HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - CC - 01/07/2016 Conservation Commission
January 7,2016
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APPROVED MINUTES
COHASSET CONSERVATION COMMISSION
DATE: Thursday, January 7, 2016
TIME: 7:00 PM
PLACE: Cohasset Town Hall, Basement Meeting Room
41 Highland Avenue, Cohasset, MA 02025
IN ATTENDANCE: Patrick Kennedy(PK), Chair
Patrice Vogelman (PV), Vice Chair
James Marten (JM)
Alexander Koines (AK)
Justin Pimpare (JP), Secretary/Treasurer
Jack Creighton (JC)
Edward Graham (EG)
Paul Shea (PS), Conservation Agent
ABSENT: Andrea Buffum, Associate Member
Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm.
7:00 PM: 59 Joy Place— Remick RDA#15-19 (ATF
Owner Deb Remick needed to take down a damaged tree in her yard prior to this meeting as it posed a
danger. She was allowed to remove the tree and file an RDA After the Fact.
MOTION: By Member Marten to close the public hearing for RDA#15-19 and issue a Negative 3
determination for 59 Joy Place.
SECOND: Member Creighton
VOTE: 7-0 MOTION CARRIES
7:10 PM: Bound Brook Project-Town of Cohasset: RDA#15-20
In attendance to represent agenda item: Brian Joyce/Director pf Public Works; CDM Smith Consultants
(Magdalena and Tyler)
This application is for testing prior to dam repairs. CDM will drill boring holes on both sides of Beechwood
Street to determine the water table. Construction is scheduled for June-Sept. 2016.
MOTION: By Member Koines to close the public hearing for RDA#15-20 and issue Negative 2 and
Negative 3 determinations for the Bound Brook dam project.
SECOND: Vice-Chair Vogelman
VOTE: 7-0 MOTION CARRIES
7:20 PM: Board of Health Director— Discussion
In attendance to represent agenda item: Susan Sarni (SS)/Health Director; Robin Lawrence/Board of
Health Chair
SS stated that it would be optimal if Conservation, Health and Building all worked off the same set of
plans when reviewing and approving applications and that all department also sign off on the same plan
of record for consistency.
MOTION: By Members Creighton and Vogelman to designate Chair Kennedy to motion that going
forward the Conservation Agent would forward upon approval all RDA or NOI applications to the
Health Agent to stamp and approve final plans of record.
VOTE: 7-0 MOTION CARRIES
7:30 PM: 430 Atlantic Ave— Devitre (continued to 1/21/16 0)-7:00 pm)
7:35 PM: 17 Norfolk Lane—Spath —Discussion
Conservation Commission
January 7,2016
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In attendance to represent agenda item: Andrew Spath (AS)/contractor-owner: Greg Morse (GM)/Morse
Engineering; Randall &Whitney Whinnery and Victoria Grimes, abutters
A Stormwater Permit was issued for run-off as the property is sloped. The abutters maintain that grading
on the approved plan is different from the actual grading and that unauthorized removal of trees affected
the drainage. PS said the tree removal did not affect modeling numbers but he noted unexpected
changes on the plan, and vegetation should not be removed once there is an approved plan AS said two
of the trees presented a potential danger and he intends to landscape once construction is finished. JC
wants Morse Engineering to amend the SWP to reflect disturbed areas and show additional calculations
for the new plan. GM and AS will do additional calculations and an increased mitigation plan. EG asked if
hay bales could be installed as there is a storm coming; AS said he will do his best to accommodate.
Continued to 2/11/16 @ 8 pm with a 2/4 deadline for mitigation and calculations.
8:00 PM: 559 Jerusalem Rd —Ford— Prior Filings— Discussion
In attendance to represent agenda item: Chris Ford/owner-applicant; Ginny Jensen, Michelle Millerd,
Marilyn Pitchford, Wendy Wilfand (abutters)
There were two previous filings on this property that were both denied by the Commission. The owner
would like to amend and resubmit the NOI filing from 2012. PS stated there is an existing NOI and a
superseding Order of Condition from the DEP so the request is viable even with the denial. JC said the
commission cannot amend something they denied and Mr. Ford should file a new application or a
precedent would be set. PK said a motion for"rehearing" the previous application would be appropriate
but JC disagreed. PS said the site plan shows the proposed house in the middle of the lot and is different
from the current DEP approval; the new plan also shows all work being done outside the 50' buffer zone.
JM said if work is outside the buffer zone then we should hear the amended proposal: AK, PK and EG
agreed but PV, JC and JP want consistency. PS suggested the applicant file an NOI under the by-law
only and go to DEP with a revised plan and move a vote to proceed or not.
MOTION: By Member Creighton not to proceed with the merits of the project as filed and to have
the applicant present a new filing if they wish to proceed with the project.
SECOND: Member Marten
VOTE: 7-0 MOTION CARRIES
9:00 PM: 336R North Main Street— Discussion—Violation of Wetlands
In attendance to represent the agenda item: Vicky Barnes Williams (owner); Ken Shannon, Nicole Engles,
David Nussbaum, Ken Shannon, Lansing and Jennifer Palmer(abutters).
The abutters have complained of commercial operations being conducted on the site which is residential.
Space is allegedly leased to landscapers and there are activities being conducted in proximity to wetlands
including storage of firewood and heavy equipment. PK pointed out the commission can only respond to
wetlands issues and that any zoning issues will have to be addressed to the ZBA. PK asked staff to send
a "Show Cause" letter to the owners.
Continued to 2/11/16 at 8:15 pm with owners and abutters present.
8:40 PM: 71-123 Atlantic Ave—Treats Pond NOI #15-31 (continued to 112116 (aD_7:20 pm)
9:00 PM: Beach St(Vacant Lot 3)—D. Stazsko—Cease & Desist
In attendance to represent agenda item: Brian Davis/Beach St. Builders; Greg Morse/Morse Engineering;
Carla Getto/abutter
Beach Street Builders is starting construction on a separate lot at this site and intends to use the vacant
Lot 3 to stage and stockpile vehicles and equipment. CG stated there has been dumping of debris,
cinderblock and similar materials brought in from other projects. PS asked that GM work with BD on
erosion controls. GM said they will be filing an NOI and SWP within the next few weeks.
With no further business, motion to adjourn was made and seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Minutes approved by the Conservation Commission: March 10, 2016 5-0 Unanimous
Signed by Conservation Commission Chairman: