Approved Jan. 22, 2004
CITY OF MARLBOROUGH
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
November 6, 2003
Memorial Hall, 3rd Floor, City Hall
Members Present: Edward Clancy-Chairman, David Williams, Lawrence Roy, Donald Rider, Jr., John Skarin, Dennis Demers, Priscilla Ryder-Conservation Officer
Absent: Allan White
Approval of Minutes:
Minutes of June 5, July 17, August 7 and September 4, 2003 were reviewed. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes as written.
Discussion:
§ Stow Rd. Parking lot plans – Mellow Family Meadow Conservation Land. The Commission reviewed a parking lot plan prepared by the City Engineer for a 6-car parking lot off Stow Rd. to access the Mellow Family Meadow and the Cider Knoll Conservation Land. The Commission reviewed the plan and voted unanimously to approve the plan as presented.
§ DEP 212-802 Crowley Dr. Road A: The Commission reviewed several e-mails from James Mongeau dated 10-20-03 and 10-29-03 re: the detention basin off Crowley Dr. (DEP 212-802). Mr. Mongeau was present and explained that the old WSRO driveway was still there and may be part of the leaking problem. Mr. Clancy explained that the correction of the detention basin leak needs to be addressed by the site engineer and reviewed by our Engineering Dept. as it is an engineering problem. The Engineering Dept. should be notified on the day of the testing of the detention basin. The Commission determined that a letter should be sent to Mr. Deli
Prescolli requesting a report by November 13th on the status of the detention basin, and to be sure Mr. Deli Prescolli’s consultants will be following up with the City Engineer of the appropriate solution. A letter will be sent. Mr. Mongeau asked for a status report on the June 4th letter items. The Commission indicated that these had for the most part been met, except for the repair of the detention basin and the removal of the erosion controls, which will occur once all the work, is completed.
§ Conservation Restriction – Jefferson at Wheeler Hill - The Commission reviewed the CR language provided for the two parcels of open space to be restricted at the Jefferson At Wheeler Hill project off Donald Lynch Blvd. The Commission voted 6-0 to approve the document. Such approval will be conveyed to the City Council who will need to provide their approval of the document as well.
Public Hearings:
Request for Determination of Applicability
59 Violetwoods Cir. - Paul Hick
Bob Page presented a proposal on behalf of Paul Hicks, the owner, to add a deck to the condo unit at 59 Violetwoods Circle. The area for the deck is already cleared and is just outside the 20 foot no disturbance buffer zone, which is defined by a low rock wall established when the buildings were built. As long as all works lies outside of the buffer zone, the Commission agreed no harm to the wetland would be done. The Commission voted 6-0 to issue a negative determination of applicability with the condition that the applicant contacts the conservation officer prior to construction and once construction is completed for an inspection.
Request for Determination of Applicability
Maple St. (Next to fire station) - Eugene Mongeau
Christopher Deloge of Whitman and Bingham Associates represented Eugene Mongeau. Attorney Doug Rowe was also present. Mr. Deloge explained that they propose to demolish the existing building, add pavement and a detention basin. A new building is to be built outside of the 200-foot Riverfront Area. The proposal provides recharge through the detention basin, which is just designed to treat the new pavement on this property. There are no drainpipes or catch basins proposed. After some discussion the Commission determined that additional information regarding the detention basin’s capacity to infiltrate and some information from the sites Licensed Site Professional (LSP) must be provided to ensure that the infiltration proposed is appropriate given the recent coal
tar cleanup which has occurred at this location. In addition a storm water maintenance plan is also necessary. The Commission is also waiting for comments from the City Engineering Dept. as well. With the applicant’s consent the hearing was continued to the December 4, 2003 meeting.
Request for Determination of Applicability
488 Farm Rd. - Lisa Lauar
Lisa Lauar the new owner, wants to level the yard and clear some trees, there was lots of garbage in the yard when they bought the house. Windows and glass and lots of debris were buried in the back yard. The Commission noted that this lot lies within the Riverfront Area of Mowry Brook. Mowry brook has a tendency to flood during spring thaws and heavy storms. They noted that the work that has already been done was in violation of the wetlands protection act, since she did not get a permit. After some discussion the Commission determined that a site walk was necessary to determine what the applicant would be able to do at this house. A site visit was set for November 15, 2003 at 9:00 AM. The hearing was continued to the December 4, 2003 meeting. The
Commission required that before the site visit the front lawn area, which has been leveled, be hydro seeded and mulched to ensure that it remains stable throughout the winter.
Request for Determination of Applicability
19 & 61Brigham St. - Teleport Communications Boston
Bruce Griffin of Hydro Environmental and David Edgar of Survey and Mapping Consultants presented a proposal to lay conduit underground in three locations at 19 Brigham St. and 61 Brigham St. across the driveway and next to a drainage swale. The conduit only needs to be 4’ underground placed in a ditch, then backfilled and restored. Some is through existing lawn, some is through pavement as shown on the plans. The only “jurisdictional wetlands” is at the end of the ditch near what appears to be an old detention basin.
The longest ditch is 350’ long and will take about a week to install. Several manholes are also being installed as shown on the plan. After some discussion the Commission determined that the work could be permitted as long as the following conditions were met. 1. Contact Conservation Officer prior to doing any of the work, 2. Install silt sacks in the catch basins next to the work area, 3. Fill all trenches with flow-able fill to avoid any sinking or settling once the project is done. 4. Mulch and/or sod the areas which are not paved. The Commission voted 6-0 to issue a negative determination with the above noted special conditions.
Certificate of Compliance
§ DEP 212-685 Water’s Edge Subdivision – The Commission reviewed this request and the letter to Farooq Ansari from Ms. Ryder. As outlined in the some items still remain to be completed. The Commission continued this item to their Dec. 4th 2003 meeting.
Correspondence
With a unanimous vote, the following items of correspondence were reviewed, accepted and placed on file:
§ Letter from Benchmark Engineering, Corp. Dated 10-24-03 RE: Slocumb Ln. DEP 212-733
§ Letter from Lycott Environmental Inc. Dated 10-24-03 RE: Ft. Meadow Reservoir weed treatment
§ Letter to Chris Capaldi re: Eagle Scout Project – Hemenway St., State Forest Ghiloni Park Trail Bridge.
§ Letter to Farooq Ansari dated 10-27-03 RE: DEP 212-685 Water’s Edge Subdivision, request for Certificate of Compliance Status Report.
Adjournment
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Priscilla Ryder
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