TOWN OF BURLINGTON Conservation Commission MINUTES OF Approved October 26, 2017 Members Present: Chair L. Cohen, Vice-Chair W. Boivin, E. LoTurco, A. McNamara, I. Deb, G. Lima Members Absent: Also Present: K. Melanson Conservation Administrator J. Keeley, Assistant Conservation Administrator H. Charles Lis 1. Call to Order L. Cohen called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. 2. Citizens Time No one spoke. 3a. Approval of Minutes September 14, 2017 A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING WAS MADE BY W. BOIVIN. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY E. LOTURCO AND APPROVED (4-0-2; A. MCNAMARA AND G. LIMA ABSTAINED). 3b. Approval of Minutes September 28, 2017 A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING WAS MADE BY W. BOIVIN. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY I. DEB AND APPROVED (5-0-1; G. LIMA ABSTAINED). 4. Request for Certificate of Compliance/Completion & Release of Surety 10 Whitney Street S. J. Peacock Builders, Inc. Erosion & Sedimentation Control Permit No one represented this application. J. Keeley explained the project of a teardown/rebuild is mostly done. The unstable areas in rear need to be stabilized, and there is a dirt pile, but it will not run off into the street or abutting properties.
L. Cohen noted this type of approval is not typical, however the front is stable and there is no risk of runoff from the rest of the lot. 2 The Conservation Commission had no comments. A MOTION TO ISSUE THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION FOR PROJECT AT 10 WHITNEY STREET WAS MADE BY E. LOTURCO. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY I. DEB AND APPROVED (6-0-0). A MOTION TO RELEASE THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE PERFORMANCE BOND, $3,500, FOR THE PROJECT AT 10 WHITNEY STREET WAS MADE BY W. BOIVIN. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY I. DEB AND APPROVED (6-0-0). 5a. Request for Determination of Applicability 31 County Road Wendi Riddle Install shed, patio, extend driveway Homeowner Wendi Riddle and Tom Difilippo of 31 County Road represented this application. Ms. Riddle explained their request to plant a row of bushes, and build a shed, 10 x 14, to act as a demarcation fence between the wetlands and their back yard. And they will plant a wetlands seed mix behind the demarcation. The shed will be on footings with stone underneath to capture roof runoff. Also, they want to build a 12 x 12 landing at the bottom of the stairs at the rear of the house, and widen the driveway. J. Keely commented for the driveway the stone trench will be extended to capture the runoff, and rear shed will be at the 15-foot no disturb boundary. Also, the 10 x 14 foot shed will need a Building permit, and hence a waiver from 40-foot no build set back from the Conservation Commission. Conservation Commission commented: Shrubs will be on both sides of the shed Driveway will be constructed of asphalt, not pavers J. Keeley reviewed the findings and conditions. A MOTION TO GRANT A WAIVER FROM THE 40-FOOT NO BUILD FOR THE PROPOSED WORK AT 31 COUNTY ROAD WAS MADE BY E. LOTURCO. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY W. BOIVIN AND APPROVED (6-0-0). A MOTION TO ISSUE A CONDITIONAL NEGATIVE DETERMINATION OF APPLICABILITY FOR THE PROPOSED WORK AT 31 COUNTY ROAD WAS MADE BY I. DEB. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY A. MCNAMARA AND APPROVED (6-0-0). 5b. Request for Determination of Applicability 10 St. Mark s Road St. Mark s Episcopal Church Cut trees Bob Patterson of the Property Committee of St. Mark s Episcopal Church represented this application.
3 Mr. Patterson requested 21 trees to be removed around the church, education building and rectory, and 7 trees to be trimmed. These trees are within the buffer zone to a wetland area. J. Keeley explained the Commission did a site walk yesterday. The wetlands are associated with an intermittent stream that runs parallel to St. Mark s Street, and is a tributary to Sandy Brook. It should probably be added to the streams map. The wetlands are not flagged, but it appears some trees may be in the wetlands. A majority of the trees being requested for a removal are dead, in bad shape, or leaning. He recommended putting in the decision that staff go tree by tree with the tree company, and then make a determination which trees should be cut. The Conservation Commission requested: Replanting trees Attempt to keep the large Oak tree by trimming it J. Keeley reviewed the findings and conditions. A MOTION TO ISSUE A CONDITIONAL NEGATIVE DETERMINATION OF APPLICABILITY FOR THE PROPOSED WORK AT 10 ST. MARK S ROAD WAS MADE BY E. LOTURCO. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY W. BOIVIN AND APPROVED (6-0-0). 5c. Request for Determination of Applicability 3 Hope Street Sarfraz Shaikh Demolish house & construct new house Homeowner Sarfraz Shaikh of 3 Hope Street and Scott Jones the CSL for the project represented the application. Mr. Jones explained construction began, and H. Charles Lis reached out to them to inform them of the wetlands in the area, and the requirement to file. H. Charles Lis commented: Applicant is disturbing more than 10,000 but less than 20,000 square feet, which could be administratively approved, but this project is near wetlands, hence the public hearing She allowed work to continue because at the time no sediment was running off the site Erosion controls need to be repaired on the west side by the driveway by adding hay bales Resource areas are a BVW near the drainage easement, and a wetlands swale, which flows to a culvert that goes under Mark Street The work is more than 50 feet from the BVW/stream Concern about the driveway runoff going into a stone trench that abuts a stone wall, and the trench s effectiveness The Conservation Commission discussed alternative driveway designs to deal with the runoff. The Conservation Commission requested: Calculations for the Cultec chambers
Written justification that the trench can handle the volume of water expected off the driveway 4 Roger Morrison, 5 Hope Street, requested linking the small swale [stone trench] to the larger swale because in large rainstorms he has gotten water. L. Cohen explained the engineer needs to confirm if the small swale is designed for infiltration, and whether it needs to be connected as Mr. Morrison is suggesting for overflow. This item was continued to the October 26, 2017 Conservation Commission meeting. 6. Public Hearing Request for Amendment to Order of Conditions 63 Third Avenue Desktop Metals, Inc. DEP # 122-583 Engineer Frank DiPietro of BSC Group, and Director of Lab Operations Kevin Li and Director of People Operations Amy Buntle of DeskTop Metal, Inc. represented this application. Mr. DiPietro noted the perennial stream, BVW, and 100-year floodplain as the resource areas on site. The applicant will move the fire pump room that will have an associated sidewalk and stairs, add dust collectors outside the doorways of the 3D printing rooms, add a dumpster, remove 260 sq. ft. of impervious area, not do the flood storage compensation area that was originally proposed, and bring the transformer to grade as requested by EverSource. J. Keeley explained the original Order was for the transformer and was filed as a Notice of Intent because of the floodplain filling. Before the Commission is an Amendment request to that Order. Floodplain compensation is slightly great than 1 to 1 and there is reduced impervious area. Staff had no concerns. The Conservation Commission had no comment. J. Keeley reviewed the findings and conditions. A MOTION TO ISSUE THE AMENDED ORDER OF CONDITIONS FOR THE PROJECT AT 63 THIRD AVENUE, DEP # 122-583, WAS MADE BY E. LOTURCO. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY I. DEB AND APPROVED (6-0-0). 7. Public Hearing Notice of Intent 22 Harriett Avenue Ming Liang Lu Demolish house & construct new house DEP # pending Engineer Stephen Dresser of Dresser Williams & Way and the builder Frank Cling represented the application. Mr. Dresser explained this is a tear down and rebuild. They will be respecting the 20-foot no disturb and the 40-foot no build setbacks for the new home. Currently, there is no groundwater discharge on site. There will be Cultecs installed on the property for infiltration, and test pits have been performed and the data from that was submitted. H. Charles Lis commented:
Wetland flags have not been reviewed by staff Resource areas: Stream, that is on the Burlington streams map, which makes it a locally regulated riverfront area (tributary to Cummings Brook in Woburn) Some trees are expected to be removed 5 H. Charles Lis requested: Add riverfront area to plans, and submit associated calculations/compensation plan/meet performance standards Mitigation for the driveway, though it isn t required Operations and Maintenance plan The Conservation Commission request: Alternatives analysis; improvements to the resource area Mark on the plans and in the field the trees to be removed; especially the two big oaks and the ash tree Size of the Cultecs & trench calculations Exploring the removal of invasive species in the area Marjorie Foster of 10 Kenmere Avenue has kept the storm drains clear for the last 40 years, because it floods there when it rains. This hearing was continued to the October 26, 2017 Conservation Commission meeting. 8. Continued Public Hearing Notice of Intent 5 Susan Avenue Vinod Chhayani Construct residential addition DEP # 122-601 No testimony was taken on this matter. This hearing was continued to the October 26, 2017 Conservation Commission meeting. 9. Administration a. Planning Board Comments: None b. Subcommittee & Staff Reports: None c. Upcoming Meeting Schedule: October 26, 2017 & November 9, 2017 d. Other Business: Master Plan Steering Committee W. Boivin had no conservation-related updates, but commented that the last meeting was very informative regarding DPW operations. Request to camp at Mill Pond Conservation area J. Keeley explained one resident requested to camp at the Mill Pond Conservation area, which is allowed by permission from the Conservation Commission only. He will provide the staff with the exact dates, general locations, and the local police will be informed of this activity. E.
Loturco suggested informing the Fire Department too. 6 A MOTION TO PERMIT THIS INDIVIDUAL S CAMPING REQUEST WAS MADE BY E. LOTURCO. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY W. BOIVIN AND APPROVED (6-0-0). Diwali Celebration hosted by the Indian Americans for Burlington I. Deb invited Burlington residences to attend the Diwali Celebration on Sunday, October 15, 2017 at 3:00pm on the Town Common to learn about and enjoy this common Indian holiday. A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE OCTOBER 12, 2017 CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING WAS MADE BY G. LIMA AT 8:29 PM. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY I. DEB AND APPROVED (6-0-0). Minutes respectfully submitted by: Noelle Judd, Recording Clerk