Conservation Commission

City of Laconia Conservation Commission City Hall in conference room 200B Draft Minutes 11/2/2022 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Dean Anson called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM 2. ROLL CALL Members present: Stacy Soucy, Bob Harington, Lisa Morin, Deb Williams, Dean Anson and Ruth O'Hara via telephone 3. SALUTE TO THE FLAG The commission said the Pledge of Allegiance 4. RECORDING SECRETARY Kalena Graham 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE 6. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 6.I. Acceptance Of October 5 Minutes The commission didn't recall seeing any minutes form the meeting. The item will be on the following month's agenda. Chair D. Anson moved item 8.II next. 7. OLD BUSINESS 8. NEW BUSINESS 8.I. Karen Barker - Jumping Worms Informative Presentation After a phone call to the presenter, it was decided to table the item to the springtime, when the worms are active again. 8.II. Discussion Of Potential Solutions To Develop 48 Lucerne Ave Applicant: Joe Griffin with McEneaney Survey Associates is looking for the commission’s input so any concerns can be incorporated the future possible development of 48 Lucerne. The driveway is a shared right of way to lots behind the subject property. Specific concerns are the drainage association with the three culverts on Lucerne. All of the easterly side of Lucerne drain into the culverts and all three discharge on the subject parcel. The northern culvert discharges under Lucerne onto the abutter’s lot then redirected onto the subject parcel. This is the one that has made a 4500 sf wetland on the property. A culvert crosses into the upper northern corner and another on the southeastern side of the site. They are draining all the forested area across the street. Wetland and buffer account for approximately 31% of the site. He added there are no vernal pools on the site. J. Griffin went over the proposal. The plan is for 9 units and an upgrade to the drive which will be  discharge on the subject parcel. The northern culvert discharges under Lucerne onto the abutter’s lot then redirected onto the subject parcel. This is the one that has made a 4500 sf wetland on the property. A culvert crosses into the upper northern corner and another on the southeastern side of the site. They are draining all the forested area across the street. Wetland and buffer account for approximately 31% of the site. He added there are no vernal pools on the site. J. Griffin went over the proposal. The plan is for 9 units and an upgrade to the drive which will be Alpenrose Ave. The intent is to offset and mitigate some of the stormwater within an area in the center of the lot. They will make the area large enough to offset and mitigate stormwater pollutants from the site. J. Griffin is asking the commission if there is some opportunity to try and treat what is coming onto the site. The wetland area will not be treated and have no intention to impact that. The impacts in the buffer will not encroach more than 25 ft in. The applicant would like to work with the city. A wetland scientist has been out and the wetland has been delineated. Currently there is no treatment of the drainage. There are pipes and gravel trenches. The applicant can either pipe the runoff all underground or they can treat most of it, they would prefer the ladder. There are pros and cons to either. It comes down to economic vs environmental. The applicant would prefer to treat the runoff rather than just bypass it. J. Griffin mentioned the bio retention pond would be built to AOT and MBP of DES standards. Trees will be removed for construction. There was discussion on options of moving units, removing units, making the detention pond larger and keep bypassing the runoff with pipes. “L. Morin had concern about the Weirs Park and future issues that could arise, stating that the city’s encumbrances on the parcel should be reviewed for possible changes to protect downhill parcels from excessive runoff and flooding.” Chair D. Anson would prefer removing the two units in the wetland buffer and expand the detention pond area. D. Williams echoed the Chair’s concerns and added she’d like to the applicant keep as many trees as possible and silt sox all around the areas when the project is constructed. 9. NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES APPLICATIONS 9.I. NHDES Shoreland Permit Application For 154 Channel Lane To Replace In Kind Docks D. Williams noted she signed a shoreland permit applicant for 154 Channel Lane for in kind replacement of the docks. 10. OTHER BUSINESS There was discussion and explanation of the performance zoning overlay district and how it affects the Concom as well as the process. 11. LIAISON AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS Planning Board: S. Soucy noted that the new Admin Officio is Parks Director, Amy Lovisek. She feels that it will be great to have her on the board. S. Soucy mentioned how kitty litter has affected the household hazardous waste and environment. Taylor Community: B. Harrington noted that the Taylor Community has been working on yard pickup and he will look into what they do with debris. 12. STAFF REPORT K. Graham noted that the office is short staffed. S. Soucy said she mentioned at the LPRC for staff and many other communities are in need to staff as well. S. Soucy noted that fact makes the commission and boards more important.  K. Graham noted that the office is short staffed. S. Soucy said she mentioned at the LPRC for staff and many other communities are in need to staff as well. S. Soucy noted that fact makes the commission and boards more important. Chair D. Anson and D. Williams took a walk along the shoreline of Opechee from Messer Street to Lakeport dam, while the water was drawn down and found a debris, more glass than anything. D. Williams said most of the debris is old pottery from the past 70 yrs. Rumors are that a closed restaurant just tossed all the garbage in the lake, but that is just rumors. There was one spot where a collection was put together, possibly by divers. Chair D. Anson said that as an environmental standpoint, around O’s there are two paved chutes that go straight down into the lake. At O’s level there was swales that had been cut in the soils to direct the stormwater, possibly from Union Ave. There is a pipe below normal water lever full of sand and sediment that had recently been scooped out but will be refilled with the refill of the lake. This was part of the Lake Opechee study that should be done by the end of the month for the grant. 13. ADJOURNMENT With no objection the meeting adjourned at 7:21 PM Respectfully, K. Graham 13.I. Immediately Following - Discussion Of Cohort Project