Stow Conservation Commission
Minutes
June 5, 2012
A meeting of the Stow Conservation Commission was held at the Stow Town Building, 380 Great Road, Stow, Massachusetts, on June 5, 2012 at 7:30 in the evening.
There were present: Rebecca Mattison, Chair
David Coppes
Serena Furman
Doug Morse
Absent: Ingeborg Hegemann Clark
Doug Moffat
Associates: Cortni Frecha
Andy Snow
Jeff Saunders
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.
Approve Minutes
David Coppes made a motion to approve the minutes of May 1, 2012 as drafted. Serena Furman seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Appointment of New Chairperson
David Coppes made a motion to nominate Ingeborg Hegemann Clark as Chairperson of the Conservation Commission, effective July 1, 2012. Becky Mattison seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Appointment of New Vice-Chairperson
Becky Mattison made a motion to nominate David Coppes as Vice-Chairperson of the Conservation Commission, effective July 1, 2012. Serena Furman seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Re-Appointment of Associate Members
David Coppes made a motion to re-appoint the Commission’s current associate members Joyce Bunce, Stewart Dalzell, Dwight Sipler and Bruce Trefry. Serena Furman seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Appointment of New Associate Members
David Coppes made a motion to appoint Helen Castles, Cortni Frecha, Jeff Saunders and Andy Snow as associate members of the Conservation Commission. Serena Furman seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Appointment of Liaison to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC)
The Commission is in need of a liaison to represent it at CPC meetings. The liaison must be a voting member of the Commission and would be our point person for any open space issues. This would be a good time for a new member since the CPC has decided that they need to educate the new members. No interest from Commission members at this time.
Notice of Intent (#299-0545)
36 North Shore Drive (U-5 #1-A)
At 7:40 PM Rebecca Mattison opened the public hearing for a Notice of Intent filed by
David Mitrou for the installation of a retaining wall along the shoreline of Lake Boon to allow for a 25’x18’ beach area. Work will need to occur within the 35-foot No Disturb Zone. Dave Coppes conducted a site inspection on behalf of the Commission.
David Mitrou, homeowner, presented plans to the Commission. Mitrou told the Commission he is familiar with the Lake Boon stabilization guidelines. Mitrou plans to utilize a silt fence at the water’s edge. The permanent alteration of the project is less than 500 square feet.
The proposed retaining wall and beach placement was shown on plans. Mitrou explained that his lot includes 275 feet of lake frontage. He is asking permission to install a modest beach area and is asking to utilize 25 linear feet of water front property. The majority of the area chosen has already been cleared by beaver activity. He told the Commission he would be using eight cubic feet of masonry sand and it would stand six inches deep. The Commission specified that the sand be pre-washed masonry sand.
The proposed retaining wall would stand 18 feet from water's edge. Mitrou explained that this would be a poured concrete wall executed using Stonemaker Technology which molds the concrete for a nicer appearance The wall, at highest, would be 3.5 feet tall. Mitrou told the Commission that the footings would be one-foot deep.
The Commission instructed Mitrou where blueberry bushes, fragrant sumac and other vegetation should be planted for erosion-control purposes. The Commission determined that planting these shrubs will constitute a public benefit. The Commission discussed with Mitrou a particular tree that might suffer root damage and may need to be removed. The Commission was amenable to the removal of this tree.
Equipment (bobcat or a small excavator) will be brought into the back yard via an old boat launch roadway. Sarah Bailin of Sudbury, MA owns the abutting lot and was present. She explained that part of the roadway is on her property. She requested that Mitrou return any portion of her property that may be impacted from the roadway and surrounding vegetation to the condition in which it was found. Mitrou agreed.
David Coppes made a motion to close the public hearing for Notice of Intent File No. 299-0545 filed by David Mitrou for the proposed activity of the installation of a retaining wall and sand beach along the shoreline of Lake Boon at 36 North Shore Drive. Doug Morse seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
David Coppes made a motion to approve and issue the Order of Conditions File No. 299-0545 as drafted and amended for the proposed activity of the installation of a retaining wall and sand beach along the shoreline of Lake Boon at 36 North Shore Drive. Doug Morse seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Notice of Intent (#299-0546)
161 Old Bolton Road (R-3 #41-3)
At 8:10 PM Rebecca Mattison opened the public hearing for a Notice of Intent File Number 299-0546 filed by Enrico Curcio and Jeffrey Copson for work proposed relating to abandoning the existing failed septic system and constructing a new system in the same general area. The proposed work impacts resource areas. No work is proposed within the 35-foot No Disturb Zone. Dave Coppes conducted a site inspection on behalf of the Commission.
Steve Poole of Lakeview Engineering presented to the Commission on behalf of the homeowners. The proposed work would occur along the first slope that drops to an intermediate plateau area, prior to the final slope down to the wetlands. The project includes placement of fill over this slope to provide the required breakout distance under Title 5. Poole explained that the current septic consists of a tank and two leach pits and did not pass a Title 5 septic test.
The site is very restricted in terms of space. Massachusetts state setback regulations must also be adhered to. Two large trees and three medium trees would need to be removed. The Commission agreed to allow the new septic system to be installed in the same location as the original system.
No abutters were present.
David Coppes made a motion to close the public hearing for Notice of Intent File No. 299-054 filed by Enrico Curcio and Jeffrey Copson for the proposed activity of replacing a failed septic system at 161 Old Bolton Road. Serena Furman seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
David Coppes made a motion to approve and issue the Order of Conditions File No. 299-0546 filed by Enrico Curcio and Jeffrey Copson for the proposed activity of replacing a failed septic system at 161 Old Bolton Road as drafted and amended. Serena Furman seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Notice of Intent- Postponement
6 Billadell Road (U-5 #1-A)
The applicants have agreed to postpone the hearing to June 26, 2012. The public hearing was not opened and no testimony was heard.
Juniper Hill Water Company (JHWC)
85 Circuit Drive (R-15 #119)
The Order issued on April 3, 2012 required that a revised pump test plan be approved by the Commission prior to commencement of work. David Coppes reviewed the plan and conducted a second site inspection. Coppes reported to the Commission that JHWC found an appropriate area toward which to pump the test water. He showed this area to the Commission on plans.
Dave Coppes made a motion to accept the revised pump test plan for the Juniper Hill Water Company contingent upon notification to the Conservation Commission of when the pump test would commence. Doug Morse seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Woodhead property
297 Boxboro Road (R-19 #8A&8B)
Bill & Vivian Woodhead have proposed selling the two ANR parcels (8+ acres) abutting Flagg Hill to the town for $350,000. They hope that the land will continue as a meadow for wildlife habitat and blue birds as part of the Flagg Hill Conservation Area. Bruce Trefry has managed the tree farm and blue bird habitat for the Woodheads for many years. The property is in Chapter 61A.
The property houses an old barn (chicken house) that has already fallen in and a machine shop that could be restored or torn down. The Woodheads have no objections to the structures being removed. There may be some 21E issues with the machine shop.
An appraisal of the land would have to be done in compliance with the Procurement Laws. A preliminary discussion with an appraiser indicates that a simple appraisal for fair market value and one meeting with the clients would cost approximately $1,500. However an appraisal that would have to meet land grant specification could cost as much as $3,500. The Woodheads have been made aware that the town will not entertain paying more than the appraised value. The cost of the appraisal can be expended from the Conservation Fund.
David Copped moved to grant permission for Pat Perry to move forward with soliciting appraisal quotes. Serena Furman seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Comments on List of Foreclosed Properties
Prior to this meeting Pat Perry asked the Commission to read her reviews and comments regarding the foreclosed properties up for auction. The Conservation Commission has been asked to comment on the parcels for the Treasurer Collector and Board of Selectmen prior to auction. Perry recommended that the Conservation Commission and Planning Board agree on which parcels to retain. Serena Furman raised the possibility that Map R-30 Parcel 47 is a trailhead for the Maynard Rockland Woods Conservation Land.
The Commission agreed with Perry’s recommendations.
Enforcement Issue
816 Great Road
The forms and instructions were given to Mr. Gougen with a message to contact Pat Perry. At present no contact has been made. The Commission suggested that
Pat Perry write a letter to Gougen with a request for him to respond to the Commission by
June 19, 2012. If he does not respond by the given date, the Commission suggested that Perry contact DEP.
Enforcement Issue
626 Great Road
The $300 fine has been paid and Mr. Lorden was given until July 1, 2012 to get the site into compliance. Pat Perry has provided Mr. Lorden’s landscaper with a copy of the planting plan.
Other Business
It was decided that the June 19th meeting would need to be postponed until June 26th due to the lack of quorum.
It was decided that the July 3rd meeting would be canceled due to the 4th of July holiday. There will be only one meeting in July. That meeting is scheduled for July 17, 2012.
Adjournment
David Coppes made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 PM. Serena Furman seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
The Commission adjourned at 9:40 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Trunfio
Stow Conservation Commission Secretary
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