Conservation Commission — 2018-10-18
Minutes
CITY OF MELROSE CONSERVATION COMMISSION City Hall, 562 Main Street Melrose, Massachusetts 02176 Telephone - (781) 979-4312 Fax - (781) 979-4290 Melrose Conservation Commission Minutes for October 18, 2018 Present: Richard Doucette, Kate Hickey, Aaron Weieneth, Ryan Sloan and *Susan Murphy(arrived at time indicated) Absent: Michael Paiewonsky and Zachary Drench Members from Public present: Paul Moore, Roberta Toner, Souren Perperian and Joanne Perperian, Peter Ogren, Randy Wohlen and Sam Gentile Mr. Doucette opened the public meeting at 7:30pm Minutes- Motion by Mr. Weieneth to approve the minutes from September 18, 2018, Mr. Sloan seconded the motion and it was voted 4-0 in favor. Discussion 17 Burnett st discussion –Peter Ogren of Hayes Engineering and Randy Wohlen (17 Burnett st) wished to speak with the Commission about a few potential options they are considering for the property. Mr. Ogren questioned the resource areas present on the site. The previous filing specifies Bordering Land Subject to Flooding but he suggests it could only be Isolated Vegetated Wetlands. The previous filing indicates flood prevention as the only value. The current owners have moved to Florida permanently and wish to sell the property. 2006 was the last filing date for an Order of Conditions on the property, a Superseding Order of Conditions was issued by the state in the past for the house to be built. There is peat in the area so the area has indeed been wet for a very long time. Mr. Doucette- Is the direction of flow towards the street or the back of the property? Mr. Ogren- The flow is towards the street. Mr. Doucette- The Commission would need to review the previous filing to see exactly what was approved, there is a 50/50 shot that what was previously approved would be approved again. The Commission agreed to some improvements to the property in the past, an arrangement was made to allow for the property to drain into the city drainage system but that project ultimately wasn’t completed by the property owner. The City Wetlands Ordinance may not have been in effect at the time when the original Order was issued. *(Ms. Murphy arrived at this point) Mr. Ogren- Aside from the Wetlands Ordinance regulations, we are looking at a possible wet pond stormwater system instead of working with the existing wetland. Ms Murphy- Do you have any calculations on the total wetland area that would be altered? Mr. Ogren- No calculations at this time. Mr. Doucette- Talk to the City Engineering department and confirm that connection to the drainage system is still possible, then put together a plan and adhere to both the State and Ordinance regulations. Yard waste dumping newspaper notice/blurb- Commission members will review draft and submit any comments/edits to staff by Monday(next day staff is in office). Draft Encroachment letter- Commission members will review draft and submit any comments/edits to staff by Monday (next day staff is in office) Trail Stewards/Map update- Ms. Hickey updated the Commission on the new trail map progress. No changes since last meeting. 24-28 Hurd St site plan review comments for planning board- Staff received a copy of the plan from the planning board to review for comments. Staff submitted several comments regarding storm water management and the proposed landscaping plan. The proposed plan has significantly more impervious area than the current property. Commission members were informed that this item was on the next Planning Board meeting agenda and to submit any further comments they may have. Conservation posts for Melrose Community Facebook Group – Mr. Paiewonsky previously suggested via email that the Commission may be able to do some public outreach through the Melrose Community facebook group. It may be able to reach more residents than the current newspapers. The Commission could submit short (non- controversial) updates like the ‘Visit our table at the Victorian Fair, new trails maps, work of the trail stewards, upcoming clean ups, and general education… It was suggested that Individual members of the Commission should make the posts rather than a City official and share a link back to something on the City website or similar to keep things simple. A point person should be designated to coordinate what gets posted and who posts it so there are not redundant posts. Old Business/ Commission Mail- Staff distributed Commission mail for review by the members. The next scheduled meeting will be Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 7:30 PM. Motion by Mr. Doucette to adjourn. Ms. Murphy seconded the motion and it was voted 5-0 in favor. Adjourn 8:30PM adjourn ____________________________ _________________ Approved Date. Pursuant to the ‘Open Meeting Law, ‘ G.L. 39, 23B, the approval of these minutes by the Commission constitutes a certification of the date, time and place of the meeting, the members present and absent, and the actions taken at the meeting. Any other description of statements made by any person, or the summary of the discussion of any matter, is included for the purpose of context only, and no certification, express or implied, is made by the Commission as to the completeness or accuracy of such statements.