Minutes of the Southwick Conservation Commission
February 4, 2008
7:00 PM -Chairman Chris Pratt called the meeting to order. Seated were Albert DeLoreto, Mike Krawiec, Mehmet Mizanoglu, Richard Solek . Dennis Clark was also seated.
Review of Mail
• 192 Berkshire Ave. - Update from L Moore
• Williamsburg Estates - Letter from Historical Commission RE: Mouse Hill Rd.
• A J Lima & Asso - Request to update the Open Space Plan
• 114 No Longyard Rd. - approved ANR plan
• 90 Point Grove Rd. - approved ANR plan
• Mass Wildlife News - 1-18-08
• Aquatic Control Technology - Letter SCC & LMC recommend approving 2008 contract
• N R C S 2008 contract for Mort Vining Rd.
• N R C S Contract for Goose Pond
• 192 Berkshire - copy of letter from L Moore 1-10-08
• Southwick Selectmen to Suffield Selectmen 1-10-08 1/3 share of Lake Treatment Expense
• Minutes - CPC 5.3.07; Board of Health 12-06-07; Historial Commission 12-17-07, 1-7-08 LMC 11-8-07, 12-27-07, 1-10-08; Planning Board 11/07, 12/07, 1/08; Selectmen 12/07, 1/08; Water Commn 12-07, 1/08
• Westfield River Watershed Assn, Annual membership invoice
Request for Reimbursement
• J Cass for supplies purchased At Ocean State, staples, $1.00 Store for $25.67
M Krawiec made a motion to reimburse. 2nd= R Solek All in Favor Motion Carried The Commissioners signed the form.
Amber Leaf Conservation Restriction- The conservation restriction enacted by the Planning Board for this sub-division had the recommended changes made by the developers attorney. The Southwick Selectmen signed the revised version. The protected acreage will be 9.76 acres. R Solek made a motion for the Commission to sign the revised version. 2nd A Deloreto All in Favor / Motion Carried. The Commissioners signed the CR.
Emergency Permit - Southwick DPW Sheep Pasture Rd. Due to existing conditions along this roadway due to beaver presence the DPW requested an Emergency 10-day permit to perform work in the area. The SCC had no objections. The Commissioners signed the form.
Invoice for buoys $1,022.12 - The buoys for Middle Pond have arrived. Payment is to come from the Wetland Fee account. Christopher Pratt, Chair signed the invoice to process for payment.
Williamsburg Estates illegal machinery crossing- R Solek inquired as to how this infraction was being handled. D Clark stated there is a letter from Atty. Moore explaining how this works and doesn't work or could work. The letter is in the computer. There are options on this. Mr. Solek inquired if the person who put machinery into the wetland without a permit has paid the fine. The answer was"No".
The Minutes of 1-7-2008 were reviewed. Changes were recommended.
2007 Annual report - The decision was made to include the 2007 Green & Clean report.
7:15 PM NOI (DEP File #292-0275)Canal Rd. filed by DPW- The proposed work is to construct a Well House for Great Brook Well #2 with associated utilities. Work will occur in Riverfront Area and Buffer Zone of BVW. Hearing Notice was read by the Chair. J Neece, Director Southwick DPW and Jessica Roberts of Tighe & Bond (wetland consultants) appeared to present the plan to build the house to cover the well pump. It was explained the area is a known turtle habitat area. They will be installing an underground gas line along Canal Rd. also. NHESP comments regarding the proposed work in this area have been received. They are requesting turtle barriers. There is a paved parking area, snow removal area of 4500 sq.ft. J Neece stated there is a need to access the building on a daily
basis to check the wiring and the water level for the well etc.
Mike Krawiec made a motion to close the Hearing 2nd=R Solek All in Favor /Motion Carried. Mike Krawiec made a motion to accept the project as presented.. 2nd= A DeLoreto All in Favor / Motion Carried. The Commissioners signed the Order of Conditions.
7:30 PM Continued Hearing NOI File #292-0271 479 College Highway J & K Whalley for proposed revisions to Southwick Inn and Walt's Garage. Rob Levesque Wetland Consultant for the project appeared to continue the discussion. Mr. Levesque explained that the three different parcels have 3 different owners; JDUB, KDUB, & KKQB for the Inn and the Garage. The entire parcel is 24 acres. Review of the areas previously discussed was repeated. Mr. Levesque stated it appears the Planning Board is fairly comfortable with the plan except possibly the beer garden. Mr. Solek and Mr. Levesque have walked the area since the last meeting and they are in agreement. Mr. Solek inquired if the stormwater pipe that runs from 10/202 under the garage and empties out near the stream will still exist after the changes
are made? He knows that a lot of sand comes out the end of the pipe and the potential is there to block the pipe.Mr. Levesque stated they are working that out with J Neece. R. Solek asked if the other detention basin will be where the Quonset hut sits now. Mr. Levesque responded, "That is correct." So this basin will take away even more parking spaces. Mr. Levesque stated Yes. It was asked if there is a plan for planting to hide the Parking Lot. There is a plan for planting that area but not the significant amount of planting that will be going along Granville Rd. One of the reasons is we do not want people coming out of the bar and go to the overflow parking area or hide behind trucks. The plan is to have the area open and fairly well lit. Mr. Solek inquired if the area where the garbage container is going to be moved any closer to the building as he would like to have a small swale in that area that will hold water
when it leaks out of the container. A lot of times the help leaves the door open and then it rains on the food and oil and seeps out on the ground. Mr. Levesque stated they do not have than on the plan but that could be included in the conditions. Mr. Clark asked Mr. Levesque if he has any figures for bonding for this project. Mr. Levesque stated an amount simillar to Tucker's would be suitable. Mr. Solek inquired if there is a time frame on the replication. Mr. Levesque responded and said they are not sure if they are going to start this year but he would certainly try to include the replication plantings as soon as possible. Mr. Solek stated that they have traditionally found that without a time line the replications seem to fall through the cracks. The Commission is made up of volunteers and there is no time that can be wasted scrambling to complete the work. Mr Mizanoglu suggested a color coordinatoted plan for the
replications planting. Mr. Krawiec made a motion to close the Hearing. 2nd= M Mizanoglu All in Favor Motion Carried. Mr. Krawiec made a motion to accept the plan as presented with the guidelines and restrictions incorporated into the plan. 2nd= R Solek All in Favor Motion Carried.
The Commissioners signed the Order of Conditions for file # 292-0271.
7:45 PM RDA Roloand Lamoureux for 132 Granville Rd. (Lot#2) -To construct a single-family house with associated driveway, yard, and sanitary system. The driveway will require work in the buffer zone. Hearing Notice was read by the Chairman. The wetland representative for this project, C M Maronn of D L Bean, Inc. appeared before the SCC and presented the plan to construct the house, yard, SAS, and driveway. The driveway is designed per the Fire Chief specifications Mr. Maronn stated. Mr. Pratt inquired if the property has had the percolation tests. Mr. Solek mentioned they are out of the 50-foot "no touch" area but in the 100-foot. Mr. Maronn agreed. Mr. Solek mentioned that now with the Agricultural Commission another law has been instituted regarding development of
lands abutting APR land. A 10-foot buffer strip is required. The proximity of the gas line was mentioned. Mr. Pratt inquired about elevations as he could not read the gradient lines. Dennis Clark asked Mr. Maronn for permission to write on the plan that the silt fence is the limit of lawn area. Mr. Maronn granted permission. R Solek made a motion to find Negative with conditions - The SAS will be located outside the 100-foot Buffer Zone and the silt fence will indicate the limit of lawn area. 2nd= M Krawiec All in Favor / Motion Carried The Commissioners signed the Determination.
D Clark report -
• 192 Berkshire - Mr. Shields attorney never responded to Atty. Moore's request. Atty. Moore has set up a meeting with the DEP, including Brian Harrington, Bob McCollum and Jane Rothchild to go over the issues. They will advise the SCC what their options are at this point. Fining could be an option but it is better to have the situation rectified. Hopefully 3 members of the SCC can attend. R Solek inquired if the "buoy system" and the right to protect that area is doable. It was noted there is a roadway to the edge of the water now.
• Penquin Plunge - Mr. Clark reported he participated in the "Plunge" again this year.
• Town Dog Pound - It was reported that he was contacted over the weekend that the Town had taken some trees down. In the past the Town has been really good. Every single time J. Westcott has come to SCC for an opinion before doing the work. The area in question is 10-feet away from a wetland. He was informed that the trees were dead and dangerous. They might have been dead but I didn't see any danger of falling on anyone. They were cut to fall into the wetland. The DPW hired the work out. Mr. Pratt stated his feeling is the SCC should send a formal letter to the DPW regarding tree removal in wetlands just so as to be on record.
8:05 PM Continued Hearing for DEP File #292-0274 Williamsburg Estates- The proposed work is to develop a 40-lot subdivision road and lots. The proposed road is the extension of Hickory Lane and will cross an intermittent stream and narrow wetlands to connect to Meadow Lane. Work will occur within Bordering Vegetated Wetlands and associated buffer zones. Mr. C M Maronn of D L Bean, Inc. , Wetland Representatives, appeared before the SCC to answer the eleven (11) requests submitted by a letter from the SCC on January 28, 2008. (See Attached) Mr. Maronn proceeded to read from a prepared written response to the Commissions requests for additional information. (See attached Letter dated February 4, 2008.) A new wetland depiction sheet dated 12-06-07 was exhibited by
Mr. Maronn. Mr. Maronn stated he would enhance the plan.
9:00 PM The Hearing was opened up to comments from the floor.
• Mr. David Hall commented the wetland boundaries are still not matching up.
• A letter from the Historical Commission was distributed to the SCC. Commissioner Mizanoglu commented that it is a relevant issue and an Historical issue but it appears to be a Planning Board subject.
• Commissioner Mizanoglu mentioned that he has seen wet areas up there that appear to be potential vernal pools. These are not on the plan. R. Solek said they appear to be intermittent wetland areas. What I am talking about is a depression in the earth that holds water for a certain amount of time.
• Mr. Fred Filios of 23 Meadow Lane inquired about consultants. Mr. Clark stated he has met with the Planning Board Chair, Doug Moglin, regarding this. The Planning Board will hire a consultant for their issues. The Conservation Commission will hire a different consultant. Mr Solek stated the SCC consultant will represent their jurisdictional areas. Mr. Pratt responded that at present the plan does not show where the houses are going to be to determine storm water run-off. Consequently we do not have a plan to submit for review at present.
• Mr. Filios spoke about the potential vernal pools. Mr. Clark responded first we need to see if the Planning Board is going to grant the waiver the DPW has concerns about.
Lake Management Committee request - Commissioner Solek made a motion to accept the Local Permitting Process (LPP) as presented to the SCC on November 5, 2007. 2nd= A DeLoreto All in Favor / Motion Carried
Outside Consultants - M Mizanoglu made a motion to adopt The Model Rules for Hiring Outside Consultants under M G L Ch. 44 §53 G as protocol for the Southwick Conservation Commission. 2nd= R Solek All in Favor Motion Carried.
9:20 PM Commissioner Krawiec made a motion to adjourn until the next regularly scheduled meeting. 2nd= M Mizanoglu All in Favor Motion Carried.
Submitted by Jean Cass
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