Conservation Commission

CONSERVATION COMMISSION LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS March 23, 2022 Note: These minutes are not completed verbatim. For further detail, video recordings are available at the Pollard Library, second floor reference desk or online at www.LTC.org. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting was held both in person and virtually using Zoom. Members Present: Chairwoman Varnum, Weston Standish, Kevin Dillon, Perry Downs, Stephen Laput, William Lovely Members Absent: Vice-Chair Buitenhuys Others Present: Peter Cutrumbes, Assistant Planner and Serena Gonzalez, Assistant Planner CALL TO ORDER ORDER OF BUSINESS CONTINUED BUSINESS Enforcement Order S&R Corporation 700-706 Broadway Street Lowell, MA 01854 Project Location: 706 Broadway Street, 01854 An Enforcement Order has been issued for dumping snow and dirt into the abutting canal. On Behalf: Steven Ploof, S&R Corporation Speaking in Favor: None Speaking in Opposition: None Discussion: P. Downs expressed that he was content with what he saw in the videos. K. Dillon asked if the dumpsters seen in the photos and videos could be moved away from the canal. S. Ploof said he can move them within the next 30 days. K. Dillon asked about the condition of the canal walls, and if S&R is responsible for them. S. Ploof said Boot Hydro takes care of them. Motion: P. Downs made a motion to rescind the order, seconded by S. Laput. The motion passed unanimously (6-0). Request for Determination of Applicability Jonathan Goldfield Lowell Housing Authority 350 Moody St PO Box 60 Lowell, MA 01853 Project Location: 50 Stackpole Street 01852 A Request for Determination of Applicability has been filed by Lowell Housing Authority to replace the windows at the Concord River Mill elderly housing development. The proposed project is within 100 feet of the Concord River. On Behalf: Jonathan Goldfield from the LHA. Speaking in Favor: None Speaking in Opposition: None Discussion: L. Varnum summarized the project, which is a replacement of the windows in the building. The building is within 100-feet of the Concord River. She stated that the topographic map indicated that there is a steep slope behind the building into the river. J. Goldfield said that they will take any preventative steps that are recommended by the Commission. He also said the property managers will be on site to supervise the work done on the site. J. Goldfield said they are going to start with the sides away from the river in order to better predict what the work will entail and what can be done to prevent runoff when they arrive at the side closest to the river. S. Laput asked if there is any abatement involved. J. Goldfield replied that there is not. L. Varnum asked if the residents will be in the building and how long the windows will last. J. Goldfield said that they are not sure about the longevity, and that residents will be living in the building while the work takes place. Motion: W. Standish made a motion to issue a negative 3 determination, with the condition that netting be used with the scaffolding on the resource area side of the work. The motion was seconded by P. Downs. The motion passed unanimously (6-0) NEW BUSINESS Notice of Intent City of Lowell 375 Merrimack Street Lowell, MA 01852 Project Location: 475 West Meadow Road 01854 A Notice of Intent has been filed by the City of Lowell to redesign the existing entrance and driveway to Leblanc Park. This project would involve excavation and repaving within 100 feet of a Bordering Vegetated Wetland (BVW). On Behalf: Ting Chang, City of Lowell Engineer, summarized the project. Speaking in Favor: Matt Lelacheur, 39 Perron Way, President of the PYO and the PCC. Both groups are in support of this project. Speaking in Opposition: None Discussion: L. Varnum asked about when the phasing would take place. T. Chang said that the first phase (moving the entrance, and connecting the new entrance to the existing driveway) will take place this spring. The second phase would depend on when funding could be secured. L. Varnum asked what will be done with the existing pavement. T. Chang said it will be removed from the site or used as the base for the new pavement. L. Varnum said she would not want the elevation to increase with the new paving. L. Varnum expressed concerns about the plantings around the monument area and asked that they be preserved. T. Chang said they will be. W. Standish and W. Lovely asked that the entire impervious surface behind the plantings be removed, and potentially reseeded. L. Varnum expressed additional concern about the stone formation nearby the site, known colloquially as Druid’s Hill, as it has historical significance as an “unanswered mystery” in Lowell. She would not want it to be disturbed. She asked if there can be orange construction fence around Druid’s Hill. T. Chang agreed. L. Varnum also asked to ensure loam is not stockpiled in the buffer zone. Motion: P. Downs motioned to close the hearing, W. Standish seconded. The vote was unanimous (6-0). Proposed conditions: removed roadway not raised elevation, loose materials not stockpiled in 25 or 50 foot buffer zones, fencing protects Druid Hill area, the planting area between the two roadways is not disturbed, contingent on the City to gain additional funding to remove the additional pavement all the way down. Motion to issue a City of Lowell Standard OOC with the existing driveway to be repaved with the existing elevation, that loose materials not be stockpiled within the buffer zone, include fencing around the area known as Druid Hill, the existing planting area around the monument be maintained, and contingent upon additional funding, removing all the pavement from the abandoned road and restoring it to a natural state by W. Lovely, seconded by K. Dillon. The motion was unanimous (6-0). OTHER BUSINESS Minutes March 9, 2022 Meeting Minutes Motion to approve by W. Lovely, seconded by P. Downs. Motion was approved unanimously (6-0). November 10, 2021 Meeting Minutes (The Commission did not vote on this and requested to include them on the agenda for the April 13 meeting). ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by P. Downs, seconded by S. Laput, the motion was unanimous (6-0).