March 8, 2010 @ 7:00 PM Central Meeting Room North
MEETING MINUTES

Present: Carolyn Nielsen, Chairman, Charles Berry, Vice-Chair, Robert Perry, Scott McIsaac, Nina Villanova, Daniel Coughlin and Cliff Prentiss, Conservation Officer
Absent: None

Old/New Business
1. Approve 2/22/10 and 3/1/10 draft minutes
Discussion: Edits were discussed and noted.

Motion: Commissioner Coughlin motioned to approve the 2/22/10 minutes as amended.
Second: Commissioner Villanova In Favor: All Opposed: None

Motion: Commissioner McIsaac motioned to approve the 3/1/10 minutes as amended.
Second: Commissioner Berry In Favor: All Opposed: None

2. Broad Cove Restoration
Discussion: Awaiting news of funding.

3. Hingham Wetlands Regulations
Discussion: A public hearing was held on March 1, 2010 regarding the proposed 2010 update to the Hingham Wetlands Regulations. At that time a vote was taken in the affirmative to pass the new Wetland Regulations.

4. Foundry Pond Order of Conditions
Discussion: Two conditions were changed regarding the dredging and restoration of Foundry Pond:
• Refueling
• Allowing work in the fall (screening will hold the fish out of the work area)

Superseding Order of Conditions
1. 23 & 29 Bel Air Drive
Discussion: The DEP has overruled the decision made previously by the Hingham Conservation Commission to deny the proposed dredging project by private homeowners at 23 and 29 Bel Air Drive. A Superseding Order of Conditions has been issued for both projects. This application was heard under both the Hingham Wetlands Regulations and the State Wetlands Regulations. The appeal under the Hingham Wetlands Regulations is through the court system. Hingham Town Counsel is handling the matter.

Requests for Extension to Order of Conditions
1. 5 Bare Cove Lane–DEP SE 34 0909 – Applicant: R. Feldt / Rep.: John Cavanaro, Cavanaro Consulting

Presentation: Reconstruction of a house on the coastal bank. It’s been graded but the plantings have not been put in yet. They are asking for an extension to allow for the plantings and for time to allow them to grow.

Motion: Commissioner Berry motioned to issue a 3-year extension to the Order of Conditions.
Second: Commissioner Villanova In Favor: All Opposed: None

Notice of Intent
1. 289 Whiting St. – No DEP # as of 3/8/10 Boston Golf Club Applicant/Rep.: S. Sterns–Boston Golf Club
Presentation: The proposal is to add a 960 square foot structure for indoor hitting bays including a small storage area. It will be built into the hillside and will have a green roof. There will be no plumbing to the building. The second proposed change is to the grading in the landing area which will require blasting due to the presence of ledge. This will keep the balls from trailing into the wetlands. There is also some proposed grading on the tee side that will keep the balls on the same side as the tees. The proposed areas are currently greens and are being maintained as such.

Discussion: Commissioner Berry asked for clarification regarding the proposed blasting. Ms. Sterns further discussed the proposed blasting based on the AS IS map.

The Chairman opened the hearing to the public. One member of the public, an abutter, was present and offered her support for the project. The Chairman closed the hearing to the public.

Motion: Commissioner Coughlin motioned to close the hearing and issue an Order of Conditions pending the receipt of a DEP number. Second: Commissioner McIsaac In Favor: All Opposed: None

2. 20 Derby Street – DEP SE 34 1024 – Continuance
Applicant: Carlos Perez – Old Colony Montessori School, Inc. / Rep.: Kelly Killeen – Coler & Colantonio,
Presentation: In the revised plan, the majority of work that was previously within the 50-foot buffer has been removed. The proposed 1500-foot addition to the building will be eliminated and a new building on the Gardner Street lot is proposed. There are two underground infiltration systems proposed as well as a detention basin. Additional soil testing has been performed.

Discussion: Mr. Chessia offers a preliminary response suggesting a catch basin be added which would be in the buffer zone and subject to the Commission’s approval. The catch basin would result in cleaner water flowing into the wetlands.

Mr. Killeen offered his thoughts to add a berm and catch basin to address the runoff from the parking lot. The Commission concurs that they would like to see this modification to the plans. The proposed work within the 50-foot buffer would result in an improvement over existing conditions.

The Chairman opened the hearing to the public. An abutter from Camelot Drive was present and asked what the policy is regarding work in the 50-foot buffer. Chairman Nielsen responded. The Chairman closed the hearing to the public.

Mr. Killeen asked for a continuance to the 3/22/10 meeting.

Motion: Commissioner Perry motioned to continue the hearing to 3/22/10.
Second: Commissioner Villanova In Favor: All Opposed: None
3. Ward Street Turf Fields Project – DEP SE 34 1016 – Continuance
Applicant: The Ward Street Turf Fields Fund c/o J. Tocchio, Esq. / Rep.: Sterling Wall, Tetra Tech Rizzo

Presentation: Mr. Tocchio advised of the revisions made to the proposed Athletic Fields. All work has been removed from the 50-foot buffer. The presentation is to give these revisions to the Commission, if approved they will continue with the plans.

• Rick Alfonso from Tetra Tech advised that the mean annual high water line was changed based on a site walk that included members of the Conservation Commission staff and Mr. Chessia. The revised line was identified on the plans.
• The revised plans separate the fields. This allows for flexibility to have the fields at different elevation and eliminates the parking on the south end by moving it to the center.
• The proposed septic system was moved and identified on the plans as suggested by Mr. Chessia.
• They will prepare, over the next several weeks, a drainage plan.

Mr. Wall, a geologist from Tetra Tech, advised that there is no work being proposed in vegetated wetlands or in the 50-foot buffer zone. No work is proposed in river front area or in any FEMA flood plains. Wildlife will still have passage on both sides as well as in the middle of the proposed fields. Mr. Billa commented on the proposed use of artificial turf advocating that there is no demonstrative link between artificial turf and adverse health effects. Storm water runoff and leaching was addressed by way of rapidly draining surface which Mr. Billa advised that the runoff water meets Massachusetts safe drinking water levels.

The wells that are located east of the site will be located 500 to 1000 feet from the site and any run off will take several years to travel to reach those wells per Mr. Billa.

*Maintenance of the fields is suggested to be approximately 50 lbs. of fill a year to approximately 17 spots over the surface of each field.

Discussion: Commissioner Nielsen asked about the elevation between the “C” series flags and the “B” series to better define the wetland line. Mr. Wall and Mr. Tocchio agreed to a condition considering this as if it is a vernal pool. Commissioner Nielsen questions the mean annual high water line, depicted by “A” flags, for the river front area. Mr. Chessia concurs that this is a challenging area to define as there is no bank. They observed where the water had flow and movement. Mr. Chessia agrees to take another look and will meet Commissioner Nielsen at the site on Friday 3/9/10. Mr. Wall disagreed that the mean annual high water line is at the “A” flags for the river front stating that from 2/27 and 3/7 the river went down 10 inches after extensive amounts of rain with frozen ground and snow melt.

Commissioner Coughlin asked for clarification regarding the water coming off the site. Mr. Billa reiterated that the water coming off the site would meet the Mass. drinking water standards. Commissioner Coughlin also asked about the recycled tire material being used. Mr. Billa commented on the material, the length of time that the material has been around again stating that there has been no link to any adverse health conditions. Commissioner Coughlin asked if a Phase II analysis had been done yet. Per Mr. Billa, since no problems were found with the water supply, no Phase II analysis is warranted. Mr. Tocchio will look into this. Mr. Wall advised that although new to the town of Hingham, this is not new to other towns similar to Hingham where courts of this material have been installed. They are: Newton, 2 in Concord, and Wayland (partially in the buffer zone). Commissioner Coughlin asked if environmental insurance has been explored to give the town and the abutters some peace of mind and a monetary safety net should, for some reason, the courts need to be removed or changed in some way in the future.

Commissioner Perry asked about the temperature of the water coming off the fields as the artificial turf will get quite hot. Hot water running into the wetlands will change the wetlands and what can and will live there. Mr. Chaffin advised that once cloudy the fields cool immediately. There was a prior report and they will provide a copy of that report to the Commission.

Commissioner Villanova asked about the edges of the field. Per Mr. Billa the edges will be concrete curb. Commissioner Villanova asked where the storage of infield material would be. Per Mr. Billa it will be kept onsite in the storage shed along with rakes. It is anticipated that there will be several bags onsite at a time.

Commissioner McIsaac asked what, if any, impact there would be to southeast properties as properties to the west and northeast were directly addressed earlier in the presentation. Based on the slope of the area the impact to the southeast abutting properties will be negligible.

The Chairman opened the hearing to the public. The following abutters were present and offered comments:
• 21 Howland Lane asked the Commission to consider naming someone to be responsible for monitoring the site and output to Cushing Pond.
• Mr. Burbank asked how long this 3rd generation material has been in use. Per Mr. Alfonso it was used in Europe last year and is being installed at Gillette Stadium this year. Mr. Burbank asked if the material wears out. Per Mr. Alfonso it would eventually and then be recycled.
• 40 Irving Street is a proponent of the field material indicating that he has practical experience with the material and the amount that is tracked of the field on shoes is minimal.
• 8 Berkley Circle has concerns regarding the impact to wildlife and commented about the trash that will be left outside of the trash receptacles and find its way into the wetlands and wildlife habitat.
• 4 Camelot Drive is concerned about the impact this would have to wildlife.
• 2 Camelot Drive asked to be shown where the existing fields are and where the entrance will be from Ward Street. He was shown both on the plans. He asked how many parking spots there would be. A maximum of 200 was the response. The total of the proposed fields and parking is 10.5 acres, a large portion of which is existing field.
• 142 Ward Street – asked about the proposed tree removal. The area needing tree removal was shown on the plans. It was mentioned that this revised plan has lessened the amount of tree removal.
• Joseph Iovino, MD also from 8 Berkley Circle offered his professional opinion based on lay and medical literature. Dr. Iovino feels that there is strong cause for concern regarding the possible health risks fields of this type may cause in children. A copy of his letter read at the meeting was received by the Conservation Office on 3/8/10.
• 17 Cushing Street – Provided a handout of the Connecticut Agricultural Station report and a report from the Coastal Marine Resource Center. His concerns are potential health related risks.

The Chairman closed the hearing to the public.

Attorney Tocchio asked for a continuance to 3/22/10 relating to the parameters, buffers and river front line. Approval would allow them to move forward at which time they would like to be scheduled for the 5/3/10 meeting where they could present the designs.

Motion: Commissioner Villanova motioned to continue the hearing to 3/22/10.
Second: Commissioner Berry In Favor: All Opposed: None

Certificates of Compliance
1. 10 Bradley Park Drive – DEP SE 34 0908 – Hingham Tennis Club

Discussion: Clay courts built in 1905 in what is now wetland. The Commission had previously approved their work. The berm was built up on the adjacent property. The Conservation staff recommends opening up the berm to perfect the drainage.

Meeting Adjourned at 10:36p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

_________________________
Carolyn Nielsen, Chair, Conservation Commission

Approved as amended on 03/22/10.

*Correction noted on page 3 of 5 – approved by the Commission to amend on 4/5/10.