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8.12.13 Conservation Commission Minutes
Minutes of the Taunton Conservation Commission August 12, 2013

Present: Chair Brian Marques, Vice Chair Debra Botellio, Commissioners Ernest Enos, Neil Kelly, Steven Turner, and Renwick Chapman.  Absent: Marla Isaac

Motion to approve the minutes of the July meeting, RC, second DB, so voted.

Presentation of Eagle Scout Project-  Motion to move to the end of the meeting, ST, second DB, so voted.

Continued Certificate of Compliance
  • 113 Craven Court, Meridian Custom Homes, Inc., (COC), SE73-2497  Field report states that this project was for the construction of a single family home, attached garage, back yard, utilities, and associated grading.  All work has now been done in significant compliance to the Order of Conditions issued on April 26, 2012.  The yard has been loamed and seeded and grass has been established and mown.  MR recommends that the TCC issue a COC for this project.  Motion to approve, RC, second DB, so voted.
Certificate of Compliance
  • 125 Winter Street, Allen/W.H. Riley & Son, (COC), SE73-2490  Field report states that this filing was for the addition of a second 30,000 gallon vessel adjacent to an existing 30,000 gallon pressure vessel for the storage of liquid propane.  The project included moving the existing chain link fence back 13 feet, to within 5 feet of the wetland.  All work has been completed in significant compliance to the Order of Conditions issued on March 19, 2012.  The area is stable and there is no indication of siltation into the adjacent wetland.  MR recommends that the TCC issue a COC for this project.  Motion to approve, RC, second ST, so voted.  
  • Prospect Hill Street, Mablewood Builders, LLC, (COC), SE73-2514  Field report states that this project was for the construction of a single family home with garage, deck, and associated grading and utilities.  A final As-Built was revised to correct the driveway entry from gravel to paved.  All work has been completed in significant compliance to the Order of Conditions issed on August 16, 2012.  The lawn area is stable and has been mowed.  There is no indication of siltation into the adjacent wetlands.  The silt fence can be removed-best to take out the stakes and then cut the fabric at the edge of the soil so as not to disturb the ground.  MR recommends that the TCC issue a COC for this project.  Motion to approve, ST, second NK, so voted.  
(RC OUT)
Continued Public Meetings
  • 105 Meeshawn Ave., Chapman, (RDA), DSE-1058  Scott Chapman present-homeowner.  Motion to issue a negative determination with special conditions 1, 2, & 4, ST, second DB, so voted.  Motion to close, DB, second ST, so voted.
(RC IN)
Public Meetings
  • 34 Ron Circle, Smith, (RDA), DSE-1059  Field report states that this project is for the construction of a 10’ x 16’ shed at the above address.  MR visited the site today and is in agreement with the wetland location as noted on the plan.  The shed will replace a smaller shed that is currently in the spot where this one will be placed.  It will be put on concrete blocks and be about 20 feet from the house and 19 feet off the northeast property line.  This is currently level and very little additional leveling will be required in this location.  The shed will be 41 feet from the wetland at its closest corner.  MR recommends that the TCC approve the wetland line, WF A1 to WF A7B, with WF A8B to WF A10 for reference purposes, and issue a negative determination to include the attached special conditions.  Sheila Smith present-homeowner.  Motion to open, ST, second DB, so voted.  Motion to issue a negative determination, with conditions 1, 2, 3, & 4, ST, second DB, so voted.  Motion to close, DB, second ST, so voted.  
Public Hearings
  • 760 County Street, Callahan/Radio Station WVBF 1530 AM, (NOI), SE73-2553  Field report states that this project is for the installation of a communications tower within the wetlands at 760 County Street.  There is an existing tower within the wetlands at the site but it is insufficient in meeting the needs of the radio station.  The new tower is necessary in order for the station to provide an improved signal and uninterrupted service.  The wetland edges were flagged by Seth Dufort, Outback Engineering, in June, 2013.  The edges are located in the northwest corner (off the County Street entrance) and northeast corner (near Briarwood Drive).  MR is in agreement with the placement of the flags.  The radio tower will be placed on a three-foot diameter concrete base.  The base will be eight feet long with five feet below the surface and three feet above.  The tower will be put in place by sections using the gin pole technique and will be stabilized by three anchors as shown on the plan, each 144 feet from the tower.  The tower will be reached by a four-foot wide raised boardwalk extending from the existing boardwalk.  No heavy machinery will be used in the construction of the tower or boardwalk.  Excavation of the tower base, anchors, and boardwalk supports will be dug by hand.  Work within the wetland is temporary and all disturbed areas will be restored to original grade with loam and wet mix seed mix.  The project as proposed, will not, on a long-term basis, negatively impact the wetland area.  The proposed work is responsible and minimally invasive in nature.  MR recommends that the TCC approve the wetland lines as follows: WF1 to WF7, WFA1 to WFA6, WFB2 to WFB10, with WFB 1 and WFB11 for reference purposes only.  MR recommends that the TCC approve this project and issue an Order of Conditions to include the attached special conditions.  Representatives Niles Zager-Outback Engineering, Robert Newhall for WVBF, and Steve Callahan owner of WVBF.  Motion to open, ST, second DB, so voted.  Tower location is existing WPEP site and FCC says new tower has to be put there.  Keeping both towers, all work is done by hand.  Motion to approve with conditions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 21, 25, 26, & 27, ST, second RC, so voted.  Motion to close ST, second DB, so voted.  
  • 240 Prospect Hill Street, Hooley, (NOI), SE73-2554  Field report states that this project is for the construction of a 24-foot diameter above ground pool.  The wetlands were approved and an ORAD was issued on April 27, 2006.  These lines were still viable up through April 27th of this year.  Upon MR’s site review, the wetlands have not changed and should be re-approved under this NOI.  The pool will be 24 feet in diameter and will be placed on the existing lawn area as shown on the plan.  No excavation will be required.  The applicant will be using a cartridge filter to clean the water.  The pool will be located in the rear of the house just off the deck and will be 42 feet away from the wetland in the rear and 50 feet from the wetland to the south.  The project as proposed should not negatively impact the adjacent wetlands.  MR recommends that the TCC approve the project and issue an order of conditions to include the attached special conditions.  Motion to open, ST, second DB, so voted.  Pat Hooley present-homeowner.  Motion to approve with conditions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 21, 25, 26, & 27, ST, second RC, so voted.  Motion to close, ST, second DB, so voted.  
  • 93 Kiana Way, Graziano, (NOI), SE73-2555  Field report states that this project is for the construction of a 14’x30’ garage with deck above, expansion of the driveway, and rear grading, loam and seeding for lawn expansion in the rear of the house.  The wetlands were flagged by Walter Hewitson on July 22, 2013 and relocated per my field review on July 25, 2013 (accompanied by Paul Patneaude, the Applicant’s engineer).  The applicant is proposing to construct the garage in the rear of the house where the current deck is located.  A new deck will be built above the proposed garage.  The closest corner of the garage is 74 feet from the wetland.  In order to access the garage, the driveway will be expanded, and will fall within 60 feet of the wetland.  An existing manhole to the drywell will remain and will be evaluated prior to paving to ensure that it has H-20 loading capacity.  The new roof drains will be connected to the drywell.  Grading, loaming and seeding for a new lawn in the rear will fall within 26 feet of the wetland.  In October of 2001 the applicant received a negative determination to remove several diseased and/or dead trees from the backyard for safety purposes.  The lawn will now be within this area.  A siltation barrier is depicted on the plan and is noted as the limit of work.  The washout and dewatering areas are located outside the 100-foot buffer zone.  The work as proposed should not negatively impact the adjacent wetland, therefore MR recommends that the TCC approve the wetland line, flags FL4-FL6, with flags FL1, 3and 7 for reference purposes, and issue an order of conditions to include the attached special conditions.  Motion to open, ST, second RC, so voted.  Motion to approve with conditions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, & 28-at next meeting applicant’s engineer be there with a revised plan for the driveway, ST, second NK, vote taken.  For-ST, EE, and NK.  Against-DB and RC, motion carries 3-2.  
Violations
  • Williams Street.  MR has been sending letters since May.  Motion to send a certified letter demanding that the homeowner must appear at the next meeting on September 16, 2013, include in letter that this is the final warning and a violation decision will be made at the meeting on the 16th, DB, second ST, so voted.
Motion to adjourn, DB, second ST, so voted.  Meeting ended at 7:45pm.