TO: Franklin Conservation Commission
FM: George Russell, AICP
Conservation Agent
RE: Agent’s Report
DATE: December 2, 2014
1.0. PROJECTS
1.1. 104 Populatic, NOI Amendment: The amendment is being submitted in response to the Commission’s decision and the stop work order for the construction of the retaining wall that was not detailed on the plans. The work is straight forward and no special conditions are warranted. An approval of the amendment will lift the stop work order and the wall can be completed. Please see letters below concerning the area opposite this lot and the time frame for this permit.
1.2. Town Forest maintenance/boy scout project RDA: There will be no new disturbance in buffer zone or wetlands. This project is basically the same as was done at DelCarte.
1.3. Delcarte Boardwalk, NOI Amendment: The proposal to utilize the “extra” boardwalk sections is outlined in the narrative. The hydro-raking will be only a small area near the canoe launch. Additional hydro-raking of the pond will be undertaken only after we can do a study of the water body to determine if we should in fact hydro-rake and if so, how much. This was study was the focus of the Environmental Trust Grant.
1.4. 860 West Central Street, NOI: The “trench” has been filled and the hay bales are still in place. The applicant was to submit a plan to permanently prevent sewage overflows at the site. A copy of correspondence from the property owner was included in your packets. It would appear from this letter that the property owner believes that a “permanent solution” has been already approved and no grease trap is necessary. This does not comport with the position of the Board of Health or the Department of Public Works.
2.1. Minor buffer Zone Activities
None
2.2 Permit modifications/extensions
None
2.3. Certificate of Compliance
2.3.1. 835 West Central St.: A field inspection was conducted on 11/25/14. There is some confusion as to the actual address of the property, which hopefully we will have worked out before the meeting. The release should be prepared for 847 West Central Street since this is the address on the NOI.
2.4. Discussion items
2.4.1. Land use/purchase: This will be a topic of a meeting on 12/3/14 and I will hopefully be able to provide an update at the meeting.
2.4.2. Wetlands fee account: A copy of the current balance in this account has been included in your packets. No action is required.
2.4.3. Emergency Certification Franklin DPW, Beaver Street Interceptor Sewer: As stated in the letter from the DPW Director, there is the real possibility of collapse of this utility line which would be catastrophic. In addition, the shutdown of the MBTA commuter line on the 6th provides an ideal window to access the site to undertake the needed repairs. It needs to be noted that the MBTA line is the only practicable way to access this sewer without significant alteration to the adjacent wetlands to construct an access/construction road. The only stipulation I would recommend on the order is the placement of erosion controls to the greatest extend
practicable along both sides of the construction zone.
2.4.4. Bond release 656 King Street: In July, the Commission granted a partial release to this project and at the last meeting, the hopefully final modification to the mitigation planting was given. The town is holding a $20,000 bond on this project. Stipulation #50 of the original order of conditions states that the $20,000 bond is to be held until the final COC is granted and is to be used “. . . to complete the wetlands resource area replication if the applicant fails to do so”.
Given the restrictive nature of what the bond can be used for and the size of the mitigation areas on site, I do not believe it is reasonable to hold the entire $20,000 for this portion of the project and would suggest the Commission should consider releasing $10,000 of this amount back to the applicant.
2.5. Minutes
2.6. Violations:
- Chair and Commission Comments
4.0 EXECUTIVE SESSION
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