Conservation Commission

City of Nashua Conservation Commission City Hall, 229 Main Street, PO Box 2019, Nashua NH 03061-2019 (603) 589-3105 www.nashuanh.gov MINUTES OF THE NASHUA CONSERVATION COMMISSION Tuesday, May 6, 2014 A. Call to order A regular meeting of the Nashua Conservation Commission was called to order on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 7:00 PM, in Room 208, City Hall, and Second Floor - 229 Main Street. B. Roll call Commissioner Nicholas Frasca, presided; Members of the Commission Present: Cynthia Overby Sherry Dutzy Richard Gillespie, Clerk Donald Cederquist, Alternate Members of the Commission Absent: Peggy Trivilino Michael Gallagher Carol Gorelick Also in Attendance: Chris Sullivan, Planning Department C. Approval of minutes  April 15, 2014 - regular meeting MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DUTZY, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GILLESPIE, TO ACCEPT AND PLACE ON FILE THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 15, 2014 MEETING MOTION CARRIED D. Old Business E. New Business  635-647 Amherst Street, Auto Sales and Service Center, Tax Map I, Lot(s) 26-28. (Owners/Applicant) 635 Amherst Street, LLC; Wetland Scientist - Bob Prokop, Wetland Consulting Services. The purpose of this application is to demolish 4450 ft.² (building former restaurant) and construct a new 6700 ft² quick lube/carwash building with appurtenant parking, utilities, landscaping, and lighting improvements. Work within the 75 foot buffer shall include parking\driveway reconstruction removal of existing pressure-treated deck, landscape wall; there will be a reduction of existing impervious surface, by 110 ft². 1 Earl Blatchford, Hayner-Swanson, Inc. introduced himself along with Steve Patterson, general counsel for Key Auto Group, and Bob Prokop, wetland scientist. He explained the proposed project which involved redevelopment within the wetland buffer. Commissioner Dutzy asked if, once the restaurant building is demolished, would the parcel be used for parking. Mr. Blatchford said yes. Commissioner Dutzy asked for clarification on the update that was made to the plan. Mr. Blatchford said the updated plan displays the removal of four (4) parking spaces so that the paved area could be pushed back, which will reduce impervious surface in the buffer by about 2,200SF. The plan also shows one of the catch basins in a landscaped area; it was suggested by Chris Sullivan that a rain garden be installed here as well. Commissioner Frasca asked if the lots had been consolidated. Mr. Blatchford said the lots are going to remain separated due to financing. They will need to obtain a waiver for landscaping along the common property line. Commissioner Gillespie asked about the existing drainage system. Mr. Blatchford said the existing runoff goes through a series of gas traps, where treatment occurs. Commissioner Gillespie asked about drainage of the new parking area. He asked if the water would flow into the infiltration system or would some of it go directly into the brook. Mr. Blatchford said about 2/3 of the drainage from the new parking area will go into the infiltration system, and as the updated plan shows, the other portion of drainage will go into the rain garden. Commissioner Gillespie asked if there would be any gasoline tanks on site. Mr. Blatchford said no. Mr. Patterson said the collision center and body shop is across the road, and this is where maintenance and repairs will be done. Commissioner Gillespie asked for an explanation of the wetland/soil report. Mr. Prokop said that because this project does not propose a direct impact to the wetland, the soils report is less elaborate, and the main focus was to identify the types of soils on site without going into detail on incidental descriptions of the wetlands. The main concern was proper treatment of runoff. Commissioner Gillespie asked if, because the soils are excessively drained, this will affect infiltration. 2 Mr. Prokop said the soils with drain fairly quickly but the gas traps and deep sumps will help collect a lot of the debris in the runoff. Commissioner Gillespie asked if there was a plan for snow storage, as snow cannot be stored in the buffer. Mr. Blatchford said there are landscaped island areas that can be used for snow storage. If necessary, the snow will be hauled off site. Commissioner Gillespie asked if Pennichuck had any recommendations in regards to the brook. Mr. Blatchford said they will be reviewing the plan as part of the Planning Board submission; the meeting is being held next week. Commissioner Cederquist asked if the area at the west end of the proposed service building would be graded. He asked if the runoff would go toward the catch basins or would it sheet flow into the brook. Mr. Blatchford said the entire perimeter is curbed so the runoff would sheet away from the building but would travel to the center drive aisles and catch basins. Commissioner Overby asked for clarification on the existing drainage system on the site. Mr. Blatchford said there is a catch basin nearest Amherst Street, which goes to a manhole, and there is also another system at the back of the building. Commissioner Overby asked if the existing manholes treated water. Mr. Blatchford said no. Commissioner Overby asked if the manholes on the other parcel would treat water and how would they be maintained. Mr. Blatchford said yes, treatment would occur in the gas traps. He said a maintenance plan is in place as part of the previous approval. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DUTZY, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GILLESPIE, FOR A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PROJECT AT 635 AMHERST ST IN NASHUA, AS AMENDED, WITH THE STIPULATIONS THAT BUFFER MARKERS BE PLACED ON SITE, SNOW STORAGE IS INDICATED ON THE FINAL PLAN, A WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT SIGN BE POSTED AND THAT COMMISSIONERS HAVE ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY WITH ADVANCED NOTICE DURING THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT. MOTION CARRIED, 3-1 F. Other Business and Updates  Terrell Stewardship Plan Chris Sullivan handed out an updated plan and said it would be discussed at the next meeting since not all of the Commissioners are in attendance this evening. 3  G. NCC Correspondence and Communications  FROM: New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, NHDES Letter received on May 22, 2014 RE: Wetland and Non-Specific Permit 2014 – 00316, 29 Monica Dr., Nashua, NH, the purpose of this permit is to impact a total of 4950 ft.² (1500 ft.² of permanent 3450 ft.² of temporary construction and restoration area impacts) in palustrine forested/scrub shrub wetlands containing an intermittent stream for work associated with the construction of a pond and cistern to provide irrigation water and restoration of a previously disturbed wetland area expiration date, 4/18/18. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GILLESPIE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER OVERBY, TO ACCEPT AND PLACE ON FILE AS A COMMUNICATION MOTION CARRIED H. Items Commissioner Dutzy said she would like to propose a policy that requires site walks to be conducted after applicants come before the Commission. Commissioner Frasca said this could be placed on the agenda as a discussion item for the next meeting. I. Project Updates by Commissioners Commissioner Dutzy updated Commissioners on the fencing project at the airport. J. Nonpublic Session K. Adjournment MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DUTZY, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CEDERQUIST, TO ADJOURN MOTION CARRIED 4