Stow Conservation Commission
Minutes
July 29, 2014
A meeting of the Stow Conservation Commission was held at the Stow Town Building, 380 Great Road, Stow, Massachusetts, on July 29, 2014 at 7:30 in the evening.
There were present: Cortni Frecha, Chair
Andy Snow, Vice-Chair
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark
Serena Furman
Doug Morse
Jeff Saunders
Absent: Sandra Grund
comprising a quorum of the Commission
Also present: Kathy Sferra, Conservation Coordinator
Maureen Trunfio, SCC Secretary
The Conservation Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM.
Continuation of Notice of Intent (#299-0574)
0 Barton Road/U-2 #54 & R-25 #16A&B
At 7:30 PM Cortni Frecha reopened the public hearing for a Notice of Intent (NOI) filed by Robert Collings of the Collings Foundation for site work associated with construction of a 66,000 s.f. museum building.
Robert Collings was present with engineer Stephen O’Connell of Andrews Survey and Engineering, Inc. O’Connell informed the Commission that they had revised the plan to eliminate roof runoff and direct rainwater toward an infiltration basin to the south of the proposed building. Jeff Saunders asked for confirmation that the Cultec recharger had been removed from the plan and that all runoff will go directly into the recharge basin. O’Connell confirmed that was correct. A gradual shallow depression will serve to provide storm water management requirements. O’Connell told the Commission that the project will meet recharge requirements.
Andy Snow wanted to confirm that the trees required by the Commission will be planted, and O’Connell told her that they are in the process of developing a tree planting/landscape plan.
O’Connell showed the proposed location for a public water supply well as required by the Board of Health. The well will be outside the Commission’s jurisdiction, but a portion of the 135-foot radius falls within. The proposed water supply line is within the Commission’s jurisdiction and will require approval. The Commission reminded Collings that if he plans any changes to the proposed hardscape (driveway, sidewalks, etc.) it would be wise to present it now. Otherwise if he finds changes that he would like to make after the Order is issued, he would need to come back and file with the Commission again. O’Connell stated that a version of the revised plan is currently being reviewed by Sue Carter, Town Engineering Consultant. He told the Commission that one change shown on that plan that is currently with Carter
is the widening of the roadway to 18 feet to allow for two-way traffic. It will be widened on the side of the driveway farther away from the resource area, but a portion of that roadway will be in the 200-foot buffer zone to the pond. The use of hardscape is required at handicap accessible areas near the building. Collings said that concrete will be used in those areas.
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark asked if the proposed pre- and post-tributary watershed areas in to the pond are the same as what is there currently. O’Connell stated that they are approximately the same as what is in the area now. O’Connell told the Commission that Carter said the computations that were submitted were satisfactory, but she acknowledged that the Commission would need to approve that submission.
O’Connell said that they will be filing revisions tomorrow with the Planning Board (PB) and will present their plan at PB’s August 6, 2014 meeting. He requested any final input the Commission may have in order to incorporate it into the presentation to the PB.
Andy Snow made a motion to continue the public hearing for a Notice of Intent File No. 299-0574 filed by Robert Collings of The Collings Foundation for site work associated with construction of a 66,000 sf museum building to August 19, 2014 on or after 7:30 PM. Jeff Saunders seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Doug Morse entered the meeting at 7:45 PM
Presentation by Polatin Ecological Services
Chris Polatin and Brian Colleran of Polatin Ecological Services were present to offer a slide show regarding Management of Invasive Species on Town Conservation Land. Prior to the meeting Cortni Frecha, Bruce Trefry and Kathy Sferra took Polatin and Colleran on a brief tour of several conservation properties including Captain Sargent and Flagg Hill. Japanese Stiltgrass was found at the Flagg Hill Conservation Area but Polatin said it is at a point where it is easy to confront and gave Bruce Trefry suggestions. The Commission has growing concern surrounding invasives on parcels such as Captain Sargent. They are also looking for advice on how to instruct homeowner/builders to handle invasives they encounter on their property.
In summary he advised that towns prioritize and possibly develop an overall plan. They should consider which areas are possible to fairly easily redeem and which will be more difficult. He suggested towns develop a quadrant-style ranking system for areas that are disturbed with invasives. He cited an example of its use by the U.S. Forest Service. He recommended planting a PVC pipe or some static object that can be used for comparison when taking annual photos of the area affected by invasives. He recommended several useful resources such as a flow chart for an Adaptive Management Approach from the Nature Conservancy. He mentioned that the New England Wildflower Society is a good resource for identifying invasives in New England.
He talked about the benefits and drawbacks of various removal techniques such as hand pulling, mowing, herbicide spraying, stem injection, use of grazing animals, etc. The Commission asked for a timeline in beginning a project. Polatin said that October is a good time for planning and November is a good time to go into the woods and map. Kathy Sferra recommended doing the prioritization work in the fall and getting a proposal to request funding to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) during winter for consideration at Annual Town meeting.
Open Space Committee (OSC)
Open Space and Recreation Plan Update
Kathy Sferra reminded the Commission that Stow has a current Open Space and Recreation Plan (OS&R), but that it will expire in the spring of 2015. The Plan is technically the responsibility of the Conservation Commission. This plan needs to be current in order to maintain the town’s eligibility for land acquisition grants. Bob Wilbur was present as a representative of the OSC. The Commission voted to create a subcommittee of the Commission to lead this work.
Serena Furman asked if our current Plan had expired and Sferra said that it had not. She told the Commission that there is generally one period for grant proposals, and that is generally in the June or July time frame if we have a draft we would be considered eligible.
Sferra suggested that for the 2015 Revision, the Conservation Commission appoint a new OS&R Plan Committee that would include: Two members of the Open Space Committee, one member of the Conservation Commission, one representative of Stow Conservation Trust, one member of the Recreation Commission and two invited associate members, Pam Weathers and Dwight Sipler. Sferra has offered herself and Jill Kern for staff support. She suggested that the Committee begin work in September 2014 and aim to have a draft by spring of 2015.
Sferra reported that she believes that 75-80% of the information in the current version would remain the same. The Committee would need to update demographics, details regarding what’s protected what’s developed in town, etc. Serena Furman asked about what was the last grant received. Sferra said that it was a self-help grant to buy a Conservation Restriction on Red Acre Woodland. She added that large amounts of money have been granted by the State and used to purchase Town Forest, Marble Hill, Flagg Hill, etc.
Bob Wilbur made a final comment and mentioned that Stow is at a crossroads as a community. The public should realize that land can be open but not protected and taken for granted. Stow’s sense of place, going forward. He fears that Stow could still change dramatically if care is not taken to continue to protect open space.
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark made a motion to identify an Open Space and Recreation Planning Committee as recommended. Andy Snow seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Approve Minutes
Serena Furman made a motion to approve the minutes of July 1, 2014 as drafted. Andy Snow seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Coordinator’s Report
Kathy Sferra reported the Deerfield Lane legislation is awaiting the Governor’s signature.
Sferra reported that Maureen Trunfio, the Commission’s part-time Assistant will be leaving to take a full-time position in the Selectmen’s Office. She asked the Commission to review a proposal for Maureen’s successor to work for 25 hours per week, which they supported.
Sferra informed the Commission that plans have been filed with the Planning Board for a project that is proposed at the Cushing property off Walcott Street. They have proposed four new houses to be built on the parcel. The Commission approved sending comments to the Planning Board.
Sferra reported that she will coordinate with Bruce Trefry and Eve Donahue to confirm a date of either August 13 or August 14, 2014 to work on boundary postings at Derby Woods.
Serena Furman and Sferra will visit the Hammill residence on Lake Boon on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at 8 AM to meet with the property owners.
Sferra told the Commission that the Board of Selectmen has requested comments regarding the unauthorized Earth Removal Project at 211 Randall Road. The Commission recalled that the property owner, Nathaniel Smith, had come before the Commission, but did not mention earth removal. Only a very small portion of the property at the front of the lot is within the Commission’s jurisdiction. The Commission suggested that the owner be informed that he should leave all trees as they currently stand. They discussed recharge to the wetland in that area and said that the owner should be required to consider the function of recharge in the area. Their opinion was that the owner should be required to bring in clean sand and loam and restore the land that enables the land to play a role in recharging the aquifer. The area should not be paved,
compacted or sloped in such a way that adversely affects the recharge function. Loam and good soils should be replaced. Sferra will send comments to the Board of Selectmen.
Sferra informed the Commission that the Jaworowicz Family on Dunster Drive, who requested permission to locate a shed near the edge of conservation land, has decided on a different location for the shed and will reapply to the ZBA. They were seeking the Commission’s support on the new location.
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark made a motion to accept the draft dated July 30, 2014 for the revised proposed placement of a shed on the Jawarowicz property on Dunster Drive. Jeff Saunders seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Certificate of Compliance Request (#299-0548)
0 Delaney St. (Syncarpha/Gehrlicher Solar)
Eric Aubrey of Gehrlicher Solar America contacted the office requesting a Certificate of Compliance for the solar panel installation on Delaney Street. Kathy Sferra and Serena Furman conducted the site inspection on behalf of the Commission on July 10, 2014 and found the area stabilized and in good condition. The Commission agreed to issue the Certificate of Compliance.
Andy Snow made a motion to issue the Certificate Of Compliance for work satisfactorily completed at 0 Delaney Street in compliance with Order of Conditions File No. 299-0548.
Serena Furman seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Certificate of Compliance Request (#299-0561)
21 Hale Road (U-5 #19)
Kevin Trenholme of 21 Hale Road contacted the office requesting a Certificate of Compliance for a project that involved repairing a seawall and constructing a patio. Serena Furman conducted the site inspection on behalf of the Commission on July 29, 2014 and found the area stabilized and in good condition. The Commission agreed to issue the Certificate of Compliance.
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark made a motion to issue the Certificate Of Compliance for work satisfactorily completed at 21 Hale Road in compliance with Order of Conditions File No. 299-0561. Andy Snow seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Highgrove Estates Site Visit Follow Up
Sferra distributed a report from Sue Carter regarding the site. Sferra reminded the Commission that permission to cross a wetland was permitted in the OOC, therefore a wetland area needs to be replicated. Sferra noted that many of the hay bales have completely deteriorated. The Commission voted to send a letter to the applicant asking him to take measures to correct the issues identified in the report within 30 days and to attend the Commission’s September 2, 2014 meeting to provide an update to the Commission.
Stow Landowner’s Guide to Wetland Permitting
Sferra presented a “handout” to the Commission that she had drafted entitled A Stow Landowner’s Guide to Wetland Permitting. Several small suggestions were made for improvement, but the Commission found it to be informative and useful.
Adjournment
At 10:15 PM Doug Morse made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ingeborg Hegemann Clark seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
The Commission adjourned at 10:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Trunfio
Stow Conservation Commission Secretary
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