Conservation Commission

Minutes of the Taunton Conservation Commission October 17, 2022 Present: Chair Steven Turner, Vice Chair Debra Botellio, Commissioners Joshua Borden, Jan Rego, Richard Enos & Luis Freitas. Commissioner Matthew Haggerty absent. Conservation Agent, Michele Restino & Recording Secretary, Denise Irving also present. Motion to approve the minutes of August 15, 2022 & September 19, 2022 DB, second RE, so voted. Jacob Brennan Boy Scout Troop #79 Eagle Scout Project: A presentation was made by Jacob in regards to his project at the Gertrude Boyden Wildlife Refuge. Jacob chose to repair the Arthur Cleveland Bent cabin for his project. A very big undertaking. The graffiti was sanded off the building, was painted, the roof was re-shingled, and the sign refurbished. Other Scouts and family members helped out too. A real team effort! Jacob’s presentation included before and after pictures. He thanked everyone who donated money, materials and time. The project took several hundred hours overall. Jacob was also able to present to President of the Friends of Boyden Refuge, Margaret Travis, a check in the amount of $749.30 from the leftover funds. ST: Thanks from the board. LF: Incredible young man, congrats to you and your family for their help and being so supportive. Kudos seconded by JR. DB: Excellent job! Thanks to everyone involved. MT: Unfortunately graffiti & carving has already taken place. DB: Are their cameras? MT: no ST: We need to ask the Mayor for a presence at Boyden & apologized for the idiots out there. It’s very frustrating. Maybe cameras can be put out there? Motion made to ask the City Council about trail cameras DB, second JB, so voted. ST: If you ever need a letter from the Commission to go with college applications just ask. Standing ovation was given by the Commission. Taunton Municipal Airport Discussion: No one was present from the Airport Commission. MR: they do plan to do a filing. Motion to continue until 11/14/22 DB, second RE, so voted. Motion to go out of order JR, second DB, so voted. PUBLIC MEETING: 1. 25 Bunny Hop Way, Costa,, RDA, DSE-1312 –septic system repair with associated grading. Brad Fitzgerald, SFG Associates, present. Motion to issue a Negative Determination with Special Conditions 1-4, 14, 18, & 19 DB, second JB, so voted. PUBLIC HEARING: 1. 41 Briarwood Drive, Serras, NOI, SE73-3015 – septic system repair with associated site grading. Brad Fitzgerald, SFG Associates, present. Motion to issue an Order of Conditions with Special Conditions 1-5, 8, 9, 19, 21, 25-27 DB, second JB, so voted. Motion to return to regular order ST, second DB, so voted. CONTINUED CERTIFICATE OF COMPIANCE: 1. 34 Railroad Ave., Malloch Group, COC, SE73-2798 -to close out Order of Conditions. No one present. Jose Rodrigues, homeowner, has requested a continuance until 12/12/22 to find a new Engineer. Motion to approve request for continuance until 12/12/22 DB, second JB, so voted. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE: 1. 1059 Somerset Ave., Malloch Group, Inc., COC, SE73-2838-to close out Order of Conditions. No one present. Motion to approve the Certificate of Compliance DB, second JB, so voted. 2. 140 Cotley Street, Malloch Construction, COC, SE73-2872-to close out Order of Conditions. No one present. Motion to approve the Certificate of Compliance DB, second JB, so voted. 3. 111 Dunbar Street, Cabral, COC, SE73-2915-to close out Order of Conditions. No one present. Motion to approve the Certificate of Compliance DB, second JB, so voted. PUBLIC MEETING: 1. 62A Longmeadow Road, Strothers, RDA, DSE-1313 -10’x12’ shed. William Strothers, homeowner present. DB: What will you be putiing in the shed? WS: just for storage. DB: Any chemicals? WS: no Motion to issue a Negative Determination with Special Conditions 1-4, 18 JR, second DB, so voted. EXTENSION: 1. Route 24/140 Interchange Exit 12, MA DOT Highway Div., EXT OOC, SE73- 2833-requesting a 3 year extension. No one present. Motion to approve a three year extension to the Order of Conditions expiring on 12/19/2025 DB, second JB, so voted. 2. 250 Lakeview Ave., Waterman, EXT OOC, SE73-2764-requesting a three year extension. Peter Waterman present. Motion to approve a three year extension to the Order of Conditions expiring on 10/30/2025 (COVID tolling period added) DB, second JB, so voted. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING: 1. 175 S. Walker Street, Andrade/175 S. Walker St., LLC, NOI, SE73-2960 – construction of four mixed use buildings for residential townhouses & commercial office space. John DeSousa, Northcounty Group, present. JD: Would like to withdraw this filing. Motion to withdraw without prejudice DB, second JB so voted. PUBLIC HEARING: 1. Alfred Lord Blvd. (Assessor’s Lot 44-14), Tobias, NOI, SE73-3012-construction of a SFH with a 26’x26’ garage & a 16’x32’ in-ground pool. George Ayoub, GTA Engineering, present. GA passed out plans to the Commissioners. ST: Where on Alfred Lord Blvd? GA: Between Wayland Ave. & Worcester Street. Only filling and grading within 50’ buffer zone, no work. DB: Will there be a concrete pad with the in-ground pool? GA: Yes, but in the future. ST: When pool is going to be done contact our office. Make this an added special condition #49. Motion to approve the Order of Conditions with Special Conditions 1-9, 16, 17, 19, 21, 24-27, & 49 JB, second JR, so voted. 2. 162 Dunbar Street, Nuttall, NOI, SE73-3013 -septic system upgrade. Scott Rolfe, OHI Engineering present. ST: the house sold? Is the money in escrow to cover the costs? SR: yes to both. Motion to approve the Order of Conditions with Special Conditions 1-5, 17, 19, 21, 25-27 DB, second JB, so voted. JB steps down. 3. 183 Worcester Street, Medeiros, NOI, SE73-3014 -single family home with on- site sewage disposal system. John DeSousa, Northcounty Group present. Motion to approve Order of Conditions with Special Conditions 1-5, 19, 21, 25-27 LF, second JR, so voted. JB steps back in. 4. 55 Short Street, Ramos, NOI, SE-3016 -16’x24’ in-ground pool. Henry Ramos, homeowner, present. Motion to approve the Order of Conditions with Special Conditions 1-5, 8, 11, 19, 21, 25-27 DB, second, JR, so voted. JB steps down. 5. Robert W. Boyden Road, NOI, SE73-3017 -construction of a 7,500 sf building for automotive repair and related site improvements. Arthur Borden, Arthur F. Borden & Associates, Inc. & Scott Wessels, Fault Line Kustoms, present. AB: The building has been downsized 3 times. ST: how many parking spaces? AB: 15 or 16 ST: What type of work? SW: Antique restoration of cars & motorcycles. ST: how many employees? SW: three full time employees DW: outside work? SW: no, inside DB: Chemicals? SW: basically mechanical work, no big use of chemicals RE: who does the operation & maintenance plan? AB: done by an outside company ST: where will the snow be stored? SW: away from the wetland will put snow where other building stores their snow. ST: make this special condition #49. ST: Wish you the best and thanks for bringing your business to Taunton. Motion to approve the Order of Conditions including the resource area and project with Special Conditions 1-9, 19-21, 25-27, 29, 41, & 49 DB, second RE, so voted. Public Input: Scott Rolfe, OHI Engineering just wanted to say that Mr. Wessels keeps a very clean site now and knows that he will do the same with this new site. JB steps back in. CONTINUED VIOLATION: 1. 579 Whittenton Street – no one present. MR: the container has been moved out of the wetland area and owner applied for an accessory structure application. The owner also applied for a building permit for the gazebo. Motion to remove the violation DB, second RE, so voted. VIOLATION: 1. 6 West Summer Street – Atty. Dan deAbreu, Brennan,Recupero on behalf of owner, Jacky Fils. MR: the deck needs to be smaller, it is too close to the Riverfront. DD: need time to address this and requests continuance in order to file. DB: Can concrete be removed? DD: That can be done. DB: Trying to keep the river way area clean. DD: We can commit to that. Motion to continue until 11/14/22 hearing for an update. No one need be present, update MR that the debris has been removed DB, second JB, so voted. OTHER BUSINESS: 1. South Coast - NEMBA: John Tomawski, President of the local Mountain Bike Association present. JT: Interested in working to maintain the Rocky Woods Trails. MR: the trails are in rough shape ST: public property? JT: has map showing what might be private property and city owned property. JT: will do an inventory of what is legal and do a map of accessible trails, would like to present a plan. DB: who pays for the maintenance of the trails? JT: this is a non-profit organization, they will get donations and members contribute. They don’t expect the city to pay. JT: who should we be in contact with? MR: will check and get back to him. 2. DEP training: LF: Is DEP still planning on meeting with us? Don’t feel it would be a good idea to do the same nite as a meeting. Maybe schedule on a Tues nite for one hour, 5:30-6:30. MR: any topics you want them to discuss? Riverfront? Email MR topics of interest. Available dates 11/22, 11/29, 12/6 5:30-6:30pm Motion to adjourn pending all signatures on paperwork has been signed 7:30 pm DB, second RE, so voted.