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Home My WebLink About2022-10-03-ConCom-min Meeting broadcasted by LexMedia PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES Conservation Commission ___________________________________________________________________________ AGENDA Monday, October 3, 2022, 6:30 p.m. This Conservation Commission meeting was held remotely via Zoom, an online meeting platform. Public Participation via calling in or using your computer was encouraged. Commissioners Present: Kevin Beuttell, Alex Dohan, Philip Hamilton (Chairman), Jason Hnatko, Ruth Ladd and Holly Samuels (not present: Duke Bitsko) Staff Present: Karen Mullins, Conservation Director, and Meghan McNamara, Department Assistant 6:30 PM New Business/Pending Matters Conservation Plan Modification/Insignificant Plan Change: 440 Bedford St, CPM-22-17, DEP#201-1243, CNOI-21-37 A representative was not present. The Commission will discuss this item later in the meeting. Conservation Plan Modification/Insignificant Plan Change: 31 Fairlawn Lane, CPM-22-18, DEP#201-1214, CNOI-21-8 Mr. Rich Kirby, LEC Environmental, presented on behalf of the developer DND Homes. The patio is proposed over a sewer and drain easement. Mr. Kirby said it is his understanding that the easement is not in use and extends into the wetland, and that the property owner is fully aware of the risk being taken by placing the patio over the easement. On a motion by Ms. Dohan and seconded by Mr. Hnatko, the Commission voted 6-0 by roll call vote to approve the insignificant plan change. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Holly Samuels – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Phil Hamilton – Aye 6:42 PM Informal Meeting Request: 5 Mason Street Mr. Richard Kirby, LEC Environmental, presented on behalf of the property owner. The residential dwelling has a Bordering Vegetated Wetland associated with an intermittent stream to the southeast and an Isolated Vegetated Wetland to the northwest. The property owner is proposing a detached garage outside the 50-foot buffer zone, a bedroom and mudroom addition partially within the 50-foot buffer zone, and a hot tub/water feature area also partially within the 50-foot buffer zone. The property owner is proposing planting areas and conversion of some lawn area to vegetation. Mr. Kirby added that test pits will be performed at a later date to confirm the soil conditions for infiltration. Ms. Ladd asked what the plan was for the planting area and Mr. Kirby responded that the areas adjacent to the wetland would be naturalized with native plants, enhancing the area with sapling trees and shrubs, and the area next to the driveway and garage would be enhanced with native plantings left to go wild. A mulch landscaped bed is also proposed to provide an aesthetically pleasing area but could have a pocket of herbaceous shrubs and saplings as well. Ms. Samuels stated that she does not have any issues with the garage construction, driveway relocation, pervious pavers and hot tub, but does have a problem with the building expansion within the 50-foot buffer zone and would like the property owner to propose something outside this buffer zone. Mr. Hamilton asked if the orientation of the garage could be changed, so that the driveway entrance is on the front rather than the side, eliminating a portion of the driveway area. 7:01 PM 20 Cooke Rd Order of Conditions Compliance Enforcement Update: Review and approve Corrective Wetland and Buffer Zone Restoration Plan (DEP#201-1089, BL-1089) Ms. Mullins provided an update to the Commission and the property owner has requested this discussion be continued to the next meeting to allow more time to prepare a corrective action plan. Ms. Mullins stated that she met with the property owner and project engineer to discuss the corrective action plan and that the property owner has hired a landscape contractor to oversee the work once approved. Vote to Issue Order of Conditions: 27 Brent Road, ViewPoint Cloud Permit# CNOI-22-20, DEP#201-1269 Mr. Hamilton proposed a condition that the applicant has to maintain and monitor the vegetation area for a period of 5 years prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Compliance. Other members of the Commission agreed with this condition. Mr. Hamilton also proposed that a condition be included stating that in perpetuity the deck must remain open and not covered. On a motion by Mr. Hnatko and seconded by Ms. Ladd, the Commission voted 6-0 by roll call vote to issue the Order of Conditions with special conditions as discussed. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Holly Samuels – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Phil Hamilton – Aye 7:14 PM Vote to approve apiary permit at Cotton Farm and Idylwilde Community Garden for 2023 calendar year On a motion by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Ms. Dohan, the Commission voted 6-0 by roll call vote to approve the apiary permit at Cotton Farm and Idylwilde Community Garden for the 2023 calendar year. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Holly Samuels – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Phil Hamilton – Aye 7:15 PM Vote to approve the 2023 Conservation Commission meeting calendar On a motion by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Mr. Beuttell, the Commission voted 6-0 by roll call vote to approve the 2023 calendar. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Holly Samuels – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Phil Hamilton – Aye 7:23 PM Discussion and Vote on Minor Projects for Administrative Review On a motion by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Ms. Samuels, the Commission voted 6-0 by roll call vote to approve the list of minor projects for administrative review b y staff, as revised. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Holly Samuels – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Phil Hamilton – Aye 7:21 PM Schedule site visits for 10/17/2022 meeting The site visits will take place on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at 9:00 AM. Approve Minutes: 9/19/2022 and 9/22/2022 These Minutes are not ready and will be voted on at the next meeting. Conservation Plan Modification/Insignificant Plan Change: 440 Bedford St, CPM-22-17, DEP#201-1243, CNOI-21-37 A representative of the project was not in attendance and Ms. Mullins presented the request for plan modification. Ms. Mullins stated that the construction drawings have been finalized and proposed plan changes include: modifications to the parking lot footprint, elimination of the upper level connection from the building to the garage, addition of a bike room and associated walkways, addition of egress doors, slight shift in catch basin location, and the removal of two dead trees. On a motion by Mr. Beuttell and seconded by Ms. Dohan, the Commission vote 6-0 by roll call vote to approve the insignificant plan change. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Holly Samuels – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Phil Hamilton – Aye 7:31 PM Reports: Bike Advisory, Community Gardens, Community Preservation Committee, Greenway Corridor Committee, Land Acquisition, Land Management, Land Steward Directors, and Tree Committee, HIP Working Group The Grand Opening of Parker Meadow Conservation Area to celebrate the new universally accessible trail system will take place on Saturday, October 15, 2022. 7:33 PM New Public Meetings/Hearings Request for Determination of Applicability: 2 Meadow Brook Avenue ViewPoint Cloud Permit# CDOA-22-26 Applicant/Property Owner: Dennis Lawler Project: Replacement of deck and footings within the 100-foot buffer zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetlands Documentation Submitted: ⎯ Photographs of site; Not dated; ⎯ Decking details; Not dated; ⎯ WPA Form 1 Request for Determination of Applicability application; Prepared by: Dennis Lawler, Property Owner; Date signed: 9/1/2022; Mr. Dennis Lawler, property owner, presented to the Commission. Mr. Lawler stated that the deck will be replaced with the same size and setback and the footings will be upgraded from 8 inches to 12 inches to meet current building code requirements. Mr. Lawler confirmed that the existing concrete footings will be removed. On a motion by Ms. Dohan and seconded by Mr. Hnatko, the Commission voted 6-0 by roll call vote to issue a Negative Determination with conditions. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Holly Samuels – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Phil Hamilton – Aye 7:37 PM Request for Determination of Applicability: 243 Worthen Road East ViewPoint Cloud Permit# CDOA-22-27 Applicant/Property Owner: Venkata S.M. Kuchibhotla Project: Demolition of a 64 square foot deck and construction of a 120 square foot deck with new footings within the 200-foot Riverfront Area associated with Beaver Brook Documentation Submitted: ⎯ WPA Form 1 Request for Determination of Applicability application; Prepared by: Venkata S. M. Kuchibhotla; Date signed: 9/12/2022; ⎯ Mortgage Inspection Plan; Date: 6/4/2010; ⎯ Mortgage Inspection Plan (showing proposed deck reconstruction); Date: 6/4/2010; ⎯ Project Description and Photos; Not dated; Mr. Venkata Kuchibhotla, property owner, presented to the Commission. The Commission asked for confirmation that the proposed deck stairs wouldn’t extend farther towards the brook than the existing sunroom. The stairs Mr. Kuchibhotla presented extend farther than the sunroom, however, Mr. Kuchibhotla will confirm the stair location with his contractor to meet the request of the Commission. Ms. Mullins stated that portions of the property are within the regulatory floodway and that the proposed deck would need to be higher than the flood elevation. Ms. Mullins added that a deck, if sitting above the floodplain, could allow for water to flow through, but details would need to be provided for the number of sonotubes and size of piers/columns. The Commission would be more open to this proposed deck if they knew more about the stair details and how high above the floodplain the proposed deck would be. On a motion by Ms. Samuels and seconded by Ms. Dohan, the Commission voted 6-0 by roll call vote to continue the hearing to the October 17, 2022 meeting at the applicant’s request. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Holly Samuels – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Phil Hamilton – Aye 7:54 PM Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation: 28 Reed Street ViewPoint Cloud Permit# CORD-22-2, DEP#201-1271 Applicant/Property Owner: Peter Jones Project: Confirmation of Bordering Vegetated Wetland boundary Documentation Submitted: ⎯ DEP Bordering Vegetated Wetland Delineation Field Data Form; Prepared by: B&C Associates Inc.; Date of Delineation: 6/23/2021; ⎯ Resource Area Delineation Plan; Prepared by: Stamski and McNary, Inc.; Stamped and signed by: Joseph March, PLS No. 36384; Date: 9/12/2022; ⎯ Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation application and attachments; Prepared by: Aidan Schlotman, Stamski and McNary, Inc.; Date prepared: 9/12/2022; Ms. Molly Obendorf, Stamski and McNary, Inc., and Mr. David Crossman, B&C Associates, presented to the Commission. Mr. Crossman delineated the wetland line at this site. Ms. Ladd asked where the transect point was on the site plan and Mr. Crossman pointed to the area on the plan between flags 5 and 6. Mr. Crossman said that the wetlands line was determined strictly by soils because the lawn area is considered altered. Ms. Ladd requests test pit data because the elevation is lower than where Flag #7 is and would like confirmation. Ms. Mullins and members of the Commission will schedule another site visit with Mr. Crossman present. On a motion by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Mr. Beuttell, the Commission voted 6-0 by roll call vote to continue the hearing to the October 17, 2022 meeting at the applicant’s request. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Holly Samuels – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Phil Hamilton – Aye 8:01 PM Continued Public Meetings/Hearings Notice of Intent: 710 Marrett Road ViewPoint Cloud Permit# CNOI-22-22, DEP#201-1272 Applicant: Melissa Lenker, Mass DOT-Highway Division Property Owner: MassDOT-Highway District 4 Project: Demolition and replacement of an existing vehicle repair facility and associated utility and stormwater system improvements. Previous Meeting Date: 9/22/2022 Documentation Submitted: ⎯ Response to Town Engineering comments; From: Nathan C. Ketchel, GGD; Date: 9/26/2022; ⎯ Response to Cambridge Water Department; From: Nathan C. Ketchel, GGD; Date: 9/26/2022; ⎯ Plans; Prepared by: GGD Consulting Engineers Inc.; Stamped and signed by: Christopher M. Garcia, PE Civil No. 45034; Date Revised: 9/26/2022; Mr. Chris Garcia, GGD Consulting Engineers “GGD”, Mr. Mark Carmichael, MassDOT, Ms. Melissa Lenker, MassDOT, and Mr. Carey Babyak, Johnson Roberts Architects, were present during the meeting. Mr. Garcia presented the revisions made to the site plan and stormwater report. The Commission was satisfied with the revisions made. The engineering department comments request that an updated stormwater analysis be submitted with the correct rainfall amounts. Mr. Garcia said the project team is planning to provide this revised report. Ms. Ladd stated that birdsfoot-trefoil (botanical name: Lotus corniculatus) is not a native species and should be replaced in the bioretention area planting list. On a motion by Ms. Samuels and seconded by Ms. Dohan, the Commission voted 6-0 by roll call vote to close the hearing. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Holly Samuels – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Phil Hamilton – Aye 8:10 PM 48 Allen Street: Notice of Intent ViewPoint Cloud Permit# CNOI-22-13, DEP#201-1262 Applicant/Property Owner: Arlen Avakian Project: raze and rebuild of a single-family dwelling within the 100-foot buffer zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetlands and 100-foot buffer zone to Bank of an intermittent stream Previous Meeting Date: 6/27/2022 *Applicant has requested a continuance to the October 17, 2022 meeting On a motion by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Ms. Dohan, the Commission voted 6-0 by roll call vote to continue the hearing to the October 17, 2022 meeting at the applicant’s request. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Holly Samuels – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Phil Hamilton – Aye 8:11 PM On a motion by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Ms. Dohan, the Commission vote 6-0 by roll call vote to adjourn the meeting. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Holly Samuels – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Phil Hamilton – Aye 8:12 PM Respectfully Submitted, Meghan McNamara Department Assistant – Conservation Approved: 10/17/2022 Archived: 10/20/2022