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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - CC - 11/07/2019 Conservation Minutes November 7, 2019 APPROVED MINUTES COHASSET CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2019 WILLCOTT COMMONS IN ATTENDANCE: Eric Eisenhauer,Acting Chair Alex Koines, Member James Rosebach, Member Chris MacFarlane, Member Maryanne Wetherald, Member Jeff Summers, Conservation Agent Angela Geso, Conservation Administrator ABSENT: Justin Pimpare, Chair Patricia Grady, Member Kathy Berigan,Associate Member Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM. 7:05 PM: SWP 19-23 - 130 Nichols Road Redevelopment, Helen Ra Continued from 9119119 In attendance to represent agenda item: John Cavanaro/Cavanaro Consulting; Mr& Mrs RalApplicants; Attorney Walter Kennedy; Sally Weston/Architect; Sean Papich/Landscaper; Mrs. Troy/Abutter Documents Presented to Support agenda item: Revised infiltration Plan; Planting Plan Member Koines recused himself as an abutter. Test pits were done around the property and a highwater table was achieved. The grade was lowered on the right side of the property and runoff will be captured by the porous driveway. All other flow will be directed by piping to the tennis court infiltration system. Sean Papich showed a revised planting plan with minor tree removal to accommodate the new construction but most of the trees will remain.Abutters expressed concerns over runoff on their property but John Cavanaro explained that there is ample storage, an overflow connection and a reduction in impervious surface.Attorney Kennedy argued that the southeast corner of the property constitutes a coastal bank but John Cavanaro explained that the property is not direct ocean-front and there is a developed area, a saltmarsh and a roadway between the property and the ocean. MOTION: By Member MacFarlane to close the public hearing and issue SWP 19-23 for proposed work at 130 Nichols Road. SECOND: Member Rosebach VOTE: 4-0-1 (1 recusal) 7:20 PM: NOI 14-35 Old Colony Square 132 CJC Extension Request The representative was not present so Agent Summers made the presentation. This request is for routine maintenance work performed on vegetation, brush and other overgrowth. MOTION: By Member Wetherald to close the public hearing and issue an Order of Conditions for maintenance work at Old Colony Square with the conditions that no herbicides be used, that the work be done by hand cutting only and that the Order expires 11123/21. SECOND: Member Koines VOTE: 5-0 Unanimous 7:30 PM: RDA 19-15 Forest Avenue/Holly Hill Steve Ivas and Jeanne White In attendance to represent agenda item: Steve lvaslWetlands Scientist; Jeanne White/Holly Hill Staff Documents presented to support agenda item: RDAApplication and Site Plan Conservation Minutes November 7, 2019 Member Eisenhauer recused himself because he has an affiliation with Holly Hill Farms. The area of Holly Hill being discussed runs north of Wheelwright Park from Forest Avenue to Bow Street. A small wetland area gathers into a stream and flows into a man-made ice pond. The ice pond embankment is greatly eroded so a retaining wall 125-ft. in length needs to be installed along the easterly edge of the ice pond. Mr. Ivas says the ice pond could be compromised if there is no protective wall.All the work will be done by hand except for the use of a small bobcat to remove existing rocks. MOTION: By Member Koines to close the public hearing for RDA 19-15 and issue a Negative 2 determination for work proposed at Holly Hill Farm, Forest Avenue. SECOND: Member Rosebach VOTE: 4-0 (1 recusal) 7:35 PM NOI 19-21 100 Whitehead Road - Roberts—Pool Area Reconfiguration In attendance to represent agenda item: John Cavanaro/Cavanaro Engineering Documents presented to support agenda item: NOI Application and Site Plans The pool currently sits on a terraced area near the house. The pool is surrounded by vegetation and buffers are in place to protect the coastal bank. The owner would like to remove a small portion of the vegetation to accommodate the reconfiguration of the pool. A temporary access to the area will be covered with crushed stone to accommodate the construction vehicles. Honey locust trees on the site are not a native species but John Cavanaro pointed out the trees are 12-ft. to 15-ft. in height and stable so the trees will remain. MOTION: By Member Koines to close the public hearing for NOI 19-21 and issue an Order of Conditions for proposed work at 100 Whitehead Road. SECOND: Member MacFarlane VOTE: 5-0 Unanimous 7:50 PM: RDA 19-16 SWP 19-25 Lot 31 Windy Hill Rd New Construction Shannon In attendance to represent agenda item: Paul Seaberg/Grady Consulting Documents presented to support agenda item: RDA and SWP Applications and Site Plans The applicant wants to clear up some trees and vegetation near the Jerusalem Road side of the property to prepare the lot for new development. Member Wetherald asked if there will be any blasting done but Mr. Seaberg said they won't know until the extent of the ledge is determined. Member Eisenhauer has concerns over the tree removal as it is not clearly indicated on the current plans. There have also been some larger trees already removed and the commission would like to see specific plans for any further removal. The commission requested the applicant to get a new plan to the Conservation Agent prior to the hearing. Continue to 1215I19 pending receipt of new plan. : 0 PM: NOI 19-20, 70Border St. McGoldrick Private Dock tcon't from 9/19/19)„ _ In attendance to represent agenda item: John Cavanaro/Cavanaro Consulting; George McGoldrick/Applicant Documents presented to support agenda item: Site Plan The applicant will accommodate the will of the Commission to complete this project. Harbormaster Lori Gibbons will be consulted to see if there is a preference for tie-downs as opposed to chains for stability. Agent Summers will coordinate this with Ms. Gibbons. MOTION: By Member Koines to close the public hearing for NOI 19-20 and issue an Order of Conditions for proposed work at 70 Border Street. SECOND: Member MacFarlane VOTE: 5-0 Unanimous 8:20 PM: NOI 18-12, 44 Border St, (Salt House) McGoldrick -Pier/Sea Wall Repairs (con't from 9119119) In attendance to represent agenda item: John CavanarolCavanaro Consulting; George McGoldrick/Applicant Documents presented to support agenda item: Revised Plans, Modifications to Notice of Intent The applicant wants to repair rather than replace the sea wall. Repairs to the existing west wall may be sufficient to complete this project. John Cavanaro said temporary riprap around a retaining wall on the edge of the parking area will be moved and the wall will be reinforced or repaired as needed. This new plan should be much less Conservation Minutes November 7, 2019 intrusive regarding the removal and rebuilding of the wall. Mr. Cavanaro requested the hearing be continued to a date to be determined once a structural engineer is brought on board and the commission has more details as to possible solutions. Continued to a date to be determined 8:25 PM: NO[ 19-22 SWP 19-27 449-457 Jerusalem Rd Starvish Redevelopment con't from 9119/19 In attendance to represent agenda item: John Cavanaro/Cavanaro Consulting; Attorney Jeff DeLisi Documents presented to support agenda item: There are three (3) pipes running underneath property but no legal easement to allow runoff to Jerusalem Rd. John Cavanaro said they can introduce mitigation measures and also stabilize the bank to take an adverse situation in a resource area and connect it to the overall redevelopment project. The Cohasset DPW did dye testing on the site and found three (3) levels: street/below house/near stone tea house.Agent Summers said the closest resource area is at the top of the bank and the only part of the redevelopment in the 50-foot buffer zone is the pool area. There is erosion control in the resource area but the commission would like to know the rate of erosion taking place on the site. Continued to 1/9/20 8:50 PM: SWP 19-24 11 Great Brewster Trail—Redevelopment con't from 9/19119 In attendance to represent agenda item: John Cavanaro/Cavanaro Consulting; Corinna Rodrigues/Architect; Carlos and Mary Ellen Melendez/Abutters Documents presented to support agenda item: Revised Plans The redesigned infiltration system was done based on soil testing results.The test showed shallow bedrock to the rear of the house and decent depth found to the front of the existing dwelling. John Cavanaro met with the owners to review the results of the soil testing and to determine how to maximize the amount of runoff captured so as not to impact the abutters. The impervious surface around the perimeter of the house was reduced as was the garage footprint. The position of the driveway will be reconfigured and shifted to create a larger drainage area that would direct runoff to the road. To intercept flow coming off the rear ledge, water would be directed from a high point to the rear and then to the road. There will be a shallow infiltration area that should dramatically diminish the flow. Agent Summers supports the new plan and feels it will maintain stormwater management. Abutter Carlos Melendez said the new plan is better than the previous one but felt it is environmentally careless to destroy ledge outcropping with a 3-car garage. Ms. Rodrigues pointed out that it is a 25-ft. x 24-ft. 2-car garage and is The smallest size you can design and still make functional.A crushed stone apron surrounding the house will capture and direct water to infiltration areas. MOTION: By Member Koines to issue Stormwater Permit 19-24 for proposed work at 11 Great Brewster Trail with the conditions that a revised landscape plan must be submitted by 11/26/19 to staff and a steel border surrounding the driveway be maintained. SECOND: Member MacFarlane VOTE: 5-0 Unanimous With no further business to be discussed a motion to adjourn was made by Member Koines, 2nd by Member MacFarlane and approved 5-0 unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 10:30 pm.