Stow Conservation Commission
Minutes
January 17, 2012
A meeting of the Stow Conservation Commission was held at the Stow Town Building, 380 Great Road, Stow, Massachusetts, on January 17, 2012 at 7:30 in the evening.
There were present: Rebecca Mattison, Chair
Helen Castles, Vice Chair
David Coppes
Doug Moffat
Kathy Sferra
Absent: Ingeborg Hegemann Clark
comprising a quorum of the Commission; also
Patricia R. Perry, SCC Coordinator
Maureen Trunfio, SCC Secretary
Stewart Dalzell, Associate Member
The Conservation Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM.
Approve Minutes
Kathy Sferra made a motion to approve the minutes of December 6, 2011 as drafted. David Coppes seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Arbor Glen Access Agreement
The Arbor Glen Access Agreement was presented to the Commission and they endorsed the document. It will now circulate to the Board of Selectmen.
Kathy Sferra made a motion to endorse the Arbor Glen Access Agreement. David Coppes seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Request for Determination of Applicability
111 Kingland Road (U-4 #55)
At 7:40 PM Rebecca Mattison opened the public hearing for a Request for Determination of Applicability filed by Eleanor Beaudette for the replacement of a failed septic system at 111 Kingland Road. Pat Perry reviewed the application and conducted the site inspection on behalf of the Commission. Steve Poole of Lakeview Engineering presented to the Commission. Homeowner, Daniel Beaudette, was present.
Poole explained that the existing system has failed. They would like to to install a new Title V-compliant system. The present system is located under the gravel driveway area. The new systems would occupy the same area. They would like to install a new 1,500 gallon tank, remove the current leach pit and install a galley system. These galleys are heavy–duty concrete and can be driven on. Poole explained that the galleys would be 2-feet deep. The current leach pit is 8-10 feet deep. The replacement would take place within the existing gravel driveway area. They will rebuild the driveway with gravel.
Poole showed plans that demonstrated proposed haybale locations. No work is proposed within the 35-foot No Disturb Zone. All work is outside the 100-foot buffer. According to Poole there would be no change in the slope, no grading and no disturbance to vegetation. All excess soil and gravel will be trucked off site. Poole will revise the plans to specify in the construction notes that the current tank will be broken up and taken off site and disposed of properly.
The Commission was satisfied with the plans presented. No public input from the audience.
Kathy Sferra made a motion to close the public hearing for a Request for Determination of Applicability filed for a proposed replacement of a failed septic system at 111 Kingland Road. David Coppes seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Kathy Sferra made a motion to issue a Negative 3 Determination approving the Request for Determination of Applicability filed for a proposed replacement of a failed septic system at 111 Kingland Road. David Coppes seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Stow Recreation Commission
Pine Bluffs Beach Proposed Expansion
Ditch Cleaning at Pompositticut Elementary School Soccer Fields
Pat Perry has had a preliminary discussion with Mike Beusch, Chairman of the Recreation Commission regarding the expansion of the beach at Lake Boon. Site inspection had not been conducted as of January 10, 2012 due to snow. No one from the Recreation Department was present at this meeting.
Due to the Recreation Department’s Summer Camp Program, they would like to expand the current Pine Bluffs Beach to include the flat area adjacent to the current beach. Vegetation would need to be removed and a Notice of Intent will most likely need to be filed. Pat Perry suggested representatives from the Rec. Department be scheduled on a future agenda to appear before the Commission for a preliminary discussion.
A smaller matter of note that Busch discussed with Perry was a pile of sand that has accumulated from Lifeguards raking the beach. Perry told the Commission that in her opinion it is a maintenance issue.
Recreation Commission would also like to discuss cleaning the ditch at the Pompo School soccer field. According to, the ditch is full of weeds and leaves. Mike Clayton of the Stow Highway Department has spoken with Perry and explained that the back corner near the Life Course does overflow and flood the area. Perry believes this will require extensive work and would most likely not be considered maintenance. In regard to the soccer field ditch, the Commission suggested possibly having Rec file a Notice of Intent in order to clean it, and then develop a maintenance plan for the future.
Minute Man Air Field Preliminary Discussion re Solar Fields
Kearsarge Energy LP requested a preliminary meeting with the Conservation Commission regarding the possible installation of solar fields at Minute Man Air Field (MMAF). Representatives of Kearsarge Energy included Everett Tatelbaum, and Andrew Bernstein. Representatives of groSolar included Geoff Tinkham, Matthew DiNisco and Jeff Wolfe. Randy Christensen presented to the Commission as the Environmental Scientist from Stantec. Don McPherson of MMAF was present. The Commission’s Associate Member, Stewart Dalzell was in attendance. Kathleen Willis was present as a representative of Planning Board.
Christensen explained that Kearsarge would lease land from MMAF and the power would be sold to Hudson Light & Power. Project size would be projected at 3.6 megawatts.
Kearsarge has met with the Assessor’s Office and would plan to remove the land from Chapter 61a (Agricultural), and pay the back taxes.
Kearsarge presented a timeline that would include a formal presentation to the Commission in February or March, the completion of FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) compliance upgrades including runway re-grading and the addition of safety lights by March 2012, the completion of permitting by spring 2012, the commencement of construction in May 2012 and a commercial operation date of August 2012. The Commission explained that they could not agree to a timeline at this point.
Christensen presented a slide that showed a plan of where the two sets of arrays would be located. Typical panel design was shown on a slide. Solar panels were raised off the ground 3.5-4 feet on galvanized steel poles. The panels would be arranged in long rows. Low-growing grasses would be allowed to grow under the panels. Actual “planting” of panels uses either post-driven racking to a suitable soil depth or, where there is shallow bedrock, ballasted racking.
Inverter boxes are 4x8 foot and in many cases the inverters sit upon concrete slabs. Connections to inverter boxes would be underground and would require some trenching which requires soil disturbance. Connection to the grid would be achieved via overhead lines leading out to Taylor Road. The utility pole locations would be situated so they could also be used to light some of the trees that are obstructions to the airport.
The arrays would be fenced on outer perimeters with 6-foot chain-link fencing. Fences would require minimal soil disturbance. Since the fence is the beginning of the 35-foot setback, Christensen asked if the fence could be placed closer to the wetland resource area and the panels, themselves, begin at the 35-foot range in certain areas. This would allow for a gain in efficiency by enabling the placement of more panels. The Commission made no decision regarding this request.
Christensen questioned whether the existing delineation could be used for this project. The Commission said that the delineation (ORAD) was quite old and could not be used. The Commission said that existing flags might be used as a guide, but not as official lines.
The Commission asked if they were planning to manage the vegetation, i.e. recut grasses again.
Christensen replied that they would be in the areas where the arrays would be located. The Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) would convert the areas of the array footprints to native grasslands. Native upland grassland seed mix would be used. The Commission asked how far out that seeding would extend. Christensen replied that it would only extend slightly beyond where the arrays are located. He added that they would reseed where construction vehicles had disturbed spoil, but would not reseed into wetland areas. The conversion would be restricted to upland areas.
Several utility poles would need to be installed. It appears that at least one would need to be installed directly in the wetland. Construction mats would be utilized to reach that area. Once the mats were removed, Kearsarge would monitor the growth of grasses and supplement it, if necessary. The pole footprint would result in 10-12 square feet of impacted vegetated wetland. For the permanent impact of the poles to meet the performance standards Christensen said he assumed there would need to be some amount of wetland replication for the square footage of permanent impact.
The Commission questioned who determines the span of that the poles. Christensen said there is a span approved by the FAA for lighting and an engineering-based span based on the weight of the lines. A combination of those two standards are taken into consideration to determine the span. FAA has existing regulations on using poles to light obstructions. The FAA also has existing policies on solar panels. The Commission asked that Kearsarge convey very specific clarification as to what decisions are based on FAA mandates. The FAA would need to review the project and agree to final pole placements.
Christensen addressed the riparian zone of Heath Hen Meadow Brook. There would be a certain number of panels that would need to be placed just outside of that riverfront area. He said he would like to represent that area as previously developed because of the maintained field aspect. These array locations are riverfront areas that were cleared under a VMP and that is why Christensen would like permission to use the previously developed riverfront area performance standards as opposed to the “natural” riverfront standards. Kearsarge would keep their impact to less than 5,000 s.f. in order to meet those standards. Christensen explained that they would need the Conservation Commission to review and agree to which set of performance standards for riverfront area they would be required to maintain.
The Commission, after looking at the plan, wondered if they could move the arrays away from the wetland area in locations that appeared open. Christensen stated that they hoped they could achieve some of this by asking for leniency with fence placement. He added that certain areas that look viable are not due to shade impact that would occur from adjacent tall trees.
The Commission questioned maintenance procedures once panels are installed. They explained that once a year panels need to be washed with potable water. Inverters need to be serviced on an annual basis. If the correct grasses were planted, very little mowing would be required.
Christensen wanted clarification on the 35-foot setback. The Commission informed him that it was a regulation. He wondered if it was 35 feet to the fence line or the panel edges. The Commission defined it as “35 feet to the area that is being disturbed.” The Commission briefly explained the need to show a public benefit for projects that need a waiver and explained that the virtue of providing solar power, alone, was probably not going to suffice.
The Commission explained that the timeline Christensen presented was difficult because with snow on the ground it would be difficult to verify site conditions. When asked by the Commission about re-grading, Don McPherson said that they will be removing a hill at the end of the runway. The Commission questioned whether that area was in its jurisdiction. Christensen explained that they will not be changing the topography, native soil will stay and there will be no fill used. Christensen said they would use nurse seed the first year to ensure that vegetation quickly becomes established.
Stewart Dalzell asked the expected project life and Christensen answered 25 years with a 5-year extension. Christensen mentioned that in Europe the life span is 30-40 years. Dalzell also requested that Kearsarge and McPherson be very clear going forward about what portions of the project have to do with airport upgrades and what portions have to do with the solar fields.
The Commission told Christensen that as he looks at the site he needs to think about where they would do any wetland mitigation and perhaps find an area in need. In the Commission’s view, doing 25-feet of wetland mitigation not be sensible, but if it could be part of something bigger they would see that as making more sense.
Kathleen Willis asked how many invertors would be on site and how tall they would be. Christensen said there would be six inverter boxes each at 8-feet tall. The total acres affected by arrays and fences totals 16 acres.
OARS/Water Quality Grant
OARS has decided that they will not pursue a grant with regard to the Elizabeth Brook and therefore will not need to meet with the Commission.
Adjournment
David Coppes made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 PM. Kathy Sferra seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
The Commission adjourned at 9:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia R. Perry
SCC Coordinator
Maureen Trunfio
SCC Secretary
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