Hingham Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
February 28, 2011 - Hingham Town Hall – Central North – 2nd Floor
Present: Carolyn Nielsen-Chair, Daniel Coughlin, Scott McIsaac, Alan McKenna, and Cliff Prentiss, Conservation Officer
Absent: Charles Berry-Vice Chair, Robert Perry, Nina Villanova
Agenda
7:00 PM
Request For Determination of Applicability
82 Gardner Street
Applicants: Edward and Joyce Schreier
Proposed landscaping and depression filling
Notices of Intent
14 Eastgate Lane – No DEP number or comments as of 2 23 11
Applicant: Roger O. Hoit AIA Architects / Representative: Chris Lucas – Lucas Environmental, LLC
Two proposed additions
Derby Street @ Pond Park Road – No DEP number or comments as of 2 23 11
Applicant: TOH Public Works – Roger Fernandes / Representative: John Morgan – Coler & Colantonio
Proposed Intersection Improvements
230 Ward Street – DEP SE 34 1049 - Continuance
Applicant: Nicholas Trifone / Representative: James Burke-Decelle-Burke & Associates
Proposed construction of a new equestrian arena and site amenities
1 Pinecrest Road – SE 34 1054 - Continuance
Proposed Single Family Home
Applicants: Lawrence & Jean Gilbert / Representative: John Cavanaro – Cavanaro Consulting
Certificates of Compliance
37 George Washington Blvd. – DEP SE 34 0893, 39 George Washington Blvd. – DEP SE 34 0892
Applicant: R. Raymond Tehranian
Old/New Business
Approve Draft Minutes – January 24, 2011
Open Space and Recreation Plan Draft Status - Dedication
Broad Cove RFP
Draft-Wetlands Brochure
Commissioner Nielsen read the usual information regarding hearings.
Request For Determination of Applicability - 82 Gardner Street
Applicants: Edward and Joyce Schreier
All plans noted are in the file.
Presentation – Mr. Schreier:
• Reviewed history
• Previous owners of the property had created the depression
• Would like to fill in the depression and do landscaping
• Conservation Officer has been out to review the site several times
Conservation Officer:
• Depression is not large enough to be protected under the Wetlands Protection Act or the TOH Wetlands Bylaw
• There are no emergent or aquatic plants
• Depression reflects groundwater
Commission Discussion:
• Would like to see clean fill used
• Do not believe that it is a vernal pool
Commissioner Nielsen opened the hearing to the public. None. Commissioner Nielsen closed the hearing to the public.
Motion: Commissioner Coughlin motioned to approve the issue a Negative Determination for 82 Gardner Street with a special condition of using clean material to fill in the depression.
Second: Commissioner McIsaac In Favor: All Opposed: None
Notices of Intent
14 Eastgate Lane – No DEP number or comments as of 2 23 11
Applicant: Roger Hoit AIA Architects / Representative: Chris Lucas – Lucas Environmental, LLC
Two proposed additions
All plans discussed are in the file.
Presentation: Chris Lucas
• Wetlands flagged in Dec. 2010
• Resource areas, Weir River-Riverfront area, Bank, BLSF
• The limit of the perennial steam located along the eastern edge of the property was based on the MAHW line
• Alternative analysis was performed
• Requesting to take out white pines as a special condition
• Erosion controls will be used
Roger Hoit
• Presented photographs
• Proposing two additions
• 1st addition will be 150 square feet on the southwest corner of the home
• 2nd addition will be on the north corner of the home- mudroom and farmers porch, with a crawl space
• All proposed work is in previously disturbed areas
• A retaining wall will be built on east side to avoid grading into the flood zone
Conservation Officer
• All proposed work is out of the floodway
Commission Discussion:
• Request that the white pines be cut up and the brush be piled on the property to provide wildlife habitat
Commissioner Nielsen opened the hearing to the public. None. Commissioner Nielsen closed the hearing to the public.
Motion: Commissioner Coughlin motioned to close and issue an Order of Conditions for 14 Eastgate Lane pending receipt of DEP number and comments.
Second: Commissioner McIsaac In Favor: All Opposed: None
Derby Street @ Pond Park Road – No DEP number or comments as of 2 23 11
Applicant: TOH Public Works – Roger Fernandes / Representative: John Morgan – Coler & Colantonio
All plans presented are in the file.
Presentation: Rob Cahoon-Coler and Colantonio
• TOH received a MORE grant to fund the proposed work
• Proposed work is roadway and signal improvements along Derby Street/Pond Park Road between Route 3 bridge and the Hingham/Weymouth Line
• Road widening and installation of a traffic signal at the Pond Park Road Intersection
• Most of the proposed work will be north side of the road away from the wetland resource areas
• Erosion and sediment control measures will be used
Conservation Officer
• All proposed work addresses stormwater requirements
Commissioner Nielsen opened the hearing to the public. None. Commissioner Nielsen closed the hearing to the public.
Motion: Commissioner McKenna motioned to close and issue an Order of Conditions for Derby Street @ Pond Park Road pending receipt of DEP number and comments.
Second: Commissioner McIsaac In Favor: All Opposed: None
230 Ward Street – DEP SE 34 1049 - Continuance
Applicant: Nicholas Trifone / Representative: James Burke-Decelle-Burke & Associates
Proposed construction of a new equestrian arena and site amenities
All plans presented are in the file.
Presentation – James Burke
• Meetings with Conservation Officer to review revisions in plans
• Have doubled the amount of trees and shrubs that will be planted in the buffer for mitigation
• Infiltration trenches for stormwater management have been added to some of the edge of the paddocks and existing riding arena and made part of the O & M Plan
• Shallow detention basin has been enlarged and re-graded to include a wider berm – now will be 6 feet
• Re-grading of other paddocks to flow toward the drainage swale with check dams
• Stock piles are now shown in construction sequence
Conservation Officer
• Mr. Chessia has spent a lot of time doing the peer review and comments have been addressed
• Planting mitigation meeting was held with applicant and representative
• Order should contain an ongoing conditions dealing with keeping the plantings up and monitored and requiring manure management best practices
• Current owner presently has a manure management system
• Still has a portion of the bldg. in the Inner Riparian Zone which was previously altered
John Chessia – peer reviewer for Conservation
• All comments have been addressed
• Need to still address horses in basin on page 10 in O & M plan which can be conditioned
Commission Discussion
• Agriculture use and does the property meet the definition
• Property has been used as a farm for a decade now - horses have been bred, sold, and trained, commercial aspect dealing with the sale of manure
• Commission would like to review a draft order at the next meeting
Commissioner Nielsen opened the hearing to the public. None. Commissioner Nielsen closed the hearing to the public.
Motion: Commissioner McKenna motioned to close the hearing for 230 Ward Street and have a draft Order of Conditions for review at the next meeting scheduled on March 14, 2011.
Second: Commissioner McIsaac In Favor: All Opposed: None
1 Pinecrest Road – SE 34 1054 - Continuance
Proposed Single Family Home
Applicants: Lawrence & Jean Gilbert / Representative: John Cavanaro – Cavanaro Consulting
Presentation-John Cavanaro
• Revised design addresses previous concerns of the Commission
• There are design constraints due to the location of the septic system
• Revised and now will keep all the proposed work at the limit of the 50-foot buffer
• Shifted and elevated the home towards the street
• Added a patio area in the back to direct outside activities
Conservation Officer
• Revised design has been pushed back from the 50 foot no touch area
• Lawn and ornamental native plantings will be used in the "civilized area" outside the 50 foot buffer
• Revisions proposed meet the issues raised in the previous meetings
Commissioner Nielsen opened the hearing to the public.
Grant Patterson – 155 High Street
• Developer stated in 1992 that this area would remain undeveloped
• Very aggressive plan for the lot size
• Concerned with the location of the driveway and buffer and wetlands
• Asked for clarification on the revised plans of the location of the driveway, and stonewall and entrance to the development
John Brady – 149 High Street
• Fragile area – home is shoe horned in to extract profit, there is no hardship involved
• Can damage wetlands and is opposed to it
• Presented original subdivision plans noted that Lot A – 14.32 acres was described as unbuildable – passed out an As-Built Plan to the Commission – dated 11 02 1992 by BSC Group – "As Built Plan of Pinecrest Road in Hingham, Ma
Maureen Chase – 151 High Street
• Proposed project does not watch out for the wetlands
• Concerned for wildlife and proposed home will affect their activity, movement and habitat
• How is the wetlands survey done?
Abutter – 145 High Street
• When was the rules changed dealing with setbacks?
• Thought land was essentially unbuildable
Commission Discussion:
• Conservation Commission must rule on state wetlands regulations and the TOH wetlands bylaw
• Conservation Commission no authority over Planning Board decisions.
• Lot has been approved by Planning Board
• Wetlands delineation is a science and the line was checked by the Conservation staff.
• Abutters may appeal an Order of Conditions with DEP if they so desire
Conservation Officer
• Could investigate have the remaining portion of the undeveloped land gifted to Conservation or the Land Trust with the property owner
Commissioner Nielsen closed the hearing to the public.
Motion: Commissioner McKenna motioned to close the hearing and issue an Order of Conditions for 1 Pinecrest Rd. Second: Commissioner McIsaac In Favor: All Opposed: None
Draft Minutes – 1/24/11 - Discussion: Edits were discussed.
Motion: Commissioner Coughlin motioned to approve the 1/24/11 minutes as amended.
Second: Commissioner McKenna In Favor: All Opposed: None
Draft Wetlands Brochure - Comments on the draft brochure have been incorporated and can be published.
Broad Cove Hydrodynamic RFP has been put out for bid via email.
Open Space and Recreation Plan Draft Status
• Staff would like the Commission's approval to dedicate the plan to Jim Watson who has done an enormous amount of volunteer work and research on the draft plan
• Conservation Officer is now reviewing final draft plan.
Certificates of Compliance
37 George Washington Blvd. – DEP SE 34 0893, 39 George Washington Blvd. – DEP SE 34 0892
Applicant: R. Raymond Tehranian
The Conservation Officer noted that we are still waiting for the landscaping planting plans noted in the Orders dealing with Condition #45 for both filings. The As-built plans have come in.
Meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________,
Cliff Prentiss, Conservation Officer Approved as amended on 03/14/11.