Conservation Commission

Minutes of the Taunton Conservation Commission December 4, 2023 Present: Chair Steven Turner, Vice-Chair Debra Botellio, Commissioners Joshua Borden, Luis Freitas, Matthew Haggerty, & Jan Rego. Commission Richard Enos, not present. Conservation Agent, Michele Restino & Recording Secretary, Denise Irving also present. Motion to approve the minutes of November 13, 2023 JB, second DB, so voted. ***508 Middleboro Ave. Discussion/Update: Eric Johnson, Edge Environmental & Aaron Amaro, Operator of Store, present. EJ: 76,000 gallons of fluids, gas and water. 31,000 gallons of gas lost originally. Removing 50-75 gallons a day. Approximately 55 borings and monitoring wells. It’s away from the homes but is towards the wetlands. Removed 100,000 cu. yds. of soil. Trying to get the three buildings involved up and running. ST: appreciate the update. DB: How did this get discovered? EJ: Leaked from piping and dispensers. AA: Fuel smell. Was referred to 3rd party monitors, then discovered when the dollar amount was compared to inventory. LF: How long will it take to clean up? EJ: Next step is remediation and that changes with time. It will be some years before it’s done. JR: the station up and then houses? EJ: there has to be excavation, hardware above tanks. Once station is done then start on the other buildings. JR: how old are the tanks? AA: 2001 EJ: tanks won’t be removed. ST: kudos to the crew helping put safety in effect right away. Thank you for the update and if we can help please let us know. EJ: Thanks to MR for being supportive. ***10 Mineral Street Discussion (Remediation Plan Progress) 2nd Assistant City Solicitor Tom Gay, Jr. and Michael Perry, Owner, present. TG: gave overview and maybe should update in February. MP: I’m done with the project. Everything is done. MR: Pavers? MP: they are gone ST: goes thru punch list MR: will contact DPW regarding the berm. MP: fire pit is gone along with the tree stump. MP: I want to plant dogwood in the spring. ST: that would be ok. MP: #12, #13 gone, #14 replaced, #16 still working on, #17 & #18 gone, # 19 wants to use for patio ST: ok MR: will schedule #20 ST: You did a good job on this list. Thank you for working with us. TG: MR will need to verify this has all been done. MR: will contact MP Attorney. Motion to continue discussion to 1/8/24, have MP meet with MR prior to go over everything, MR will contact his Attorney also. MP does not need to be present at the meeting on 1/8/24 JB, second, DB so voted. CONTINUED CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE: 1. 156 Alfred Lord Blvd., Tobias, COC SE73-3012-to close Order of Conditions Motion to approve the Certificate of Compliance JB, second DB, so voted. Documents: Plan, Field Report CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE: 1. 83 County Street, Abreau, COC, SE73-2736 -to close Order of Conditions Motion to approve the Certificate of Compliance DB, second JB, so voted. Documents: Plan, Field Report 2. 25 Shore Drive, Dennehy, COC, SE73-2788 -to close out Order of Conditions Motion to approve the Certificate of Compliance DB, second JB, so voted. Documents: Plan, Field Report CONTINUED PUBLIC MEETING: 1. 39 Cortland Place, Santos-Melo, RDA, DSE-1333 -construction of a 12’ x 16’ shed on pavers. No one present again. LF: Would like to have them served by hand. Motion to continue to 1/8/24, served by hand – Must be present DB, second, JR, so voted. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING: 1. Winthrop Street (Assessor’s 103-28), D.I. Trust II, NOI, SE73-2921 -for one infiltration basin in association with a proposed 135 SFH lot subdivision on parcels in Dighton. Joshua Glass, DI Trust, Ed Brennan, Attorney, Jason Youngquist, Outback Engineering & Brian Madden, LEC Environmental present. JG: Subdivision is located mostly in Dighton. Just a small piece in Taunton – a basin. This will be before the Dighton Conservation on 12/19/23. ST: not coming out on Walker Street? JG: No access to the City of Taunton. JG: gave overview as requested by ST in regards to the BETA Group report. ST: MR has Dighton been in contact with you? MR: No ST: Maybe we should continue here until Dighton Conservation gives their approval. DB: agree JB: think we should issue the OC approval pending Dighton Conservation approval. EB: A vote from you would be helpful for when we get to Dighton. LF: really the project is in Dighton but we should continue as there are a few things that need to be ironed out. DB: Do you see anything changing in the Dighton part of this project? JY: No DB: no problem as presented now especially if there will be no changes on the plan. JB: yes, approval would be a good thing and if any changes needed they would need to come back. JG: there will be five revisions as previously discussed. ST: Just submit those to MR. Motion to approve the Order of Conditions with Special Conditions 1-5, 7-9, 11, 19-21, 25-29, 31, 32, 35, 42, 44, 48, & 49 DB, second JB, so voted. Documents: Legal Ad, Plan, Field Report 2. Krijo Lane Roadway & Drainage, DeMello/Krista Realty Trust, NOI, SE73-3066 -construction of two drainage basins & associated grading for a roadway improvement project. Motion to continue to 1/8/24 JB, second DB, so voted. PUBLIC HEARING: 1. 1225 Somerset Ave., Dias, NOI, SE73-3067 -for construction of a duplex with rear decks, front porches, driveway, parking areas, utilities and associated grading. Tracy Duarte, MBL present. ZBA denied the duplex. Plan has been changed to a SFH which is allowed by right. 29’ from the wetland and the house will be 55’ away, all on existing lawn area. JB: is this a smaller foot print than the duplex that was presented? TD: No, maybe wider. JB: new plan looks good. DB: why was the duplex denied? TD: there was a strong abutter opposition. DB: where will the snow go? TD: not in the wetland DB: MR 2’ above saturation of water? ST: I’ll read MR’s report. MR: it’s 8’ above. Public Input: Greg Camacho, 90 Copley Drive. Where will this be? It grades down to my property. Where will you fill to eliminate that? TD: Adding fill and the grading to go off the intermittent stream. MR: It’s not graded to your property, it is to the stream. JB: you should not see excess flooding at all. GC: how far back? TD: 62’ from the street ST: You’re about 200’ from Somerset Ave. Cheryl Camacho, 90 Copley Drive, there’s a brook to the left. I grew up there as a kid. GC: no tree cutting? TD: no cutting Joao Cabral, 76 Copley Drive house in front or behind? ST: front JC: trees stay? ST: yes DB: trees not to be removed. MR: limit of work they will be in violation if they go past and cut the trees. DB: to the neighbors if you see trees coming down call MR. Motion to approve the Order of Conditions with Special Conditions 1-5, 7-9, 16, 19, 21, 25-27 LF, second DB, so voted. Documents: Legal Ad, Plan, Field Report OTHER BUSINESS: 1. 21 Ingell Street – Fence Discussion : Mike Binda & Bill Ambrose, Owners MR: there is a post and rail fence up. I asked if MB could change it to a stockade fence? ST: when did the fence go up? MB: a couple months ago. Checked with the fence company and the fence could be damaged if removed and might not be able to be repurposed. Plus easier to maintain as a post and rail fence. DB: in minutes of the meeting it was not stated that a stockade fence be installed. It just says fence MB: yes, just fence. MH: along the Garden Patch side? MB: yes JB: it did say stockade fence in the meeting but not specified in the Order of Conditions. LF: It’s a nice fence. We approved a fence so he did what he was supposed to. DB: we need to be more specific in the future. ST: Think you are good. Motion to make this conversation part of the minutes and record DB, second JR, so voted. Auzirio Melo arrives for 39 Cortland Place hearing. Applicant went to wrong location. CONTINUED PUBLIC MEETING: 1. 39 Cortland Place, Santos-Melo, RDA, DSE-1333 -construction of a 12’ x 16’ shed on pavers. Auzirio Melo, present. AM: took the bigger shed down and did a smaller one. This filing is an after the fact so there are no Special Conditions. Motion to issue a Negative Determination JR, second MH, so voted. Documents: Legal Ad, Plan, Field Report OTHER BUSINESS: 2. 90 County Street : DB: what is the status of the appeal? MR: there is a meeting on site 12/21/23 at 9:30 AM with DEP. Motion to adjourn 7:27 pm pending all signatures on paperwork DB, second MH, so voted.