Hingham Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2010 @ 7:00 PM Central Meeting Room North
Present: Charles Berry, Vice-Chair, Eugene Babin, Robert Perry, Scott McIsaac, Nina Villanova, and
Cliff Prentiss, Conservation Officer
Absent: Carolyn Nielsen, Chairperson and Daniel Coughlin
Old/New Business
1. Approve 1/11/10 draft minutes
Discussion: Edits were discussed and noted.
Motion: Commissioner Babin motioned to approve the 1/11/10 minutes as amended.
Second: Commissioner Perry In Favor: All Opposed: None
2. 15 Merrill Street – DEP Site Visit
Discussion: Scheduled for 1/29/10 at 9:30 am. Commissioner Perry and McIsaac will be present.
3. Draft Hingham Wetlands Regulations
Discussion: Special work session scheduled for February 1, 2010 at 7:00.
4. 463 Lincoln Street – MWRA Hingham Pump Station – Stoddard’s Neck – Maintenance Project
Discussion: The MWRA does not have to file with the Conservation Commission but they have provided a courtesy alert that they will be doing maintenance on the Hingham Pump Station.
5. Foundry Pond Dredging and Restoration – Environmental Notification Form
Discussion: On Wednesday 1/27/10 the Conservation staff will be meeting with the CPC to discuss funding.
6. Extension Harbor Dredging
Discussion: Due to weather delays and delays in progress, the dredging completion has been pushed back to February 14th. The contractor will now have to put up curtains to keep the fish out of the area. He will also have to add a 2nd scow.
Requests for Determination of Applicability
1. 274 South Street – South Shore Country Club – Applicant: Town of Hingham / SSCC / Representative: James McGrail – SSCC
Presentation: Mr. McGrail was unable to attend tonight’s meeting. The Conservation Officer discussed the proposal to excavate a swale in front of the clubhouse. It is flat and slow moving and fills up with sediment – it is now filled up with duck weed. Mr. McGrail is proposing to have a machine come in and remove the silt and duck weed and stockpile it elsewhere on site. Approximately 6 – 8 years ago the Conservation Commission approved this same type of restoration, which took approximately 2 days.
Discussion: Commissioner Babin asked if this would need to be repeated in the future. The Conservation Officer estimates that it is maintenance that would likely need to be repeated approximately every 6 years.
Motion: Commissioner Babin motioned to issue a Negative Order of Applicability with erosion control.
Second: Commissioner Villanova In Favor: All Opposed: None
Notice of Intent
1. 188 Union Street– DEP SE 34 1023 Applicant: Teresa Simmons / Representative Paul Mirabito – Ross Engineering Company, Inc.
Presentation: Mr. Mirabito presented the proposed plans to demolish the current home and rebuild. The parcel is 5.2 acres of land that currently consists of a single-family dwelling and lawn area. The wetlands were marked. They are proposing to raze the existing building and reconstruct a new one. They are also proposing an in-ground pool and pool house. The 35, 50, and 100-foot buffer zones were identified on the plans as well as the onsite brook (which is also their property line). The proposed new septic system will need to be mounded; its location was noted on the plans. The proposal includes a circular drive and moving the pavement further from the wetlands line. This will decrease the crushed stone area by 60%. This is a priority habitat area.
Discussion: The Conservation Officer asked if the pool house is within the 50’ buffer, per Mr. Mirabito it is at about the 52’ mark.
The Vice Chairman opened the hearing to the public. One abutter was present and asked for clarification about the wetland lines. Mr. Mirabito showed on the plans where the 50’ buffer lines. The Vice Chairman closed the hearing to the public.
Motion: Commissioner Babin motioned to close the hearing and issue an Order of Conditions.
Second: Commissioner Villanova In Favor: All Opposed: None
2. Chief Justice Cushing Highway – DEP SE 34 1021 – Continuance
Applicant: Thomas Iaira / Representative: Gary James – James Engineering
Commissioner Babin recused himself from this hearing.
Presentation: Mr. James presented on the proposed bog. The plan on record dates back to 1998. The wetland flags from that time were noted on the plans as well as the current wetland markers, which indicate a discrepancy. Two test pits and soil evaluation were done. The revised proposal raises the bog 3.5 feet to elevation 25, which is approximately 18 inches above ground water. There will be no pesticides used and the bog will be inspected every 2-3 months to ensure that the fertilizers are organic. The bogs will be flooded 3 times per year. It will be hand weeded, so no herbicide will be used. The fertilizers used will be fish emulsion. The proposed outfall now includes a catch basin that will act much like a rain garden. A drainage analysis was done and a summary will be submitted to the office.
Discussion: The Conservation Officer agrees that a site walk is needed to determine if the wetland markers are in order.
Mr. James asked for a continuance to 2/22/10.
Motion: Commissioner Perry motioned to continue the hearing to 2/22/10 with the applicant’s consent.
Second: Commissioner McIsaac In Favor: All Opposed: None
Commissioner Babin returned to the hearing.
3. 2 Pond Park Road – DEP 34 1022 – Continuance
Applicant: Steve Leggett – A.W. Perry, Inc. / Representative: Jeffrey Malloy – BSC Group, Inc.
Presentation: Scott Turner from BSC presented the Bone and Muscle Center of the South Shore Hospital. Following the last meeting they met with the Conservation Officer and Paul Brogna regarding the drainage. The project is determined to be a new project and not redevelopment. Their proposed changes are to move the roof drainage, which was noted, on the plans. The snow storage of a 6” storm was determined. The areas were noted on the plans. If there is more snow they would handle it by moving it off site.
They added a plan showing addition of shrub plantings.
Discussion: The Conservation Officer asked that the representative to indicate where all the impervious material that will be taken out be shown on the plans. Mr. Turner pointed these areas out.
The Conservation Officer advised that the building will have a white roof so the runoff will be cooler. The roof runoff will be directed to the onsite wetlands. Mr. Turner advised that the runoff from the parking lot will be going into a catch basin and then routed into a chamber then back out into a trump line that will then connect to the drain line on the street. In the back it will be detained and then discharged into the drainage on Pond Park Road.
The Vice Chairman noted that the parking is still in the buffer zone. Mr. Turner advised that they have an upcoming meeting with the Planning and Zoning boards. Currently they have the exact number of spaces needed but if the Planning and Zoning boards determine that less parking is required than they will reduce the number of parking spaces from the buffer zone area.
The Vice Chairman opened the hearing to the public. None. The Vice Chairman closed the hearing to the public.
Motion: Commissioner Babin motioned to close the hearing and issue an Order of Conditions.
Second: Commissioner Villanova In Favor: All Opposed: None
4. 20 Derby Street - DEP SE 34 1024 – Continuance / Applicant: Carlos Perez – Old Colony Montessori School, Inc. / Representative: Kelly Killeen – Coler & Colantonio, Inc.
Presentation: Mr. Killeen presented on the proposed construction of a 14’ square addition to the existing building and a proposed one-way 12’ drive from Gardner Street. The 50’ and 100’ buffer zones were depicted on the plans. The runoff from the paved area will be collected and the discharge was shown on the plans. The proposed 12’ driveway will be graded to the interior thus trapping it into a storm water mitigation system. The Representative has been in communication with Mr. Chessia, and as of today, more comments had been received but have not been addressed at the time of this meeting. The concerns are relative to the hydraulic model. Mr. Chessia commented on the activity in the 50’ buffer and advised that some type of mitigation be designed. Mr. Killeen advised that the proposed plan takes into consideration not just the addition but all the impervious area as a whole and feels that it is a mitigation system onto itself. The amount of impervious surface between the 50’ and 100’ buffer is going from 5,000 to 7,700 square feet. The Representative has requested a meeting with Mr. Chessia.
Discussion: The Conservation Officer asked Mr. Killeen for confirmation that the buildings along Gardner Street will be raised. Mr. Killeen confirmed.
The Conservation Officer and Vice-Chair reiterated their concern about impervious surfaces within the 50’ buffer.
Mr. Chessia was present and reiterated some of his observations &/or concerns that were noted in his review dated 1/25/10. They are:
• Untreated Stormwater
• Post Development Peak Discharge Rates
• Recharge to groundwater
• 80% TSS Removal
• Protection of Critical Areas
• Redevelopment Projects
• Erosion/Sediment Control
• Operation and Maintenance Plan – missing
• No Illicit Discharges
Additionally, he would like to see snow removal plans and know how trash removal will be handled. Will there be a dumpster, and if so, where will it be on the property (i.e. not in the buffer zone). There is a catch basin on the east side of the property; a study should be done to show what happens to that water.
Commissioner Babin asked about snow removal and storage. Per Mr. Killeen the drive will be plowed and stored on the east side of the driveway. Commissioner Babin would like that to be noted on the plans.
Mr. Killeen would like a continuance to the 2/22/10 meeting.
The Vice Chairman opened the hearing to the public. One abutter who was present, is not in support of the project and questioned if there is a potential for drainage issues on their property. Mr. Killeen reiterated that the drainage on the new drive will be sloped away from Gardner Street. Another abutter was present and asked if there were plans to build another parking area off the drive from Gardner. Mr. Killeen advised that there was a discussion to place a grass parking area for overflow but that is not part of the NOI. The Vice Chairman closed the hearing to the public.
Motion: Commissioner Villanova motioned to continue the hearing to 2/22/10 with the applicant’s consent.
Second: Commissioner Babin In Favor: All Opposed: None
Certificates of Compliance
1. 15 Bucket Mill Lane – DEP SE 34 0958 and DEP SE 34 0904 – Applicant David and Tracy Pace / Representative: Paul Shea, Independent Environmental Consultants, Inc.
Discussion: Both filings complete. Documents signed.
Motion: Commissioner Perry motioned to issue both Certificates of Compliance for 15 Bucket Mill Lane.
Second: Commissioner McIsaac In Favor: All Opposed: None
2. 6 Minuteman Road – DEP SE 34 0960 Applicants: Tracey and Fred Hussey
Discussion: Addition completed and complies with OOC. Documents signed.
Motion: Commissioner Perry motioned to issue a Certificate of Compliance for 6 Minuteman Road.
Second: Commissioner McIsaac In Favor: All Opposed: None
Meeting Adjourned at 8:57 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________
Cliff Prentiss, Conservation Officer
Approved as amended on 2/8/10.