Stow Conservation Commission
Minutes
August 19, 2014
A meeting of the Stow Conservation Commission was held at the Stow Town Building, 380 Great Road, Stow, Massachusetts, on August 19, 2014 at 7:30 in the evening.
There were present: Cortni Frecha, Chair
Andy Snow, Vice-Chair
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark
Doug Morse
Jeff Saunders
Absent: Sandra Grund
Serena Furman
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.
Kayak Rack at Pine Bluff Lake Boon
Chris Doiron came before the Commission to discuss plans to build a kayak rack at Lake Boon. He is working with the Recreation Commission as an Eagle Scout project. Minor work will occur within the 100-foot buffer zone.
Doiron displayed design ideas. The rack would be 10.5 feet wide and would be able to be removed from the site. It would be built with pressure treated lumber and lag bolts.
The Commission commended Doiron on his efforts and voted to approve the project as a minor project without requiring a filing.
Andy Snow made a motion to approve the Kayak Rack Eagle Scout Project at Town Beach on Lake Boon as presented. Jeff Saunders seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Approve Minutes
Andy Snow made a motion to approve the minutes of July 29, 2014 as drafted and amended. Jeff Saunders seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Lake Boon Association
Lake Drawdown Annual Report
Theresa O’Riordan, Conray Wharff and Don Hawkes of the Lake Boon Association visited the Commission to present their annual report of the Lake Boon drawdown. There have been three seasons of drawdown without any documented adverse impact to shallow wells. The maximum drawdown was reached this year at 14.4 inches or 18 inches of boards removed.
Since no further board removal is possible, the LBA is looking to streamline the process and make the level of drawdown that occurred this year an annual occurrence.
O’Riordan requested that the Commission remove some of the conditions that are required of them going forward. One request she made was to allow a shorter, more stripped-down report. She also felt that photos of the lake would not document the level of the lake well and asked that the condition be removed. There was discussion regarding the transfer of money set aside for water, in the event that a homeowner’s well failed. She asked that the condition be removed requiring the LBA to advertise the drawdown in the local newspaper. Instead they would post signs around the lake. O’Riordan will follow up with proposed revisions to the permit that can be reviewed by both DEP and the Commission. The Commission will need to amend the permits.
It was noted that the OOC on this project would expire on October 4, 2014, five years from when it was issued.
Don Hawkes congratulated O’Riordan on her recent appointment to the Board of the Lake Boon Commission.
Collings Withdrawal Request
Since the last public hearing it has been reported that the applicant has signed an agreement to acquire access to his property directly from Main Street in Hudson. Construction in that area would require a wetland crossing, and Mr. Collings would need to file a new Notice of Intent.
A letter from Andrews Survey & Engineering, Inc. dated August 14, 2014 requested that the Commission accept a request to withdraw the Notice of Intent #299-0574 relating to site work associated with building a 66,000 s.f. museum.
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark made a motion to accept the application for withdrawal from Andrews Survey & Engineering Inc. on behalf of Robert Collings for Notice of Intent #299-0574. Andy Snow seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Notice of Intent
128 Barton Road (U-2 #7)
The Commission issued a positive determination for this project earlier this year and required the applicant to submit an NOI showing the deck and any other site work already done, or proposed to be done, on this lot that was not permitted as part of the OOC for the house reconstruction that was approved in October 2011. A large amount of the proposed work is within the 35’ No Disturb Zone.
Engineer Tom DiPersio was present with homeowner Laurel Reynolds. DiPersio displayed a plan and showed a proposed deck that would measure 12 feet from the back of the house toward the lake. There would be a gravel surface under the deck. He showed a retaining wall that would be built and landscape improvements including the removal of an old concrete paver patio and replacement with a natural-type, open-joint stone patio. He proposed a retaining wall above the patio to help maintain the slope.~ DiPersio proposed roof runoff drain into drywells that were shown on the plan he presented. He showed a proposed stepping stone walkway from the side patio to the front yard. Reynold requested permission to place an outdoor shower on the property that would drain into gravel.
Andy Snow, Ingeborg Hegemann Clark and Doug Morse conducted the site inspection and were somewhat concerned that there seemed to be large amount of construction proposed on a very small site. Snow displayed photos for the Commission to review. ~The Commission suggested that Reynolds consider repairing the retaining wall at the lake shore while filing this NOI. She agreed. The Commission stated that work must be completed during the lake drawdown. They suggested that roof runoff be directed to the gravel area under the deck instead of into drywells as proposed. ~
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Lake resident, Don Hawkes asked whether decks were supposed to be part of the original proposed plan when building a new home with close proximity to the lake. The Commission stated that it would appreciate if decks were shown on new construction plans, but many residents add decks after homes are built.
Doug Morse commented on the plantings proposed and suggested that bushes such as hydrangeas be planted in groupings instead of rows so that they might provide habitat to animals. A non-native hydrangea proposed on the plan should be replaced with a native version.
Andy Snow made a motion to close the public hearing for a Notice of Intent filed by Laurel Reynolds for a deck and proposed site work at 128 Barton Road. Doug Morse seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
After reviewing a draft decision, Andy Snow made a motion to issue the Order of Conditions for deck and proposed site work at 128 Barton Road. Doug Morse seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Trefry Lane Tree Cutting
Ernst Jan van de Vegte requested permission to maintain the original tree line and the natural meadow on his property at 31 Trefry Lane. He asked for permission to remove the new growth of trees and shrubs, especially where the new growth is invading the meadow. The Commission gave guidelines and granted permission for removal of trees and brush creeping into the meadow, but only trees with a diameter of 4 inches or less.
Van de Vegte also asked for permission to remove one small ash tree on his lot close to the corner of his deck. He told the Commission that it is only a few inches from the tree behind it and that it would never become a healthy tree. They agreed to allow him to remove this tree.
It was suggested that van de Vegte flag trees in field that he would like to remove. Bruce Trefry and Sferra would then go out and approve the trees that van de Vegte flags. Cornti Frecha suggested writing permission for maintenance at the tree line in order to keep the meadow viable over time without having to request permission each time trees needed to be cut.
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark made a motion to allow Ernst van de Vegt to cut volunteer trees on Lot 10 be cut as defined in the field and authorizing a future agreement to be developed that defines tree removal parameters within a certain distance from the stone wall. Andy Snow seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Coordinator’s Report
Sferra reported that there will be a filing for a project at 60 Hiley Brook Road and Andy Snow offered to conduct the site inspection. She mentioned a second project at 109 Barton Road and Jeff Saunders offered to conduct the site inspection. Sferra told the Commission that she requested a filing for a resident wishing to fill an in-ground pool on Route 117 across from Pompo School. She also told the Commission that Jim Fenton of Highgrove Estates on West Acton Road will visit the Commission at the September 2, 2014 meeting to discuss the status of the site.
Sferra mentioned that she and Ingeborg visited Pilot Grove 2. She took photos and reported that the replication area is in need of remediation. Many of the plants have died. She will follow up with Mitch Finn and the consultants.
35 Hale Road
In response to a complaint about leaves being dumped into the lake, Kathy Sferra and Serena Furman went out, checked the site and spoke with the owners. Sferra did auger borings and could not detect evidence of filling in the cove. The owners reported that they have problems with an excessive amount of pine needles and that they often rake them up and dump them at different locations on their lot. The Commission suggested that they keep pine needles away from the edge of the lake since they are preventing vegetation from growing. Sferra wrote a letter detailing the Commission’s findings. Sferra explained to the homeowners that there are two outstanding Orders of Conditions on their property. They have not yet requested a Certificate of Compliance, but Sferra and Furman inspected the site while they were there.
Center School Replication Area
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark and Sferra visited the Center School site. After the building project began, they came before the Commission and said they realized that they needed to fill a small area to allow for an access road at the rear of the building. The Commission approved a plan and issued an Amended Order for the replication project.Sferra mentioned that there was a condition that required removal of invasive species. It does not appear that the work has been done as per the plan. The Building Inspector asked the Commission for an estimate of how much it would cost to have the work done.
Boundary Posting
Sferra reported that she and Eve Donohue had completed another day of boundary posting at Derby Woods. She noted that some of the abutters have cleaned up their encroachments, but some still existed. They will go out to finish in September.
Sandra Grund
Sandra has been officially appointed by the Selectmen as a full member of the Commission.
Minute Man Air Field Solar
Sferra told the Commission that Don McPherson’s consultants will meet with her tomorrow to discuss a new, higher output solar technology that might make a solar project possible on that site.
Job Applicants
Sferra reported that she has received two applicants to date for the Assistant position vacated by Maureen Trunfio.
Boat Ride
Stow Selectmen Don Hawkes offered to take the Commission out on Lake Boon for a tour of the lake.
Kathy Sferra reminded the Commission that she will be on vacation next week.
White Pond Road Decision (#299-0577)
The Commission reviewed and revised a draft decision. Cortni Frecha mentioned to the Commission that she is not pleased with the proposed home which falls completely within the 100’ buffer zone. She questioned whether the Commission could request a new footprint. Andy Snow noted that any house that would actually be built must be approved by the Commission if there are any changes from the plan. The Commission was concerned that there was insufficient information about the well and waterline location and will require additional information prior to construction.
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark made a motion to approve and issue Order of Conditions
File No. 299-0577) for a Notice of Intent filed by Craig Nicholson for construction of a single-family house within the 100-feet of Bordering Vegetated Wetland for property located at White Pond Road. Serena Furman seconded the motion and it was voted 5:1 with Cortni Frecha voting Nay.
Adjournment
At 9:30 PM Doug Morse made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Andy Snow seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
The Commission adjourned at 9:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Trunfio
Stow Conservation Commission Secretary
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