Conservation Commission

City of Laconia Conservation Commission Wednesday, September 18, 2019 - 6:00 PM City Hall in the Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber Draft Minutes 9/18/2024 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER D. Anson called the meeting to order at 6:07 PM. 2. ROLL CALL The following members were present: Dean Anson, Robert Harrington, Lisa Morin, Mike Foote. Absent from this meeting were Deb Williams, Rick Ball, Gail Ober 3. SALUTE TO THE FLAG D. Anson led the Commission in the salute to the flag. 4. RECORDING SECRETARY Grey Draper, Conservation Technician 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Grey Draper 6. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 6.I. 9.4 Minutes 7. NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES APPLICATIONS 8. OLD BUSINESS 8.I. Paugus Place CUP Sam Foisie presented the solutions to the previously suggested changes made by Con Com and the Technical Review Committee. Changes have been made to the allowed traffic flow regarding the driveways to the property. Sidewalks along the front of the property have been added. The new deck and proposed pipe installation’s disturbance within the wetland buffer will be 706 sq. ft. The area of deck that will be within the wetland buffer is 785 sq. ft. total, including ground area that will remain undisturbed below the raised deck. They plan to reduce the amount of impervious square footage of pavement for snow storage. The impervious total area for the property is increasing with this project, so the volume of snow being piled up will be a reduction in this proposed site plan. Con Com previously suggested that as many native plant species be used as possible for the landscaping. The project’s landscape designer has included the October Glory Red Maple tree and the American Arborvitaes. The landscape designers also plans to landscape the property using Thornless Honey Locust Trees, Kwanzan Cherry Trees, and Japanese Tree Lilacs. The site plan now includes a turbidity barrier and double row protections within the wetland buffer with the inclusion of a 12 ft. composite sock. 8.I.i. Paugus Place App 8.I.ii. Paugus Place Site Plans Any Comments From Conservation Commission  double row protections within the wetland buffer with the inclusion of a 12 ft. composite sock. 8.I.i. Paugus Place App 8.I.ii. Paugus Place Site Plans 8.I.iii. Any Comments From Conservation Commission L. Morin takes issue with the snow storage plan and believes they should pay for off-site snow storage. L. Morin would like the project to reconsider their snow storage location due to concern of melting snow and alt runoff into Black Brook. L. Morin takes issue with egress design due to a line-of-sight issue caused by a large maple tree. She suggests that they make the driveway next to the maple tree the ingress and make the lower driveway (next to Cactus Jack’s) the egress. L. Morin strongly opposes the use of Thornless Honey Locust Trees, it behaves like an invasive species. D. Anson is satisfied with the revisions for the turbidity barrier and double row protections within the wetland buffer with the inclusion of a 12 ft. composite sock. D. Anson agrees with L. Morin that the upper driveway next to the maple tree should be the ingress and the lower driveway should be the egress to mitigate the line-of-sight issue when trying to pull out into traffic in Union Ave. D. Anson suggests connecting with DPW to safely plan their egresses. 8.II. Laconia Water Department D. Anson called Ben Crawford and asked him not to come to this evening’s meeting because he feels that Con Com does not have enough information about Paugus Bay as a drinking water source for a grant similar to the one Lake Waukeewan received last year. D. Anson is interested in a data collection buoy to install at Paugus Bay’s water intake, similar to the one at Lake Wakeewan. 8.II.i. FB Environmental Is Gathering Information To See Funding Grants Will Be Available From NHDES To Undertake A Project In Paugus Bay. The Project Will Be Similar To The One Currently Being Performed At Lake Waukewan. D. Anson is waiting to hear back from FB Environmental. 8.III. Laconia Solar Project CUP The project will use an existing historical road and divert their path to minimize impacts to the wetland the road runs through. The project’s total wetland impact will be 2.64 acres. The project’s temporary wetland impact will be 2.3 acres. The project’s permanent wetland impact will be 0.34 acres. The project’s temporary buffer impact will be 4.35 acres. The project’s permanent buffer impact will be 4.07 acres. A full wetland survey and delineation has been completed by a certified wetland scientist. The development will include runoff controls as well as swales. Fencing will not enclose the entire project area upon completion, it will only enclose the two sections of solar panels themselves. A certified wetland scientist is on the team for this project. A full wetland delineation and survey has been completed. L. Morin requests that the developer annual water quality reporting of the wetlands on the parcel. The proposed life of this project is 35 years. Following the 35-year project lifetime, solar panels will be disassembled and removed from the property. They will use a meadow mix to grow the cleared vegetation back. Solar panels will be installed on posts and fencing will enclose the two separate sections of paneling. The fencing will sit 6 in. off of the ground to allow for wildlife to pass through. D. Anson shares that he thinks that this is a good project. 8.III.i. Solar Project App 8.III.ii. Solar Project Plans 8.IV. Langley Cove 8.IV.i. Did The Planning Department Take Any Action Regarding The Erosion On July 31? The Laconia Planning Dept. was not required to report Langley Cove erosion on July 31s t because when the erosion incident was recorded in the SWIPP report, it gets reported to DES. D. Anson feels that Con Com should gather the Langley Cove residents and propose that Busby (working at 553 Weirs Blvd.) financially contribute to the cost of dredging Langley Cove.  The Laconia Planning Dept. was not required to report Langley Cove erosion on July 31s t because when the erosion incident was recorded in the SWIPP report, it gets reported to DES. D. Anson feels that Con Com should gather the Langley Cove residents and propose that Busby (working at 553 Weirs Blvd.) financially contribute to the cost of dredging Langley Cove. 8.V. New Conservation Project 8.V.i. Lisa Morin Comments L. Morin suggests that the “New Conservation Project” be removed from Old Business on upcoming Con Com agendas as she gathers more information. She will keep Con Com updated with any developments. 8.VI. Gale Avenue Department of Parks and Recreation has set up an on-site meeting with local residents to discuss the Gale Avenue project. The meeting is scheduled to start at 5:30 at Gale Ave. 8.VI.i. Department Of Parks And Recreation Have Set Up An On Site Meeting With Local Residents To Discuss The Gale Avenue Project. The Meeting Is Scheduled To Start At 5:30. 8.VII. September Newsletter 8.VII.i. Any Topics? Con Com would like to submit a “leave the leaves” write up to the next monthly newsletter. L. Morin suggests a write-up in the next monthly newsletter about landscaping winter prep. 9. NEW BUSINESS 10. LIAISON, SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS, AND UPCOMING EVENTS 11. OTHER BUSINESS Taylor Community B. Harrington update Con Com on the invasive bittersweet the residents are trying to control and remove at Taylor Community. A meeting was held with residents, and ad hoc committee, and the head of the grounds crew, to plan and distribute an information to residents about bittersweet. Hazardous Waste D. Anson requests that a notice be sent out reminding the public of hazardous waste day. 12. STAFF REPORT G. Draper shares an estimate breakdown of how the $50k FY2025 Milfoil Budget has been spent. Con Com has no remaining Milfoil FY2025 Budget. 13. ADJOURNMENT L. Morin motions to adjourn. M. Foote seconds the motion. Unanimous.