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Home My Public Portal AboutWater Quality Review Committee -- 2020-07-31 Minutes o00010Ii�I1SUiiiii// TOWN OF BREWSTER DEV ,p'% Water Quality Review Committee F Q ° eF�Nn 2198 Main Street Brewster , Massachusetts 02631 - 1898 ° 9 _ ( 508) 896 -3701 x1121 yo �� = __ = FAX ( 508) 896 -8089 j'��i� \�� ' 'i I F' ® u tf Date Approved : 9 -18 -20 Vote : 5 -0 -1 TOWN OF BREWSTER MINUTES of WATER QUALITY REVIEW COMMITTEE Friday , July 31 , 2020 at 9 : 00 AM VIRTUAL MEETING Attending Committee Members : Vice Chair Amy von Hone convened the Water Quality Review Committee meeting at 9 : 00 AM with members Victor Staley , Chris Miller , Ned Chatelain (to 10 : 20 ) , Penny Holeman , Cyndi Baran , and Roberta Barrett Members Absent : Guests : Joshua Burdett , Tetra Tech ; Jenny Nicolas , DSD Renewables ; Liz Argo , CVEC ; Chad McKinney , Tetra Tech ; Timothy Magner , DSD Renewables ; Ian Ross , Enel ; Ryan Bennett , Brewster Town Planner ; Chuck Hansen , Brewster Energy Committee ltem '1 : Captains Golf Solar Panel Arra — 198 Commerce Park Road & 1000 ' Freemans Wa Joshua Burdett gave a project overview for the Captains Golf Solar Panel Array . It is based on an RFP from the Town in conjunction with CVEC . It is a 480kW AC canopy system with 37 , 000 square feet of coverage . 100 % of power generated will go into the local grid which will have 740 , 000kWh estimated annual output with an expected 20 + year life span . Some environmental considerations that were taken into consideration were T& E species , no habitat replacement or tree clearing is proposed . No wetlands or water bodies will be impacted . The proposed system is an existing retrofit to the storm -water system already in place for the parking lot . There is no hazard determination by the FAA for glare purposes , and no impact on Cultural Resources from the Historic District Commission or Mass Historical Commission . Some benefits are that it is sited on existing developed land , reduces greenhouse gases , no noise pollution , low maintenance , local job creation during construction , land restoration post useful life , and is a consistent revenue stream to the Town . Amy mentioned an email from Ryan Bennet with regards to the WQRC charge as a Committee is for recommendations for lot coverage and surface runoff, and looking at potential hazardous chemicals/pesticides/fuels used on site for this project . Ned asked whether the equipment has any potential for leakage and degrade ground water quality of the earth . Joshua Burdett answered the transformer contains liquid media as normal commercial transformers do . It will contain either a biodegradable oil or an electrical grade mineral oil contained within the system itself. Secondary containment isn ' t required by the applicable codes there . WQRC Meeting Minutes l 7-31 -2020 Roberta asked about sound from the transformer and the sheeting of rainwater that may occur not falling between the spaces in the panels , and if we should be concerned about erosion . Joshua Burdett answered that the transformer does contain some low hum noise , less than 60 decibels which is similar to a typical voice conversation . Chad McKinney answered that with the proposed system the rainwater will follow the same pattern with just a little bit of overhang on the edges and will not have any runoff into the existing vegetation . The existing systems have an annual maintenance inspection where we could add some additional sediment if we were to find more runoff than expected . a Penny asked a follow up question to Ned ' s : if there is an opportunity for leakage , is there an administrative process to monitor and communicate if any other installations of this technology were to leak even if it is not in a local Code Regulation . Joshua Burdett said that the proposed transformer would be similar to any commercial transformer such as those at schools or those already at the golf course . Jenny Nicolas said there is no historic leakage experience . In the case that there was a leak , DSD would get someone out there to deal with it , but they have not had any experience with leakage . Liz Argo brought up that the Fire Department did review this plan and had no issue with the transformer or possible leakage . 0. Chris said they did have a staff review of the project , and the Fire Department was satisfied with this as long as they were following good best management practices and making sure they are safe for risk of accident or damage . He didn 't know if this parking lot complies with our current standards for our Zone 2 . Ryan Bennet or Victor Staley may have more information . He just wants to make sure it is in compliance with our current existing regulations . Victor Staley said that even though this is an existing parcel , this is introducing a new use to the parcel and it needs to comply with all affecting Municipal Regulations . Evidence needs to be provided that something is compliant so the discussion about Nitrogen may need to go a little deeper . He also asked about the 20 year life span and if it was just for the panels and not the structural support, system and will the inverters have any protection from damage as they seem to be out in the open . He also would encourage some safety device for the transformers for protection from absent- minded drivers . Chad McKinney said the proposed system does not have gutters , so it will sheet across the panels and then follow the existing drainage pathways to the existing storm - water retention system which was in agreement with the Town . Joshua Burdett answered the inverters themselves are as far up as possible and out of the way of being struck by vehicles and are self-containing so there would be no pedestrian access . There is a proposed fence around the equipment pad for security . Also the 20 year life span is for the entire system . Timothy Magner from DSD Renewables said the equipment is very robust . The State program that supports these projects is a 20 year program . The inverters are replaced mid -way through . The panels and supports are engineered to last well beyond 20 years . MOTION to make a recommendation to the Planning Board that the site improvements with Ballards , etc , be part of any approval and further demonstration by the applicant that the storm -water standards have been met as part of the Planning Board process . MOVED by Ned Chatelain . Seconded by Roberta Barrett. Roll Call Vote : Ned Chatelain — yes , Roberta Barret — yes , Penny Holeman — yes , Cyndi Baran — yes , Victor Staley — yes , Chris Miller — yes , Vice Chair Amy von Hone - yes VOTE : 7 -yes 0 - no a Joshua Burdett gave a quick overview of the golf course portion of the proposal . WQRC Meeting Minutes 2 7-31 -2020 Chris wanted to make sure the battery pack location is far enough away from the entry roadway due to snowplowing potentially pushing snow up against it . Also suggested annually checking the case for corrosion or any other possible leakage . He said the same questions he had with the storm -water drainage as above to make sure it complies with our standards of Nitrogen generation . Penny said she was satisfied with O & M being a control for spills . Chuck Hanson said the whole north parking area was left open by the previous golf course Superintendent as he used that area to drive big trucks to get sand and loom and other things , as well as access to equipment for regular maintenance of the golf course . It is important to keep that access protected and open . MOTION to refer this to the Planning Board with our recommendation for approval subject to looking at protective measures of the equipment. And also providing some evidence the project meets our Nitrogen requirements . MOVED by Roberta Barrett. Seconded by Ned Chatelain . Roll Call Vote : Ned Chatelain — yes , Roberta Barret — yes , Penny Holeman — yes , Cyndi Baran — yes , Victor Staley — yes , Chris Miller — yes , Vice Chair Amy von Hone - yes VOTE : 7 -yes 0 -no Item 2 : septic Inspection Language for Certificate Renewal Applications Amy sent out a rough draft of septic inspection language for Certificate Renewal applications . The questions are : should we move forward with the suggestion to not require septic inspections for Water Quality re - certifications , and is the Committee agreeable to Amy moving forward requesting renewals and not requiring inspections before we get the language in the Bylaw changed . Chris said that it was his understanding that if there was an issue , the Board of Health would bring attention to the Committee and WQRC would already know not to issue the Certificate . This is a small item , but it will save these businesses money if they don ' t have to pump their systems every 3 years . Victor felt this was a housekeeping item to be reviewed at Spring Town Meeting . At this time , we are calling it an interpretation of the Zoning Bylaw . MOTION to adopt the language as possible and continue to interpret the Bylaw as we have in the past until such time as we can get the Bylaw approved at Town Meeting . MOVED by Ned Chatelain . Seconded by Victor Staley . Roll Call Vote : Ned Chatelain — yes , Roberta Barret — yes , Penny Holleman — yes , Cyndi Baran — yes , Victor Staley — yes , Chris Miller — yes , Vice Chair Amy von Hone as yes VOTE : 7 -yes 0 -no Item 3 : Reorganization of the Committee — Chair and Vice Chair Amy publicly thanked Doug Wilcock for the service he has provided through the Water Commission and WQRC . He will be greatly missed and has left the Chair position open . Victor asked if Cyndi would consider coming back into the Chair position as she had done it in the past . Cyndi said she would do it as long as the Committee would give her assistance along the way . Amy' s position is embedded in the Zoning Bylaw so she will be staying in that role . WQRC Meeting Minutes 3 7-31 -2020 MOTION to nominate Cynthia Baran as Chair of the Water Quality Review Committee and Amy von Hone as Vice Chair of the Water Quality Review Committee . MOVED by Victor Staley . Seconded by Roberta Barret. Roll Call Vote : Roberta Barret — yes , Penny Holeman — yes , Cyndi Baran — yes , Victor Staley — yes , Chris Miller — yes , Vice Chair Amy von Hone - yes VOTE : 6 -yes 0 -no Ned Chatelain did not vote as he had left the meeting before the vote . Item [ a Minutes from May 29 , 2020 MOTION to approve the May 29 , 2020 meeting Minutes as written . MOVED by Victor Staley . Seconded by Chris Miller . Roll Call Vote : Roberta Barret — abstain , Penny Holeman — abstain , Cyndi Baran — abstain , Victor Staley — yes , Chris Miller — yes , Vice Chair Amy von Hone - yes VOTE : 3 -yes 0 - no 3 -abstain The 3 abstains were from new members who were not at the 5/29/20 meeting . item 's . Informational ' Items • GW Monitoring & Third Party Inspection May 2020 — Cape Sand & Recycling No comments Item 6 : Topics the Chair did not Reasonably Anticipate None Next Meeting : Nothing scheduled at this time . MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 10 : 25 A . M . MOVED by Roberta Barrett . Seconded by Cyndi Baran Roll Call Vote : Roberta Barret — yes , Penny Holeman — yes , Cyndi Baran — yes , Victor Staley — yes , Chris Miller — yes , Vice Chair Amy von Hone - yes VOTE : 6 -yes 0 - no Respectfully Submitted by : Beth Devine Action items : re issue renewal letters ; letters for past due renewals (wording ) , Amy . Email/send , Beth Packet of additional documents available on the website for reference WQRC Meeting Minutes 4 7-31 -2020