begin at the beginning of next week.
The Commission requested that a rain garden be put in the area of the driveway as part of the plan. The sketch will be brought back to the Commission with the rain garden depicted on it.
The Chairman requested that the plan be brought back to the Commission with the flags showing the proposed driveway, the rain garden and the mulched wood chip strip from the lawn to the haybale line depicted. Ms. Ciampa was instructed to have the lawn planted as soon as possible.
Ms. Ciampa and Mr. Podzka depicted on the plot plan the location of the proposed driveway. There will be a boulder wall which will be mulched. This plan has been added to the file. There was a question raised as to whether a rain garden would be required.
The Commission Chairman requested that Ms. Ciampa obtain a plan showing the wetland flags, and show the location of the proposed driveway. You may proceed with getting the lawn in as soon as possible.
Public Hearing – Notice of Intent – Southern Acres – TNT Building - CE159-1023
Mr. Donald Nielsen, Engineer of Guerriere & Halnon, and Mr. Tim Bobola of TNT Builders, the applicant, both appeared before the Commission for the construction of a roadway for residential subdivision.
Mr. Nielsen gave the Commission members a detailed overview of the project plans.
Mr. Nielsen stated that there will be activity in the 50 ft. buffer zone for the stormwater management. He will provide an alternatives analysis to address this issue. He will provide some plantings for the basin and along the driveway to provide habitat.
There was a motion to open the public hearing amendment request for orders of conditions 26 Beech Street, Williamson, and continue it to the conclusion of this discussion. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 5-0-0.
The Commission Chairman informed the applicant of 9 items in Mr. Alfieri’s Agent’s Report to be addressed in this Notice of Intent filing.
The Chairman informed the applicant that under the local bylaw the burden of proof is on the applicant to demonstrate no significant individual or cumulative adverse impacts. A project narrative and a functions and characteristics statement in also required as part of the Notice of Intent.
Mr. Nielsen stated that he will provide a narrative for the riverfront issue.
The Commission will conduct a site walk of the property on Saturday, November 5th at 10 a.m.
There was a motion to continue the hearing until the next meeting on November 10th. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 5-0-0.
Public Hearing – Amendment Request to Orders of Conditions – 26 Beech Street – Williamson - CE159-1005
Mr. Donald Williamson, the applicant, appeared before the Commission for a discussion regarding amending the Orders of Conditions for his property.
The Chairman stated that the house on the property has been razed and a new house has been constructed on the property. Mr. Williamson stated that the plantings for the project have been
started on the lefthand side of the property and is seeking an extension to doing the second planting in the spring on the righthand side of the property.
The original Orders of Conditions under special condition #44 required that all of the mitigation plan for the replacement of the cut trees shall be completed within 1 calendar year from the issuing of the Orders of Conditions which was December 2010.
There was some discussion among Commission members regarding extending the planting on the right side for 6 months.
Ms. Patricia Fulton, an abutter of 24 Beech Street, raised questions regarding the negative impact on the neighborhood if the extension of time is granted to the applicant.
Some Commission members stated concerns that the applicant did not adequately plan the financial aspect of this work thoroughly. Concerns regarding the survivability of the plantings as it gets further into the season were also raised by some Commission members.
Ms. Jeanne Seyfarth, an abutter of 22 Beech Street, raised a question if the bank is stable enough to survive another bad winter and had concerns regarding the water runoff from the site.
There was a motion to extend the planting deadline for special order #44 for 26 Beech Street until April 1st. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 3-2-0; 3 Yes, 2 No,
0 Abstentions.
Minor Buffer Zone Activity: 21 Haverstock Road
Mr. Furlong, the applicant, appeared before the Commission to request the installation of a power line going to the shed in the rear yard. The shed has previously been approved by the Commission. A ditch will have to be dug running down to the shed. This digging will be done with a ditch witch and then backfilled within 1 day. This will be a temporary disturbance to the area.
There was a motion to issue a Negative Determination for 21 Haverstock Road with 3 special conditions; notify Conservation staff when the work is started, notify Conservation staff when the work is finished, and do the work according to what is on record. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 3-2-0; 3 Yes, 2 No, 0 Abstentions.
Discussion: Partridge Street Culvert - DPW
Mr. Mike Maglio, Assistant Town Engineer of the DPW, appeared before the Commission for a discussion regarding the upcoming work to be conducted on Partridge Street.
Mr. Maglio gave the Commission members a brief overview of the project details.
Mr. Maglio informed the Commission members that work was started on Monday, October 24th. The road was shut down, erosion control was installed, trees were cut down in the immediate
area of the project and the existing pavement was removed around the culvert. The water line replacement will be installed. The new culvert work will commence on Friday, November 4th and is anticipated to take approximately a week.
A Notice of Intent is in the process and will be filed with the Commission to be heard at the November 10th meeting. The work is being undertaken as an emergency project.
Signed Determination of Applicability & Amended Orders of Conditions
Determination of Applicability (Negative) 21 Haverstock Road – Furlong
Amended Orders of Conditions – 26 Beech Street – Williamson – CE159-1005
There was a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded and accepted with a vote of 5-0-0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Celorier
Conservation Secretary
| 
