Conservation Commission

MINUTES OF THE JOINT PUBLIC HEARING BETWEEN GILFORD AND LACONIA CONSERVATION COMMISSIONS May 18, 2016 CITY Hall Room 200B Approved at the June 1, 2016 meeting I. CALL TO ORDER: Dean Anson opened the public hearing at 6:00 PM. LACONIA MEMBERS PRESENT- Dean Anson, Deb. Williams, Lisa Morin, Marnie Schulz, Mike Foote and Dick Christopher GILFORD MEMBERS PRESENT -Carole Hall, Chair, Lee Duncan, Vice Chair, Doug Hill and John Jude OTHERS PRESENT- Wayne Hall, Vice Chair, Gilford Planning Board, a representative from the Laconia Airport, and other members of the general public were all present. II. New Business: PUBLIC HEARING: 1. Matt Murawski will present the final version of the Black Brook Watershed plan. Final questions and comments will be taken at this time. The presentation is attached for your review. The following questions and answers were asked and responded to:  D. Anson asked the age of the stream changes cited in the report. M. Murawski explained the actual number of years is not available. He would estimate the changes range from just six-months to over six years ago.  D. Anson asked if the study provided valuable data concerning the need for various sized stream buffers. M. Murawski explained the study does cover the subject of buffers. He briefly summarized how the buffers on Black Brook vary. The most productive ones are located just south of Lily Pond and are owned by the State and remain in pristine condition. The key to any buffer is how easily flood waters can flow over their banks without creating deep cuts in the channel. If the channel is healthy a natural fifty-foot buffer is of ideal size. The objective is to allow storm flow events to dissipate in the flood plain and infiltrate without eroding the stream banks. Since Black Brook rarely has a buffer larger than 10-20 feet the parts of these smaller buffers need to function very well. A particular area along the Brooks bank allowed a grass lawn to be planted and in turn it is one of the most unstable areas creating constant sediment flows into the stream. The stream then flows into a similar sized buffer but that buffer has remained relatively natural and does not have the same issues that the grassed buffer does. The channel is similar in both cases being deeper as a result of being impacted by development. Natural vegetation is critical to slowing down storm flows as it reduces erosion related issues. It is critical to create more flood plain space so a channel can move to accommodate constant changes.  M. Murawski explained the option of shared driveways and suggested a reduction in parking spots should be a goal for both communities. 1   A rule of thumb is to make all culverts at least as wide as the channel.  D. Anson asked if the condition of all culverts will be identified in the study along with the recommended culvert materials. M. Murawski said that information will be included in the final watershed study.  L. Morin asked what the life expectancy was for these metal culvert materials. S. McPhie followed up with concerns that old corrugated metal culverts tend to have a short life. M. Murawski responded that the new aluminum culverts have a 60-year life.  D. Christopher added there is an excessive amount of parking spaces along the Brook. He explained how he has witnessed water spilling out into the parking lot areas during heavy storm events.  D. Hill asked if the grassed buffer areas along the stream could be improved by introducing proper plantings. M. Murawski responded that would be mentioned in the final watershed plan document.  D. Anson asked about the old Cinema plaza section of the stream in Gilford. Many trees have come down because of the streams erratic activity. M. Murawski described if there was an area where a smoking gun could be found this would be the area. There is approximately 100 tons of sediment that either will or has moved downstream. Eventually the stream will settle which should reduce downstream sediment issues. M. Murawski suggested this area could be used to create a better flood plain therefore reducing any additional negative downstream impacts. D. Hill suggested if the State owns that area M. Murawski should contact them and see what their plans are for the site.  D. Anson asked when the flood plain is improved will the fill be moved around or transported off site so as not to have a future impact on the stream channel. M. Murawski explained it will depend on what the chosen project requires. One suggestion was to use the fill to level and build up the flood plain. There is a considerable amount of sediment below Lily Pond as a result of this activity upstream.  M. Foote asked will the future build out along that corridor be considered.  How many years has this area taken to weather away? M. Murawski said approximately 25-years.  L. Morin said members of the Laconia Con com will join the Gilford Con Com at their upcoming meeting on June 7, 2016.  D. Anson requested the final written watershed report be provided to both Gilford and Laconia.  J. Jude requested the impacted areas of the stream be mapped so it will be easier to determine where problems exist and how they are connected to each other.  L. Morin suggested a representative from New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) be invited to a future meeting to determine what their plans are along the Black Brook Corridor. D. Anson closed the public meeting after requesting any additional public questions or comments of which there were none. D. Anson then opened the public meeting. PUBLIC MEETING (Open): III. REVIEW OF THE MINUTES: 2  1. Review of the minutes of the March 16, 2016 meeting L. Morin made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. The motion was seconded by D. Williams. The motion passed 6-0-0. 2. PL2016-0075SU 326 Endicott St East MBL 165-72-11 Proposal to subdivide one lot into 7. The proposal will remove what is currently a paved parking area adding seven-single family homes in its place. The presenter had to cancel 3. PL2016-0075SP waiver for sidewalks 34 Park Street MBL 350-175-37. The proposal will remove a boat storage/wash facility and construct the same with a different configuration. The new proposal will improve existing off site sheet flows. The presenter had to cancel 4. Milfoil subcommittee update Discussion will be taken up at the June 1, 2016 meeting to update everyone on the status of the Paugus Bay Invasive Aquatic Management Plan. 5. Summary of Rain Garden Key Club Project L. Morin and D. Anson worked with the Key Club students to fill in the depression dug by the Laconia Public Works Department. The depression was created for the Tardiff Park Rain garden project. The general public can now see an actual functioning rain garden thanks to this joint effort between the Laconia Conservation Commission, Belknap County Conservation District, and the Key Club. L. Morin will donate some rain barrels and work with K. Dunlevy to add them to the project. L. Morin suggested we follow the adopt a spot concept when new rain gardens are installed. Everyone was open to the idea. Thanks again go out to all who assisted with the project. IV. Liaison & Sub-Committee Reports: 1. Permit Sub-Committee review and updates Two permits were reviewed and updated. V. Other Business: 1. Subdivision/ Site Plan update The discussion was postponed until June 1, 2016 2. Commissioners Comments M. Schulz had to leave at 7:50 PM L. Morin and D Anson attended the wetland permit improvement meeting in Meredith to provide feedback on creating a more consistent approach to dock and wetland permits. The concept of utilizing our current checklists and sharing them 3  with other communities was entertained. D. Anson suggested a regional inspector for docks to support NHDES. D. Christopher would be implementing his raised garden plan in Tilton. He recently worked with Laconia High School teacher Joe Ann Gilbert and hopes to have the project underway by early June. D. Anson explained the need to work cooperatively with other Conservation Commissions to assure Eversource is taking all precautions to reduce the amount of trees taken down along many of the Scenic byways that surround our Lakes. L. Morin made a motion to expend $300.00 to join New Hampshire Lakes. M. Foote seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. 3. Staff Comments S. McPhie thanked everyone for attending. VI. Old Business: 1. Brook Subcommittee updates See earlier Black Brook presentation. 2. Update on 30-foot waterbody buffer research and presentation D. Anson would attend the June 13, 2016 City Council meeting to promote the 30- foot buffer presentation and address another pending issue. 3. Non-Public Session concerning land acquisition per RSA: 91: A: II (d)–(roll call vote required). Did not go into Non-public session VII. Adjournment: M. Foote made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by D. Williams passing 5-0. 4