Conservation Commission

Minutes of the Taunton Conservation Commission December 12, 2022 Present: Chair Steven Turner, Vice Chair Debra Botellio, Commissioners Joshua Borden, Matthew Haggerty (arrived late), & Jan Rego. Commissioners Richard Enos & Luis Freitas absent. Conservation Agent, Michele Restino & Recording Secretary, Denise Irving also present. Motion to approve the minutes of November 14, 2022 DB, second JB, so voted. A Moment of Silence was held for former Conservation Commissioner, Marla Isaac who passed away on December 4, 2022. A special tribute was shared by Commissioner Botellio, who was also a close friend of Marla’s. Marla was a remarkable woman and will be deeply missed for all she shared with our Community. Roll call vote to go into Executive Session with Law Department in regards to litigation. JR, JB, DB, & ST, so voted. No votes taken in Executive Session. Return to Regular Order of Business. Boyden Sign Discussion: Jennifer O’Keefe, FOB & Artist, Greg DeMello, Carol Traverse, & Margaret Travis, FOB present. JO gave presentation of the sign design. DB: don’t think we can use the word Park on the sign because of funding. Needs to be Wildlife Nature Refuge. MR: Yes, important it’s a refuge and not a park. There have been reports of hunters lately and a deer carcass was found in the dumpster. More no hunting signs have been posted. ST: dusk to dawn hours should be put on the sign. Blue color was chosen by the Commission. ST: thanks for all your work on this project. DB: Any prices yet? JO: Lukka Signs is pricing it now. ST: Can you put plexi in front? JO: yes, it will be protected. ST: Please send the updated sign copy to MR for final approval. No need to come back for a meeting. Motion to go out of order JR, second JB, so voted. PUBLIC MEETING: JB discloses he has done work for the Airport in the past but has no stance in this project. ST states that JB is allowed to vote on this project. 1. 4 Westcoat Drive, Taunton Municipal Airport Commission, RDA, DSE-1315 -restoring a disturbed Buffer Zone by adding four inches of loam, a native seed mix, & a straw mulch cover. Dan Nitzsche, GZA, Ken Gibson, Steve Rogers, & Zena Shivers, Taunton Municipal Airport present. Commissioner Matthew Haggerty arrives & can take part in this discussion per ST. After discussion a motion was made to issue a Negative Determination with Special Conditions 1-4 & 23 JB, second, DB so voted. This will not be issued until the Certificate of Compliance filings are received for the outstanding Orders of Conditions as listed in the Field Report. Motion to revert to Regular Order of Business JB, second JR, so voted. CONTINUED CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE: 1. 34 Railroad Ave., Malloch Group, COC, SE73-2798 -to close out Order of Conditions. Motion to issue Certificate of Compliance DB, second MH, so voted. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE: 1. 215 Baker Road West (formerly 356 Dighton Ave), Barbour, COC, SE73-2826 -to close out Order of Conditions. DB: Is it cleaned up? MR: It’s in the driveway. Motion to approve COC and issue once the area is cleaned up & MR to visit site, DB, second JB, so voted. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING: 1. 100 Revolutionary Drive, Atkins/NorthBridge Partners, NOI, SE73-3022 -development of a 234,260 sf building and two way access. Motion to continue until 1/23/23 hearing JB, second DB, so voted. PUBLIC HEARING: 1. 1141 County Street, Henry/Alliance Residential Co., ANRAD, SE73-3019 -resource area delineation. Motion to continue until 1/23/23 hearing JB, second JR, so voted. 2. 1330 Glebe Street, Astin, NOI, SE73-3025 -site improvements to include placement of a garage and restoration activities. Jason & Laurie Astin, homeowner, Cameron Larson, ECR, LLC present. DB: how far from the wetland? CL: about 8’ DB: will you be storing any chemicals in the garage? JA: no Motion to approve the Order of Conditions with Special Conditions 1-5, 19, 21, 25-27 & remove the violation DB, second JR, so voted. CONTINUED VIOLATION: 1. 6 West Summer Street Attorney Dan DeAbreu, Brennan, Recupero present. Letter from Attorney DeAbreu read into the record. ST: It’s a beautiful deck. Are we good with it? MR: no and the building department isn’t either. It is beautiful but it’s too close to the river and not permitted. Dr Fils has been made aware of that and not sure what they will present in January. ST: visited the site and it has been cleaned up. He will keep an open mind but would like Dr. Fils to be present at the next meeting. DD: Dr. Fils wants to do whatever is needed to get back into compliance. MH: how far off the house is the deck? DD: it’s attached JB: Is it off the ground? Maybe what’s close to the river can be removed? Adjust the deck construction? Cantilever? MH: I’d like to see a plan DD: will have one for next month. Motion to continue to 1/23/23 hearing DB, second MH, so voted. OTHER BUSINESS: 1. Special Request : DB and the FOB request to commemorate Marla Isaac with something at the Boyden Refuge named in her memory. ST: Yes… that would be great. All Commissioners also agreed. 2. Voting – for 2023 Chair & Co-Chair Motion to continue to 1/23/23 when more Commissioners are present DB, second JB, so voted. Motion to adjourn pending all signatures on paperwork has been signed 6:55 pm DB, second JB, so voted.