TO: Franklin Conservation Commission
FM: George Russell, AICP
Conservation Agent
RE: Agent’s Report
DATE: July 14, 2015
1.0. Projects
1.1. 5 Kenwood Circle, RDA: A plan review and site inspection has been undertaken and a letter generated to the applicant requesting additional information and plan changes. I have not received a response to my comments as of this date.
1.2. 1312 West Central Street (Weston Woods) NOI: This hearing was continued to allow for peer review of the stormwater issues associated with the site. Graves Engineering has informed me we would have the completed peer review by the meeting.
1.3. Franklin Heights NOI Amendment The requested modification involves only the stipulations attached to the initial 2006 approval. The issues with these stipulations were developed as a result of a total file review prior to signing off on a building permit for a new building in phase one of a two phase project. This is a 40B project and is not subject to the local by-law.
Based on numerous calls from abutters, and reviewing the abutter notification send out by the engineer, it would appear that what was mailed to the abutters is not what is before the Commission for consideration. The abutter notification indicates the hearing is to “. . . amend building locations”, whereas the actual amendment is to address the conditions attached to the original approval. I will touch base with the town attorney prior to the meeting to get his opinion as to whether this rises to the level of a procedural due process issue.
One another note, the erosion control already on site for the new building that the developer wishes to start is not acceptable and will need to be reinstalled.
I would recommend the Commission accept the modifications as outlined in the June 16th letter from North Berwick Trust providing the town attorney has no issues.
2.0. General Business
2.1. Minor Buffer Zone Activities
2.1.1. 399 Oak: This permit is for a 5’ high chain link fence that meets the criteria for an MBZA. A filed inspection was conducted and, as proposed, there are no wetlands impacts.
2.2 Permit modifications/extensions
None
2.3. Certificate of Compliance
None
2.4. Discussion items
2.4.1. Regulation Amendments: Included in your packet are additional “tweaks” to the Commissions regulations. Should the Commission wish to consider these, a public hearing should be scheduled.
2.4.2. Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP): The town’s OSRP needs to be updated and submitted to DCR by the end of 2016. During in-house discussions, it has tentative been determined that a committee will be established to address this plan, but the primary input on many of the plan’s sections will be from the Commission. I will keep you “in the loop” as this comes together.
Please review the map included in your packet for 864 Lincoln Street, aka lot 6. The Town Administrator has put together a staff “committee” under the direction of the Town Planner to come up with uses for this land. The town already owns lot 1 on the map which thus affords access to the Charles River. The land is heavily wooded and slopes steeply as one gets closer to the river. It is really important that the Commission have input into the development of this area so please give it some thought, or take a stroll, prior to the meeting.
2.5. Minutes
2.6. Violations:
3.0. Chair and Commission Comments
4.0. EXECUTIVE SESSION
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