MONSON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES DECEMBER 20, 2006
MEMBERS PRESENT: Leslie Duthie, Davis Johnson and Glenn Colburn
MEMBERS ABSENT: Tom Faulkner and Donald Lambert
7:15 NOI 297 Main Street. Henrod Holdings, LLC. Heather Commee Pioneer Environmental stated the applicant retained Pioneer Environmental to prepare the Notice of Intent for work associated with the redevelopment of property that is within riverfront area. The applicants are converting an existing building into a dental office. Pioneer Environmental flagged the mean annual highwater mark, which falls just about even with the wetland line. The stream is a perennial tributary to Chicopee Brook. There are some nice wetland plants such as winterberry, red maple and spice bush but there are also a lot of invasive plants. Much of the existing lot is covered with pavement and building but there is a small lawned area. An addition is proposed over existing concrete walkways and part
of the lawn area. Non-conforming work is anything that is proposed over non-degraded areas such as lawn. Pioneer Environmental calculated the non-conforming areas to be approximately 1400 square feet. It is proposed to compensate with mitigation and restoration. The mitigation will be at a 2-1 ratio that involves removing the invasive species and re-planting with native species. The restoration is at a 1-1 ratio removing pavement and loaming and planting with native species. It is proposed to improve the stormwater drainage by treating the run off from the parking lot with catch basins and infiltrate with a 60-foot stone lined trench. The system has been designed to handle up to a 100-year storm event. The existing condition allows run off from the parking area to flow directly into the brook. The parking lot is to be re-paved and a berm constructed at the two existing leak off areas to prevent flow into the brook.
Davis Johnson questioned how the water was treated?
Heather Commee stated the two catch basins have four feet deep sumps and collect the run off from the parking lot, the suspended solids fall to the bottom of the catch basin and the water outlets into the perforated pipe that is in the stone lined trench. The catch basins must be maintained so they function as designed.
Leslie Duthie questioned if the maintenance was detailed in the NOI?
Heather Commee stated yes.
Glenn Colburn questioned if the test pits shown on the plan were where catch basins would be installed?
Heather Commee stated that was correct. The tests showed the soils to he highly permeable and groundwater at 100 inches.
Glenn Colburn questioned if the perforated pipe would infiltrate good amount of water from the first catch basin before the run off gets to the second one?
Heather Commee stated it would. The second catch basin has the emergency overflow.
Leslie Duthie stated when the Commission was on site there was a brief discussion about additional rip-rap in the discharge area.
Heather Commee stated there was a lot of rock on site and they could use that on the discharge area.
Leslie Duthie stated one of the things often overlooked is the maintenance of the catch basins and the Commission would emphasis in its Order of Conditions that the drainage system must be maintained properly.
Keith Hollinger stated it was going to be their place of business so it will be maintained properly and kept neat and clean.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission had not received a number from DEP so it could not close the hearing.
Steven Scannell questioned if it was a problem for the Commission if a stockade fence or some other screening was put around the dumpster and shed to screen the view from the southerly property line?
Glenn Colburn stated that would not make any difference to the Commission.
Steven Scannell stated they would probably put some plantings in to enhance the screening.
Leslie Duthie stated the plantings would not be a problem as long as they were native species. Ms. Duthie made a motion to continue the hearing to receive a number and comments from DEP.
Glenn Colburn stated he saw no reason for the applicant to come back unless DEP had any unanticipated comments.
Leslie Duthie stated this is re-development and certainly an improvement on what is happening at the present time.
Heather Commee stated she would provide a written response to any DEP comments.
Glenn Colburn stated he could not imagine any comments that would stop the project.
Davis Johnson seconded the motion to continue the hearing.
It was so voted unanimous.
Glenn Colburn removed himself to avoid the appearance of a conflict.
7:40 Leslie Duthie stated the Commission was meeting informally with Christopher and Meredith Magill to discuss the creation of a pond, bridge across the stream and other work that probably would require a filing with the Commission.
Christopher Magill showed the Commission a plot plan showing the location of the brook.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission met with Mr. Magill on his property at 192 Silver Street and discussed some of the issues. To reiterate some of the things discussed at the site the area of brush that was cleared should be left alone and the brush allowed to grow back, the erosion coming down by the sugar shack is ending up in the brook, that needs to be addressed and something must be done about the bridge crossing the stream and the stone impeding the water flow. The Commission would not allow permanent access across a stream without the filing of a Notice of Intent. If the bridge was installed temporarily to allow access to remove timber in conjunction with a forest cutting plan the temporary access must be removed when the wood harvesting is completed. If the property owner wants
to keep the bridge a notice of intent must be filed after the fact to allow review by the Monson Conservation Commission and DEP. The property owner will maintain a 50 foot buffer and in the Notice of Intent is should be noted that the buffer will be kept natural.
Christopher Magill stated he did not think the bridge was an issue.
Leslie Duthie stated it was because in order to bridge an intermittent stream a notice of intent must be filed and an order of conditions issued by the Commission after the Department of Environmental Protection has also reviewed the plans. Ms. Duthie requested that Mr. Magill file the NOI before the spring of 2007. Included in the NOI should be the measurements of the bridge, how it was installed, the impacts if any to the stream and what measures were taken during construction to protect the stream.
Davis Johnson questioned if the water flowed freely by the bridge abutment?
Christopher Magill stated yes.
Leslie Duthie stated the bank must be stabilized and the Commission would need details of the stabilization methods. Additionally if the bridge is going to be used to walk across and access the rest of the property the buffer would have to be maintained. Give the Commission a plan of the plantings, how many and a written narrative of the types of plants, wetland seed mix, grasses and wildflowers proposed for the buffer.
Glenn Colburn returned to the meeting.
8:10 MAIL
RFD Wilbraham Road, Stephen Phillips.
NOI 47 Ayers Road, James Morin.
3. Revised Plan from Sherman & Woods for 45 (Lot 18) Waid Road, DEP 228-217.
Notice from Raymond K. Miller of his intent to sell a parcel of his land on Hovey Road that is in Chapter 61A. The parcel is known as Lot 4 Hovey Road.
Glenn Colburn moved to recommend the Town waive its right of first refusal.
Leslie Duthie seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
The Commission received a letter from the Monson Historical Society offering a 2.3-acre parcel of land on Main Street to the Monson Conservation Commission for the sum of $1.00.
Leslie Duthie moved to accept the land.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Christopher Magill 192 Silver Street received the certified letter sent by the Commission.
Copy of the MESA filing prepared by Sherman & Woods for Andrew Beaulieu, Carpenter Road.
DEP file number for Carpenter Road NOI filed for Andrew Beaulieu. File # 228-0295.
Notice from National Grid that it is commencing replacement and maintenance on its support system in areas of Monson.
Copy of Mass Wildlife News.
Copy of Wildlands and Woodlands.
Copy of MACC.
Various building permits.
8:35 Leslie Duthie moved to accept the minutes of November 8, 2006 as written.
Davis Johnson seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Leslie Duthie moved to accept the minutes of December 6, 2006 with the correction to the typographical errors.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Leslie Duthie stated the Order of Conditions for John Cote, Wales Road was ready to be signed but the Commission has not received the revised plan.
Leslie Duthie stated John Morrell asked her to look at Beebe Road just above David Place’s home. She found a hole in the road over a culvert and told Mr. Morrell he could do what was necessary to protect the road but if he wanted to replace the culvert he would have to file a NOI.
Leslie Duthie stated the Trustees of Reservations have installed the beaver deceiver on the Peaked Mountain property.
Leslie Duthie asked the Commission to look at property located at the top of Crow Hill Road owned by Norcross. The property owner has put in a large amount of gravel that extends from Crow Hill Road to an access road. She stated she believed Norcross should have filed for the work.
Leslie Duthie stated Wednesday or Thursday of the coming week would suit her best for site visits to Waid Road, Ayers Road, Wilbraham Road and Crow Hill Road.
Glenn Colburn stated he would not be available for the site visits.
Leslie Duthie stated she would contact Donald Lambert and they would do them during the day starting around 10:30 A.M.
9:25 Glenn Colburn moved to adjourn.
Leslie Duthie seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Hull
Cc: BOH, BOS, Building Dept., Highway Dept., Planning Board, Town Clerk & ZBA
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