Conservation Commission

CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of a Meeting – January 20, 2022 The City of Methuen Conservation Commission held a hybrid meeting via in person and Zoom video conferencing (VC) on January 20, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. in the Searles Building 2nd floor conference room, 41 Pleasant Street, Methuen MA 01844. Present for this meeting were Matt Davidson, Chairman; Michael Rossi, Vice Chairman; Sandra Boulay, Financial Secretary; and Commissioners Christopher Parson, Cara Seaman, and Neily Soto. Also present were Conservation Officer Joseph Giarrusso and Head Clerk Jodie Geary. Ken Sateriale, Secretary, was on an excused absence. The Chairman opened this meeting and announced that Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, this meeting will be conducted in person and via remote means, in accordance with applicable law. This means that members of the public body as well as members of the public may access this meeting in person, or via virtual means. In person attendance will be at the meeting location listed above, and it is permissible for any or all members of the public body and any or all members of the public to attend either in person or via virtual means. The meeting may be accessed remotely via Zoom video conferencing (VC) by contacting the Conservation Office. When required by law or allowed by the Chair, persons wishing to provide public comment or otherwise participate in the meeting, may do so by in person attendance, or by accessing the meeting remotely, as noted above. For this meeting, members of the public who wish to listen/watch the meeting may do so in the following manner: To be contacted by phone or by VC, please contact the Commission Office. In the event that access and participation is not achieved, then the Commission will post, on the City of Methuen website, an audio or video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting. The following are actions, comments, and concerns regarding the information submitted for the Commission’s meeting of January 20,2022. I. NOTICES OF INTENT: A. Notices of Intent – DEP File #219-1258 – MCC File #21-006 – 134 Edgewood Avenue – Father & Son Construction – Civil Design Consultants, Inc. (Con’t from 11/18/2021) The Notices of Intent filed by Father & Son Construction, with plan sheets 1 & 2 of 2 , dated July 9, 2021, revised dated September 9, 2021 and prepared by Civil Design Consultants, Inc., is for the proposed construction of a two-family dwelling with associated paved driveway and utilities and removal of an existing paved driveway within the 100’ Buffer Zone of Bordering Vegetated Wetlands. The project as revised appears to fail to comply with the 50’ “No disturb” setback as proposed limit of work and erosion control appear to be 15’ from the resource area. There was no public participation at this time. Mr. Davidson asked if the commission had any questions, to which the commission had none at this time. A motion was made by Mr. Parsons; seconded by Mrs. Seaman; so voted UNANIMOUS to CLOSE the public hearing. The Commission now has 21 days in which to make their decision. B. Notice of Intent – DEP File#219-1260 – MCC File #21-009 – 45 Maple Street – Thomas Evangelista – LEC Environmental Consultants, Inc. (Con’t from 01/06/2022) Mrs. Geary read an email dated January 19, 2022, from Dan Wells of LEC Environmental Consultants, Inc. requesting the above item be continued to the meeting of February 3, 2022. METHUEN CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of a Meeting – January 20, 2022 A motion was made by Mr. Rossi; seconded by Mr. Parsons; so voted UNANIMOUS to CONTINUE the public hearing to the meeting of February 3, 2022. C. Notices of Intent – DEP File #219-1261 – MCC File # 21-010 – 115 West Street – Chum – Ranger Engineering Group, Inc. (Con’t from 01/06/2022) Mr. Giarrusso stated that, to date, the applicant has not filed with the Zoning Board of Appeals for the proposed septic systems. Mrs. Geary read an email dated September 3, 2021 that this item be tabled to the March 3, 2022 meeting. A motion was made by Mr. Parsons; seconded by Mrs. Seaman; so voted UNANIMOUS to TABLE to the public hearing of the meeting of February 3, 2022. D. Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation – DEP File #219-1265 – 501 & 600 Griffin Brook Drive, 200 North Lowell Street, & 4 Wheeler Street – Griffin Brook Drive Owner, LLC – LEC Environmental Consultants (Con’t from 01/06/2022) The applicant has submitted revised plans dated: October 5, 2021, revised November 4, 2021, which addresses all of the recommended changes. The applicant also asked the Commission to accept the approximated Riverfront area associated with 4 Wheeler Street, that were identified in the applicant’s drawings. Mr. Giarrusso stated that it is his opinion that the Commission should not be accepting “approximated” resource area information as part of a ORAD. Seeing and hearing no public input, Mr. Davidson closed public participation. A motion was made by Mr. Parsons; seconded by Mrs. Seaman; so voted UNANIMOUS to CLOSE the public hearing. The Commission now has 21 days in which to make their decision. II. CALL TO ORDER: The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:17 p.m. III. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA / AMENDMENTS (IF ANY): A motion was made by Mr. Parsons; seconded by Mr. Rossi; so voted UNANIMOUS to ACCEPT the agenda as posted. IV. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: There were no minutes to approve at this time. V. OLD BUSINESS: A. Enforcement Orders (1) EO#21-003 – 46 Old Ferry Road – Triple G, LLC (CON’T from 01/20/2022) This item was deferred to the next Conservation Commission meeting agenda. B. Order of Resource Area Delineation – DEP File #219-1265 – 501 & 600 Griffin Brook Drive, 200 North Lowell Street, & 4 Wheeler Street – Griffin Brook Drive Owner, LLC Page 2  METHUEN CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of a Meeting – January 20, 2022 The Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation on a plan submitted by The Morin- Cameron Group, Inc., dated October 5, 2021, revised November 4, 2021 verifies ONLY Inland Bank (310 CMR 10.54 ) as shown on flag line “MAHW” 1 thru 17, Bordering Vegetated Wetlands (310 CMR 10.55) as shown on flag lines “A, B, C and D” and Riverfront Area (310 CMR 10.58) as associated with flags “MAHW” 1 thru 17 as shown on the cited plan. It should be noted that there are other resource areas located in the area that are not shown on the above cited plan, and that the Commission, in its issuance of this ORAD, is making no determination on those other resource areas not shown on the cited plan. A motion was made by Mr. Parsons; seconded by Mr. Rossi; so voted UNANIMOUS to ISSUE the above Order of Resource Area Delineation. VI. CONSERVATION OFFICER’S REPORT: Mr. Giarrusso introduced the new Conservation Commissioner, Neily Soto, to the Commission. VII. OTHER BUSINESS: Mr. Giarrusso reminded the Commission that we should be hearing from MACC for their upcoming Annual Environmental Conference. VIII. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Mrs. Rossi; seconded by Mr. Parsons, so voted, UNANIMOUS to ADJOURN the meeting at 7:27 p.m. Respectfully submitted by: Reviewed by: Approved on: ___________________ _____________________ ____________ Jodie Geary, Kenneth Sateriale, Date Approved Head Clerk Secretary Page 3