Town of Monson
Conservation Commission
29 Thompson Street
Monson, MA 01057
413-267-4111
Fax 267-4108
MONSON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OCTOBER 30, 2013
MEMBERS PRESENT: Glenn Colburn, Leslie Duthie and Davis Johnson
MEMBERS ABSENT: Audra Staples
The Commission received a letter from Timothy Pascale, Monson Parks & Recreation regarding his preference to put wood chips under the exercise equipment on Veterans field.
Leslie Duthie questioned if the Commissioners had any problems with this.
The consensus of the Commission was that there was no erosion issue and wood chips were acceptable.
Leslie Duthie moved to accept the minutes of September 18, 2013 as presented.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
7:15 NOI Boston Road Assessors Map 64, Parcel 002 Antonio & Elizabeth Fernandes. Work proposed is the construction of a building to store/repair construction equipment and a parking area, continued.
Glenn Colburn stated a lot has happened since the Commission last met with Mr. Fernandes. The work now involves a constructive wetland and curtain drains.
Michael Mocko stated initially it was proposed to use a bio infiltration system but the site constraints and conflict with ground water has caused them to change to a constructed wetland. The location of the well has changed also.
Leslie Duthie suggested Mr. Mocko detail the changes on the plan.
Michael Mocko stated the Zoning Board of Appeals had an independent review of the earth removal plan by Donald Frydryk, P.E. Sherman & Frydryk, Land Surveying & Engineering and some of the changes came about because of his report. The report was comprehensive and dealt with stormwater regulations, ground water issues and soils. The first plan proposed a basin with three feet of sand with a stone under drain and a four inch pipe to ease the water out to woodland. This was problematic because of the requirement for a four foot separation from groundwater. Test pits were dug in the buffer zone to determine the depth to ground water and it was decided to construct a wetland by excavating to sub grade place 6 inches of loam and plant with wetlands species to create essentially a marsh.
Leslie Duthie questioned if a plant list was provided?
Michael Mocko stated the planting key is located on the plans and corresponds with the species and numbers also on the plans. New England Wetland Plants will provide the plantings. There is a detail on the second page of the plans for the created wetlands and it lists separately the plantings in the low marsh 2 – 18” water depth, high marsh wet soil to surface and buffer zone. As requested by the Conservation Commission it is proposed to pave the parking lot and use two deep hooded catch basins as collectors for the road sand from the parking lot. On page one of the plans there is a specific maintenance schedule that calls for the sand to be swept from the pavement in the spring April – May and the catch basin sumps to be cleaned of sand and debris. The maintenance after that is a matter
of inspecting the drainage pipes to the constructed wetland; sediment forebay; basin; outlet pool; outlet screen; outlet structure and outlet pipe four times a year. Any debris, fallen trees or limbs should be removed and an inspection conducted for any invasive species, if present remove by hand weeding or clipping. The roof water will be collected and infiltrated by means of a four foot wide three feet deep trench with a six inch perforated pipe laid on crushed stone. With the described drainage structures the pre development and post development flow is the same.
Leslie Duthie questioned if this was shown on the plan?
Michael Mocko stated yes the trench is located near test pit 4 on the plans. The roof run off is infiltrated into the described trench that is sub surface. Once the project is complete the area is covered and will not be seen.
Leslie Duthie questioned the location of the well?
Michael Mocko stated it has been moved to the south end of the building.
Glenn Colburn questioned the size storm it would handle?
Michael Mocko stated it was capable of handling the 10 year and 100 year storm.
Leslie Duthie questioned if there would still be a berm between the parking lot and created wetlands?
Michael Mocko stated yes there was a berm on that edge to make sure the catch basins capture the stormwater. It is still proposed to have a temporary sediment trap during the construction to manage the stormwater. The plan is to build the temporary sediment trap; grade the parking lot to the proposed grade; process the gravel and then build the constructed wetlands treatment area and catch basins and pipe to treatment wetlands.
Glenn Colburn questioned if the wetlands detention basin would have a forebay to capture the sediments?
Michael Mocko stated yes the profile is on page 2 of the plans. There are different types of created wetlands. This is pocket wetland the smallest of wetland created treatments less than an acre and is one step up from a rain garden that is typically used for a residence. The profile specifies the base elevation for the outlet and the micro pool has a specified bottom elevation. The deep hooded catch basins will catch 95% of any sediment and the forebay will be very low maintenance. It the catch basins are maintained properly there will never be a build up of sediment in the forebay. The outlet structure is at elevation 342, the bottom of the micro pool is at elevation 339 this will allow for a water depth of three feet. The curtain drain is dropped off at the head of the created wetland which
will add a little groundwater discharge to help keep the wetlands wet. The four inch pipe at the outlet structure will only allow a limited amount of water to leave the basin which is equivalent to the pre development conditions. Two failsafe measures are included, if the four inch outlet becomes clogged and the water exceeds the 100 year storm the water will go to a catch basin at the outlet structure and if that fails the water goes to a broad based rip rap weir that will handle the 100 year flow down to an undisturbed area to the wetland.
Glenn Colburn questioned what was happening with the culvert going over the pipeline?
Michael Mocko stated that is owned by Exxon Mobile and the pipe is not functioning. If Mr. Fernandes can come to some agreement with Exxon Mobile to correct this situation it would be to the benefit of both parties, if it is not corrected it leaves a messy situation.
Glenn Colburn expressed his concern that changing the existing flow pattern and taking curtain drains and putting it all into the culvert would create a situation that was beyond the culvert’s capability to handle?
Michael Mocko stated he did the analysis using the intermittent stream as the point of analysis. The analysis was done using the peak flow whether it went over the pipe or over the ground and designed the retention into created wetlands mirroring the pre development peak flow. The eight inch pipe will handle the 2 year and 10 years storm and the water will go over the top of the berm in a 100 year storm.
Glenn Colburn stated he did not think designing something to flow over the pipeline was a good idea.
Michael Mocko stated it is not restrictive in any way the pool would back up in wetlands and give stormwater retention and he did not see the need to increase the size.
Glenn Colburn stated there are no calculations of the water shed that exists above. There is a pool in a dysfunctional culvert that is accepting a certain amount of water and now it is proposed to take another acre and add more water.
Michael Mocko stated that had been accounted for. The design point is where the water enters the intermittent stream fed by 200 acres of rocky land. The stream would not be affected if no stormwater detention was proposed because any increase in stormwater on the site would be down to the Quaboag River before the peak flow came through. Stormwater is not all that important in the big picture. The plan uses controls in the post development to squeeze down the peak flow to peak flow pre-development.
Leslie Duthie stated there has been some disturbance on the site and it is hard to visualize.
Michael Mocko questioned if this line of questioning was germane, water is going through an 8 inch pipe to a detention basin and outletting with a 4 inch pipe effectively squeezing it down post development to pre-development numbers.
Leslie Duthie questioned if or when the culvert is replaced will there be a filing?
Michael Mocko stated he would hope it could be done with a Request for Determination as maintenance of existing pipeline but it does depend on Exxon Mobile Pipeline.
Leslie Duthie stated the Commission wants to be fully informed.
Antonio Fernandes stated he would prefer to see if he can open up the culvert by jetting it.
Glenn Colburn questioned if the final 1-1 slope could be vegetated?
Michael Mocko stated it is a boulder reinforced 1-1 slope that will have vegetation. The plan is to use a mixture of large and small rock with loam in the pockets between the rock and in the loam Mr. Fernandes will plan sweet fern and juniper.
Glenn Colburn questioned if the water coming off the slope would sheet flow on the CSX railroad?
Antonio Fernandes stated no the natural berm will be left and the driveway elevation is the same as the railroad.
Davis Johnson questioned who would do the maintenance?
Michael Mocko stated the physical maintenance is minimal Mr. Fernandes can check and make sure no debris or limbs are plugging up the pipe and the outlet structure has a screen. He would probably have to get someone in with specialized equipment to vacuum out the catch basins once a year in the spring.
Glenn Colburn questioned the groundwater elevation?
Michael Mocko stated based on mottling groundwater was at elevation 345 to 346. The bottom of the basin is at elevation 342 so it is well into ground water, even seasonal groundwater.
Glenn Colburn questioned how that would affect the catch basins?
Michael Mocko stated they will always have a little rainwater in them and would only dry up through evaporation. In a 100 year storm the water would back up in the catch basins to elevation 344.7 and the rim to elevation 345 so for a short time the basins would be full to about one foot from the top.
Glenn Colburn stated he could not think of any more questions but at this point would like to ask for a continuance to review the new information and maintenance schedule. A lot of information has been provided that is different from the original submission and he would like to take the time to review and digest the information.
Leslie Duthie move continue hearing.
Davis Johnson seconded the motion.
Leslie Duthie questioned if Mr. Fernandes should come back to the next meeting November 20, 2013?
Glenn Colburn stated he saw no reason for Mr. Fernandes to come to the next meeting unless something really significant becomes apparent, in which case the Commission would give Mr. Fernandes a call. He stated he wanted the opportunity to study the plan and think about it before making a decision.
It was so voted unanimous.
Glenn Colburn recused himself to avoid the appearance of a conflict.
8:25 NOI 230 Silver Street Ronald Hasenjager. The work proposed is the reconstruction of sanitary sewer system.
Donald Frydryk, Sherman & Frydryk Land Surveying & Engineering stated the existing system has failed and it is proposed to construct a new system and install a tank a little higher up to get gravity flow. The tank would be within the 100 foot riparian zone but outside of the 50 feet as required by Title V regulations. There is a total of 12,900 square feet of disturbance within the 100 foot buffer zone. Approximately 2,042 square feet of disturbance will take place within 50 feet of the wetland limit. The existing septic tank and leaching facility are to be pumped, ruptures and abandoned in accordance with Title V Regulations. A filing has been made with Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program.
Leslie Duthie stated it appears to be a steep grade.
Donald Frydryk stated it us up almost 15 feet.
Leslie Duthie questioned if it is proposed to remove any trees?
Donald Frydryk stated very little.
John Field, an abutter questioned how many bedrooms the system was sized for?
Donald Frydryk stated the system is sized for a three bedroom house.
Leslie Duthie questioned approximately how long it would take to excavate and put it in the new sanitary system?
Donald Frydryk stated approximately two weeks.
Leslie Duthie questioned if there was any area closer to the house that could be utilized?
Donald Frydryk stated they looked at all of the options and they were all higher which would mean having to pump and that is what they are trying to avoid.
Leslie Duthie stated she would like to hear from Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program before closing the hearing.
Leslie Duthie moved to continue the hearing and have an Order of Conditions ready for signature at the next meeting November 20, 2013, as long as NHESP had no issues.
Davis Johnson seconded the motion.
It was so voted.
Voting aye: Leslie Duthie and Davis Johnson.
Glenn Colburn returned.
8:40 MAIL
- Right of First Refusal for 1 ¼ acres of Chapter land on East Hill Road, owned by Wayne Evans.
Leslie Duthie moved to recommend to the Board of Selectmen not to exercise the Right of First Refusal.
Davis Johnson seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
- Letter from Bealls & Thomas regarding the Expanded Environmental Notification Form submitted on behalf of Mohegan Sun, the comment time has been extended to November 20, 2013.
- The Board of Health issued Beaver Permits to the Monson Highway Department for Nieske Road 12 Mile Brook, Hospital Road, Bunyan Road and Reimers Road.
- Copy of letter to Paper City Partners from the Army Corps of Engineers re: Water Quality permit.
- Legal Notice from Monson Planning Board re: new Medical Marijuana bylaw.
- Various Building Permits.
Leslie Duthie stated she had a call from Heather Commee Pioneer Environmental regarding two Orders of Conditions the Conservation Commission issued to Charles Richard for two lots on Heritage Lane. Ms. Commee stated the Order of Conditions were issued in 2006 but not recorded at the Registry of Deeds and questioned if the Commission viewed them as valid Orders of Conditions?
Leslie Duthie stated she was of the opinion if the Order was not recorded it was not a valid Order of Conditions.
9:15 Leslie Duthie moved to adjourn.
Glenn Colburn seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Hull
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