Stow Conservation Commission
Minutes
April 17, 2012
A meeting of the Stow Conservation Commission was held at the Stow Town Building, 380 Great Road, Stow, Massachusetts, on April 17, 2012 at 7:30 in the evening.
There were present: Rebecca Mattison, Chair
David Coppes
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark
Doug Moffat
Absent: Helen Castles, Vice Chair
comprising a quorum of the Commission; also
Patricia R. Perry, SCC Coordinator
Maureen Trunfio, SCC Secretary
The Conservation Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM.
Steppingstones School Site Discussion
23 Gleasondale Road (U10 #65)
The Steppingstones School will be moving to 23 Gleasondale Road and would like permission to install a fence and play structure at the rear of the building. Proposed work would occur within the 35-foot no-disturb buffer zone. Members of the Commission conducted a site inspection on Wednesday, April 11, 2012.
Ross and Susan Perry, owners of Steppingstones, were present. Theresa O’Riorden was present as a volunteer engineer on behalf of the Perry’s. They submitted a hand-sketched plan that was not stamped. During the site inspection it was noted that the fence that was to be installed would be two feet away from the wetland line. Within the gravel area there would be a swing set and play structure. Six inches of gravel would need to be over-excavated and backfilled with sand in this area. Absorbency under play structures is a requirement by the Department of Early Education.
Ross Perry reminded the Commission that the area has already been disturbed. He added that children will not disturb the area as greatly as vehicles driving in the area. The Commission agreed and said that these are valid reasons that support the “public benefit” component of allowing work in the 35-foot no disturb zone.
Ross Perry noted that the Town of Stow Bylaws do not state that one is required to have a public hearing; instead it says, “You may do so”. Pat Perry informed Ross that the Town of Stow Wetland Protection Bylaw Regulations require a public hearing.
There is one corner area on the plans that was of specific concern to the Commission. The Commission asked that at the public hearing, the Perry’s describe the type of fence and determine the angle of the shed.
The Commission found that the project was viable and suggested the Perry’s submit a Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) for a May 1st public hearing.
Wetlands Violation
819 Great Road (R-3 #50A)
On Wednesday April 11, 2012, Priscilla Ryder and left a message, Conservation Officer for the City of Marlboro’s Conservation Commission, called Pat Perry to report that a land steward from Marlboro was driving east on Route 117 in Stow and observed the filling of wetlands. Since the agent was on vacation, a member of the Commission was contacted.
It was found that the property at 819 Great Road belongs to David Goguen. Ingeborg Hegemann Clark drove by and observed the filling. It appeared that fill was brought in to extend a driveway. Fill was sliding down a very steep slope directly into a wetland. The fill contained large rocks that also were sliding down into the wetland.
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark left a voicemail message for Goguen explaining the problem and asking him to call her. Goguen did not respond. Pat Perry called Goguen and did contact him. She asked him to attend the May 1, 2012 meeting. Goguen is a police officer for the Town of Stow and said that he would be on duty that evening.
A letter will be drafted a letter inviting Goguen to meet with the Commission at 819 Great Road or give the Commission permission to enter his property to view the violation.
Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD) from Minuteman Airfield
Pat Perry reported that the office received an ANRAD from Minuteman Airfield. Ingeborg Hegemann Clark was assigned the project and will contact the applicant’s engineer to schedule a date to view the delineation..
Adjournment
David Coppes made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 PM. Doug Moffat seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
The Commission adjourned at 8:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Trunfio
SCC Secretary
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