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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20180626 - Conservation Commission - Meeting MinutesTOWN OF HOPKINTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION TOWN HALL 18 MAIN STREET HOPKINTON, MASSACHUSETTS 01748 Tel: 508-497-9745 Hopkinton Conservation Commission 26 June 2018 Page 1 of 5 26 June 2018 Called to Order: 7:30 PM Hopkinton Senior Center, 28 Mayhew Street Adjourned: 10:09 PM Members Present: Ted Barker-Hook, Jeffrey Barnes, Jim Ciriello, Melissa Recos, Kerry Reed, Jamie Wronka, Don MacAdam: Conservation Administrator, Matt Varrell: Conservation Scientist, Anna Rogers: Inspections Administrative Assistant Members Absent: Ed Harrow 7:30 PM Commission Business  The Commission reviewed the following documents that had signature pages signed at the 05 June 2018 meeting: - Town of Hopkinton, 0 Hayden Rowe (U24 10 0), 0 Hayden Rowe (U24 10 A), 192 Hayden Rowe – Order of Conditions (188-1652) - Global Corp., 84, 86, 88, 92 West Main Street – Order of Conditions (188-1650) - Parsons, 19 John Matthew Road – Order of Conditions (188-1651) - Nation, 0 Whisper Way (R16 26 1), 5 Whisper Way, 0 Wood Street (U14 28 0), 0 Wood Street (U14 28 A), 129 Wood Street – Order of Resource Area Delineation - Gonzalez, 34 Oakhurst Road – Determination of Applicability (RDA 2018-4)  The Commission signed the following document: - J.C. Parmenter, Inc., 5 Curtis Road – Certificate of Compliance (188-1634)  The Commission determined to table the review of revising the standard condition for pesticide use to enable further research.  An informal discussion was held with Mr. Chris Nation, 20th Century Homes, and Mr. Scott Goddard, Goddard Consulting, regarding a concept plan for a subdivision subject to extending the Whisper Way roadway. 7:55 PM Keiger Estate, 0 Wood Street (off Proctor/Walker Streets) DEP File No. 188-1656 Notice of Intent – continuation The applicant requested a continuation to 17 July 2018. 7:55 PM Cummings, 120 Pond Street RDA 2018-3 Request for Determination of Applicability - continuation Mark Cooperman, EcoTerra Design Mr. Cooperman provided an overview of the site plan with a final revision date of 26 June 2018. He noted a snow fence would be installed at least 2-feet upgradient of the 100-foot buffer zone to ensure that Hopkinton Conservation Commission 26 June 2018 Page 2 of 5 all the proposed work would occur outside buffer zone. He noted that only the trees are proposed to be removed; no excavation, stumping or grinding is proposed. Ms. Recos made a motion to close the hearing and jointly issue a positive Determination of Applicability for the specified portion of the wetland delineation and a negative Determination of Applicability for the proposed site activity. The motion was seconded by Ms. Reed and it passed unanimously. ***The Commission signed a signature page for the Determination of Applicability.*** 8:05 PM Petrozzi, 0 Leonard Street (U19 52 0) HCC – 33 Notice of Intent – continuation The applicant requested a continuation to 17 July 2018. 8:05 PM TJA Solar, DEP File No. 188-1654 0 Cedar Street (U11 26 B), 17 Wilson Street, 0 Wilson Street (U12 2 A), 0 Wilson Street (U11 30 0) Notice of Intent – continuation Scott Goddard, Tom Rebula, Goddard Consulting; Chris King, Atlantic Design Engineers, William DePietri, property owner Mr. Goddard provided an overview of the site plan with a final revision date of 11 June 2018. A discussion was held regarding the 10,000 square feet of disturbance proposed within the 75-100 buffer zone for panels. The applicant’s consultants noted that if all of the panels were to be removed from the buffer zone the project would not be economically feasible. A discussion was held about any potential impacts to wildlife habitat. Mr. Goddard noted existing soil conditions and vegetation offer a biodiverse habitat for wildlife. A discussion was held regarding the Lucas Environmental memo dated 25 June 2018. The Commission noted that applicants for previous solar projects cited economic issues for locating panels within the buffer zone, but all were able to find ways to reduce the scale of the project within the buffer zone. Mr. Goddard noted that only 7% of the total panels are proposed to be located within the buffer zone. The applicant’s consultants could not provide the exact number of panels proposed within the buffer zone. A discussion was held regarding the utility connection through the easement. Mr. Goddard noted the final design has not been approved by the utility company to date. A discussion was held regarding tree clearing. The applicant’s consultants noted that there would likely be further requests to perform additional site clearing, the extent of which was not presently identified on the site plans, due to shading effects which would be quantified after the site clearing identified on the site plans is performed. The Commission expressed concerns with the lack of due diligence subject to the full extent of site clearing required for the project. Mr. Ed Cutter, 21 Wilson Street, asked how many panels have been removed from the original site plans. Mr. King noted between 700-800 panels have been removed. Hopkinton Conservation Commission 26 June 2018 Page 3 of 5 Mr. Matt Zetteck, 16 Wilson Street, noted he does not believe the applicant has fully addressed the impacts to trees noted in the Lucas Environmental memo dated 27 March 2018. He read from a Mass DEP 2015 Solar Energy memo. Mr. Tom Shambo, 15 Wilson Street, noted he believes the panels should be located outside the 100-foot buffer zone. He referenced a Conservation Scientist memo dated 14 October 2008 (DEP File Number: 188-1424) regarding two potential vernal pools on site. The Commission noted the Conservation Scientist reviewed the area of the two potential vernal pool this spring and did not observe any evidence of vernal pool habitat. Mr. Shambo asked about snow removal/storage. The Commission noted any snow storage would occur outside the buffer zone. Mr. Shambo asked about the electrical utility connections. Mr. King noted they are possibly moving the connection over to Cedar Street, instead of Wilson Street, but it is still being reviewed. Mr. Shambo referenced the Conservation Scientist memo dated 14 October 2008 regarding a “wet area” near his property and adjacent to an existing cart path on the subject site. The Commission noted the Conservation Scientist can review the noted groundwater discharge area. Ms. Susan Hanewich, 14 Wilson Street, asked if the project was of concern even though a small scope of the work is in buffer zone. The Commission noted that the approval of any construction activity within the buffer zone is discretionary. It was noted that the more number of panels proposed close to the existing tree line, the more likely an extra tree removal request would be forthcoming, and the less amount of panels, then likely the less amount of proposed tree disturbance within the buffer zone. The hearing was continued to 17 July 2018. 9:10 PM REC Hopkinton LLC, DEP File No. 188-1648 0 Chamberlain Street (R24 1 0), 0 Whalen Road (R23 83 0), western portion of Chamberlain Street roadway, southern portion of Whalen Road roadway Notice of Intent – continuation Scott Goddard, Goddard Consulting; Paul Mastroianni, Kathi Sherry, REC Hopkinton LLC; Michael Dryden, Bohler Engineering Mr. Goddard provided an overview of the site plans with a final revision date of 13 June 2018. The Commission reviewed the NOI supplemental information dated 14 June 2018. A discussion was held regarding the Lucas Environmental memo dated 26 June 2018. The Commission noted the applicant should specify the type of heavy equipment they will utilize. A discussion was held regarding the proposed wetland replication and mitigation. A discussion was held regarding requiring a bond for replication area since the final engineering has not been completed. A discussion was held regarding the further permits required from the U.S. Army Corps and MassDEP. The Commission asked if reducing the existing pavement area of the Whalen Road cul-de-sac was considered. Mr. Dryden noted it was determined to involve too much impact, both to the neighbors and the buffer zone. He noted the applicant will be mitigating the Whalen Road cul-de-sac area by improving the stormwater structures at end of Whalen Road. The Commission reviewed a memo dated 22 June 2018 from member Ed Harrow and who could not attend the meeting. Mr. Ciriello made a motion to close the hearing and issue an Order of Conditions subject to a finding of fact, the standard and noted special conditions. The motion was seconded by Ms. Reed and it was passed by everyone except Mr. Barker-Hook who opposed. Hopkinton Conservation Commission 26 June 2018 Page 4 of 5 ***The Commission signed a signature page for the Order of Conditions.*** 9:52 PM MA Laborers Training Trust Fund, 37 East Street DEP File No. 188-____ Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation The hearing was opened and continued to 17 July 2018 at the applicant’s request. 9:53 PM Gadles, Foxhollow Road roadway, 203 Pond Street DEP File No. 188-____ Notice of Intent Eric Dias, Strongpoint Engineering Mr. Dias provided an overview of the Notice of Intent application and site plan dated 08 May 2018. He noted that it is more of an administrative filing since the previous Order of Conditions (OOC) for the construction of the roadway has expired. He noted the applicant will be completing the proposed work as approved by the Commission under the previous OOC. It was noted that the plan needs to be revised to clarify the language on the plan; the disturbed buffer zone area was to be naturalized and not replicated as a wetland. Mr. Barker-Hook made a motion to close the hearing and issue an Order of Conditions subject to the submission of a revised plan and the issuance of a DEP File number. The motion was seconded by Ms. Wronka and it passed unanimously. It was noted that an application for an Invalid Certificate of Compliance will need to be submitted to close out the previous OOC (188-1553). ***The Commission signed a signature page for the Order of Conditions.*** 9:59 PM Staples, 253 Wood Street RDA 2018-5 Request for Determination of Applicability Dan McIntyre, MESS, Inc. Mr. McIntyre provided an overview of the Request for Determination of Applicability application and site plan dated 29 May 2018. A discussion was held regarding replacing a cesspool with a Title V septic system. It was noted that all the work is within existing lawn areas and a few large trees will need to be removed. Mr. Ciriello made a motion to close the hearing and issue a negative Determination of Applicability with the standard conditions. The motion was seconded by Mr. Barker-Hook and it passed unanimously. ***The Commission signed a signature page for the Determination of Applicability.*** 10:04 PM Takacs, 9 Cedar Street Extension DEP File No. 188-1657 Notice of Intent – continuation The applicant requested a continuation to 17 July 2018. Hopkinton Conservation Commission 26 June 2018 Page 5 of 5 10:04 PM Takacs, 15 Cedar Street Extension DEP File No. 188-1658 Notice of Intent – continuation The applicant requested a continuation to 17 July 2018. 10:04 PM Commission Business – continued  Lui, 109 Winter Street (188-1625) – project change request. The item was tabled to 17 July 2018.  Mr. Barker-Hook made a motion to approve the draft minutes of 15 May 2018. The motion was seconded by Ms. Wronka and it was passed by everyone except Mr. Ciriello who abstained.  Gaber, 178 Ash Street (188-1638), 59 Chestnut Street (188-1639) – Draft Conservation Easement. The item was tabled to 17 July 2018.  Equestrian Building, 15 South Mill Street (Lot 20) – project change request (188-1381). The item was tabled to 17 July 2018.