HINGHAM CONSERVATION COMMISSION
June 1, 2009 at 7:00 PM Central Meeting Room North
MEETING MINUTES
Present: Eugene Babin, Acting Chair, Charles Berry, William Grafton, Scott McIsaac and Carolyn Nielsen
Absent: Doug Harvey
CONSERVATION AGENDA
7:00 PM
Old/New Business
Approve Draft Minutes – 5/18/09
Approve Conservation Meeting Dates and Submission Dates for July – December 2009
Reorganization
Update: 7 Howard Road – DEP SE 34 0997
Reminder: DEP Site Visit – June 4, 2009 at 2:30 p.m.
7:15 PM
Requests for Determination of Applicability
None
7:30 PM
Notices of Intent
30 Cliff Road – DEP SE 34 1005
Applicants: Ronald & Dorothy Ann Hutchins / Representative: Brad Holmes, Environmental Consulting and Restoration
23 Pioneer Road – DEP SE 1004
Applicants: A. & M. O’Connor / Representative: Steve Ivas, Ivas Environmental
Orders of Conditions
Seal Cove Road – DEP SE 34 1003
Certificates of Compliance
3 Howland Lane – DEP SE 34 0912
Applicant: Martin Gillieson / Representative: Love Albrecht Howard
74 Charles Street – DEP 34 0832
Applicant: Josiah Hatch / Representative: Carmen Hudson - Cavanaro Consulting
Old/New Business
1. The Conservation Commission welcomed new Commissioner member Scott McIsaac.
2. Approve Draft Minutes – 5/18/09
Discussion of draft minutes.
Motion: Commissioner Nielsen motioned to approve the draft minutes of 5/18/09 as amended.
Second: Commissioner Grafton In Favor: All Opposed: None
3. Approve Draft Conservation Meeting and Submission Dates
Motion: Commissioner Nielsen motioned to approve the Draft Conservation Meeting and Submission Dates
Second: Commissioner Grafton In Favor: All Opposed: None
4. Reorganization
Discussion: Commissioner Chapin resigned from the Commission and election of a new Chair and Vice Chair is needed.
Commissioner Berry proposes to nominate Eugene Babin Chair of the Conservation Commission. Commissioner Babin is willing to accept the nomination.
Motion: Commissioner Nielsen motioned to elect Commission Babin as Chair of the Conservation Commission.
Second: Commission Grafton In Favor: All Opposed: None
Discussion of Vice Chair: Commission Grafton proposes to nominate Commissioner Nielsen as Vice Chair of the Conservation Commission. Commission Nielsen is willing to accept the nomination.
Motion: Commissioner Grafton motioned to elect Commission Nielsen as Vice Chair of the Conservation Commission
Second: Commissioner Berry In Favor: All Opposed: None
5. Update – 7 Howard Road DEP SE 34 0997
Discussion: The Conservation Officer noted that on June 4, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. there will be a site visit by the DEP.
6. Bel Air Road Discussion of Activity over the weekend
It was reported to Commissioner Nielsen that some sort of barge activity occurred this past weekend in the harbor by Bel Air Road and wanted to know if the Commission permitted it. The Conservation Officer will check into it with the Harbormaster.
Request for Certificates of Compliance
3 Howland Lane – DEP SE 34 0912
Applicant: Martin Gillieson / Representative: Love Albrecht Howard
The Conservation Officer reviewed the landscaping project and it has been completed according to the Order of Conditions issued.
Motion: Commissioner Berry motioned to issue a Certificate of Compliance for 3 Howland Lane.
Second: Commissioner Nielsen In Favor: All Opposed: None
74 Charles Street – DEP 34 0832
Applicant: Josiah Hatch / Representative: Carmen Hudson - Cavanaro Consulting
The Conservation Officer noted that the applicant has done the removal of a shed near the wetlands. The project is now completed and built according to the Order of Conditions.
Motion: Commissioner Nielsen motioned to issue a Certificate of Compliance for 74 Charles Street.
Second: Commissioner McIsaac In Favor: All Opposed: None
Orders of Conditions
Seal Cove Road – DEP SE 34 1003
Applicants: Seal Cove Beach Association / Representative: Rod Gaskell, SITEC Environmental
Discussion: The Commission reviewed and discussed the draft order. Commissioner Nielsen presented a concern about protective measures that will be taken if the salt marsh is affected in the future. The Conservation Officer noted that then the Order will be re-evaluated on an annual basis.
The May 20, 2009 correspondence from Vroom/Wagner was noted. The Conservation Officer noted that the project has two tasks and is not two separate projects.
Motion: Commissioner Grafton motioned to accept and issue the draft Order of Conditions for Seal Cove Road.
Second: Commissioner Nielsen In Favor: All Opposed: None
Commissioner Babin read the usual information dealing with filings.
Requests for Determination of Applicability
None
Notices of Intent
30 Cliff Road – DEP SE 34 1005
Applicants: Ronald & Dorothy Ann Hutchins / Representative: Brad Holmes, Environmental Consulting and Restoration
Presentation of the proposed project by Brad Holmes
• Demolition of existing family home, reconstruction of a new single family home with associated driveway reconstruction, utility reconnections, grading, landscaping improvements
• Resource areas – located within the 100 foot buffer zone to top of Coastal Bank, 200 foot riverfront area of the Weir River, Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage, FEMA elevation 12
• Pervious materials will be used so as not to create stormwater management problems
• Property is on sewer line
• Site was developed previous to the Rivers Protection Act so it is considered redevelopment
• Proposed project improves the existing conditions of the Riverfront area by reducing the amount of degraded area and moving the proposed structures further away from the Weir River
• Proper erosion controls will be installed along the limit of work facing the Weir River and maintained until all areas are stabilized
Discussion: Conservation Officer
• Proposed project meets riverfront regulations
• There will be less impervious cover in the riverfront
Commissioner Babin - Proposed project will be an improvement over the area
Commissioner Nielsen - Proposed project will be a substantial improvement to the wetlands, encourages the use of native and non-invasive plants for landscaping
Commissioner Babin opened the hearing to the public.
Susan Shannon – 4 Oak Road – Feels the new home will be lovely and better for the River.
Commissioner Babin closed the hearing to the public.
Motion: Commissioner Grafton motioned to close the hearing and issue an Order of Conditions for 30 Cliff Rd.
Second: Commissioner Nielsen In Favor: All Opposed: None
23 Pioneer Road – DEP SE 1004
Applicants: A. & M. O’Connor / Representative: Steve Ivas, Ivas Environmental
Presentation of the proposed project by Steve Ivas
• Additions and driveway modifications to single family home which include proposed garage addition with a new foundation, pantry on sono tubes, deck on sono tubes, new foundation for storage area, farmers porch, bluestone landing, addition to the asphalt driveway for turning, walk way from garage to access rear yard
• Majority of work will be constructed on already impervious surfaces
• Resource areas: BVW, Intermittent Stream
• Proposing mitigation in the form of planting wetland vegetation shrubs within an BVW area that is currently existing lawn
• Mitigation will increase wildlife habitat functions
• Erosion controls will be used so silt will not reach the BVW, foundation excavation will be taken off site
Discussion:
Commissioners Babin, Nielsen and Grafton had concerns about the work proposed in the 50-foot buffer to the BVW. Could modifications be considered such as relocating the play set closer to the home? The Representative noted that the property is a very tight spot and the homeowner was brought into the discussion of possible changes to the back yard. The applicant expressed willingness to implement modifications to the project that would enhance the 50-foot buffer to the BVW.
Conservation Officer:
• Noted that planting a buffer with native plants would offer a filtering affect, along with moving the fence forward 6 feet toward the home with gaps in the fence to allow wildlife passage
• Suggestion of a five foot buffer strip along the back.
Commissioner Babin opened the hearing to the public.
Jim Gordon – 21 Pioneer Road and Carol Costello - 49 Pioneer Road – Both spoke in favor of the project.
Commissioner Babin closed the hearing to the public.
Motion: Commissioner Grafton motioned to close the hearing and issue an Order of Conditions pending revised planting and engineering plans considering mitigation discussed and approval from the Conservation Officer on the revised plans for 23 Pioneer Road.
Second: Commissioner Nielsen In Favor: All Opposed: None
Meeting Adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________
Cliff Prentiss, Conservation Officer
Approved as amended on 6/15/09.