Conservation Commission

CITY OF CHICOPEE CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of Meeting March 17, 2021 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, March 17, 2021 at 6:15 PM via video conference (Zoom). Celeste Donovan opened the meeting at 6:18 PM and announced that the meeting was being recorded and read the following statement into the meeting record: In order to ensure and satisfy CDC social distancing guidelines during the Covid-19 Pandemic and pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 23, 2020 Order as amended, the City of Chicopee is providing public notice that it will conduct a public hearing utilizing remote collaboration technology in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, M.G.L. C. 30A, 18. Copies of application materials may be requested by phone (413-594-1517) or by emailing Jim Dawson at jdawson@chicopeema.gov. To view the public hearings please tune to Spectrum Community Access Channel 191 or the ChicopeeTV website at Facebook.com/ChicopeeTV and/or https://vimeo.com/chicopeetv Public comments were be received during two timeframes. The first public comment period took place prior to the opening of the public hearing on March 3, 2021. The second public comment period took place following the March 3, 2021 hearing and remained open until March 17, 2021 for continued agenda items. To provide public comments in writing please mail to the Chicopee Conservation Commission, 4 th Floor, City Hall Annex, 274 Front St., Chicopee, MA 01013. By email to Jim Dawson at jdawson@chicopeema.gov. or by calling 413-594-1517. All public comments received will be provided to all Commission Members and discussed at either of the above listed meeting dates. All commenting individuals shall state their name, address and company/organizational affiliation in addition to the item(s) that the comments pertain. Comments received up to the March 3, 2021 hearing were be entered on that date. Any comments received after March 3, 2021 will be entered at the continued date of the hearing on March 17, 2021. Conservation Commission attendance: Member Present Absent Excused Celeste Donovan (Zoom) X Charles Payne (Zoom) X Sharon Balcom (Zoom) X Meghan Balakier (Zoom) X Richard Valcourt (Zoom) X Brian Nunes (Zoom) X Planning/Conservation Staff attendance: Member Present Absent Excused Lee Pouliot, Director X James Dawson, Development Manager X (Zoom) Patrick McKenna, Assistant Planner X (Zoom) Nathan Moreau, Associate Planner X Item 1: (Cont. from March 3, 2021) Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD) for the confirmation of the boundaries of Resource Areas on plans associated with the ANRAD filing. Location: East Main St., Lot A, Assessor Maps 108 and 13, Parcel 1 (both maps). Applicant: Andrew Morehouse, The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Inc. 97 North Hatfield Rd., P.O. Box 160, Hatfield, MA 01038 Notes: David Pickart of Ecological Resource Consultants provided the Commission with a detailed presentation regarding past delineations on the property. Mr. Pickart provided the Commissioners with delineation maps and overlays from 2006 and 2017 along with the current delineation (January 2021). It was noted by both Mr. Pickart and the Commission that changes in the delineations over the years were very minor. One area of the property with the most change appeared to have been associated with residential neighbors discarding yard waste in and around a wetland area. It was recommended that when a project is proposed on the site that the discarded yard waste be removed and the area restored. The Commissioners discussed the delineations and Staff explained the choices the Commission had regarding their decision. The Commission voted to approve the January 2021 delineation as accurate. Motion to approve the January 2021 delineations as accurate was made by Charles Payne and seconded by Richard Valcourt. Vote was 6-0 to approve the January 2021 delineations as accurate. Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain Celeste Donovan X Charles Payne X Sharon Balcom X Meghan Balakier X Richard Valcourt X Brian Nunes X Item 2: (New) Extension of Order of Conditions MassDEP file number 133-274 for continued maintenance on the City’s flood control system. Applicant: City of Chicopee, Department of Public Works Flood Control, 80 Medina St., Chicopee, MA 01013 Notes: Nat Arai of Baystate Environmental Consultants, Inc. A GZA Company presented an overview of the Request to the Commission. Mr. Arai explained upcoming work and projects planned in the near future regarding the flood control system. Quinn Lonczak of the City’s Water Pollution Control Office explained the City’s investment into the flood control system. Staff recommended that Water pollution Control and their consultant provide the Commission with an annual presentation and report each year at the Commission’s second meeting in December. The purpose of the report is to keep the Commission informed of projects and maintenance to the flood control system. Mr. Lonczak and Mr. Arai agreed to this request. Staff noted that the first report and presentation was due December 15, 2021. Motion to grant an Extension of the Order of Conditions to January 17, 2024 (with condition of an annual report and presentation at the Commission’s second December meeting) was made by Meghan Balakier and seconded by Sharon Balcom. Vote was 6-0 to grant an Extension of the Order of Conditions (with condition of an annual report and presentation at the Commission’s second December meeting). Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain Celeste Donovan X Charles Payne X Sharon Balcom X Meghan Balakier X Richard Valcourt X Brian Nunes X Item 3: Minutes from March 3, 2021 Motion to approve was made by Sharon Balcom and seconded by Charles Payne. Vote was 6-0 to approve. Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain Celeste Donovan X Charles Payne X Sharon Balcom X Meghan Balakier X Richard Valcourt X Brian Nunes X Item 4: Sign Bills - Staff noted there was one bill to sign. Item 5: Upcoming Projects/Discussion  Emergency Certification – Eversource needs to do emergency repairs due to storm damage. Circuit had to be shut down and Cabotville placed on a back-up circuit. – There was no further discussion from the Applicant on this issue. (Date Pending)  Pan Am Railways Verification of sensitive areas. (April 7, 2021) Item 6: Adjournment – Next scheduled meeting is April 7, 2021 Motion to adjourn was made by Sharon Balcom and seconded by Meghan Balakier. Vote was 6-0 to adjourn. Member Approve Deny Continue Abstain Celeste Donovan X Charles Payne X Sharon Balcom X Meghan Balakier X Richard Valcourt X Brian Nunes X Meeting adjourned at 7:25 PM.