Minutes of the Southwick Conservation Commission
July 7, 2008
7:10 PM Vice -Chairman Seth Kellogg called the meeting to order. Seated were Marian Duggan-Markos, M Mizanoglu, R Solek and David Stansbury. Dennis Clark was also seated.
D Clark Report:
• Request for reimbursement: Mr. Clark presented a sales receipt from Staples for $112.87. He explained that the Town does not have an account with this firm even though prices and selection are much better. R Solek made a motion to reimburse D Clark for $112.87. 2nd= M Mizanoglu All in Favor Motion Carried. The Commissioners signed the form.
• T Simmonds Order of Conditions #454-118 for 14 Shore Rd. - Mr. Clark presented the Order of Conditions under Southwick Law. The Commissioners signed the Order which was approved at the last meeting.
• J Cass stipend request. The Purchase Order request was signed by the SCC.
• J Kulik Extension for #292-224 for 5 & 7 Ridgeview - Mr. Clark explained to the SCC that this project was extended once previously. The law was read aloud. The project has never been started. The Wetland Laws have changed. The project includes a bridge crossing under the old laws. Marian Duggan/Markos made a motion to deny the Extension 2nd= R Solek. All in Favor Motion Carried Mr. Clark stated he would notify Mr. Kulic.
• Blue Sky Builders 75, 77, 79 Mort Vining Rd. - The developer has entered into a consent agreement with the DEP. He went out with them Thursday and were shown how the headwalls were going to be rebuilt similar to the original approval.
• Guiels Garage 435 College Highway - Mr. Clark stated that he and Mr. Solek viewed the site and the culvert is falling away. MA Highway has requested Emergency Certification for this project.
New England Mountain Bike Association - John Stadnicki, Chair of the Open Space Committee and Steve Rossi Vice President of the NEMBA appeared before the SCC to discuss the proposed bike trail to be constructed at 155 Mort Vining Rd. (Sofinowski Preserve). Mr. Stadnicki stated that the group has been to the Open Space Committee previously regarding this proposal and the group now has a map of where they wish to install the trail. There are a number of switch backs in this trail to maximize use of space. The SOSPC membership endorses this proposal. Very little use of the existing trail will be utilized. Mr. Rossi explained that the trail will have about a thirty-two inch track. NEMBA has twenty-five hundred members through-out New England divided into chapters. They will be
here to maintain these trails in the future. There are no water crossings. The first trail will be about 1 and ? mile. Mr. Rossi presented a print-out from the NEMBA web site entitled "Trail Protection". The NEMBA sponsors a school for trail building knowing that water is the #1 source of trail degradation. No wood over the size of 2" will be cut. The litter will be removed and then placed back. The work session for part 1 is scheduled for July 12th. They expect 20-30 members to show up for the first work day. All participants sign a waiver release "Not to sue" at the beginning of the session. Mr. Solek stated that it does not appear that this trail will not in any way affect the wet areas. Mr. Clark stated that even though the trails are stipulated for multi-use that motorized vehicles are not permitted any where on the property. R Solek made a motion to accept the plan as
presented. 2nd= M Mizanoglu All in Favor Motion Carried
Review of Minutes - There were insufficient members present to sign the May 5, 2008 Minutes.
7:23 PM -RDA S Ferrari for 13 North Pond Rd. The Hearing Notice was read by the Vice Chairman for this proposal to raze and rebuild the residence @ 13 North Pond Rd. The applicant S Ferrari appeared to discuss the proposal. Mr. Ferrari explained the existing situation. There are two old structures on the property. There is the probability that the foundation can be dug by hand without machinery. Maybe one large tree needs to be removed. The new house will be between 50 and 52 feet from the Lake shore. The foundation will be a walk-out. The existing driveway will be used. Storm water from the roof will be infiltrated into the ground. Mr. Stansbury inquired about the foundation(s) existing. Mr. Ferrarri stated he hopes to connect the two. Mr. Solek suggested
an alternate site. Discussion followed on tree removal. Mr. Ferrarri stated he dislikes removing trees. D Stansbury requested an opportunity to view the site himself due to the fact that no contour lines appear on the plan. Mr. Ferrari signed the continuation sheet to allow for a site visit.
7:40 NOI DEP File #292-0278 Town of Southwick for Phase 2 Rail Trail - Point Grove Rd. to Westfield City line. Hearing Notice was read by the Vice Chairman. Alec MacLeod, wetland representative, appeared to present the plan to install the second phase of the rail trail. Mr. MacLeod stated the Rail Trail on this portion will cross three brooks; Broad Brook in the Southern section and Kellogg Brook and Great brook in the Northern section. Under 310CMR 10.53(6) it refers to railroad beds within a riverfront area as being a section that has been already altered. He stated his response to the DEP comment included his narrative submitted with the NOI. Most of the area was just reviewed for the gas line project. However Phase II begins south of the area where the gas line ended. The area
from Point Grove Rd. crossing to where the gas line station will be was not reviewed earlier. These areas can be considered as redevelopment. The bottom line is the work has to result in net improvement and this project will. It will not only provide excellent public access and it will reduce the chronic disturbance of the area. The trail will have vegetated sides. Stormwater management is included in the plan. Recommendations for revegetating are included in the plan. No new alteration is proposed by this project. In summation the area will be better than it was before. Mr. Clark announced that Bruschi had the bid for this work but then the pipeline project had to happen and the original contract expired so the project has to go out for bid again. M Duggan-Markos made a motion to approve the project and issue an Order of Conditions. 2nd= R Solek All in Favor Motion Carried The Commission
signed the Order.
7:55 pm NOI 9 Lakeview St. filed by Pattijoe Real Estate LLC Hearing Notice was read by the Vice Chairman. Rob Levesque, Wetland Representative and Guissepe Scudari appeared before the SCC to present the plan to construct a single-family home with sewer tie-in and associated site improvements. Mr. Levesque stated the proposed project is for the back half of the Brass Rail property. Mr. Levesque addressed the flood plain issues. There are also two cottages along Lakeview St. After the split of the property a large lot will remain and the proposal calls for a very large house. There is no buyer at this point. All changes on site are tied into the flood plane issues. Base flood elevation is 229.7 shown by a red line on the plan. The house is out of the buffer to the 100 ft.
buffer to the bank resource area. A Change to the code now requires that the lowest structural member of the first floor needs to be at 2/3 feet above base flood elevation. Basically they stated they were here to see if there is the possibility of building a house in or near the flood plane. Compensatory storage will be created by scraping off the top contours in the area indicated. The pavilion was built prior to the flood plane being established. A bath house and a cottage will be removed. Mr. Clark inquired if the Lakeview St. abutters were notified. The answer was "Yes". The DEP Comments and file # have not been issued to date. Mr. Levesque and Mr. Scuderi signed the permission to continue sheet.
8:13 pm Request for Amended Order of Conditions DEP File #292-0271 Project location is 479-485 College Highway - Hearing Notice was read by the Vice Chair. Rob Levesque, Wetland Representative, appeared to represent John & Kathy Whalley and present the revised plan.
The Planning Board review of the project resulted in some subtle changes to the open bottom culvert crossing. The revised plan meets Army Corp of Engineers standards. The width of the bridge expanded to accommodate two-way traffic. The revised plan is dated 6-11-08. The new width is 20-feet. Therefore we have also expanded wetland replication area #3 to meet the 2 to 1 ratio required. David Stansbury made a motion to approve the revised plan an issue an Amended Order. 2nd= M Mizanoglu All in Favor Motion Carried The Commissioners signed the Amended Order of Conditions #292-0271.
Informal - DL Bean, Inc. proposal for 225, 231, 237, 239, 241, 247 Hillside Rd. development - C M Maronn and Barry Parker appeared before the SCC to present the proposal. It was explained this was to be a 4-lot sub-division. Mr. Parker purchased the Bruce Sykes properties that were in tax title. The proposed plan showed all driveways entering from Hillside Road side-by-side. Mr. Maronn stated that if the Town had a common driveway Law there would be more options for access to the proposed residences. Mr. Maronn stated the Town has an exclusionary by-law and seeing as the bylaws do not provide for common driveways they can not be done. Zoning by-laws state 200' of frontage is needed which they have. An additional 25-feet to get the driveway at the narrowest point of the
wetlands was added. Mr Maronn stated that the law stipulates that the estate lot driveway has to be in the center of the 50-foot right of away; leaving 13 ?-feet to be vegetated on either side. Mr. Maronn stated the purpose of this meeting tonight is to see how the SCC reviews this proposal. Mr. Clark said this doesn't make any sense the 13 ? feet. What are you supposed to do mow between them. Mr. Maronn stated no actually they will be wetland areas. Put culverts under the driveways. Mr. Maronn showed the only wetland that would be disturbed; once you get past the wetland it will be all upland. Mr Maronn stated the longest driveway will be 500-feet. Mr. Clark asked if they intended to bring this proposal to the Planning Board as he is curious to see what their comments are. Mr. Maronn stated he showed the plan to the Fire Chief and he stated that the driveway could be 12-feet when they cross the wetlands.
Mr. Clark reiterated that the applicant should show this plan to the Planning Board as there are different members now. Mr. Solek stated he would like to see one driveway. Mr. Clark volunteered the option to have SCC members accompany them to the Planning Board meeting. Marian Duggan-Markos stated one driveway is preferable and that the deeds should stipulate the factors involved. Mr. Maronn stated he inquired of Mr. Neece's opinion on common driveways and he stated "Definitely not". The conclusion was summed up by R Solek. The SCC would like to see only one wetland crossing.
R Solek Report - Mr. Solek reported on existing conditions at Goose Pond.
8:55 PM Commissioner Solek made a motion to adjourn until the next regularly scheduled meeting. 2nd= M Duggan/Markos All in Favor Motion Carried.
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