7:45 p.m. N.O.I. Public Hearing communications facility at 1000 General Edwards Highway DEP # SE-280-438:
Bob Lucia from Wetlands and Environmental Testing, Inc., represented the Applicant and submitted green abutter cards, corrected Locus map and Natural Heritage Map to the Commission.
The proposed project site is located at Rte. 1 N. in Sharon, (on the Walpole Line) at the Sharon/Walpole Auto Clinic and Gas Station.
Bob explained to the Commission that the proposed project is for the construction of a wireless communications facility comprised of a 120' high monopole (that will be erected on a cement pad).
A 25' x 25' fenced, gravel - surfaced equipment compound, (35 linear feet of a 10' wide gravel-surfaced driveway) is proposed. All proposed work is located inside a Buffer Zone to a BVW and would not be within any wetland resource areas. A single row of staked haybales backed by a siltation fence would be installed between the proposed work area and the BVW.
Bob stated for the record that he is presenting a new Plan to the Commission entitled, Erosion Control Plan C-3, dated 3/9/03). The Plan denotes the installation of underground utilities as opposed to the utilities being above ground. (Since the filing, the Applicant has decided to install the utilities underground)
Within the compound, the access driveway will be comprised of crushed stone with some equipment cabinets placed there. Outside of the compound, there will be a couple of equipment cabinets encased by a chain-link fence. The 10' wide gravel surface driveway within the compound is inside the 100' Buffer Zone.
One corner of the compound is 20' from the edge of the BVW and the edge of the pavement is within the 25' Bufffer Zone. The project site has been previously cleared and filled-in.
Hank asked Bob where the pull boxes are going to be installed, and inquired if the structures for
the cable would be installed underground.
Bob reviewed the sketch of the compound with the Commission and noted that the Verizon Cabinet is proposed to be placed outside of the compound.
In an effort to keep the work out of the 25' Buffer Line, Peg requested Bob to bring the back end of the compound up to the Pump Island so that the back corner of the compound would be even with the gravel driveway.
Bob said that he would modify the Plan and mark the 25' Buffer Line on the Plan. The re-seeding would be done immediately and the erosion controls would remain in place until everything is stable.
Bob told the Commission that it would not be necessary to bring any fill into the compound, as the level of the grade would be at the 274 to 275 contour line.
Peg requested that the siltation fence be wrapped around the telephone pole at the starting point of the proposed work.
Hank requested that the pull boxes be marked on the Revised Plan.
Peg asked Bob to submit a Revised Plan and to keep everything, including the limit of work, outside of the 25' Buffer Line.
Bob told the Commission that he has also filed a N.O.I. with the Walpole Conservation Commission.
Peg called for a motion to continue hearing until May 1st at 7:45 p.m.
Mike moved. Stephan seconded. Voted. 6-0-0.
8:00 p.m. RDA Hearing
Bob Ingram, Manager of Ecological Sciences from Daylor Consulting Group, represented the Applicant and reviewed the submitted Plan entitled, "Estates at Borderland in Sharon" dated 4/4/03 to the Commission.
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Bob explained to the Commission that the purpose of this filing is for the determination of appropriate erosion control and other mitigative measures to perform the geotechnical investigations in two locations on the southern end of the property.
The Geotechnical Hydrogeology Engineering Firm had to perform testing work on the soil and groundwater for a wastewater treatment facility and leaching field.
Bob said that Geotechnical Hydrogeology installed monitoring wells and test pits. They also installed two loading test pits areas (30'x 30' boxes dug out of the ground that would be loaded with large volumes of water to determine permeability and other aspects for hydrogeologic analysis). Some of the work was done within the Buffer Zone near a vernal pool. Some of the cow paths had some channels of water flowing through them and some mitigation work needed to be done. There were no previous filings with the Commission for this project. Bob told the Commission that the GZA followed the State's Wetlands Regulations (100' from the wetlands), and that approximately no more than one acre of property was disturbed.
The area where most of the work was done was in the Sharon Wetlands By-Law jurisdiction adjacent to a vernal pool, approximately 200'. (100' from the vernal pool, and 100' from the Buffer Zone and Resource Areas).
Bob informed the Commission that Steve Striar and Greg walked the site and determined that some areas needed haybales and some areas needed gravel to mitigate the work that has been done.
Bob said there has not been any discharge of water towards the vernal pool.
Peg advised Bob to mark on the Revised Plan the proposed layout for the second pipeline hookup for the water line and to indicate where the haybales would be installed.
Peg called a motion to close the Hearing pending receipt of the Revised Plan, and then following receipt of the Revised Plan, the Negative Determination with conditions would be issued.
Mike moved. Hank seconded. Voted. Unanimous.
8:15 p.m. Hearing Continuance, RDA
Bonnie and David Klayman appeared before the Commission.
Peg opened the Hearing and explained that efforts had been made to get a consensus on soil lines and an indication of a wetland line on Lot 1, 106 Eisenhower Drive. She stated that the Commission's Consultants Forrest Emery and Peter Fletcher visited the site and submitted their investigation reports to the Commission.
Peg asked the Klayman's if they had any reason why the Commission should not agree with
the consultant's recommendation for a proposed wetland line.
David Klayman told the Commission that when he was at a site visit with his consultant David Sperduto,and the Commission's Consultant Forrest Emery, he noticed that the exchange between the two consultants was very contentious and hoped that cooler heads would prevail at this Hearing.
Greg explained to the Commission that at the site visit Forrest Emery agreed to make this a State Wetland as opposed to a By-Law Wetland. There were at least 3 other delineations at the site based on primary vegetation.
David Sperduto presented to the Commission, a digitized worksheet from a Plan entitled, "Proposed Sewage Disposal System," Lot 106, Eisenhower Drive, prepared by Miller Engineering dated 8/19/02. Test holes and Transect hole locations based on tape measurements by Gunther Engineering, Inc. were outlined on the worksheet.
David Sperduto explained to the Commission that he observed Peter's wetland line and stated that it was the same wetland line as Forrest Emery's except for a piece of TH-13 (which is approximately in the middle of what resembles an outline of a finger on the worksheet).
David Sperduto is prepared to concede all of the wetland line except for that little piece of TH-13. He said that the color of the Bw layer appears to be 4 to 6 chroma and breaks the continuity of wetness from the Bg layer at a 7" depth. He has recorded the depth to saturated soil in several test pits and basically the criteria in terms of hydrology is that saturated soil within a foot of the soil surface for two weeks out of the year, makes it a wetland. The readings for those observation wells were around the March average.
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There was no water in that TH-13, and no water was in that hole after 2 hours. David said that was a good indication that it was not hydric soil and he interprets that piece of TH-13 as upland.
Forrest stated to the Commission that in his opinion, TH-13 is a wetland, it has hydric soil and wetland hydrology.
David Sperduto explained the interpretations of soil hydrology for the Commission.
Greg stated for the record that Forrest recommended to the Commission the hiring of Soil Scientist, Peter Fletcher to delineate the wetland line with the recommendation that the Commission would be bound byPeter Fletcher's delineation as long as the Applicant was in agreement.
Greg said that although it did get contentious between the consultants at the site, it was a good recommendation by Forrest to hire Peter Fletcher.
Forrest stated for the record that he has 15 years experience in soil science and has studied for seven years in Colleges and Universities and has earned a degree in Environmental Study.
He has been to over 300 appeals and has never made a mistake in wetland line delineation clarification.
Forrest asked the Commission to provide the most feasible liberal interpretation to the wetland boundary.
Peter Holden suggested that Peter Fletcher's wetland line be accepted as the hydric soil line.
The Commission and the Applicant concurred that Peter Fletcher's hydric soil line (TR- 4 across to TH-13 back to TR The Commission concurred that all other flags on the site would be removed.
Peg explained to the Applicant that by comparing the hydric soil line and the historic vegetative line, the Commission could make a determination on delineating the wetland line.
Peg asked the Applicant to notify the Commission when Miller Engineering has completed the survey work.
9:45 p.m. Introduction of David Grasfield, candidate for Selectmen.
Peg introduced to the Commission, David Grasfield candidate for Selectmen, from the audience.
9:50 p.m. Discuss endorsing a letter to Selectmen commenting on the Glendale Village 40B project:
The Commission reviewed the Plan for Glendale Village and concurred for Greg and Peg to send a letter to the Selectmen.
9:55 p.m. Approve Past Meeting Minutes:
Peg called for a motion to accept the March 20, 2003, Meeting Minutes.
Mike moved. Hank seconded. Voted 4-0-2.
10:00 p.m. Other Issues:
Peg updated the Commission regarding the issue of Rattlesnake Hill. The land appraisal is still pendingfrom the State under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act.
Peg recently visited the site with Wesley Ward, from the Trustees of Reservations Doyle Conservation Center, and Craig McDonnell, from the Trust of Public Land. They suggested that the Commission requestthe Natural Heritage for Endangered Species Program require the Striars to file under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act for a site survey. They discussed financial strategies for the land purchase. It is possible that a contingency article might be placed on the warrant for the Special Town Meeting in the Fall stating that the Town would be willing to finance five million dollars contingent upon a state contribution.
10:05 p.m. Signatures:
The Commission signed bills. 2 Certificates of Compliance for 12 Horizons Road. Negative Determinationfor Mountain Street LLC.
10:10 p.m. Adjournment:
Peg called for a motion to adjourn. Hank moved. Peter seconded. Voted. Unanimous.
