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Minutes of the Taunton Conservation Commission October 21, 2013
Present: Vice Chair Debra Botellio, Commissioners Steven Turner, Ernest Enos, Neil Kelly, Marla Isaac, and Renwick Chapman. Absent: Chair Brian Marques.
Motion to approve the minutes of the September 2013 meeting, MI, second RC, so voted.
Whittenton Dam Removal Project Presentation. Present Beth Lambert to present her slide show.
NK asked if the dam on West Britannia Street would be the last one to be done? Yes. He asked how it was going? Good, it is moving along very well. Beth will be back for that project at a later date. ST asked about the construction budget. Beth stated it was $320,000, plants are a major part of the budget. ST asked how the neighbors are with the finished project? Beth said there are some that really like it, others prefer the pond but would not have wanted the responsibility of taking care of the dam. RC said is looks great and asked if herring have been seen? Beth said yes they have been seen there.
Eagle Scouts
-Damien Sardinha would like to do his project in the Weir Riverfront park area. He said some of the panels there have graffiti, the walkway is overgrown, etc. He passed out a handout depicting his plans for the site. DB asked if he had a projected budget? Not yet. ST stated that this is great and updates to that area are greatly appreciated. The Neighborhood Corp is a great place to contact for help with this. Motion to approve this project, ST, second NK, so voted.
-Joseph Leite would like to build a canoe/kayak deck. 22ft long, 4ft wide. 1 section would be stationary, 2 floating. He plans to use Fir wood, 2x4 railings, 36-42 inches tall. Galvanized steel would be used to chain the dock and 12 barrels to make it float. TCC asked if he would remove the floating sections in winter? Yes if TCC recommends it. TCC recommends that it be removed in fall/winter and put back in the spring. ST wants Leite to check on stainless steel vs. galvanized steel, see what would be better. DB asked who would be helping him? Troop, family, and friends. ST asked that pictures be taken and keep TCC updated. Motion to approve project, RC, second MI, so voted.
Continued Certificate of Compliance
1. 828 (824) Middleboro Avenue, Quail Hollow, LLC, (COC), SE73-2526 Field report states that this project is for the demolition of an existing house and the construction of a single family home, septic system, driveway, lawn and associated grading. This hearing was continued to this date to ensure germination of the grass seed around the edges. MR inspected the property and all lawn areas are growing in well and can be considered stable. MR recommends that the TCC issue a COC for this project. Motion to approve ST, second NK, so voted.
Certificate of Compliance
1. 10 Fox Hill Drive, O’Brien, (COC), SE73-2501 Field report states that this project was for the construction of an attached garage and widening of an existing driveway from 10 feet to 24 feet in width. All work has been completed in significant compliance to the order of conditions issued on May 9, 2012. All areas are stable and there is no indication of disturbance in the resource areas. MR recommends that the TCC issue a COC for this project. Motion to approve, MI, second NK, so voted. RC asked if silt fence/hay bale line is still at the limit of work? MR said it might be but she did tell them to remove it.
Continued Public Hearing
1. 700 Joseph Warner Blvd., Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corp., (NOI), SE73-2558 Motion to close, ST, second RC, so voted.
2. 255 Cape Highway, Motamedi/Marmar Real Estate Group, LLC, (NOI), SE73- 2556 Field report states that this filing is for the expansion/redevelopment of the current business to include increasing the footprint of the current building, addition of greenhouse, a larger cooler, an additional exit only at the northeast corner of the parking lot, and increased parking for customers as well as easier access for delivery vehicles. The storm water management will include a larger detention basin in the southwest corner. Areas of snow storage are depicted on the plan (sheet 4 of 5). This review is based on a revised plan dated October 8, 2013 and received on October 16th. This plan has also been submitted to DIRB and the Planning Board for their respective
meetings. Changes to this plan include the removal of the second exit and drainage swale; reconfiguration of the front parking lot, greenhouse, proposed addition, and cooler; placement of the dumpster to the southeast; removal of one trailer parking space and employee space; and change in placement of the seasonal seafood trailer, as well increase in width of the driveway. In MR’s previous field report MR recommended that the applicant stay out of the 25-foot WPZ per our local By-Law. This recommendation was not entertained to the full extent possible. Rather, the addition was pulled back 5 feet to 12.1 feet from the wetland, and the cooler was moved back 4 feet to 15.8 feet. The dumpster was moved to the southwest near the detention basin and one of the employee parking spaces was moved, increasing the distance to the wetland to 15.7 and 16.6 feet respectively. The greenhouse was reduced in size and moved so that it is now 17.1 feet and 19
feet from the wetland. In the rear of the building the third trailer parking spot was removed. Along the western property line the seafood trailer was moved to the east side of the front parking area and the parking spaces were reconfigured. These changes resulted in a decrease of approximately 1659.5 sf of WPZ infringement. On the west side of the property, the driveway into the business is proposed to be widened from 24 feet to 30 feet. The associated grading and curbing will result in an increase in WPZ infringement of 569 sf. Overall there is a decrease in infringement upon the WPZ by approximately 1090.5 sf. MR previously wrote that “the 12-inch pipe from the manhole to the OGS is just 6 inches lower than the overflow pipe that goes directly to the detention basin. This means that when the pipe to the OGS is half full, any more runoff would be directed to the basin. MR recommended making a larger pipe to the
OGS.” The overflow pipe was raised, remedying this situation. A detail of the basin was submitted. MR recommended that the TCC approve the wetlands as follows: 1WH to 9
WH and 1AWH to 64AWH. MR also recommends that if the TCC chooses to approve this filing and issue an order of conditions, that it should also include the attached special conditions. Present Lawrence Silvia the project engineer and Frank Motamedi the owner. DB asked if any type of chemical will be used to salt the lot? MR said TCC can put it into the conditions. Owner did address the waste being put near dumpster, spoke with employees and it will not happen again. RC spoke with the owner and engineer, he voiced his concerns and what he would like to see in order to approve this project. He sees that they have 51 parking spaces, and are required 25. His concern is their want vs. need. RC also suggests shorter greenhouse 44 rather than 52, this brings it just outside
of the no-touch and reduces fill in back edge by having the foundation act as a retaining wall. Make the addition 72 rather than 90m takes it out of the no touch, used foundation again as the retaining wall. Make the cooler 55 rather than 65, out of no touch and again uses foundation wall as a retaining wall. Take the 1 of the 4 employee spaces out and uses a versa lock wall there. With the 16 spaces on the side, take out 5 on right, cut out all in the no touch, leave 6, go down to end and remove 5 more. Much discussion following this, some of TCC feels it should be approved as requested, others want to go with RC’s recommendations. Motion to approve and put greenhouse back to 40 instead of 35, ST, second NK, 2 in favor NK and ST, 4 against DB, EE, MI, and RC. Motion does not carry. Motion to change greenhouse to what was submitted dated 10/8/13, ST, second NK, 2 in favor ST and NK, 4 against RC, DB, EE, and MI. Motion
does not carry. TCC was asked what could be done to make them approve this. MI said if they moved the utilities out front under the parking lot and put a retaining wall from the greenhouse to the building. RC said don’t fill behind the building and extend the foundation down, keep building as is, no grading near the trailer. Motion to approve buildings as presented, minimize grading, temporary disturbance behind buildings, utilities moved to come out the front face of the building to the front face of the greenhouse and create a retaining wall from the greenhouse to the addition with special conditions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, and 28- use sand only or environmentally safe snow melt in the winter, RC, second MI, so voted. All in favor, motion carries. Motion to close, ST, second NK, so voted.
(NK out)
Public Hearing
1. Plain Street, City of Taunton-DPW, (NOI), SE73-2559 Field report states that this project is for the repair of two road drainage structures, one located northwest of #146 Plain Street, and the second just north of #176 Plain Street. There is currently an 8” cast iron pipe (CIP) at #146, and a 10” corrugated metal pipe near #176, running under the road. Wetlands were delineated by Cathal O’Brien of the Water Department. At #146, the CIP has collapsed in the street and a tree has grown around the inlet. The outlet is an overgrown yard with BVW located at both the inlet and outlet. The system at #176 has a dilapidated catch basin with a broken Bradley head inlet. The pipe is crushed at the inlet and the BVW is located across the street at the
outlet. The existing pipe near #146 will be repaired with an 8” ductile iron pipe (DIP). The work will take place just east of the existing pipe in order to preserve the mature tree growing around the inlet. The broken pipe will be removed from the roadway. At #176, the catch basin and 10” corrugated metal pipe will be replaced with a deep sump catch basin and 10” DIP. Rip-rap will be placed at the outlet to lessen velocity of storm water and decrease erosion but will not alter the resource area. This project is considered a limited project under 310 CMR 10.53 (3)(k) which covers routine maintenance of road drainage structures in existence prior to April 1, 1983. Erosion controls will be installed prior to work and remain until all work is completed. They will be considered the limit of work and will be inspected regularly. This work is necessary to address road safety issues as well as flooding issues along
the road during storm events. All areas will be stabilized prior to ending work and there will be minimal disturbance, temporary in nature, to the resource areas. MR recommends that the TCC approve the flags 1 through 10 located at the above addresses. MR also recommends that the TCC approve this project and issue an order of conditions to include the attached special conditions. Motion to open, ST, second MI, so voted. Motion to approve with special conditions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 19, 21, 25, 26, 27, RC, second MI, so voted. Motion to close, ST, second MI, so voted.
(NK back)
Public Meetings
1. 17 North Walker Street, Palm, (RDA), DSE-1060 Field report states this project is for a septic system repair that falls within the 100 foot buffer zone of a BVW and 200 foot riverfront area. The wetland resource areas were delineated by Walter Hewitson September 11, 2013. The stream was delineated with blue and white striped flags TB1-TB13. The BVW was delineated using pink flags numbered 1WH-17WH. This lot was in existence prior to August 7, 1996 and is therefore exempt from Riverfront requirements under 310 CMR 10.58 (6)(a). MR visited this property to review the wetland delineation and is in agreement with Dr. Hewitson’s lines. A siltation barrier is depicted at 76 feet from the BVW and 78 feet from the stream. Grading comes within 90 feet of the
BVW and 94 feet from the stream. The new leaching field will be within 101 feet of the BVW and 104 feet of the stream. A new 1000 gallon pump chamber will be installed (94 feet from BVW) and the existing 1500 gallon septic tank will be refitted. A liner will be placed along the southern edge of the leaching field. The work as presented will not negatively impact the resource areas, therefore MR recommends that the TCC approve this project and issue a negative determination to include the attached special conditions and approve the wetland delineation as stated above. Motion to issue a negative determination with special conditions 1, 2, 3, 4, 14, 18, and 19, ST, second NK, so voted.
2. 79 Wisteria Place, Stone, (RDA), DSE-1061 Field report states that this project is for the construction of a 12’ x 16’ wooden shed to be placed on concrete blocks within the 100 foot buffer zone of a BVW. MR visited the property in order to more accurately see the proposed location for the shed in relation to the wetlands that were delineated in 1998. According to the City of Taunton GIS site and MassDEP OLIVER, the wetlands on the overlays did not match up with what MR was viewing on the plan submitted with this filing. In her visit MR discovered that the wetlands were actually farther from house and proposed shed than shown on the map. The location of the wetland between flag #31 and flag #35 should actually be 38 feet farther from the house, and the line
between flag #31 and flag #30 should be 68 feet back. For this type of filing MR did not feel that is was warranted to have the applicant get the wetlands re-delineated, although that may be necessary in the future depending on the project. For this project (see plan 2) the shed will be 80 feet from the wetland at its closest point (rather than 12 feet to flag 30). The work as presented will not negatively impact the resource areas, therefore MR recommends that the TCC approve this project and issue a negative determination to include the attached special conditions. Motion to issue a negative determination with conditions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 18, RC, second MI, so voted. Motion to close MI, second ST, so voted.
3. 9 Old Colony Avenue, Karavasiliadis, (RDA), DSE-1062 Field report stated that this project is for the paving of a driveway within the 100 foot buffer zone of a BVW. Wetlands were delineated by John Delano on April 26, 2013. MR visited this property to review the wetland located behind the existing building (near the east property line). MR is in agreement with the placement of the flags. There is an existing ditch that is fed from storm drains located on Old Colony Avenue. The applicant proposed to paved a currently grassy area which will be 25 feet from flag #3. The work as presented will not negatively impact the resource area, therefore MR recommends that the TCC approve the wetland line as follows: WF2 to WF5 with flag WF1 for reference purposes and approve
the project and issue a negative determination to include the attached special conditions. Motion to open, RC, second MI, so voted. RC requested hay bales or silt fence whild doing paving. Motion to issue a negative determination with specials conditions 1, 2, 3, 5, 14, 18, and 19, RC, second, MI, so voted.
(RC out)
Other Business
1. Request for Concurrence. NK asked what was meant by existing conditions? Impervious areas that are there right now. The letter was read. Motion to approve letter, ST, second NK, so voted.
(RC in)
Motion to adjourn, DB, second ST, so voted. Meeting ended at 8:23p.m.
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