Conservation Commission

CITY OF CHICOPEE CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of Meeting August 15, 2018 Pursuant to Mass. General Law Ch. 131, Section 40 and the Chicopee Wetland Ordinance Ch. 272, the Chicopee Conservation Commission held a public hearing on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at 6:15 PM, City Council Chambers, 4th Floor, City Hall. James Reidy opened the meeting at 6:17 PM and announced that the meeting was being recorded. Conservation Commission attendance: Member Present Absent Excused James Reidy, Chair X Jessica Dzwonkoski X Celeste Donovan X Charles Payne X Nicole Dewberry X Sharon Balcom X Planning/Conservation Staff attendance: Member Present Absent Excused Lee Pouliot, Director X James Dawson, Development Manager X Jack Benjamin, Assistant Director X Item 1: (Continued from July 18 and August 1, 2018) NOI to construct a building and associated site improvements within buffer zone of an Isolated Vegetated Wetland. Location: 480 & 510 Burnett Rd. Applicant: J&N Salema Family Limited Partnership, 4 Harding Ave., Ludlow, MA 01104 Notes: The Commission was in receipt of a letter from R. Levesque Associates requesting continuance to September 5, 2018. Commissioner Dewberry read the letter into the record of the meeting. The Commission voted to accept the letter and continue the hearing to September 5, 2018. Motion to continue the hearing to September 5, 2018 was made by Celeste Donovan and seconded by Nicole Dewberry. Vote was 5-0 to continue to September 5, 2018. Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain James Reidy, Chair X Celeste Donovan X Charles Payne X Nicole Dewberry X Sharon Balcom X Item 2: NOI for proposed 12’ wide gravel access road along the land-side section of the earthen flood control levee to relocate existing road off of private property. Location: Southern bank of the Chicopee River in Chicopee Falls. Applicant: Chicopee DPW, 80 Medina St. Chicopee, MA 01013 Notes: Frank Valley, representing the Applicant, presented the project to the Commission. Mr. Valley noted that the existing 12’ access road near the Deady Bridge is utilized for flood control levee access as well as an access road for the demolition of the former old mill buildings. The location of the old building complex required the access road to traverse private property. New development will require the roadway to be relocated off of private property but still give the City access to maintain the flood control levee per the Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Valley explained that structures on the slope would be removed and relocated into the roadway. He also noted that approximately 400’ of the roadway was to be relocated. Commissioner Donovan asked if the project fell under the “degraded sites” statute. Commissioner Reidy stated that this was not a typical maintenance project however the project is necessary to maintain access for flood control. Commissioner Dewberry asked about riser for the manhole covers. Mr. Valley explained that there was no plan to install risers. Commissioner Dewberry inquired about possible reuse of gravel from Senior Center and the possibility of installing two gravel tire tracks instead of the entire width of the 12’ roadway. Mr. Valley stated no plans to go onto private property and that only constructing tire tracks would pose a maintenance issue. Commissioner Balcom asked what the gravel material consisted of and snow removal. Mr. Valley noted it was millings form road projects and snow would be pushed to the sides of the roadway. The Commission voted to continue the hearing on this item as there was an error in the legal advertisement that stated it was an NOI when in fact it was an RDA. Motion to continue to September 5, 2018 was made by Nicole Dewberry and seconded by Sharon Balcom. Vote was 5-0 to continue the hearing to correct and re-advertise under the correct submittal as an RDA. Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain James Reidy, Chair X Celeste Donovan X Charles Payne X Nicole Dewberry X Sharon Balcom X Item 3: NOI for CT River Stormwater Improvements and I-391 Resurfacing Project. Work includes stormwater management improvements adjacent to I-391 south on/off ramps at Exit 2 & 4 and resurfacing 3.7 miles of I-391 from the CT River Bridge to Exit 2. Applicant: Susan McArthur, Massachusetts DOT – Highway Division, 10 Park Plaza, Room 4260, Boston, MA 02116. Notes: Thomas Touchet and Kevin Scott of AECOM presented the highway resurfacing project to the Commission. They explained the Best Management Practices (BMPs) at 11 sites within the project area. Only 1 site (BMP #6) falls within jurisdictional area under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. The goal of BMP #6 is to improve stormwater quality. It will also remove approximately 93 linear feet of existing concrete channel regrade the area to create a forebay to then allow runoff into discharge area. BMP #6 is to be seeded with wetland seed mix and trees to increase biodiversity. Gyu Jong Yoo with MassDOT explained the project was slated for Spring 2019. The Commissioners asked various questions about the project overall including the underdrain for BMP #7, stockpiling of materials, erosion control, invasive species management and why Mass DOT has to mow such large areas. Mr. Touchet replied that the work area could be adjusted to accommodate stockpiling and that large areas are mowed to allow for the visibility of drivers to see animals that may otherwise hide in the taller vegetation. The Commission discussed the project and imposed some special conditions to the Order of Conditions as follows: 1. Management of invasive species within the work area of BMP #6, replant slopes with native plants where any invasive plant material is removed. 2. The Commission or Planning/Conservation Staff to inspect erosion control barriers prior to commencement of any site work. 3. Inspect seeded and planted areas to determine if further work is required prior to Issuance of a Certificate of Compliance is issued. Motion to approve an Order of Conditions with conditions was made by Nicole Dewberry and seconded by Charles Payne. Vote was 5-0 to approve an Order of Conditions with conditions (see above). Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain James Reidy, Chair X Celeste Donovan X Charles Payne X Nicole Dewberry X Sharon Balcom X Item 4: Request to Amend Order of Conditions (OOC)(DEP File # 133-0331) – Colonial Circle. Original Order was issued on September 1, 2017. The Applicant is requesting to amend the original OOC which expires on September 1, 2020. Notes: The Commission was in receipt of a letter from the Applicant (Pioneer Valley Condo Association) dated July 30, 2018, presenting a new proposal for remedying the issue at hand and requesting to amend their original Order of Conditions(OOC) (DEP File # 133-0331) issued by the Chicopee Conservation Commission on September 1, 2017. Neither the Applicant nor a representative was present at the meeting. The Commissioners discussed the request and were unanimously opposed to any amendment to the original OOC. The original OOC expiration date of September 1, 2020 remains in effect. Motion to deny the amendment request was made by Charles Payne and seconded by Celeste Donovan. Vote was 5-0 to deny the request to amend the original OOC issued on September 1, 2017, the original Order of Conditions expiration date of September 1, 2020 remains in effect. Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain James Reidy, Chair X Celeste Donovan X Charles Payne X Nicole Dewberry X Sharon Balcom X Item 5: Minutes from August 1, 2018 Notes: Commissioner Dewberry presented the Commission with an amendment to the notes for Item 2 of the August 1, 2018 meeting minutes. The amendment explained in more detail Commissioner Dewberry’s reasoning for abstaining from the vote on Item 2 (NOI for Nash Park Improvements). Motion to approve the minutes with the amendment proposed by Commissioner Dewberry was made by Charles Payne and seconded by Celeste Donovan. Vote was 4 in favor to 0 opposed with 1 abstention. Commissioner Balcom abstained as she was not in attendance on August 1, 2018. Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain James Reidy, Chair X Celeste Donovan X Charles Payne X Nicole Dewberry X Sharon Balcom X Item 6: SIGN BILLS!! Notes: Staff noted there were no bills to sign. Item 7: Upcoming Project updates/Discussion Notes: Staff noted there were no project updates or discussion. Item 8: Adjournment – Next scheduled meeting is September 5, 2018 Motion to adjourn was made by Nicole Dewberry and seconded by Sharon Balcom. Vote was 5-0 to adjourn. Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain James Reidy, Chair X Celeste Donovan X Charles Payne X Nicole Dewberry X Sharon Balcom X Meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM.