Salem Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
Date and Time: Thursday October 23, 2014, 6:00 p.m.
Meeting Location: Third Floor Conference Room City Hall Annex, 120 Washington Street
Members Present: Gregory St. Louis, Tom Campbell, Bart Hoskins, Dan Ricciarelli
Members Absent: Julia Knisel, Amy Hamilton, Bob Pond
Others Present: Tom Devine, Conservation Agent
Vice Chair St. Louis calls the meeting to order at 6:05 pm.
- Canal Street Roadway Improvements—Public Hearing—Notice of Intent—City of Salem, 93 Washington Street, Salem, MA. The purpose of this hearing is to discuss proposed improvements to Canal Street from the intersection at Jefferson Avenue and Loring Avenue to the intersection of Washington and Mill Streets, within an area subject to protection under the Wetlands Protection Act and Salem’s Wetlands Protection & Conservation Ordinance.
Knowlton described the extent of the project and the details of the hiring of contractors and how the funds are going to be spent to complete the project. Will take care of structural issues, fix sidewalks, add crosswalks and traffic lights, etc. Described the project as similar to the Bridge Street project and will cost the City approximately 10 million dollars and is expected to take about 18 months to complete, concluding sometime in spring 2016. Knowlton added that the designer is present and can answer any questions the Commission has about the project.
Brian Myers of AECOM described the details of the project as regards to drainage, businesses along the corridor, safety issues, bicycle accommodations, pedestrian ramps. He added that it’s pretty much a reconstruction project and taking the sidewalks and roadway and completely fixing them, adding pedestrian crossings, and dealing with the drainage issues.
They’re adding a shared turn lane at the McDonalds to improve traffic. There will be sidewalks where there are not currently sidewalks.
The Loring/Jefferson/Canal intersection. They’re planning on realigning Jefferson Avenue to eliminate the island and will include some landscaping and the signal to be upgraded. They continued to discuss where the bike lanes would be and future described the work planned around the McDonalds. They added that in some areas, they will need to add sidewalks on both sides. On the northern portion of the project, there are currently 2 lanes and they’re making room for the bike lanes and adding parking lanes as well. Many street trees will be planted.
Tom Touchet of AECOM stated that the total project length is approximated 1¼ miles and about 12 acres total. It’s about 6.2 acres of land subject to coastal storm flowage. None of the work is within wetlands or buffer zone
St. Louis asks if there are any hydraulic connection across the roadway. Touchet says that there are not.
St. Louis opens to the public and there are no public comments.
Ricciarelli motions to close the public hearing, Hoskins seconds, and all vote in favor.
Ricciarelli motions to issue the Order of Conditions, including standard conditions, Campbell seconds, and all vote in favor.
- 417 Lafayette Street Coastal Structures—Continuation of Public Hearing—Notice of Intent—DEP #64-577—Michael J. and Andrea Cawlina, 417 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA. The purpose of this hearing is to discuss the proposed repair of a seawall and construction of a new pier, gangway, and float at 417 Lafayette Street within an area subject to protection under the Wetlands Protection Act and Salem’s Wetlands Protection & Conservation Ordinance.
Scott Patrowicz, Engineer for the applicant presents. He notes that the Commission had concerns with the project, so they are proposing salt marsh restoration as mitigation.
Bill Manuell, Wetlands Scientist for the applicant, commented that it’s high marsh and will address any needs for improvements after a year of growing season with monitoring over several seasons. They’re hoping to start restoration April 2015, weather permitting. They have over 300 sq feet of marsh grass restoration and 100 sq feet is under the pier. It still leaves 225 sq feet around the pier and to the north side.
Hoskins asks, could you put topsoil on it to stabilize and hold organic soil in place?
Manuell response, the short answer is no, the soil will get carried away. At extreme high tide, if it’s planted in the spring, it’ll miss the winter storms.
Hoskins asks about how the green crab might damage the new plantings. Manuel states that if needed, some fine mesh netting could keep them out.
St. Louis opens to the public, but there are no public comments.
Ricciarelli motions to close the public hearing, Hoskins seconds, and all approve.
Ricciarelli motions to issue the Order of Conditions, with standards conditions, Hoskins seconds, and all approve.
- Power Plant Pipeline—Public Hearing—Notice of Intent—DEP #64-578—Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, 890 Winter Street, Suite 300, Waltham, MA. The purpose of this hearing is to discuss the proposed construction of an approximately 1.2-mile lateral gas pipeline connecting the Algonquin Hub Line beneath Beverly Harbor to the Salem Harbor Power Station at 24 Fort Avenue. The proposed route passes through Beverly Harbor, the National Grid property at Waite & Planters Streets, 1 East Collins Street, Collins Cove, 4 Szetela Lane, 3 Fort Avenue, and 4 Fort Avenue (Beattie Park), and crosses Szetela Lane, Fort Avenue, and Derby Street.~Said activity is~within an area subject to protection under the Wetlands Protection Act and Salem’s Wetlands Protection & Conservation Ordinance.
Documents: TRC Environmental’s PowerPoint Presentation
Jon Bonsall, attorney representing the applicant, introduces Sabrina Hepburn (Spectra), Rick Paquette (TRC), and Chris Clark (Spectra), Rick Paquette is presenting this project. This is an interstate project and has been before the Commission several times before now.
Rick Paquette of TRC environmental presents a PowerPoint presentation (on file).
A Commissioner asks the age of the existing HubLine, and Paquette states that it was constructed in 2003. A Commissioner asks if the applicant has approval to dispose of displaced material at sea, and Paquette responds that they do not plan any ocean dumping. Instead, they would like to reuse the material.
Devine asks about mitigation for use of City property. Bonsall states that the applicant is seeking easements for properties that the pipeline goes under. Negotiations with the City regarding compensation for easements are ongoing.
A Commissioner asks about coordination with the Harbormaters. Paquette is in discussions with the Beverly and Salem Harbormasters, both Mayors, and other stakeholders so the project doesn’t interfere with the recreational boating season. It was recommended that a big meeting of all the stakeholders be held on this.
A Commissioner asked when the pipeline will be online. Paquette said they plan to have it ready by the time the new power plant is ready to go online. A Commissioner asks whether there will be any loss or filling of the landside wetlands. Paquette says that there will be no fill or loss. The impacts are temporary with staging taking place within wetlands, which will be restored afterwards. A Commissioner asks if the piles installed in the harbor will be temporary, and Paquette confirms.
St. Louis opens to the public and there are no public comments.
Devine requests a special condition that wetland monitoring reports that are submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also be filed with the Conservation Agent.
Campbell motions to close the public hearing, Hoskins seconds, and all vote in favor.
Hoskins motions to issue the Order of Conditions, with standard conditions and special condition, Campbell seconds, and all are in favor.
- Riverview Place (Salem Suede Redevelopment)—Public Hearing—Notice of Intent—Riverview Place, LLC, 5 Broadmoor Lane, Peabody, MA. The purpose of this hearing is to discuss the proposed mixed-use redevelopment of 72 Flint Street, and 67 & 71 Mason Street (former Salem Suede) consisting of 3 buildings and appurtenances within an area subject to the Wetlands Protection Act and Salem’s Wetlands Protection & Conservation Ordinance.
Rich Williams (with Steve Feinstein & Linda Symes) presents. Symmes has an option to purchase the property and is working with the permitting process with Riverview Place LLC, who’s the current property owner. Back in 2009, this property was subject to an order of conditions to demolish the buildings. Location is Mason & Flint (old Salem Suede site). 90% of site was buildings/pavement, very little was vegetation. Most of buildings are gone and there are several dirt piles that are part of the remediation of the site cleanup on the project. The resource areas on the site are not all subject to the Wetlands Protection Act. It is subject to Chapter 91 because it’s filled tide lands. All the work towards the North River is filled tide lands. The
applicant is in the process of working on Chapter 91 and MEPA on this project. There is a current 100 year flood elevation of NGVD of 10.8, which is a change resulting from FEMA’s map update. ZBA approved the modification for the permit as well. The riverfront is the edge of the canal. Parts are a vertical wall and other parts are a steep slope. Because this is subject to Chapter 91, it is exempt from riverfront regulations. The other resource area is the bank/buffer zone to the bank. There are zones that are only applicable to MEPA and Chapter 91 process. Their proposal is to construct 3 new buildings that contain 130 apartment units and 5500 square feet of office space (which would be located in building 3). The parking for the units is proposed in 3 different configurations (all three buildings would have underground parking). Building 3 has some commercial space. Buildings 1 & 2 have to comply with Chapter 91 and all
the residential space has to be above the flood line, higher than the 1st floor level. That provides additional flood storage for buildings 1 & 2. The notice of intent shows the previous and proposed condition. No changes to flood storage up to elevation 9 are proposed. Above that, they can provide additional flood storage and from 10-10 1/2.
Devine remarks that the order of conditions for building demolition at this site has been closed out with a certificate of compliance. The order for the remediation remains open. Williams states that the current owner is responsible for the remediation before site development can start.
Williams says that as part of the Chapter 91 requirements, all of the buildings are outside the 100 foot buffer from the top of the bank. They have a central trash location and snow storage outside the buffer zone. They have a lot more green space as well. They think they’ll have a lot more parking than they’ll need. The drainage flood system is similar to what was there before. They’ll have collection points in the pavement that discharge and ultimately into the North River. They’ll have catch basins as well. They’re providing a tide gate, which is similar to 28 Goodhue Street. They also have bio-retention cells which go off the roof of building 1 & 3. Those have overflows that go into the drainage system.
St. Louis says that he would like to see the Planning Board peer review. Williams says that the peer review is in progress and will be completed within a week or two.
Ricciarelli motions to continue the hearing to the November 13, 2014 meeting, Campbell seconds, and all vote in favor.
Old/New Business
- FY15 Community Preservation Plan – Request for Comment/Input
Devine suggests that he draft a letter with the Commission’s recommendations for the Commission to review at the next meeting.
Miscellaneous
Devine describes grant program for which he would like to Commission to consider contributing a portion of the required cash match. The City is proposing a $100,000 project to assess opportunities to enhance green infrastructure to increase resilience to the impacts of climate change. The project would assess the whole coast and the develop conceptual plans, budgets, and timelines for three projects. Projects might include planting eroding banks with native, stabilizing vegetation, restoring fringing salt marsh, or other bioeningeering measures along the coast.
CZM requires a 25% match—which is $25,000 in this case. There will be $7,000 in-kind match in the form of staff hours, leaving $18,000 needed in cash match. Devine suggests that the Commission provide half of that—$9,000—and have the remaining come from other City funds.
Devine remarks that this grant program—Green Infrastructure for Coastal Resilience Program—is competitive, so there is no guarantee Salem will be awarded funds for the project. But if Salem is awarded the grant, a small contribution from the Commission could go a long way.
Ricciarelli motions to approve the funds, Hoskins seconds, and all vote in favor.
Devine requests up to $30 for mileage to travel to an upcoming DEP workshop on revisions to the Wetlands Protection Act regulations.
Hoskins motions to approve the funds, Campbell seconds, and all vote in favor.
Devine announces that Julia Knisel has resigned from the Commission. The Commission will have to elect a new chair at its next meeting.
Meeting Minutes – September 11, 2014 and September 25, 2014
Hoskins motions to approve both sets of minutes, Ricciarelli seconds, and all vote in favor.
Hoskins motions to adjourn at 9:15, Ricciarelli seconds, and all vote in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Marsha Finklestein, Clerk
Approved by the Conservation Commission on December 11, 2014
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