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Draft Minutes 2/12/2015

DRAFT MINUTES
Salem Conservation Commission
Minutes of Meeting

Date and Time:  Thursday, February 12th, 6:30 p.m.
Meeting Location:       Third Floor Conference Room, City Hall Annex, 120 Washington Street
Members Present:        Chair Gregory St. Louis, Tom Campbell, Bob Pond, Dan Ricciarelli
Members Absent: Amy Hamilton, Bart Hoskins
Others Present: Tom Devine, Conservation Agent
Recorder:       Stacy Kilb

Chair St. Louis calls the meeting to order at 6:35PM

Canal Street Bike Path Extension—Public Hearing—Notice of Intent—City of Salem, 93 Washington Street, Salem, MA. The purpose of this hearing is to discuss the proposed 1.5 mile off-road bike path extension from Salem State University to the intersection of Washington, Mill, and Canal Streets, within an area subject to protection under the Wetlands Protection Act MGL c131§40 and Salem Wetlands Protection & Conservation Ordinance. The proposed route runs through City-owned property at 260 Canal Street and the MBTA’s right-of-way at 142 RR Canal Street

This item is taken later in the agenda, after #2 and Old/New business.

Dave Knowlton, City Engineer, presents along with Tom Touchet and Brian Myers of AECOM. This is the off road path portion; he describes the setup. The intent is ultimately to extend the path to the Commuter Rail station. The projects will be funded in part by the MassDOT; the City only pays for design. They hope to start construction in the 2015 construction season. The bike path should help take bikes off Canal St. during construction there. They must also work with the MBTA to get approval to build on their property. They are also putting in a drain line that will traverse the bike path; some details for that project are described.

Knowlton describes the impacted resource area, which will be filled and replicated elsewhere. The replicated area is about 30% larger than the impacted area. Mr. Touchet describes the impacted area and its replication in detail. There is an intermittent stream there. One area of impact is 1760 square feet and the replication will be 2300 square feet. There is no compensatory flood storage required. The replication and its plantings are described in further detail.

Campbell asks about a monitoring program; it will be added in to the final NOI package. It will meet state standards and there will be control for invasives, especially as the area has lots of phragmites.

St. Louis comments that the Commission has previously seen projects around Rosie’s Pond with concerns about flooding; has it changed with the FEMA maps? Three houses were permitted before the area was mapped as a flood zone. A garage was permitted but it is uncertain whether it was in a coastal vs. inland flood zone at that time – no determination was made. The coastal flood zone is now larger.

The path will be paved with 2-foot-wide shoulders of gravel. Rails are already gone from this section. There will not be lighting. Porous pavement was not considered but is not an ideal surface here as it gets filled with sand and the City would need specialized equipment to plow and clean it. Devine comments that porous pavement isn’t appropriate for every application.

St. Louis opens to the public and Brian Travers of 0 Parallel St. wonders if it is City owned property, why did abutters receive notice of the project. Any property within 100’ of the property lines of this parcel were notified as is required.

Dave Pelletier of Crestwood Rd. in Marblehead owns several buildings nearby and is concerned about drainage. There is an existing pipe under the tracks and Knowlton comments that it drains Rosie’s Pond itself. He describes the drain, which will not change. The path itself will not be elevated either. Mr. Travers is concerned about a particular swale at Tulip Street and Knowlton will take that into account. St. Louis asks about the limit of work lines, which follow the limit of grading.

Tammy Harrington, of Salem Trolley, uses a garage at 10 Broadway, and is concerned about where it goes onto MBTA property. She is concerned that the path may bisect the parking lot where her trolleys come out of the garage. Brian Myers indicates that they have discovered a lot of encroachment onto MBTA Property and that is one of those areas. In order to stay away from the tracks, they need to be as close to the property line as they can be, but can also work with Ms. Harrington. Fencing is also discussed. Knowlton and Myers provide a 75% drawing with more detail and review it with the Commission regarding Ms. Harrington’s issues.

Within a month Knowlton hopes to provide 100% drawings including more geotechnical information. Plans may be viewed at the front counter of the Engineering Department.

A motion to close the public hearing is made by Ricciarelli, seconded by Cambpell, and passes unanimously.

Conditions are as discussed:
  • An erosion control plan shall be submitted for review and approval by the Agent
  • A wetland monitoring plan shall be submitted for review and approval by the Agent
  • Any changes to Tulip St. shall be submitted for review and approval by the Agent
  • The Bike Path Committee has suggested openings onto Canal St.; these shall also be brought before the Agent if there are changes  
There is no DEP file number yet, so in the past Commission has issued Order and Devine will do the paperwork once a number is obtained.

A motion to issue order of conditions with standard and above special conditions is made by Ricciarelli, seconded by Campbell, and all approve.


Riverview Place (Salem Suede Redevelopment)—DEP #64-579—Continuation of 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

This item is taken first. The applicant requests to continue to the March 12th meeting, since they wish to work out additional MEPA issues. A motion to continue is made by Campbell, seconded by Ricciarelli, and all are in favor.

Old/New Business

  • 6 Nurse Way, DEP #64-532: Request for Certificate of Compliance
  • 8 Nurse Way, DEP #64-537: Request for Certificate of Compliance
This item is taken second. A letter from Griffin mentions minor deviations from the approved plan. It is part of a larger subdivision and this certificate is only for 6 nurse way. St. Louis asks about grading and work in the buffer zone. Numbers 6 and 8 Nurse way are both in the packet, but #8 was not listed on the agenda. Both will be reviewed together, and Devine will verify that they can do this. The Commission reviews the design plan and as-built.

A motion to issue the certificate of compliance for 6 and 8 Nurse Way is made by Campbell, seconded by Pond and passes unanimously.

  • Salem Transfer Station (12 Swampscott Rd.), DEP #64-473: Request to extend Order of Conditions
This permit has lived for seven years because an extra four years was added through the Permit Extension Act. City Engineer David Knowlton says they are working with the operator to remediate the site and close the landfill. It is uncertain if an increase in tonnage is in the Commission’s purview but it is within DEP. Devine noticed a large compost pile near the stream; Devine has contacted Northside Carting and will have a site visit in the spring. He says that a three year extension is standard and is what is requested. Devine is comfortable with a full three year extension.
A motion to extend to March 19, 2018 is made by Pond, seconded by Ricciarelli, and all are in favor.

  • Meeting minutes—January 22, 2015
Minutes were not provided in the packets and will be voted upon at the next meeting.

Miscellaneous

Forest River Conservation Area Rail Infrastructure

Study and design of improvements is eligible for CPA funding; Devine received a determination that this is eligible. They will do assessment, and recommend a design and improvements.

Devine notes that the Commission had previous asked to have a map of the trails and bridges created. He asked an intern to do that, but she was very resourceful and found an existing map that includes enough information to use in an RFP.

Ricciarelli thinks the study at least should be for whole trail maintenance, not just bridges. Devine states that 17 determined eligible for CPA funding, so there will be competition. This Commission should also match some funding. Devine remarks that he will draft the RFP.

Disposal of Snow in the Ocean
Devine gave Commission approval for disposal into the South River basin. This is an area planned to be dredged and the sediment is already known to be contaminated. Once dredged it will become a marina for small craft. The site is west of the Congress St. bridge in the area where the carnival usually is. It is one of the few areas not adjacent to a shellfish bed. Devine consulted with St. Louis and those who are doing design and permitting for the dredging. This was also approved by the DEP. There is some discussion of making a citywide snow plan in case severe winters recur. There is some question as to whether the city uses salt, sand or both. Other communities use a mixture of magnesium chloride and barley beer byproduct. A floating boom was required to contain floating debris; nonfloating debris should settle to be removed later.

Type of flood zone in North River corridor

Devine states that no one from the DEP is available to attend a Conservation Commission meeting to discuss this. The Commission will continue looking at this during review of the Riverview Place project.

A motion to adjourn is made by Ricciarelli, seconded by Campbell, and passes unanimously.

The meeting ends at 7:52PM

Respectfully Submitted,
Stacy Kilb
Clerk, Salem Conservation Commission