Wetlands Board Packets

SUFFOLK WETLANDS BOARD AGENDA FOR July 18, 2013 PREPARED BY THE CITY OF SUFFOLK DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING THE REGULAR MEETING 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, July 17, 2013 C. ROBERT JOHNSON CHAIRMAN  AGENDA SUFFOLK WETLANDS BOARD July 18, 2013 6:00 P.M. I. Call to Order II. Roll Call III. Approval of Minutes Work Session – June 20, 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 June 20, 2013 6:00 P.M. The work session of the Suffolk Wetlands Board was held on Thursday, June 20, 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 David Parks, Planner II Gretchen Gonzalez Darius Davenport Geoffrey Hinshelwood ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by Chairman Johnson. The roll was called by Mr. Parks 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 May 23, 2013. The motion was passed by a voice vote 4 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 100% complete and the developer is currently working on getting the rest of the sod down on the bank on zone 2 through zone 5. Mr. Parks continued with the presentation and explained that zone 2 has been sodded along with parts of zone 3. The wax myrtles have been installed within these zones along the bank and the upland vegetation is starting to be installed in zone 2 and zone 3. Also sprigging has been done through zone 3 and portions of zone 4. Bobby Reed, project manager, then gave a brief presentation about the progress at the site. Mr. Reed reiterated that it has been a struggle with the weather to get the rest of the bank sodded. The sod company will not cut any sod for delivery while the fields are wet. Mr. Reed explained to the board that he expects zones 2-4 to be completely sodded and all grasses sprigged by the following week. He did let the board know that they are having problems obtaining salt bush to install along the bottom of the bank. Mr. Reed stated that every time it rains they end up losing a week of work given that the sod will not be cut and they only cut the sod one time a week. Mr. Parks asks Mr. 2 Reed if they are planning to repair certain areas of the sod that have not taken and also areas that have eroded due to runoff from the top of the bank. Mr. Reed stated that when he gets the sod delivery, he will repair any areas that need to be repaired. Chairman Johnson wanted to make sure that all the sod will be installed through zone 4 where the bank is exposed. Mr. Hinshelwood had concerns about certain areas of the sod along the bank that seems to have not survived. He asked Mr. Reed about how they will stabilize these areas to ensure their survival. Mr. Reed stated that in those areas they will replace what has not taken and will bring in more fill to hopefully stabilize those areas that have eroded. Mr. Hinshelwood asked about zone 1 and the rye grass that was sodded with the bermuda. The question asked is if the bermuda is growing under the rye grass. Mr. Reed said that the bermuda is growing underneath. Mr. Hinshelwood asked about the salt bush being planted at the bottom. Mr. Reed explained that their will be salt bush then transition into the spartina. There was also a question about the tides and whether or not the grasses are at the correct elevation. Mr. Reed stated that he feels confident that they are at the elevation that they need and the grasses will survive. Chairman Johnson asked about the elevation of the new grasses compared with the elevation of the existing grasses. Mr. Hinshelwood and Chairman Johnson then raised a question of concern about the pile of dirt that is being stored along the bank in zone 5. Mr. Reed explained that the majority of the pile 3 comes from the development of the subdivision. The board members had concerns about the location of the stock pile. The dirt is currently being stored within the buffer area of the CBPA. Chairman Johnson stated that there is a potential for a major problem with this dirt being stored in this area. The board members explained to Mr. Reed that it looks bad. Ms. Gonzalez stated that the approved plan for the subdivision should have a designated stockpile area. The board members were all in agreement that this pile should be removed from the bank and placed somewhere outside of the buffer area. Mr. Reed stated that a top priority would be to remove the stockpile of dirt from the bank and spread it out along the subdivision site. Ms. Gonzalez stated that she does not see why a constructor inspector would ever permit the developer to stockpile dirt this close to the bank. Ms. Gonzalez had concerns related to erosion and sediment control along the portion of the bank that has been graded but not sodded. Mr. Reed stated that they were silt fencing that area tomorrow and the bank itself has been installed with straw matting to protect from runoff. Mr. Hinshelwood is concerned that it now being hurricane season and major storm events may hit. The bank needs to be stabilized soon. Ms. Gonzalez asked Mr. Reed about how often he is at the site to inspect what is going on. Mr. Reed explains that he is out there a couple of times a week to check on things. Mr. Hinshelwood asked who will maintain the living shoreline once it has all been installed. Mr. Parks explained that the intent is to 4 leave that area natural. There are provisions that are in place in the restrictive covenants that require the homeowner to leave the shoreline natural and not to permit any work in the area. The restrictive covenant references the JPA and buffer plan to ensure survival of the living shoreline. Mr. Hinshelwood is also concerned about who will be responsible for any vegetation that does not survive. Mr. Parks explained to the board that there is a three year bond that covers any replacement. The developer will be responsible for any replacement plantings within the first three years. There was a concern about the docks that will be installed on the lots and whether they will shade the existing vegetation. Staff explained that VMRC requires a certain height on docks and piers to ensure that they do not shade out any existing vegetation. Chairman Johnson asked Mr. Reed where he plans on being with the project the next time we meet. Mr. Reed stated that he will get that dirt pile taken care of and also hopes to have zones 3 and 4 sodded and vegetation installed. The board recommended that when the project gets to zoned 5 and the bank needs to be pulled back that it be done in sections instead of pulling the entire bank back. The board does not want the same situation with zone 5 as there has been with the previous zones where there is a large portion of exposed bank left open. Mr. Reed agreed that he would only open a smaller portion of the bank and sod that portion prior to opening another portion. Also, all the blow out areas will be repaired as well. Ms. Gonzalez 5 had an additional question about the maintenance of the bank and wanted to ensure that the developer will be required to fix any areas that may need repairing. Mr. Reed stated that with the performance surety in place for three years it requires them to maintain the living shoreline and replace anything that needs replacing. Mr. Parks explained that the bond was in two parts one for the wetland areas and one for the upland vegetation. Mr. Hinshelwood wanted to ensure that the homeowners maintain the living shoreline and the restrictive covenants are in place to protect the area. There were no other questions for Mr. Reed concerning the progress of the project. Chairman Johnson stated that he would like the board to see a copy of the comments for the next meeting. The board was concerned about who allowed them to place all of that dirt on the bank. Mr. Parks explained that at the time of approval of the permit for the living shoreline there was no erosion and sediment control plan required due to the interpretation of the ordinance that exempted shoreline projects from erosion and sediment control measures. Since then, staff has gotten clarification that the exemption only applies for the area that is contained within the wetlands board’s jurisdiction and that all areas beyond that do require erosion and sediment control measures. Ms. Gonzalez asked a question about the survival rate of the marsh grasses and what staff would consider a good survival rate. Mr. Parks explained that the buffer plan is part of the condition of approval and that whatever is shown on the 6 buffer plan is required to be maintained by the developer during the three year period. Mr. Parks also explained that at completion of the project an as built survey would be submitted to the city and staff would then determine if any additional vegetation would needed to be installed along the shoreline or within the upland areas. Chairman Johnson had one final question about how much the elevation was raised along the bank. Mr. Parks stated that their elevation is at 1.9 feet to match the existing marsh grasses. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Hinshelwood stated that he attended an event at Bennetts Creek and met with Mike Kelly from Parks and Recreation about the upcoming living shoreline project within the Sleepy Hole Park. Mr. Hinshelwood also asked about a new Walgreens and about the work that they are doing along the shoreline. Mr. Parks explained that the Walgreens did submit and get approved a Chesapeake Bay Exception from the Planning Commission that allowed them to encroach within the 100-foot RPA buffer. They are required to install vegetation along the bank to mitigate for the encroachment within the buffer. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m. 7 Week of July 8, 2013 River Bluff Shoreline weekly report. Zone 1 - is 100% complete. Zone 2 - sod, large canopy, understory trees and grasses complete – still waiting on saltbush Zones 3 - sod, large canopy, understory trees and grasses complete – still waiting on saltbush Zone 4 – sod 50% complete – sod should be 100% complete July 15th & 16th, grasses complete, large and understory trees to be installed the week of July 22nd. Zone 5 – 90% of the large dirt piles have been removed. The balance will be removed the week of July 15th. We will start zone 5 grading as soon as zone 4 sod is complete. Thanks Bobby Reed 757-675-4132