Conservation Commission

Leominster Conservation Commission Meeting March 26, 2024, 6:01 pm Chair Chuck Raymond, Vice Chair Richard Gullick, Jim Chambers, Mike Cichy, Nick Venti, Stephanie Quinlan, and Conservation Agent Nick Kremp present. New Hearings Pursuant to MGL CH 131 § 40, Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, the Leominster Conservation Commission will hold a Public Hearing on a Request for a Determination of Applicability for a restoration project in the buffer zone of Bartlett Pond. Address: 1455 Elm Street. Map and parcel 357-1. Jessica Veysey Powell, Nashua River Watershed Association, presented the proposal on behalf of the Leominster Sportsmen’s Association. They are seeking to establish a vegetative buffer along the edge of Bartlett Pond through funds from the US Forest Service for watershed restoration. Project area is approximately 45’ x 450’. Currently, the site consists of some area of hard-packed parking lot, some benches, a pavilion, and a narrow strip of lawn. An area of parking lot approximately 20’ x 450’ will be removed with hand tools. 4” of loam will then be spread over top that area and seeded with a wildflower seed mix. Additionally, 250 bare-root seedlings of native plants including silver dogwood, red maple, silver maple, and elderberry will be planted using hand tools. The benches and the pavilion will be left in their current locations. Mr. Chambers made a motion to close the public portion of the hearing. Mr. Cichy seconded. Motion passed 6-0. Mrs. Quinlan made a motion to issue a negative 2 determination on this project. Dr. Gullick seconded. Motion passed 6-0. Continued Hearings Pursuant to MGL CH 131 § 40, Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, the Leominster Conservation Commission will hold a Public Hearing on a Notice of Intent for a trail expansion in a wetland and wetland buffer zone. Address: Prospect Street. Map and parcel 411-49. DEP File #199- 1190. Carolyn Cooney, Carolyn Cooney Associates, presented the proposal. Following review and comments from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the applicant made some changes and clarifications to the site plans and sequence of work. Erosion controls will not be placed directly in wetlands. Regarding the boardwalk, construction will exclude motorized vehicles and construction of the walkway will take place from the leading edge of the boardwalk as it is built out over the wetland. They’ve also adjusted the bituminous walkway around the parking lot, added rain gardens at the low end of the lot, and have added a snow removal and storage plan to some of the site plans. Mrs. Quinlan made a motion to close the public portion of the hearing. Mr. Chambers seconded. Motion passed 6-0. Mr. Chambers made a motion to approve the order of conditions for DEP File #199-1190. Mrs. Quinlan seconded. Motion passed 6-0. Pursuant to MGL CH 131 § 40, Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, the Leominster Conservation Commission will hold a Public Hearing on a Notice of Intent for the construction of a billboard in a wetland buffer zone. Address: 198 Hamilton Street. Map and parcel 236-4. DEP File # not yet assigned. No discussion in absence of file number. The Commission took no action at this time. Regular Meeting Certificate of Compliance – 554 Willard Street (DEP File #199-967) There was an enforcement order issued to this property about 15 years ago for unauthorized tree clearing in the buffer zone and wetland resource. This order was issued to correct that intrusion and included some wetland replication. Mr. Kremp inspected the property and confirmed that the plantings and wetland replication have successfully established. Mr. Cichy made a motion to issue a complete certificate of compliance for DEP File #199-967. Mrs. Quinlan seconded. Motion passed 6-0. Woodlands at Massapoag development (DEP File #199-880) This order was issued to a developer 10 years previously and a certificate was never requested. Mr. Kremp inspected the residential development which was built under this order and confirmed that it was built to plan and is completed. Mr. Cichy made a motion to issue a complete Certificate of Compliance for DEP File #199-880. Mrs. Quinlan seconded. Motion passed 6-0. Litchfield Street utility pole (DEP File #199-1168) Mr. Chambers made a motion to issue a complete certificate of compliance for DEP File #199-1168. Dr. Gullick seconded. Motion passed 6-0. Outreach Next Nature Walk – March 28 at Babe Ruth Fields The next nature walk at Babe Ruth Field will focus on vernal pools. Leominster Litter Clean Up The Commission discussed possible sites to be considered for the Citywide Cleanup coming up. No final decisions were made. Adjournment Mrs. Quinlan made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Dr. Gullick seconded. Motion passed 6-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:07 pm.