HomeMy Public PortalAbout20200512 - Conservation Commission - Meeting MinutesTOWN OF HOPKINTON
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
TOWN HALL 18 MAIN STREET
HOPKINTON, MASSACHUSETTS 01748
Tel: 508-497-9745
Hopkinton Conservation Commission
12 May 2020
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12 May 2020 Called to Order: 7:00 PM
Remote Meeting – Zoom Adjourned: 9:08 PM
Members Present: Ted Barker-Hook, Jeffrey Barnes, Jim Ciriello, Ed Harrow, Janine LeBlanc, Melissa
Recos, Kerry Reed, Matt Varrell: Lucas Environmental, Don MacAdam: Conservation Administrator,
Anna Rogers: Inspections Administrative Assistant
Members Absent: none
7:00 PM Commission Business
• Mr. Barnes noted that the meeting is being conducted remotely consistent with Governor Baker’s
Executive Order of March 12, 2020, due to the current State of Emergency in the Commonwealth due
to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. He noted that in order to mitigate the transmission of the
virus, the Board is complying with the Executive Order that suspends the requirement of the Open
Meeting Law to have all meetings in a publicly accessible physical location. He noted that the
Executive Order allows public bodies to meet entirely remotely as long as the public body makes
provisions through adequate, alternative means to ensure that interested members of the public are
provided reasonable access to the deliberations of the meeting. He noted that for this meeting the
Commission is convening by video conference via Zoom App as posted on the Town’s web meeting
calendar and the Commission’s agenda identifying how the public may join. He noted that the
meeting may also be broadcast by HCAM TV. He noted that the meeting is being recorded and
attendees are participating by video conference.
• A Roll Call was held for members:
Ms. Recos – present, Mr. Ciriello – present, Mr. Barker-Hook – present, Mr. Harrow – present,
Ms. LeBlanc – present, Ms. Reed – not present, Mr. Barnes – present
• A Roll Call was held for staff:
Mr. MacAdam – present, Ms. Rogers – present, Mr. Varrell – present
7:09 PM Parks & Recreation Department, 66B Fruit Street RDA 2020-1
Request for Determination of Applicability - continuation
Andrew Leonard, representative
Mr. Leonard provided an overview of the Request for Determination of Applicability application
information and site plan dated 19 February 2020. Mr. Leonard noted the proposed dog park is an
allowed use under the Master Plan, the park would not be located within the Conservation Restriction
area, and they are seeking to have the Commission confirm that the activity will be located outside the
buffer zones of the adjacent wetland resource areas.
A discussion was held regarding the Lucas Environmental memo dated 10 March 2020.
Hopkinton Conservation Commission
12 May 2020
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Ms. Recos made a motion to close the hearing and issue a positive determination for the delineation and a
negative determination for the work. The motion was seconded by Mr. Ciriello and a unanimous roll call
vote was held.
7:16 PM 158 Hayden Rowe LLC, 158 Hayden Rowe RDA 2020-2
Request for Determination of Applicability
Daniel Hunt, applicant/owner
Mr. Hunt provided an overview of the Request for Determination of Applicability application information
and site plans dated 30 September 2019 with a final revision date of 01 May 2020. He noted he was
going to be using the existing garage foundation & pavement area and the only change to the site would
be the construction of the proposed deck off the rear of the foundation for egress.
A discussion was held regarding the Lucas Environmental memo dated 08 April 2020.
Ms. Reed joined the meeting at this time.
Ms. Recos made a motion to close the hearing and issue a Negative Determination of Applicability. The
motion was seconded by Mr. Ciriello and all members voted in favor except Ms. Reed who abstained in a
roll call vote.
7:28 PM Petrozzi, 0 Leonard Street (U19 52 0), Leonard St ROW HCC-39
Request for Reconsideration - continuation
7:28 PM Petrozzi, 0 Leonard Street (U19 52 0) HCC-33
Notice of Intent – continuation
7:28 PM Petrozzi, 0 Leonard Street (U19 52 0), Lot 1A HCC-35
Notice of Intent - continuation
7:28 PM Petrozzi, 0 Leonard Street (U19 52 0), Lot 2A HCC-36
Notice of Intent - continuation
7:28 PM Petrozzi, 0 Leonard Street (U19 52 0), Lot 3A HCC-37
Notice of Intent - continuation
7:28 PM Petrozzi, 0 Leonard Street (U19 52 0), Lot 4A HCC-38
Notice of Intent – continuation
7:28 PM Petrozzi, 0 Leonard St (U19 42 0) & Portion of Leonard St ROW RDA 2020-3
Request for Determination of Applicability
Robert Truax, GLM Engineering; Paul McManus, EcoTec
Mr. Truax provided an overview of the site plans dated 29 March 2018 with a final revision date of 25
March 2020 and the stormwater management report dated 30 March 2018 with a final revision date of 25
March 2020. He noted the driveways would act as berms. A discussion was held regarding the BETA
Group review comments dated 31 March 2020. Mr. McManus provided an overview of the site plan
sheet number: SUP-A entitled Mitigation Planting Plan.
A discussion was held regarding the revised wetland delineation. Mr. Truax noted the new wetland flags
are shown on the plan but the associated buffer zone lines are not. A discussion was held regarding the
driveway impact from Lot 2A and if a common driveway could be utilized in order to lessen the impact.
Hopkinton Conservation Commission
12 May 2020
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A discussion was held about whether the current plan would improve existing drainage issues to the area.
Mr. McManus noted the roadway has been designed to grade towards the site and the pre-existing
drainage outlet onto the property is longer being proposed to be blocked. Mr. Truax noted he believes the
proposal would provide relief to the Maple Street Extension properties and would be an improvement to
the area.
A discussion was held on whether the proposal amounted to the conversion of an isolated vegetated
wetland (IVW) into a wet detention basin. Mr. McManus noted the IVW currently receives stormwater
directly from Leonard Street and the proposal would allow some water to be held back during larger
storm events. Mr. McManus noted there will not be any new drainage directed into the IVW. It was
noted that if the wetland was a bordering vegetated wetland, the proposal would not be allowed under the
Act. A discussion was held about any anticipated changes to the IVW post construction. Mr. McManus
noted the tree canopy would help it to hold more water and the area is less likely to become a marsh
habitat, and more likely to become an understory and shrub swamp habitat.
The Commission requested a written overview of the anticipated changes and enhancement to the
vegetation and calculations of the proposed changes to the water regime of the IVW. Mr. McManus
noted a written overview would be provided. A discussion was held about wetland impacts and if they
could not be avoided then enhancement plantings should be considered instead of the use of any
mitigation using excavation techniques.
A discussion was held about whether basements were proposed for the houses and if permanent
immovable barriers (PIB) were proposed. Mr. Truax noted walk-out basements are proposed and PIB’s
are not shown on the plans. Members of the Commission noted they would expect PIB’s to be proposed
and shown on the plans.
Mr. Bob Saunders, 7 Prestwick Drive, noted he is concerned about the increasing level of basement
flooding at 12 Maple Street Extension and asked if stormwater flow through the area would be slowed
down enough. Mr. Truax noted the flow will be directed northwest towards Bucklin Street, but the
existing high groundwater levels would not be reduced. Mr. Truax noted water would be further
infiltrated around the site and would be an improvement over the existing conditions. Mr. Truax noted
further improvements would have been gained if they could have connected to the Pleasant Street
drainage, but the town is not amenable with that alternative. A discussion was held about whether it
would be feasible to direct the water further down Leonard Street towards the olr railroad bed the Center
Trail is built upon. A discussion was held about other alternatives that would not exacerbate the flow
towards Maple Street Extension. Mr. Truax noted they review whether they can devise any further
alternatives.
The hearings were continued to 26 May 2020.
8:12 PM Commission Business - continued
• The Commission reviewed the following documents voted at last meeting and electronically signed:
- Kurdi, 1 Greenwood Road – Signature Page for a Certificate of Compliance (188-957)
- 20th Century Homes, 6 Leon’s Way – Invalid Certificate of Compliance (188-1600)
- Haghighi, 30 Stoney Brook Road – Extension Permit for Orders of Conditions (188-1618)
- Vyas, 33 Stoney Brook Road – Extension Permit for Orders of Conditions (188-1621)
- Prime Properties, 34 Stoney Brook Road – Extension Permit for Orders of Conditions (188-1622)
- Sinise Foundation, 36 Stoney Brook Road – Extension Permit for Orders of Conditions (188-
1623)
Hopkinton Conservation Commission
12 May 2020
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• The Commission determined to issue an Extension Permit for Orders of Conditions for Prime
Properties, 21 Stoney Brook Road (188-1641).
• The Commission determined to issue an Extension Permit for Orders of Conditions for Colletti, 31
Stoney Brook Road (188-1619).
• The Commission noted new applications that have not been scheduled on an Agenda to date.
• A violation discussion was held with Ms. Denise Bartone, Mr. Hans Van Lingen, Mr. Jim Blackburn,
Eversource; and Ms. Tracy Adamski, Tighe & Bond, regarding sediments eroding off 55 Wilson
Street (HCC-34). Ms. Bartone provided an overview of the Tighe & Bond memo dated 07 May 2020.
Mr. Blackburn provided an overview of the fire pump test and the unique circumstances that led to
sediments being discharged down into the roadway and entering into the stream via the existing
stormwater management system. Mr. Blackburn noted that Tighe & Bond representatives were on-
site and immediately initiated a response to the sedimentation and that multiple Town entities got
involved right away. Ms. Adamski noted the onsite stream channel is inspected on a weekly basis.
Ms. Adamski noted due to the incident they performed an evaluation further downstream, to where it
crosses Kruger Road, and noted no buildup of sediments were observed within the stream channel
from the discharge. The Commission noted their appreciation for the responsiveness performed and
noted their concern that this was the third incident within the past year. It was noted that the Town is
responsible for discharges per the MS4 permit and a discussion was held about ways to ensure that
the Commission is notified prior to any future fire pump testing in the future and what best
management practices (BMP) will be utilized to prevent such sedimentation occurring in the future.
Ms. Bartone noted that the Fire Department and the Water Department are notified prior to the fire
pump testing and they will add the Commission into the notification process. The Commission noted
that they wanted Eversource to devise a plan incorporating the necessary BMP’s and then schedule an
onsite meeting with the Conservation Staff to review the plan.
Ms. Kati Towner, 9 Kruger Road, noted what happened was an illegal discharge; that high velocity
water is not allowed into a municipal system. Ms. Towner noted she believes the water always takes
this path and that there was nobody on site previously to report it. Ms. Towner noted she believes it
is a violation that should be punished because it must have occurred every year they performed the
fire pump test. Ms. Towner noted her concerns with the previous releases of firefighting foam into
the stream. Ms. Towner noted it’s egregious when Eversource does not report such releases and that
she should not have to notify the Town when such releases occur and go unreported. Ms. Towner
noted that Rafferty Road (Legacy Farms North) is always flooding and has become a mosquito hazard
as well.
• Ms. Recos made a motion to approve the draft minutes of 25 February 2020. The motion was
seconded by Mr. Harrow and a unanimous roll call vote was held.
• A discussion was held about the exemption request for Mascaro, 22 Teresa Road (RDA 2003-26)
regarding the proposed removal of trees along edge of the lawn, which is at the edge of the wetland.
The Commission reviewed the Conservation Administrator memo dated 12 May 2020. Mr. Ciriello
made a motion to approve the exemption request. The motion was seconded by Ms. Recos and a
unanimous roll call vote was held.
Hopkinton Conservation Commission
12 May 2020
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• A discussion was held regarding the restoration information received from Buonara, 6 Peter Porcaro
Drive. Any further discussion was tabled until the Conservation Staff had an opportunity to review
the current status of the restoration area.
• A discussion of the site activity performed by Mayer, 0 Frankland Road (U7 20 0), was tabled to a
future meeting.
• The Commission determined to have the Conservation Staff review the MassDOT, I-495/I-90
Interchange Project Final Environmental Impact Report and determine if any comments would be
necessary.
• A discussion was held about a report received that sediments were eroding onto the town-owned
parcel at 53 East Main Street (R13 8 3), through the existing intermittent stream channel and
irrigation ponds. The Conservation Staff noted that the sedimentation was observed to be originating
from the Pulte Homes Legacy Farms North project site (188-1593).
9:05 PM Frankland Road Solar, LLC, 0 Frankland Road (U7 7 0), DEP File No. 188-1694
Portions of 71 Frankland Road, Rear Frankland Road (R9 4 0)
Notice of Intent – continuation
The hearing was continued to 19 May 2020.
9:05 PM Harding, 70 Spring Street DEP File No. 188-1700
Notice of Intent – continuation
The hearing was continued to 19 May 2020.
9:06 PM Hayes, 16 Downey Street DEP File No. 188-1701
Notice of Intent – continuation
The hearing was continued to 19 May 2020.
9:07 PM REC Hopkinton LLC, 0 Chamberlain Street (R24 1 0), DEP File No. 188-1648
0 Whalen Road (R23 83 0), western portion of Chamberlain Street ROW
Amended Notice of Intent - continuation
The hearing was continued to 19 May 2020.
9:08 PM Hopkinton DPW, Lake Maspenock DEP File No. 188-1696
Notice of Intent – continuation
The hearing was continued to 19 May 2020.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:08 PM.