HomeMy Public PortalAbout20201222 - Conservation Commission - Meeting MinutesTOWN OF HOPKINTON
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
TOWN HALL 18 MAIN STREET
HOPKINTON, MASSACHUSETTS 01748
Tel: 508-497-9745
Hopkinton Conservation Commission
22 December 2020
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22 December 2020 Called to Order: 7:00 PM
Remote Meeting – Zoom Adjourned: 8:41 PM
Members Present: Ted Barker-Hook, Jeffrey Barnes, Jim Ciriello, Ed Harrow, Janine LeBlanc, Kerry
Reed, Matt Varrell: Lucas Environmental, Don MacAdam: Conservation Administrator, Anna Rogers:
Inspections Administrative Assistant
Members Absent: Melissa Recos
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 – not present, Mr. Ciriello – present, Mr. Barker-Hook – present,
Mr. Harrow – present, Ms. LeBlanc – present, Ms. Reed – present, Mr. Barnes – present
• A Roll Call was held for staff:
Mr. MacAdam – present, Ms. Rogers – present, Mr. Varrell – present
• Mr. Barker-Hook made a motion to approve the draft minutes of 20 October 2020 and 08 December
2020. The motion was seconded by Mr. Harrow and a unanimous roll call vote was held.
• The Commission reviewed the Request for a 1-year Extension Permit for Orders of Conditions (188-
1612) from Habitech Homes, 0 Lakepoint Way (R23 7 0). Ms. LeBlanc made a motion to approve a
1 year Extension Permit. The motion was seconded by Mr. Ciriello and a unanimous roll call vote
was held.
7:06 PM Hayes, 20 Downey Place DEP File No. 188-1717
Notice of Intent
Rob Truax, GLM Engineering; Rens Hayes, applicant/owner
Hopkinton Conservation Commission
22 December 2020
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Mr. Truax provided an overview of the Notice of Intent documents and site plans dated 23 November
2020. He noted the proposal was to demolish the existing house, construct a larger house, install a series
of retaining walls to address the slope towards the lake and infiltrate the roof runoff.
A discussion was held about the Lucas Environmental memo dated 21 December 2020. A discussion was
held about the existing dock being subject to Chapter 91. A discussion was held about the parcel located
between the subject property and the lake, the parcel owner is unknown, and the applicant was proposing
grading on the parcel they did not own. Mr. Truax noted he could remove the proposed grading from the
other parcel and relocate the erosion control barrier further away from the lake. A discussion was held
about the proposed retaining walls. The Commission determined any Order of Conditions (OOC) would
condition the submission of detailed specifications for the retaining walls.
Ms. LeBlanc noted the new house appears to be closer to the lake then the existing house. Ms. Reed
noted she would prefer the proposed patio inside the 50 foot buffer zone to be lawn instead. A discussion
was held about the permeability of the proposed patios. Mr. Truax noted that both patios will be installed
with pervious pavers. Mr. Barker-Hook noted he would prefer to see no patio next to the deck. Ms. Reed
noted concern with the existing slope towards the lake and the need to address issues of runoff. Mr.
Barnes noted he would prefer to see the house located further from the lake if feasible. Ms. Reed noted
she would like to see alternatives. A discussion was held about the project being comparable with other
projects on previously disturbed lots around the lake.
Mr. Harrow made a motion to close the hearing and issue an Order of Conditions subject to the
submission of a revised plan, with the standard and noted special conditions. The motion was seconded
by Mr. Ciriello and a unanimous roll call vote was held.
**The Commission approved a Signature Page for the Order. ***
7:34 PM Nation, 0, 0, 0 Wood Street (U14 28 A; U14 28 1; U14 28 0) DEP File No. 188-1718
Notice of Intent
Scott Goddard, Goddard Consulting
Scott Goddard provided an overview of the Notice of Intent documents and site plans dated 25 October
2020. A discussion was held about the rationale for a wetland crossing to access the upland portion of the
property. Mr. Goddard noted there is no proposed use of the upland portion of the property at this time.
He noted any future jurisdictional activity would need a separate filing.
Mr. Goddard noted the combined wetland alteration of the previously approved Whisper Way
Subdivision (DEP File Number: 188-1665) and the currently proposed access roadway is less than 5,000
square feet of alteration, a box culvert is proposed to meet the stream crossing standards, wetland
replication is proposed in a disturbed area elsewhere on the property, and there is an existing path and
boardwalk at the crossing location. Mr. Goddard noted more time will be needed to respond to the Lucas
Environmental memo dated 22 December 2020 and the DEP comments dated 22 December 2020.
A discussion was held about the Lucas Environmental memo dated 22 December 2020 and the DEP
comments dated 22 December 2020. Concerns were noted for such a significant wetland crossing without
a definitive project. A discussion was held about the location of the mitigation area proposed elsewhere
as to avoid disturbing undisturbed buffer zone. It was noted that the proposed mitigation area is within
the “Buffer Zone Restoration and Reforest Zone” area approved under the mitigation package for 188-
1665.
Hopkinton Conservation Commission
22 December 2020
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Concerns were noted that the current mitigation area impinges on the previous 188-1665 approval and
commensurate mitigation is therefore lacking for the current proposal. A discussion was held about
whether alternative designs, such as bridging, had been investigated.
Mr. Harrow noted DEP’s recommended condition about the crossing not being allowed to be constructed
until all building permits for any future development were acquired. Ms. Reed concurred and noted a
paved road to nowhere is unusual, and would be less concerned if the crossing were necessary for a
specific purpose.
It was noted that a revised abutters list is required to be submitted that documents all subject abutters were
notified.
The hearing was continued to 12 January 2021.
7:57 PM Plankton Energy, 146 East Main Street RDA 2020-13
Request for Determination of Applicability - continuation
Sheryl Guglielmo, DePrete Engineering; Dan Giuffrida, Plankton Energy
Ms. Guglielmo provided an overview of the Request for Determination of Applicability documents and
site plans dated 16 November 2020 with a final revision date of 16 December 2020. She noted the project
is for a six (6) solar canopy system over the existing rear parking lot with associated utility work.
A discussion was held about the Lucas Environmental memo dated 07 December 2020. A discussion was
held about the rationale for locating the trench within the lawn at the edge of the pavement instead of
within the pavement.
Mr. Barker-Hook made a motion to close the hearing and issued a negative Determination of
Applicability with the standard and noted special conditions. The motion was seconded by Ms. Reed and
a unanimous roll call vote was held.
***The Commission approved a signature page for the Determination. ***
8:07 PM Mastroianni, 0 South Street (R29 7 B) DEP File No. 188____
Notice of Intent – continuation
Scott Goddard, Goddard Consulting; John Kucich, Bohler Engineering; Kathi Sherry, REC Hopkinton
LLC
Mr. Goddard provided an overview of the past few hearings the Planning Board has held on the project
and the supplemental Notice of Intent application information dated 14 December 2020. He provided an
overview of the letter dated 30 November 2020 that references the Valpey Corporation, direct abutter at
75 South Street, denies granting any easements for using their two existing driveways that would allow
the applicant to accesses the subject parcel they purchased from the Valpey Corporation and avoid the
proposed wetland crossing.
Hopkinton Conservation Commission
22 December 2020
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A discussion was held about the existing stormwater basin system located on the subject parcel. The
applicant noted they were amenable to granting an easement to the Town for maintaining the basin. Mr.
Kucich noted the basin manages stormwater runoff from South Street, the design & sizing of the basin is
unknown, and the current project does not rely on utilizing the basin. A discussion was held about the
potential for adjusting the location of the proposed wetland crossing to a narrower point if it was known
that the basin was oversized and could be reconfigured to allow for less proposed crossing impacts. It
was noted that the Commission would review the Town Hall records for any information about the basin
and provide any such information to the applicant.
A discussion was held about the applicant’s classification of the property having low wildlife value. A
discussion was held about a wildlife habitat evaluation and alternatives for the wetland crossing for
improving wildlife habitat. Mr. Goddard noted they would review the issues further. A discussion was
held about the rationale for the location of the proposed crossing. Mr. Goddard noted concerns with the
amount of work that the applicant would need to expend with investigating the existing basin towards
decreasing a small amount of impacts to the wetland resource areas.
A discussion was held about the stormwater flow from the existing parking area on the subject parcel into
the Isolated Vegetated Wetland (IVW) and how the stormwater flow would be managed in the future if
the IVW were filled and paved.
Ms. Sherry noted that Valpey Corporation is the owner of the abutting property and their real estate agent
noted that Valpey Corporation had a number of reasons why they do not want to allow access from their
property to the subject property. Ms. Sherry noted the applicant will be willing to review the portion of
the Valpey Corporation parking lot on 75 South Street that extends onto the subject property. The
Commission noted the existing pavement on the subject parcel should reviewed for removal to decrease
the amount of impervious area on the subject parcel.
A discussion was held about the proximity of the mitigation area to South Street and the potential for
impacts from roadway salts.
The hearing was continued to 12 January 2021.
8:39 PM Commission Business – continued
• The Commission and the Conservation Scientist congratulated the Conservation Administrator (CA)
on his retirement. The Commission thanked the CA for his past 20 years of service.
Adjourn: 8:41 PM