Conservation Commission

Minutes of the Taunton Conservation Commission September 9, 2024 Present: Chair Steven Turner, Vice-Chair Debra Botellio, Commissioners Joshua Borden, Luis Freitas & Jan Rego, Conservation Agent, Michele Restino & Recording Secretary, Ursula McCarthy also present. Absent: Commissioners Richard Enos, Matthew Haggerty. Motion to open the meeting 6:00pm. Motion to approve the minutes of August 19, 2024 with the correction to have Scaddings Street, spelled Scadding. JB, second DB, so voted. CONTINUED CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE: 1. 26 Vinson Street, Aspen Properties, COC, SE73-2830. Chris Moniz, Aspen Properties, present. JB made a public disclosure that he has no financial interest in this property as he has worked with Mr. Moniz and Aspen Properties on past projects. As long as Chris is ok with me sitting on the panel I will stay. CM: yes that is fine. CM: they are aware of the order of conditions and a 3rd party contractor was hired to the do the work. The work completed has no impact on the wetlands, stormwater is directed away from the wetlands. The overall product doesn’t impact the wetlands & abutters or Vinson St. DB: is NHESP aware to the distance change? CM: the engineer will be made aware DB: please don’t do anything like this again ST: I did a drive-by around and it looked better. DB: once the COC is created, no additional pools, sheds or anything permitted in perpetuity. MR: I agree DB made a motion to approve the COC with no additional structures (pools, sheds, gazebos, et al) be permitted in perpetuity. Second JB. So voted. Motion to close the hearing, so voted. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE: 1. 400 Winthrop Street, BASK, Inc., COC, SE73-3035. DB made a motion to approve the COC, second JB, so voted. DB made a motion to close, so voted. 2. 396 Winthrop Street, Barbour, COC, SE73-2909. DB made a motion to approve the COC, second JB, so voted. DB made a motion to close, so voted. 3. 134 Round Street, Hawthorne Development, Inc., COC, SE73-3040 DB made a motion to approve the COC, second JB, so voted. DB made a motion to close, so voted. 4. 118 Round Street, Hawthorne Development, Inc., COC, SE73-3041 DB made a motion to approve the COC, second JB, so voted. DB made a motion to close, so voted. PUBLIC HEARING: 1. Rocky Woods Street, (Lot 74-23), Figueiredo, NOI, SE73-3098 – Roadway Improvement project. Joshua Borden stepped down. DB made a motion to open the hearing, so voted. Arthur Borden, Arthur Borden & Associates & Steven Figueiredo, Hometown Restoration, present. AB: this is for a roadway improvement plan, we already have approval from the planning board and are within the 100ft buffer zone. JR made a motion to approve the Order of Conditions with Special Conditions 1-6, 8, 9, 19, 21, 24-27, 32, 41, 42 for the work proposed that should not negatively affect neighboring properties or resource areas. Also the letter from NHESP should be submitted for the filing prior to the start of construction and flags will need to be refreshed prior to the start of any work, second LF, so voted.  DB made a motion to close, so voted. Joshua Borden stepped back in. 2. Millview Street, Lot 4 (38-566), SE73-3100, Single Family Home with attached garage, 12x16 deck, patio, driveway, utilities and associated grading. DB made a motion to open the hearing, so voted. Chris Moniz, Aspen Properties, present. CM: this is a proposed single family home outside the buffer zone & there will be riverfront erosion control. The roadway was previously approved under SE73-2828. JR made a motion to approve the Order of Conditions with Special Conditions 1-6, 17, 19, 21, 24-27, 41, 42 for the construction of a single family home with attached garage, 12x16 deck, patio, driveway, utilities and associated grading, second DB, so voted. DB made a motion to close, so voted. 3. 0 Gracey Way, Lot 5 (42-101, part of 42-46) SE73-3099, single family home with attached garage, deck, septic system, driveway and associated grading. DB made a motion to open the hearing, so voted. Jeff Tallman, present. John Garanito, Hawthorne Development, present. JT: NHESP as notified, the entire house, driveway and porch are outside the buffer zone. DB: how big is the lot? JT: 30,807sf JB made a motion to approve the Order of Conditions with Special Conditions 1-6, 19, 21, 24-27, 41-43, 45 for the construction of a single family home with attached garage, deck, septic system, driveway and associated grading, second JR, so voted. DB made a motion to close, so voted.  4. 60 Williams Street, Dowdye THS (67-119) NOI SE73-3101, renovation of the softball field & related structures. Arsen H, NESRA Engineering, present. AH: the gist of the project is we will be replacing the grass with synthetic grass and clay infield to bring it up to modern standards. This will be further away from the riverfront. New bleachers, dugout, press box, scoreboard & batting tunnels. All copies have been submitted to DEP ST: how far away is the fence from the river? AH: the left corner is being pushed 5-6ft JB: how long to do construction? AH: mid-march, beginning of April completion JR: when would construction begin? AH: we are hoping to go out to bid immediately JB made a motion to approve the Order of Conditions with Special Conditions 1-6, 19, 21, 24-27, 31 for the renovation of the THS Softball Field and related structures, second JR, so voted. DB made a motion to close, so voted. CONTINUED VIOLATION: 1. 188 Dunbar Street – Mackendy Paul, homeowner, present. ST: read the minutes in regards to this ongoing situation. Tell us what’s going on MP: the last meeting I was told to break down the birm and push the chicken coop back and I did that. I spoke to 3 different contractors about the work to be done. MR showed up and another contractor showed up and MR told the contractor not to do anything ST: glad you showed up, I was told you weren’t kind when MR went out and I take offense to that MP: I was just frustrated and I apologize but the contractor came out and said there’s nothing left to be done. Spoke to the contractor and he said he contacted MR MR: who MP: I think his name is Duane? He was supposed to be here at this meeting but he couldn’t make it. ST: last name?  MP: I’m not sure MP: I want to get this straightened out. ST: the more this drags out the more it keeps effecting the other neighbors. MP: I was told to come to the meeting to get this straightened out ST: keep working with MR and the contractor MK: I will have the contractor contact MR DB: take the grass away from behind the chicken coop and no more cutting down trees. JB made a motion for MR to meet with the contractor on what exactly needs to be done and grass to be removed from behind the coop, second DB, so voted. Motion to adjourn at 6:42 pm pending all signatures on paperwork JB, second DB, so voted.