Stow Conservation Commission
Minutes
June 4, 2013
A meeting of the Stow Conservation Commission was held at the Stow Town Building, 380 Great Road, Stow, Massachusetts, on June 4, 2013 at 7:30 in the evening.
There were present: David Coppes, Vice-Chair
Cortni Frecha
Serena Furman
Doug Moffat
Doug Morse
Jeff Saunders
Absent: Ingeborg Hegemann Clark, Chair
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
Cortni Frecha made a motion to approve the minutes of May 14, 2013 as drafted and amended. Doug Moffat seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Site Inspection Assignment
Serena Furman will schedule and conduct a site inspection for a recently filed Notice of Intent for a proposed swimming pool at 19 Brook Mill Road. Andy Snow will accompany Furman on the site visit.
Eagle Scout Project Proposal
Picnic Tables at Stow Community Gardens
The Commission welcomed Liam Gross, who proposed building picnic table for the Stow Community Gardens as an Eagle Scout Project. Gross showed the Commission a written proposal along with photographs and a list of materials he would use. He would like to place a table at each pump location on the property located on Tuttle Lane. Gross said the tables would be stained to be protected from rain and placed in wood-chipped rectangles. Table legs would be placed on cement blocks for leveling and better preservation of the table. Gross will fundraise to gather money for the project. He estimates the project will cost $396.21.
The Commission questioned when Gross plans to start the project. He replied that he would like to begin constructing the tables at some point during the summer and would plan to have the project completed by September. The Commission discussed products other than traditional wood, but it was decided that considering price and durability, traditional wood with a proper stain would be best suited for this project. The Commission was concerned about leaving permanent structures on the site over the winter. It was decided that if they were stained an inconspicuous color, it would not pose a problem. The Commission also suggested that gardeners “tip up” the tables and chain them together at the end of the season.
Gross requested that the Commission sign the form that he presented to them from the Boy Scout Council. David Coppes signed the form required by the Council. The Commission voted to approve the project
Doug Moffat made a motion to approve Liam Gross’s Eagle Scout Project involving building four picnic tables to be placed at the Stow Community Gardens on Tuttle Lane. Cortni Frecha seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Certificate of Compliance Request (#299-0517)
46 Kirkland Drive (U-5 #12)
Peter and Rosa Chow contacted the office requesting a Certificate of Compliance. They have sold their home and need the Certificate of Compliance in order complete the sale. The Chow’s property is one of five parcels involved in an Order of Conditions that was placed on the property on April 29, 2010 when professional aquatic herbicide and algaecide treatments were requested by neighboring homes that sat near a small pond in their area. The Commission agreed to issue a partial Certificate of Compliance.
Doug Moffat made a motion to issue a partial Certificate of Compliance for property located at 46 Kirkland Drive Order of Conditions File No. 299-0517. Cortni Frecha seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Request for Determination of Applicability
First Parish Church/353 Great Road (U-10 #34-1)
At 8:00 PM David Coppes opened the public hearing for a Request for Determination of Applicability filed by the First Parish Church of Stow and Acton for new construction to connect existing buildings, expand parking areas and provide ADA-compliant accessibility to the entire facility on property located at 353 Great Road. Roy Miller, Chairman of Capital Projects at the First Parish Church, Kevin O’Brien and Philip Mosley, members of the church were present at this meeting and discussed plans with the Commission. Ingeborg Hegemann Clark and Pat Perry reviewed the filing and conducted the site inspection on behalf of the Commission, but were not present at this meeting.
It was noted that the proposed activities are greater than 100 feet from the pond on the adjacent property and, therefore, is not subject to review under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. However, the proposed work appears to be within 200 feet and will be subject to review under the Stow Wetlands Bylaw. The Commission requested that an RDA be filed documenting storm water management in relationship to the pond.
The Commission asked for confirmation that the parking lot will be paved as opposed to a gravel lot as it stands now. Miller, Mosley and O’Brien confirmed that the entire lot, including the six new parking spaces will be paved. Miller explained their plans for storm water management by explaining that they will capture water and run it through a retention basin. They confirmed the calculations from the engineer which showed flow can be managed.
The Commission explained the value of plantings on the bank of the pond in order to prevent erosion. They also explained the need for straw bales as an erosion control measure.
Two specific conditions were added by the Commission. The first required that a slope stabilization mix be utilized for plantings to slope upon completion of final grading. The second was that the Church must ensure that erosion controls remain in place until the slope is stable. The Commission agreed to issue a Negative 3 determination with special conditions.
No questions or comments from audience members.
Cortni Frecha made a motion to close the public hearing for a Request for Determination filed by First Parish Church of Stow and Acton for new construction to connect existing buildings, expand parking areas and provide ADA-compliant accessibility to the entire facility on property located at 353 Great Road. Doug Morse seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Doug Moffat made a motion to issue a Negative 3 Determination with two special conditions for a Request for Determination filed by First Parish Church of Stow and Acton for new construction to connect existing buildings, expand parking areas and provide ADA-compliant accessibility to the entire facility on property located at 353 Great Road. Cortni Frecha seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Notice of Intent Continuation (#299-0556)
32 Pine Point Road (U-1 #9)
At 8:20 PM David Coppes reopened the public hearing continued from May 21, 2013 for a Notice of Intent (NOI) filed by homeowners, John and Janet Kendra for the proposed activity of abandoning an existing cesspool and constructing a new Title V compliant septic system including re-grading of the site and reconstruction/relocation of retaining walls. Steve Poole of Lakeview Engineering was present to explain the project to the Commission.
Doug Moffat conducted the site inspection. He explained to the Commission that there were very few options due to the small size of the lot. He thought that the upgrade from a cesspool to a Title V compliant septic system was a public benefit. Poole explained that he will not stockpile soil on site because there is no vacant space that will permit it so all dug soil will be trucked off site. Access to the worksite will need to occur on a neighbor’s strip of abutting land. Poole assured the Commission that the neighbors have agreed. Poole agreed to replace any trees that might be damaged while getting machinery into place.
The Commission agreed to close the hearing and issue Orders of Conditions for the project.
Doug Moffat made a motion to close the public hearing for a Notice of Intent File No. 299-0556 filed by homeowners, John and Janet Kendra for the proposed activity of abandoning an existing cesspool and constructing a new Title V compliant septic system including re-grading of the site and reconstruction/relocation of retaining walls. Cortni Frecha seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Doug Moffat made a motion to approve and issue the Order of Conditions File No. 299-0556 for the proposed activity of abandoning an existing cesspool and constructing a new Title V compliant septic system including re-grading of the site and reconstruction/relocation of retaining walls. Doug Morse seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Request for a Red Line Change
222 Barton Road (U-2 #35)
The original project at this site was approved by the Commission on July 19, 2011. Steve Poole of Lakeview Engineering was present to explain the proposed changes to the Commission. He told the Commission that the applicants are also asking for approval for several changes that have already occurred. This includes changing a plan for handicap access walkways paved with dry-laid brick pavers to gravel walkways and changing proposed wooden retaining walls to rock retaining walls that have already been installed.
Poole explained that most of the work on site has been completed. There is a boat dock that was approved and needs to be installed in the water. Additionally, there is a pool that was approved and needs to be installed. Poole pointed out a wall was supposed to extend out further than they now would like to build it. They would need to “pull the wall back” and make it narrower in order to make all the walkways work.
He added that the owners want to reduce the separation between back of house and face of wall. The wall he referred to was roughly ten feet off the corner of the house to the wall. They now would like to bring the wall back flush with the corner of the house. He showed these changes to the Commission on a revised plan.
Poole said they would like to propose a modification to use a new footprint for the pool. The commission questioned whether these changes qualified as small, insignificant changes or if an Amendment to the Order of Conditions should be completed. Steve Poole suggested that they were only seeking to amend the plan, so the Commission might be able to reference the new plan in the existing order.
The Commission decided that a site visit would be necessary to inspect the changes being requested in order to determine whether an amended order would be necessary. Serena Furman offered to conduct the site inspection and Andy Snow said that she would accompany her.
Resignation of Conservation Commissioner
Doug Moffat has submitted his letter of resignation to the Selectmen’s office. His term will end on June 30, 2013.
Notice of Intent Continuation (#299-0555)
Lot 1 West Acton Road (R-17 #3)
At 8:50 PM David Coppes reopened the public hearing continued from May 14, 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, along with Peter Munkenbeck, were present at this meeting as representatives of the Stow Community Housing Corp. Sue Carter, consulting engineer for the Town of Stow and P.E. at Places Associates, Inc. presented to the Commission referencing her letter dated June 4, 2013 that she presented to the Commission at the present meeting.
The Stow Community Housing Corp. impressed upon the Commission the importance of moving the approval process along due to a scheduled June 28, 2013 closing date. The Commission said they understood and would make every effort expedite the process. However, the Commission did express that they were being presented with a great deal of intricate information and would not issue if all items were not able to be sufficiently explained and they were able to draft very detailed Orders in the time that the remainder of the meeting permitted.
Carter began addressing, point by point, the issues raised in her letter dated June 4, 2013. The Commission raised questions when necessary, and, along with Roy, were able to find agreeable terms with which all parties were satisfied. There were no comments from audience members. The Commission drafted the Orders of Conditions at the end of the present meeting including all points raised in Carter’s letter as well as additional special conditions of their own.
Serena Furman made a motion to close the public hearing for a Notice of Intent (NOI) File Number #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 at Lot 1 West Acton Road. Doug Morse seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Cortni Frecha made a motion to approve and issue the Order of Conditions (OOC) 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 at Lot 1 West Acton Road as drafted and amended. Doug Morse seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Adjournment
Doug Moffat made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:00 PM. Serena Furman seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
The Commission adjourned at 11 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Trunfio
Stow Conservation Commission Secretary
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