Sharon, MA - Conservation Meeting Minutes 1/20/05

Conservation Meeting Minutes 1/20/05


	Conservation Commission Meeting January 20, 2005 Peg Arguimbau Chairman, Katherine Roth, Stephan Glicken, Hank Langstroth, and Stephen Cremer were the members present. 7:45 p.m.: N.O.I. Hearing Continuance- Hunter's Ridge Estates. DEP File # SE-280-455. Discuss proposed changes to the Preliminary Plan, as a result from EarthTech's recommendations. The Applicant is requesting feedback from the Commission before formally amending the Plan. Katherine Roth recused herself from the Hearing, as she is an abutter to the proposed project. Abutters were present in the audience. (See attached list.) Scott Faria and Frank Gallagher, from Gallagher Engineering, appeared before the Commission to represent the Applicant. Frank reviewed with the Commission the proposed changes to the preliminary plan resulting from a site visit with the Conservation Administrator and EarthTech's recommendations. Frank stated that the cumulative impact to the 100' Buffer Zone has been reduced by approximately 14,000 sq.ft. The following is the scope of the work proposed within the three buffer zone areas of the site: The wetland area by N. Main Street/Lantern Lane. (The wetland empties into a 12 The isolated wetland area located in the middle of the proposed project site. (This wetland is on the northern side of the site by Lantern Lane.) No work is proposed within the 50' Buffer Zone. Grading and a small portion of the roadway is proposed within the 100' Buffer Zone. (A previously proposed detention basin has been eliminated from the plan. The installation of catch basins are proposed to decrease the volume of water flowing into the wetland area and the peak run off flow by approximately 25%. The calculations were performed for 4 storm events. Approximately 6,330 sq.ft. of work is now proposed within the 100' Buffer Zone.) BVW along the eastern border of the proposed project site. The proposed work is within the 100' Buffer Zone for the installation of an earthen berm type of detention basin. The installation of pipes would be necessary to access the detention basin. EarthTech recommended construction of a graveled type roadway to allow easy access to maintain the detention basin. (Approximately 17,200 sq.ft. of work is proposed within the 100' Buffer Zone.) The Commission expressed their concern regarding too much proposed work within the buffer zone area of the wetlands and abutting Conservation property. Peg requested that a new design be submitted to alleviate the impact from the bottom of the buffer zone of the BVW along the eastern border of the proposed project site. The revised plan to include the installation of a culvert by the Bradley property. Peg called for motion to continue the hearing until February 3, 2005 at 8:00 p.m. Stephan Glicken moved. Stephen Cremer seconded. Voted. Unanimous. 4-0-0. Katherine Roth rejoined the meeting at this time. 8:30 p.m. N.O.I. Public Hearing filed by Mountain Street, LLC, for the construction of an access roadway associated with a proposed Comprehensive Permit at 400, 330, and 334 Mountain Street. DEP File # SE-280-464: Abutters were present in the audience. (See attached list.) The Applicant, Steven Striar, was also present. Attorney Paul Feldman appeared before the Commission to represent the Applicant. A copy of the N.O.I. has been submitted to The Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. The green abutter cards and a Site Plan dated 1/17/05 were submitted to the Commission. Page 2 SCC 1/20/05 Meeting Minutes The Attorney for the Applicant delivered a presentation to the Commission regarding the N.O.I. for "The Estates at Borderland." (250 residential units are proposed on approximately 230 acres.) He explained that it is the subject of a Comprehensive Permit proceeding before the Sharon Board of Appeals that began in July of 2002. In connection with that, a series of public hearings were held and the Conservation Administrator was an active participant in commenting with regards to conservation issues. The Attorney stated,"efforts have been made to minimize any implication of The Wetland Protection Act jurisdiction encumbrances regarding the proposed project." He explained some of the ways the buffer zone areas of the site would be slightly impacted from the proposed project: The installation of detention basins Wetland crossings Dwellings Access roadwork Grading Richard Albano, representative from Daylor Consulting Group, Inc. reviewed the wetland resources areas of the site with the Commission: The large BVW Wetland I, is located in the northern and north-central portions of the site. Mr. Albano met at the site with the Conservation Administrator. As a result of the Administrator's inspection, some of the wetland flags were revised. The submitted plan reflects the revised flags. There is a certified vernal pool associated with the southern upstream lobe of the vegetated wetland system. Proposed grade work and a portion of the roadway encroach on the buffer zone to the northeast of this wetland. Wetland Area E, is a BVW in the north portion of the site. Wetland Area O/P, is a BVW in the southwestern portion of the site and has an intermittent stream. A certified vernal pool is off site. A basin and associated grade work are proposed in the vicinity of the wetland area. An arch culvert is designed at the proposed crossing in the area of the BVW and intermittent stream bank. The installation of retaining walls on both sides of the crossing is proposed to minimize the impact to the wetlands. Peg recommended that a concrete covered box be installed at the crossing in place of the arch culvert. A replication and mitigation plan is proposed to deal with the wetland habitat issues associated with Performance Standards for BVW Wetland Area M, is in the northeastern portion of the site that drains in an easterly direction towards Bay Road. Wetland J, is in the northern portion of the site. It contains a certified vernal pool. The proposed work is not in the proximity of the vernal pool in terms of an impact, so the boundary of the vernal pool has not been determined. Wetland F, is in the northeast section of the site. A certified vernal pool is associated with it. Proposed is a road crossing in close proximity to the wetland. Daylor has interpreted the boundary of Wetland Area F as, Isolated Land Subject to Flooding, and located at the 333 elevation. Wetland B, is in the northeastern edge of the site, adjacent to Mountain Street. A certified vernal pool is associated with it. Wetland D, is in the northeastern edge of the site. No work is proposed in this wetland area. Isolated vegetated wetland areas A,G,H and V are not large enough to be regulated as Isolated Land Subject to Flooding. Richard Albano requested that Figure 8, ILSF Alteration Plan be added to the N.O.I. folder. Mr. French from Daylor explained that the stormwater management system for the proposed project is designed to control stormwater flows for the 2,10,25,and 100-year storm events. An analysis report includes 14 stormwater detention basins located throughout the site. Portions of 4 of the detention basins are located in buffer zone areas. An analysis report has been prepared on the volume of water flowing into the vernal pool systems on the site. Hooded catch basins are proposed to collect stormwater drainage into forebay areas before discharging into detention basins. Page 3 SCC 1/20/05 Meeting Minutes A proposed detail erosion plan indicates the installation of hay bales/siltfences along the limit of work. Hank Langstroth to review drainage calculation plan. The Commission to review the Isolated Wetland Resource Area O/P on the site. The Commission expressed their desire that the Applicant keep the proposed work outside of the 200' Buffer Zone of the certified vernal pool and outside of the 75' Buffer Zone of the sloped area adjacent to the bank and bordering vegetated wetlands. The Commission requested a copy of all previous peer review reports and agreed to make the reports available to the abutters. Peg called for a motion to continue the hearing until February 3, 2005 at 8:30 p.m. Hank Langstroth moved. Katherine Roth seconded. Voted. Unanimous. 9:25 p.m., Approve past Meeting Minutes: Peg called for a motion to approve the January 13, 2005 Meeting Minutes as corrected. Katherine Roth moved. Stephen Cremer seconded. Voted. Unanimous. Peg called for a motion to approve the Executive Session Meeting Minutes of January 13, 2005 as corrected. Katherine Roth moved. Stephan Glicken seconded. Voted. Unanimous. 9:35 p.m. Other Business: Peg called for a motion to close the Public Hearing for Noah Siegel, 54 Lakeview Street, DEP File # SE-280-463, pending any negative feedback from the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. Hank Langstroth moved. Stephen Cremer seconded. Voted. Unanimous. Update : Proposed Conservation Restriction for Moose Hill Farm: Peg met with the Trustees of Reservations regarding the Proposed Conservation Restriction (from The Trustees of Reservations to The Kendall Foundation) for Moose Hill Farm. They would like to add language to the Restriction that Audubon could transfer portions of the property to exclude stewardship. (i.e., Kendall might give up land to Audubon and Audubon might give land to the Trustees subject to the Conservation Restriction and subject to the approval of the Kendall Foundation for environmental preservation.) 9:40 p.m. Signatures: The Commission signed bills. 9:45 p.m. Executive Session: Peg called for a motion for the Commission to enter into Executive Session for LandVest discussions: Hank Langstroth moved. Stephen Cremer seconded. Voted. Unanimous. 9:50 p.m. Adjournment from Executive Session: Peg called for a motion to adjourn from Executive Session. Hank Langstroth moved. Stephen Cremer seconded. Voted. Unanimous. Stephen Cremer left the meeting at this point. 10:00 p.m. Adjournment: Peg called for a motion to adjourn. Hank moved. Katherine Roth seconded. Voted. 4-0-0. .