Stow Conservation Commission
Minutes
November 13, 2012
A meeting of the Stow Conservation Commission was held at the Stow Town Building, 380 Great Road, Stow, Massachusetts, on November 13, 2012 at 7:30 in the evening.
There were present: Ingeborg Hegemann Clark, Chair
David Coppes, Vice-Chair
Cortni Frecha
Serena Furman
Rebecca Mattison
Doug Morse
Absent: Doug Moffat
Associates: 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 October 16, 2012 as drafted and amended. Serena Furman seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Forthcoming Request for Determination of Applicability Assignment
160 North Shore Drive
Susan Kloss of 160 North Shore Drive contacted the office regarding the removal of three to four trees on her property. Serena Furman, Cortni Frecha and Doug Morse agreed to conduct a site inspection on November 24, 2012. A public hearing will be held December 4, 2012.
OARS Warning Signs at Gleasondale Dam
At the Commission’s last meeting, Ingeborg Hegemann Clark told the Commission that she had received an email from Alan Fierce, a Stow resident of 284 Red Acre Road. Fierce stated that while paddling down the Assabet River from Hudson above the Gleasondale Dam in Stow, he noticed that there is no warning regarding the dam. The Commission discussed this issue and will inform Fierce that Pat Perry will contact the owner of the dam and inform Stow Fire and Police Department regarding this matter.
Continuation of Hearing for Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD)
33 & 45 Walcott Street (R-1 #64A & 63)
At 7:45 PM Ingeborg Hegemann Clark reopened the public hearing continued from October 16, 2012 for an ANRAD filed by Mark White of Bentley Building Corp. for the proposed activity of
confirmation of wetland delineation and the delineation of mean annual high water line of two perennial streams partially located on site at 33 & 35 Walcott Street.
The Commission finished the second of two site investigations for the wetland delineation as proposed in the ANRAD submitted by Bentley Builders. The Commission received revised plans from Rich Harrington of Stamski & McNary but found several discrepancies between their own findings and those of Stamski & McNary. These items were presented, discussed and settled at this meeting. Rich Harrington, Mark White and Dave Crossman, wetland scientist of B & C Associates were present at this meeting.
Because “R” markings were absent from the presented plan, the Commission, with permission from the applicant, decided to continue the hearing to November 20, 2012 and to review final plans at that date. The applicant agreed.
There were no comments from abutters or audience members.
With the permission of the applicant, David Coppes made a motion to continue the public hearing for an Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation filed by Mark White of Bentley Building Corp. for the proposed activity of confirmation of wetland delineation and the delineation of mean annual high water line of two perennial streams partially located on site at 33 & 35 Walcott Street to November 20, 2012 on or after 7:30 pm. Cortni Frecha seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Withdrawal of Notice of Intent Application (#299-0550)
Kearsarge Energy
On October 16, 2012 Andrew Berstein of Kearsarge Energy sent a letter to the Commission requesting a withdrawal of the Notice of Intent application for the Minute Man Air Field Solar Project.
Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA)
27 Barton Road (U-1 #53-1)
A public hearing was held on October 2, 2012 for a Request for Determination of Applicability filed by Connie Zimmerman for maintenance of native vegetation within the Riverfront Area at her residence at 27 Barton Road. Ingeborg Hegemann Clark and Serena Furman met with an arborist from Bartlett Tree on site and reviewed the application on behalf of the Commission. During the hearing it was agreed that they would attempt to preserve a specific red maple. This was included in the findings for the decision.
Work has commenced and Zimmerman stated that despite efforts, the tree being discussed is in poor health and must be removed. Greg Carbone of Bartlett Tree Services declared that the tree would not survive. The Commission made a decision to vote to ratify their original finding specifically regarding the red maple to allow for the removal of a red maple tree that was found to be in poor health as determined by Carbone of Bartlett Tree Service.
Serena Furman made a motion to ratify the Conservation Commission’s original finding of October 2, 2012 regarding tree and vegetation management work at 27 Barton Road to allow for the removal of a 24-inch diameter red maple tree that was found to be in poor health as determined by Bartlett Tree Service. Cortni Frecha seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Lot Configuration Change Dunster Drive
A decision was rendered by Planning Board to allow for a change of configuration of a lot on Dunster Drive to allow for a patio/fire pit that was unintentionally built on open space due to faulty property line markers. A small piece of the owner’s property, in a different area, was given in exchange for the piece containing the patio/fire pit.
Lower Village Public Forum
Cortni Frecha agreed to attend the forum scheduled for November 28, 2012 at 7:30 PM.
Violation Lundy Property
Joanne Drive (R-13 #11-1)
The Commission has requested and is still waiting for owner, Frank Lundy, to file an after-the-fact Request for Determination of Applicability. Ingeborg Hegemann Clark volunteered to call Lundy before the Commission’s next meeting on November 20, 2012.
Adjournment
Cortni Frecha made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 PM. David Coppes seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
The Commission adjourned at 8:50 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Trunfio
Stow Conservation Commission Secretary
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