Stow Conservation Commission
Minutes
April 30, 2013
A meeting of the Stow Conservation Commission was held at the Stow Town Building, 380 Great Road, Stow, Massachusetts, on April 30, 2013 at 7:30 in the evening.
There were present: Ingeborg Hegemann Clark, Chair
David Coppes, Vice-Chair
Cortni Frecha
Serena Furman
Doug Moffat
Doug Morse
Jeff Saunders
Associate: Andy Snow
comprising a quorum of the Commission; also
Present: Maureen Trunfio, SCC Secretary
Absent: Pat Perry, SCC Coordinator
The Conservation Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM.
Approve Minutes
Doug Moffat made a motion to approve the minutes of April 16, 2013 as drafted and amended. Dave Coppes seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Notice of Intent Continuation (#299-0555)
Lot 1 West Acton Road (R-17 #3)
At 9:05 PM Ingeborg Hegemann Clark reopened the public hearing continued from April 16, 2013 for a Notice of Intent (NOI) filed by Stow Community Housing Corp. for the proposed multi-unit apartment project with five primary buildings, sewage disposal and public water supply systems.
Greg Roy of Ducharme & Dillis was scheduled to represent the applicant at this meeting, but wrote to the office and asked for a continuation of the public hearing. He explained that he had not had sufficient time to inform his client and address issues outlined in Town Engineer, Sue Carter’s report to Ducharme & Dillis. The Commission agreed to continue. Steve Dungan was present at this meeting as a representative of the Stow Community Housing Corp. Dungan explained that the closing for the property is scheduled for June 28, 2013 and that they would prefer to have all approvals in place by that date if possible. The Commission agreed to add an additional meeting on May 14, 2013. The Commission asked Maureen Trunfio, Secretary to the Conservation Commission, to inform Greg Roy about the continuation date. They also
asked her to inform Sue Carter and Greg Roy to converse directly with one another regarding the project with cc:’s to Pat Perry in order to speed up the process. The Commission asked that Maureen check in with the Board of Health and the Building Inspector to make sure that they were following the process of the project. Maureen agreed to follow through with their requests.
Furman suggested that Sue Carter expect comments back from Roy in writing by Tuesday, May 7, 2013 in order to ensure that Carter has time to respond to his comments well in advance to the May 14 meeting.
Roy (by letter) and Dungan agreed to continue the meeting to May 14, 2013.
Doug Moffat made a motion to continue the public hearing for Notice of Intent File No.299-0555 filed by Stow Community Housing Corp. for the proposed multi-unit apartment project with five primary buildings, sewage disposal and public water supply systems to May 14, 2013. Cortni Frecha seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Heritage Lane Water Source
The Commission reviewed this issue as it will be presented as a warrant article at town meeting. The Commission noted the importance of informing citizens that the town has done its due diligence in seeking a water source to supply lower village. They would like to stress the importance of letting people know the process. Dave Coppes and Ingeborg Hegemann Clark will be present at town meeting to answer any questions from the public. If the item passes at town meeting, a proposal coming before the Commission will be the next step in the process. At that time there will be advertised, open, public hearings held at which point the public can come forward with comments and concerns.
497 Great Road
Melone Tree Cutting
Previously the Commission was made aware of tree cutting at the property of John W. Melone, 497 Great Road. At the Commission’s April 16, 2013 meeting a discussion took place regarding a large area that had been cleared of trees without a forest cutting permit or NOI.
Perry wrote a letter and informed Melone that she was in receipt of forestry cutting plan disapproved by Laura Dooley, DCR Forester, instructing Melone that he must inform the Commission of any plans for work that he intends to undertake on the site.
Melone responded to the letter and agreed to a site meeting. Ingeborg Hegemann Clark and Doug Morse led the site meeting. They visited the site and found that over one half acre of land located within a wetland had been cleared of trees. The clearing at the rear of his property created a wet meadow that Hegemann Clark considered of interest. At that meeting, Melone explained that after having a tree fall on his house and having incurred significant damage, he felt it was within his rights to remove trees.
It was decided at this meeting that Melone must file an after-the-fact Notice of Intent complete with a planting plan. The Commission will continue this discussion at its next scheduled meeting on May 14, 2013.
Vernal Pool
33 & 45 Walcott Street (R-1 #64A & 63)
The Commission had been working with Mark White of Bentley Building Corp. and Rich Harrington of Stamski and McNary at the site of proposed activity for 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.
On April 29, 2013 Serena Furman and Ingeborg Hegemann Clark met with Dave Crossman (wetland scientist) to determine whether a wet feature on the property was indeed a vernal pool. The outcome of the on-site investigation was that Crossman could not confirm that it was not a vernal pool.
Adjournment
Dave Coppes made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 PM. Cortni Frecha 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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