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Minutes of the Taunton Conservation Commission January 14, 2013
Present: Chair Brian Marques, Vice Chair Debra Botellio, Commissioners Marla Isaac, Ernest Enos, Neil Kelly, Steven Turner, and Renwick Chapman.
Motion to approve the minutes of 12/4/12, RC, second DB, so voted.
Certificate of Compliance
1. 25 Linden Street, Machado, COC SE73-2485 Field report states that this project is for the razing of an existing house, filling in of the existing cesspool, and construction of a single family home with utilities and associated grading. All work has been done in significant compliance to the order of conditions issued on 1/11/12. All lawn areas were stable upon my visit on 12/20/12. There was no indication of siltation into the adjacent wetlands. MR recommends that the TCC issue a COC for this project. Motion to approve, MI, second RC, so voted.
Continued Public Hearing
1. 437 Whittenton Street, Murphy/Jefferson Dev. Partners, LLC, (ANRAD) SE73-2517 Letter read from Nicholas Dufrene, made part of the record. Request for continuance. Motion to continue to 2/11/13, DB , second RC, so voted.
Public Hearing
1. Washington Street, (Rt.140), MASSDOT, (NOI), SE73-2530 Field report states that this project is to remove and replace the existing bridge over the Mill River and widen the roadway from 36 feet to 52 feet along Washington Street between Court Street and F.R. Martin Parkway. Lenore White of Wetland Strategies, Inc. delineated the resource areas within the site. The Mill River runs under Washington Street and the Top of Bank was delineated using blue flags numbered TOB A1-A9 and TOB B1-B8. A BVW located north of Washington Street was marked with pink flags numbered BVW 1-5, and BVW A1-A3. This area is also within one of the Densely Developed Areas within Taunton established in 1998, and has a riverfront area of 25 feet rather than the usual 200 foot designation for riverfront
area. The proposed improvements include widening the road from two travel lanes to four, 11-foot travel lanes, and two 4-foot wide shoulders. A 5.5 foot and 11.5 foot sidewalk on the north and south sides respectively are proposed. The expansion of the bridge is to correct physical and operational deficiencies and improve vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle safety. The bridge will be shifted south 22 feet which will result in the taking of land in the proposed expansion area. The Applicant also plans to improve storm water management and mitigate environmental impacts within the work area. The changes and improvements mentioned above include:
-Reducing impervious riverfront area at the small island on Court Street (275 square feet) and the monument island on Frederick Martin Parkway (1,735 square feet) by installing porous pavement on the island on Court Street, adding porous pavement along the walkway and planting grass around the monument on Frederick Martin Parkway. This adds 2,362 square feet of pervious area.
-Shrubs will be planted along the fence on the westerly side of the river to enhance the riverfront area (approximately 800 feet)
-Sewer structures currently within the river will be removed two feet below mud line and 3 cubic yard of LUW will be dredged. 50 square feet of LUW will be restored.
-The center pier of the existing bridge will be removed two feet below mud line and 18 cubic yards of LUW will be dredged. 160 square feet of LUW will be replaced.
-Shallow leaching manholes (drywells) will be installed within the monument island and will be connected by perforated pipe in stone to improve groundwater discharge of captured storm water.
-Approximately 993 square feet of impervious area will be added along the parkway to increase width of the road to four lanes.
-Deep sump catch basins will be added to improve storm water quality prior to discharge into the Mill River.
-The outfall of the 30-inch drain manhole that currently runs to the river will be relocated approximately 16 feet downstream. This will result in a temporary disturbance to 57 feet of riverbank (currently man-made).
Overall, the project will result in about 993 square feet of permanent impervious area (road widening), temporary disturbance of approximately 230 square feet of LUW, 57 feet of Bank, 29,404 square feet of buffer zone, and 52,680 square feet of riverfront area. A total of 5,172 square feet of pervious riverfront area will be added. Overall, the project will improve the project area by widening the road and creating a safer pathway for pedestrian, bicyclists, and motor vehicles, improving storm water management to decrease overall impacts to the Mill River and vicinity, and increase the safety of the existing bridge structure. MR recommends that the TCC approve this project and issue an order of conditions to include the attached special conditions. MR also recommends the approval of the wetland
delineation as outlined in paragraph one for reference purposes only. Motion to open the hearing, DB, second RC, so voted. Motion to approve with conditions 1-9, 19, 21, 25-27, ST, second RC, so voted. Motion to close the hearing, MI, second DB, so voted. Representatives were Robert Bennett MASSDOT, Mark Girshman, Phil Parietas, and Matt Crowley from BETA.
2. 15 Bliss Street, Laffan, (NOI), SE73-2527 Field report states that this project is for the installation of a sewer service located at the above address and within the 100-foot buffer zone of a BVW. The wetlands were delineated by Walter Hewitson on 10/26/12. MR visited the site on 1-2-13 and reviewed the wetland delineation as well as the location of the proposed sewer service. MR is in agreement with the delineation and the placement of the flags WF1-WF9. The work will be within 25 feet of the wetland with a siltation barrier a minimum of 10 feet from the BVW. The disturbance within the buffer zone will be temporary and the overall work will be an improvement to the property as the septic system will be decommissioned once the sewer connection is installed.
The work as proposed should not negatively affect the adjacent BVW with the siltation barrier in place. MR recommends that the TCC approve the wetland delineation, flags WF1-WF9, and approve the proposed project and issue an order of conditions to include the attached special conditions. Frank Gallagher present representing the applicant. Motion to open the hearing, DB, second MI, so voted. Motion to approve pending MR’s approval with conditions 1-5, 19, 21, 25-27, 28-MR approval if decision made to change positioning of stub, ST, second DB, so voted. Motion to close, DB, second MI, so voted.
3. 3 Claffy Street, Bairos, (NOI), SE73-2528 Field report states that this project is for the construction of a single family home with deck, garage, driveway, utilities, and associated grading within the 100-foot buffer zone of a BVW. The wetland was delineated by Earth Services Corp on 12/5/12 using pink flagging. This home will be built on a newly created lot-the Applicant has gone through and received ZBA approval. MR visited the site on 1-2-13 and reviewed the wetland delineation as well as the location of the proposed home. The wetland is located at the bottom of a steep slope (64%), 54 feet from the closest corner of the home. Grading will be 33 feet from the wetland with the siltation barrier at least 29 feet off the wetland. Dewatering and concrete
washout areas are depicted on the plan. Work will include the cutting of a few large trees (these should be shown on the plan) and grading within 6 feet of the sharp drop off. MR would recommend that shrubs be planted close to the edge to warn that the drop off is close. The work as depicted will include cutting down of a few large trees but the work will remain mainly within a cleared area. The siltation barrier should be sufficient to prevent any siltation into the adjacent BVW. As proposed this project should not negatively affect the wetlands. MR recommends that the TCC approve the wetland delineation, flags 1-10, and approve the proposed project and issue an order of conditions to include the attached special conditions. Paul Patnaude present representing the applicant. Motion to open the hearing, MI, second RC, so voted. Motion to approve with conditions 1-5, 8, 15-17, 19, 24-27, ST, second MI, RC opposed, motion carries.
Motion to close the hearing, ST, second DB, so voted.
(RC out)
4. Revolutionary Drive, (NOI), SE73-2529 Field report states this project is for the construction of a 14,000square foot, two story office building with associated grading, utilities, drainage, and storm water management structures located within the 100 foot buffer zone of a BVW. Temporary alteration of the existing BVW will occur in order to remove a large stockpile of soil in the northern portion of the property. The wetlands were approved by this Commission and an ORAD issued on 12/6/12. A plan dated 12/27/12 and revised 1/7/13 was received after discussion with the city engineer and Rich Riccio of Field Engineering. Discussed were keeping all parking outside of the 25 foot WPZ, showing proposed snow storage, adding wooden guardrail along portions of the parking area to
minimize cars over-running the cape cod berm and prevent damage to the berm during snow events, and using fiber logs rather than hay bales for erosion control. The applicant agreed to all recommendations and the following changes to the plan were made:
-three parking spaces in the northern corner of the rear parking area were removed.
-the edge of pavement and grading along the northerly side of the parking lot was pulled back two feet
-a wooden guardrail is now shown along the edge of pavement in the areas where the edge of pavement is close to the WPZ, existing wetlands, and proposed detention basin
-snow storage is shown within the northeasterly sections of the parking area
-and fiber logs are proposed for erosion control.
The proposed work will include two extended detention wetland systems, one to the northeast which will recharge storm water from the ridgline (see page 4 of 8) north, and in the southwest portion of the site that will treat storm water from the ridgeline south, and from the proposed office building and roof drain recharge system. Paved area runoff will first be captured by deep sump catch basins prior to discharge to the detention basins. The buildings roof drains will first go to a recharge system to meet recharge requirements. The project meets DEP Stormwater Management regulations and facilitates removal of total suspended solids (TSS) and meets water quality specifications. The removal of the soil stockpile will result in the re-vegetation of the area, including the re-establishment of the
25 foot WPZ in the northeast corner of the property. The current paved driveway along the westerly property line will be removed and re-vegetated. This project will improve the wetlands, re-establish wetlands that were degrading during previous construction projects, and improve the overall appearance of the site once construction is complete. Stormwater will be treated more efficiently, and overall water quality will be improved via the vegetated detention basins and roof drain recharge system. MR recommends that the TCC approve this project and issue an order of conditions to include the attached special conditions. Motion to open the hearing, MI, second NK, so voted. Motion to approve with special conditions 1-7, 10, 17, 19-23, 25-27, ST, second MI, so voted. Motion to close the hearing, DB, second MI, so voted.
(RC in)
(RC out)
Violations
1. 480 John Hancock Road, Laughlin. This is the owner of Silver City Canine. She didn’t finish work from her original order of conditions. The COC cannot be closed out because this work was never done but the order of conditions has expired. She did not make the parking lot and is using a different spot for parking, fenced in the back of building for an area for the dogs to be outside, and where the lot was to be, it was left alone because the owner said there is a lot of wildlife she did want to disturb. The TCC explained to the owner why she was violated and what steps she needs to take to get her property in good standing. She has to include a proposed plan with parking lot, detention basin, and show existing and whatever is proposed, work with MR is any
questions. Motion to remove the violation, ST, second MI, so voted.
(RC in)
Other Business
1. Discussion of appointments and MACC.
Motion to adjourn, ST, second DB, so voted. Meeting ended at 8:15p.m.
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