Historic Landmarks Commission Packets

SUFFOLK WETLANDS BOARD AGENDA FOR June 20, 2013 PREPARED BY THE CITY OF SUFFOLK DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING THE WORK SESSION WILL BE HELD AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE SUFFOLK CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM IN THE SUFFOLK MUNICIPAL BUILDING PLEASE CALL TO CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AT 514-4060 PRIOR TO 12:00 NOON ON WEDNESDAY, June 19, 2013 C. ROBERT JOHNSON CHAIRMAN  AGENDA SUFFOLK WETLANDS BOARD June 20, 2013 6:00 P.M. I. Call to Order II. Roll Call III. Approval of Minutes Work Session – May 16, 2013 IV. Wetlands Board Work Session Progress report on VMRC #12-1348 – Living Shoreline V. Discussion VI. New Business VII. Old Business VIII. Adjournment  MINUTES SUFFOLK WETLANDS BOARD - WORKSESSION May 16, 2013 6:00 P.M. The work session of the Suffolk Wetlands Board was held on Thursday, May 16, 2013, at 6:00 p.m., in the City Council Conference Room of the Municipal Building, 441 Market Street, Suffolk, Virginia, with the following persons present: MEMBERS PRESENT: STAFF: C. Robbie Johnson, Chairman Brian Alperin, Principal Planner Brad O’Berry III David Parks, Planner II Geoffrey Hinshelwood Ben Stagg, VMRC Darius Davenport Sidney Hazelwood, II ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by Chairman Johnson. The roll was called by Mr. Alperin and the Chairman was informed that a quorum was present. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: A motion was made to approve the minutes of the previous meeting that was held on April 18, 2013. The motion was passed by a voice vote 5 to 0. WORK SESSION 1 Progress Report on VMRC #12-1348 – River Bluff Living Shoreline David Parks, Planner II, briefly explained the reason for the work sessions on this project. This was a condition of approval of the wetlands permit to provide the Board with monthly updates on the progress of the project. Mr. Parks then displayed a few pictures that were taken of the site to show the progress of the project. The pictures illustrated that zone 1 of the project is around 99% complete and the developer is currently working on getting the rest of the sod down on the bank on zone 2 through zone 5. The majority of the upland vegetation in zone 1 has been installed and the area has been mulched as required by the buffer restoration plan. Brian Alperin, Principal Planner, explained to the Board that since zone 1 is nearing completion, the applicant was allowed to start installing the required upland vegetation in zone 2. Mr. Parks continued with the presentation and explained that zones 2 through 5 have yet to be sodded and there is still a section of zone 5 where the bank has yet to be graded. Portions of zone 2 were sprigged with marsh grass and coir logs have been placed in zones 2 through 4. Chairman Johnson inquired about the sprigging in zones 2 and Bobby Reed, representing the applicant, explained that there has been some sprigging in that area, however, they have to adjust the elevation of the sand fill in this area and it will require them to re-sprig this area. The grass did not appear to be growing at the current elevation and the applicant will have readjust that elevation another 6 to 8 2 inches to provide a better environment for the marsh grass to survive. Mr. Reed then addresses the board about the sodding of the banks. The company that is providing the sod has not been able to cut the sod due to weather. Mr. O’Berry III asks Mr. Reed about the MHW and MLW marks and wonders if the work along the bank has adjusted the elevation along the bank. Mr. Reed explained that there are a few places along the bank where the coir logs had to be re staked and tied again. Mr. Alperin then asked Mr. Reed to explain what will be happening in the next couple of weeks as far as progress on the project. Mr. Reed explains that they are hoping to get the sod installed within the next week on zones 2, 3, and 4. Also, sprigging the spartina in those zones will continue as well once the new elevation is achieved. Chairman Johnson stated to Mr. Reed that his main concern is getting the open bank sodded and covered. The board was under the impression that this process would happen seamlessly and no bank would remain bare for a long period of time. Chairman Johnson does not want to rely on the coir logs to stop the sediment from running into the river. Piling mud on top of the sand at the bottom is not a good thing for the future of the wetlands. Chairman Johnson explained that the board waited a week to have the work session to see additional progress and there has not been any progress as promised. Mr. Reed explained that with the weather the sod company has not wanted to cut the sod to be delivered to the site. Mr. Reed is hopeful that the next 3 week will be good weather and will allow the installation of the sod along the rest of the bank. Mr. Alperin asked about the progress on the grading the rest of the bank in zone 5. Mr. Reed stated that everything is on hold until the graded portions of the bank can be sodded. Chairman Johnson and Mr. Hinshelwood stated that they glad there is silt fence in place in zone 5 where the bank has yet to be graded. Mr. Hinshelwood asks about the survey points that were done as part of the original application. Mr. Hinshelwood notes that it appears from the pictures provided that the work has impacted the MHW and MLW marks. Mr. O’Berry III noted that the original plan was to mark the elevation across the river with the existing marsh and match that elevation along the bank where the grading is taking place. Mr. Hinshelwood asks Mr. Reed about how much progress we will see 30 days from now at the next meeting. Mr. Reed states that he expects to have zones 2 through 4 where the bank is exposed completely sodded and also to have some of the upland vegetation installed along those zones. The biggest goal is to get the sod down to stabilize the bank. Chairman Johnson addresses Mr. Reed about the growing time for the spartina. These wetland plantings need to be installed soon. Chairman Johnson asks staff if it is possible to delineate the existing spartina that is located on the bank. It appears that elevation around that has come up and would hate to have that disappear. Mr. Alperin notes that all of the original marsh was shown on the joint permit application and the 4 elevation was provided. The board would like the applicant to provide an as-built survey showing the elevations of the existing grasses and the elevation of where the bank needs to be at this point in the process. Mr. Reed stated that he could provide that for the board. Chairman Johnson also explained that this was the third update meeting on this project and that we would have three more meetings. Given that there was nothing else to update on the project, Mr. Reed ended his presentation and the work session item came to a close. Mr. Hinshelwood had concerns about the closing growing season of installing the wetland grasses. Mr. Alperin explained that the applicant would have to install the sprigs as shown on the plan. Mr. O’Berry III asked about when the first of the six work sessions were held on this project. Mr. Alperin stated that the first meeting was in February. Chairman Johnson would like staff to express the concern of the board about getting the rest of the bank sodded. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Alperin addresses the board that the revised bylaws have been finalized and a copy has been provided for the board members. Chairman Johnson asked if the public comment section would needed to be put in the bylaws or just on the agenda during a public hearing. Mr. Parks then addressed the board about an online shoreline best management practices course that can be completed by the board members. The class is contained 5 on the VIMS website and once all of the modules have been completed, the test taker will receive a certificate upon completion. Mr. O’Berry III asks Mr. Alperin about the bylaws and following Roberts Rule of Orders. He asked if that was something that we were supposed to be following or something that we have been following. Mr. Alperin explained that the City Attorney wanted to include that with the bylaws for information only. Mr. O’Berry III also recommended that with any public hearing other wetlands boards around the area require any public member speaking on a certain application take an oath of truth before speaking to the board. Mr. Alperin said that we would get with the City Attorney on that issue. Mr. O’Berry III also asked about how long it takes for the applicant to pick up the permit once it has been approved by the board. Mr. Alperin explains that we are required to wait ten days before the applicant can pick up the permit. Mr. O’Berry III explains that other boards put a one year time frame on the permits. Mr. Alperin explained that our permits do have a one year time frame and if the project is not complete the applicant would be required to request an extension from the board. The permits are dated the day they were approved by the board. Mr. Alperin asks the board if we should look into the time frame when an applicant is working through a project and require them to make sure they come in front of the board to ask for an extension. OLD BUSINESS 6 Mr. Alperin explained that the board members are able to get city ID badges to take with you out on the sites. Chairman Johnson asked Mr. Alperin about recognition for Mr. Ellison. Mr. Alperin explained that once we have a public hearing we will do recognition of service for Mr. Ellison. Mr. O’Berry III brought up that just the agenda is posted online right now. He asked if we could post the entire package online to be made available to the public. Mr. Parks explained that our department is currently looking at providing all agendas and packets online on the website for the public to access. Mr. Parks explained that this will be coming in the near future. Mr. O’Berry III also asked the board if they were willing to put to vote the request for a raise and also for mileage reimbursement. Mr. Alperin explained that it would need to be put in a formal motion from the board and then would have to be acted upon by the City Manager. Chairman Johnson stated that he does not mind writing the City Manager if the board votes to do that. He requested that it might be a good idea to wait until there are board members present. Chairman Johnson advised the board that he was going to contact Mr. Colley about his absence from the past two meetings. Mr. Stagg gave a brief review on the fidelity study that VIMS put out a couple of months ago. He explained that it was a hot topic at the workshop in April and upset a lot of the wetlands board members around Virginia. Mr. Stagg stated that there are a 7 number of boards within Virginia that are issuing statements to VIMS about the fidelity study. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. 8 Week of June 17, 2013 River Bluff Shoreline weekly report. Zone 1 is 100% complete. Zone 2 sod, large canopy and understory trees are complete Zones 2 & 3 will be 95% complete this week. We are trying to locate a supplier for the salt bush. Zone 2 & 3 - Large canopy and under story trees being delivered and installed Zone 2 & 3 - Wax myrtles, inkberry bushes and the ornamental/native grasses will be delivered & installed Zones 2 & 3 grass sprigs will also be complete. Zone 3 sod will be complete We have secured another company to help with the shoreline installation. Thanks Bobby Reed 757-675-4132