Conservation Commission
Meeting
August 18, 2005
Peg Arguimbau Chairman, Katherine Roth, Stephen Cremer, Stephan Glicken and Hank Langstroth were the members present. Peter Holden arrived at 8:30 p.m.
7:45 p.m., RDA Public Hearing filed by the Sharon DPW for water study exploration:
Paul Lauenstein and Alice Cheyer were present in the audience.
Jeff Hershberger, Tom Liddy and Marc Bergeron from ESS Group, Inc. appeared before the Commission to represent the Applicant.
Jeff Hershberger, Project Manager, explained to the Commission that the proposed well exploration is to provide information for developing a municipal groundwater supply well for the Town capable of yielding approximately 250,000 gallons per day. He reviewed with the Commission G.I.S., USGS, Site Locus maps and a Plan entitled, "Proposed Well 8 Site, 8 – inch Test Well and Monitoring Well locations," prepared by Weston & Sampson, dated April 2000.
The following is a list of initial well sites evaluated by ESS:
NSTAR – Property owned by NSTAR on Canton Street.
MBTA – Property owned by the Town on Maskwonicut Street.
Blair Circle – Property owned by the Town adjacent to an electric transmission corridor to the north of Blair Circle.
Gobbi - Property owned by Frank Gobbi on Old Post Road.
Islamic Center- Property owned by the Town adjacent to the Islamic Center.
Jeff Hershberger explained to the Commission that the goal of the project is to obtain comparable data on all of the potential well sites to see if a decision for a well can be accomplished. Jeff stated that ESS followed the site screening criteria required by the DEP to determine the favorability of the proposed sites for development. This resulted in NSTAR as being the most favorable well site followed by the MBTA property on Maskwonicut
Street. Both sites have a gated access.
Weston and Sampson performed previous test-drilling work at some of the proposed sites.
ESS has not performed field investigations to determine if there are wetland resource areas directly on
the Gobbi site on Old Post Road as permission is still pending from Mr. Gobbi for access to his property.
Eric Hooper initially directed ESS to focus on the NSTAR, MBTA and Islamic Center sites due to previous test work performed at those sites. Extensive drill work and pump testing was previously completed at the Islamic Center site by Weston and Sampson. ESS verified existing wetland boundaries at the Islamic site that was
flagged by Weston and Sampson in 2000, and is applying that data for this project.
Peg inquired if there is available information regarding the quantity of water the well at the Islamic site is able
to produce from the collected data.
Jeff Hershberger explained that information is available regarding how much water the well is able to produce from a higher pumping rate; however, the effects on the aquifer and the surrounding area are unknown at a reduced pumping rate. A 2 ½-inch test well is initially proposed, and then a larger diameter test well installation would be followed by the pumping tests. If necessary, a 48-hour pump test at the existing 8-inch well would be conducted at a pump rate of approximately 175 gpm. Water levels will be monitored in existing wells on the site. Groundwater from the pump testing will be directed to a hay bale corral within the 100' Buffer Zone on
the property. Jeff proposes to coordinate with the Conservation Administrator to locate a discharge point.
A small portion of a BVW on the NSTAR property may be disturbed from the proposed pumping
of an existing well on the site. A hay bale barrier is proposed around each of the well locations for erosion control. A limited amount of tree clearing is proposed to allow equipment to access the site.
The proposed exploration project on the MBTA site may impact a small BVW and cause disturbance within the 200' river front area of a perennial stream.
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The installation of a swamp mat is proposed on a cleared wetland crossing for equipment access to the site.
An alternate access route would be required if larger diameter test wells become necessary for the project.
ESS did not find the presence of wetlands at the Blair Circle site. Access to the property is proposed from Rte. 1 and a cleared power line access trail for this project.
The submitted G.I.S. wetland map delineating the Gobbi site does not indicate the presence of wetlands in the proximity of the project site. Access to the Gobbi property is proposed from Old Post Road.
ESS has been working with the Water Management Advisory Committee and the Board of Selectmen regarding this well exploration project. The Water Management Committee requested ESS to include the Blair Circle site as part of the project.
ESS proposes to install larger diameter wells, if necessary, and pump testing is proposed in the fall.
Paul Lauenstein asked if the proposed MBTA well site is located within Zone II of Well # 4.
Jeff responded that the proposed well site was selected in the northeastern section of the property away from Well # 4, which is located in the southern portion of the site.
Paul inquired as to how a new well would interact with Well #4 if one was installed at the MBTA site.
Jeff responded that a new well on the site might be able to supplement Well # 4 in the event that it failed.
Peg recalled that the topic of redundancy was discussed at the time the existing well was built at the Islamic Center.
The impression at the time was that it would not be considered redundant. The new well would be used only if Well #4 failed.
Peg inquired if there was a willingness to declare whether the intent of this filing is for a replacement well or a redundancy well.
Jeff stated that his initial guidance received from Eric Hooper was to obtain comparable information on the proposed well sites for determining how to utilize the well if it is considered to be favorable.
Peg called for a motion to close the hearing and to issue a Negative Determination to the Applicant with the following conditions:
To close the gates every evening at the Canton Street and Maskwonicut Street sites.
To present an activities report to the Commission at the completion of each phase of testing,
including the discharge data reports from the pump testing results of the 8" - 12" diameter test wells.
Hank Langstroth moved. Stephan Glicken seconded. Voted. Unanimous. 6-0-0.
8:35 p.m. Planning Board to discuss with the Commission proposed Zoning Articles for the November
Town Meeting:
Present: Planning Board Members Wayne Bradley, Paul Lauenstein, Eli Hauser and Gina
Maniscalco. Alice Cheyer was also present. .
The Commission held a lengthy discussion regarding the Planning Board’s Inclusionary Zoning By-law proposal.
Eli explained to the Commission that the objective of the Inclusionary Zoning By-law is to require Developers requesting special permit approval to provide 15% of lots in a division of land to be built as affordable housing units. The units would count toward the Town’s quota of affordable housing as required by the State.
Alice stated to the Commission that the language in section 3612 (d) of the Inclusionary Zoning By-law is confusing and would request that it be deleted if presented on the warrant for the November Town Meeting.
Gina stated that the Inclusionary Zoning By-law proposal would help the Town to maintain the 10% quota for affordable housing, once achieved, by the State.
Paul explained to the Commission that at a recent Planning Board Meeting it was discussed that the development of 1 – 5 units would not be subject to the Inclusionary Zoning proposal as it is written. He suggested that a penalty be imposed for those developing 5 or less units and that the penalty funds could fund some open space for the Town. Alice presented a letter to the Commission requesting changes to the CSD By-law:
4369 (1) (a) Delete the words "normally" and "; provided, however, that the applicant may include a greater percentage of wetlands in such open space upon a demonstration that such inclusion promotes the purposes of the by-law. " such that section 4369 shall read, "The percentage of the minimum required open space that is wetlands shall not exceed the
percentage of the tract which is wetlands. "
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The Commission proposed the following change to the CSD By-law to the Planning Board:
4367 Basic Maximum Number of Lots, Units and Bedrooms.
To Eliminate: "An additional ten percent dwelling unit bonus shall be granted if
the open space remains accessible to the public in perpetuity through either a full
fee dedication to the Town or a conservation restriction with permanent access to the general public."
The Commission proposed the following revision to the Planning Board’s MUOD Zoning Article:
MUOD 4800
4855. Approval.
The Planning Board shall be the special permit granting authority for MUOD
developments.
To Eliminate: As well as the authority for site plan review. Authorization for any uses
within an MUOD development which would require a Special Permit under
underlying zoning shall also be obtained through the Planning Board.
The Commission concurred to address a letter to the Board of Health requesting that the Commission's proposed amendments to the CSD and MUOD By-law’s be incorporated into the Board of Health's proposed zoning articles for the November Town Meeting along with the changes to the CSD By-law proposed by Alice Cheyer.
Gina stated that the Planning Board would vote on the proposed Warrant Articles at their August 31 meeting.
The Commission requested that the Planning Board amend the proposed Housing Production Plan submitted to the State by removing the two parcels under the control and management by the Commission from the list.
Gina stated that the Planning Board would discuss whether to withdraw or amend the Housing Plan at their next meeting scheduled on August 31.
9:35 p.m. Signatures:
The Commission signed bills. Negative Determination for the Sharon DPW for water study exploration.
Conservation Restriction for approximately 16.85 acres on 18 Garden Street. The parcel is contiguous to existing Town Conservation Land.
9:40 p.m. Accept Past Meeting Minutes:
Peg called for a motion to accept the June 30, 2005 Meeting Minutes
as presented.
Katherine Roth moved. Peter Holden seconded. Voted. 4-0-2.
Katherine Roth and Peter Holden left the meeting at 9:45 p.m.
Peg called for a motion to accept the June 2, 2005 Executive Session Meeting Minutes as presented.
Stephen Cremer moved. Hank Langstroth seconded. Voted. 4-0-0.
Peg called for a motion to approve the June 2 Meeting Minutes as presented.
Hank Langstroth moved. Stephen Cremer seconded. Voted. 4-0-0.
Peg Arguimbau and Hank Langstroth agreed that the No Quorum Meeting Minutes of
July 7, 2005 reflect the discussion of the meeting.
10:00 p.m. Adjournment:
Hank Langstroth moved to adjourn. Stephen Cremer seconded. Voted. Unanimous.
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