Hingham Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes 2011

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Hingham Conservation Commission

March 28, 2011 - 7:00 pm – Central South – 3rd Floor
Present: Carolyn Nielsen-Chair, Charles Berry-Vice Chair, Daniel Coughlin, Scott McIsaac, Alan McKenna, Robert Perry, Nina Villanova and Cliff Prentiss, Conservation Officer
Absent: None

CONSERVATION COMMISSION AGENDA

7:00 PM
Old/New Business
Tuck Wadleigh – Transfer Station
Bow Hunting Requests – Turkey Spring Season – 4/25/11-5/31/11 – J. C. Giles, A. Mullaney, G. Ryan
Donation – Lot A – Pinecrest Road, Hingham
Approve Draft Minutes – March 14, 2011

7:15 PM
Request For Determination of Applicability
26 Shipyard Drive, Hingham, MA
Applicant: Richard Corsi – Mass. DCR / Representative: Colin Duncan – TRC Environmental
Proposed building and site improvements at DCR's Bldg. 45

7:30 PM
Abbreviated Notices of Intent
213 Gardner Street - DEP SE 34 1053 – Continuance Applicant: Brendan Gaughan
After the fact filing-deck
Continuance requested till May 9, 2011

Notice of Intent
24 Shipyard Drive – SE 34 1063
Applicant: Hingham Shipyard Marinas, LLC / Representative: Carolos Pena – CLE Engineering
Proposed repair, rehabilitation and maintenance of an existing timber pier

Certificates of Compliance
11 West Street – DEP SE 34 1032 - Applicants: Walter & Jennifer Bastis

and other such matters that may be pending before the Conservation Commission.

Old/New Business
1. Draft Minutes March 14, 2011
Discussion: Edits were discussed.
Motion: Commissioner Coughlin motioned to approve the 3/14/11 minutes as amended.
Second: Commissioner Villanova In Favor: All Opposed: None

2. The Conservation Officer noted that Mr. Wadleigh will not be present tonight.
Mr. Wadleigh's concerns:
• Land use boards were not involved in the Transfer Station accepting Commercial customers' debris as a means of generating a revenue stream for the Town
• Concerned about traffic
• What standards will be established for debris?

3. Bow Hunting Requests – Turkey Spring Season – 4/25/11-5/31/11 – J. C. Giles, A. Mullaney, G. Ryan
Conservation Officer:
• Three hunters have requested permission to bow hunt
• It is legal to bow hunt Turkey in Zone 11 during the spring
• There are an estimated 65,000 wild turkeys in the state.

Commissioners will discuss guidelines and appropriate areas for hunting at the next Conservation meeting.

4. Donation – Lot A–Pinecrest Road, Hingham
Conservation Officer
• Owners are interested in donating this land in "fee" to Conservation Commission
• There are two upland islands which will provide valuable wildlife habitat
• Surrounding neighbors should be pleased
• Paperwork needs to be sent to Selectmen for approval and Town Counsel for a review.

Motion: Commissioner Berry motioned to accept the donation of Lot A–Pinecrest Road to Conservation.
Second: Commissioner Perry In Favor: All Opposed: None

5. Coastal Erosion Workshop on April 5, 2011. Commissioner Nielsen will be attending. Contact her if you wish to car pool.

Commissioner Nielsen read the usual information regarding filings.

Request For Determination of Applicability
26 Shipyard Drive-Bldg. 45, Hingham, MA
Applicant: Richard Corsi – Mass. DCR / Representative: Colin Duncan – TRC Environmental
Proposed building and site improvements at DCR's Bldg. 45.
Plans presented are in the file.

Present for filing: Colin Duncan-TRC, Rick Corsi-DCR, Nicole Bulger, Christine Fulman
Presentation: Colin Duncan
• Improvements needed to Bldg. 45 in order to sustain its continued use for vehicle and boat maintenance operations
• Relocation of boat access from west side of Bldg. 45 to the east side
• New garage doors and ramps
• Boat storage, parking on east side
• Landscaping, repair and replacement of existing concrete on east side
• Remove debris and cut off the protruding wooden piles and rebar within a 20 foot path between the parking lot and edge of water for safety
• Canoe and kayak access for DCR use only, not public use
• Standard sediment and erosion controls will be used.

Conservation Officer:
• Site used to receive debris from Harbor Island Parks
• Heavily constructed launch area for ship building
• Safety issue with the rebar and piles sticking up in the water.

Commissioners:
• How does this interrelate with the Order of Conditions that was issued for the Intermodal Center?
(Response: Funding issues created the redesign of the building and they are stand alone filings.)

Commissioner Nielsen opened the hearing to the public.

Ken Corson, Hingham Harbormaster
• Concerned about public passage through the newly proposed DCR boat launch ramp, storage area and parking lot
• Will public be allowed to launch canoes and kayaks. Concerned about it being a safety issue. (Response: It will not be a public launch site.)
• Will stormwater structures be incorporated into this application?
• Original request for the new Harbormasters' Office in Bldg. 45 was on the waterfront
• Instead of waterfront, Harbormaster was offered a surveillance system that will be capable of integrating with other surveillance systems located in the Port of Boston
• What is the status of the surveillance system as it is greatly needed for Town's role with Homeland Security?

Representative speaking for the MBTA
Noted that a response is being prepared on the surveillance system.

Commissioners:
• It is the hope of the Conservation Commission that the building can be redesigned so that the Harbormaster will have a water view for the safety and protection of all.

Motion: Commissioner Coughlin motioned to issue a Negative Determination of Applicability for 26 Shipyard Drive-Building 45 with erosion controls.
Second: Commissioner Berry In Favor: All Opposed: None

Abbreviated Notices of Intent
213 Gardner Street - DEP SE 34 1053 – Continuance Applicant: Brendan Gaughan
After the fact filing-Deck.
Continuance requested till May 9, 2011

Commissioner Nielsen noted that correspondence was received from an abutter regarding the filing.

Discussion: Commission would like a letter sent to applicant that a plan is expected on May 9, 2011.

Motion: Commissioner Villanova motioned to approve a continuance to May 9, 2011 for 213 Gardner Street with a letter informing the applicant that this is their last continuance.
Second: Commissioner Berry In Favor: All Opposed: None

Christine Player, CLE Engineering and Jay Hirsch, Applicant
Presentation:
• Pier was used during World War II for ship building
• Installation of 39 new timber pilings
• Removal and replacement of 22 existing pilings
• Perform general repairs in order to restore the structural integrity of the pier
• All work will be confined within the footprint of the previously authorized structure
• Make pedestrian railing code compliant
• Methods of repair will be water and land based
• All creosote treated materials will be removed and disposed of properly
• Proposing to do the work over the life of the Order of Conditions
• Would like the Order to allow the applicant to do future maintenance as needed if we "find the unexpected"

Conservation Officer:
• A much needed improvement to the area.

Commissioner Nielsen opened the hearing to the public.

Ken Corson – Hingham Harbormaster:
• What prompted the repair?

Jay Hirsch:
• To make the structure safe and accommodate the fishermen.

Commissioners:
• Should the applicant find anything of substance while during the repair and restoration, they need to contact the Conservation Officer and the Conservation Commission (i.e. explosives)
• Question dealing with sediment distribution – (Response – Short term turbidity with the pilings work.)
• Any concern with fish migration (Response – No).

Commissioner Nielsen closed the hearing to the public.

Motion: Commissioner McKenna motioned to close the hearing and issue an Order of Conditions for 24 Shipyard Drive.
Second: Commissioner McIsaac In Favor: All Opposed: None

Certificates of Compliance
11 West Street – DEP SE 34 1032 - Applicants: Walter & Jennifer Bastis

Conservation Officer noted that the project still needs woodchips, loaming and seeding, or sod placed on the lawn area, however it has been built according to the Order. His suggestion to the Commission is to sign the COC, but hold the paperwork until the applicant does the final work on the lawn area.

Motion: Commissioner McIssac motioned to sign the COC for 11 West Street, however the COC will be held by staff until the appropriate measures have been taken.
Second: Commissioner Villanova In Favor: All Opposed: None

Commissioner Berry noted that Jason Burtner-Coastal Zone Management is available to come in and speak to the Commission
about Foundry Pond.

Conservation Officer noted that the Trustees have started the bridge project at World's End.

Conservation Officer updated the Commission on Walton's Cove and his meeting with Jason Burtner-CZM and Kitty Ward and what funding sources may be available to help resolve cutting off the sediment load to Walton's Cove.

Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________________________
Cliff Prentiss, Conservation Officer

Approved as amended on 4/11/11.