HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - WREC - 10/29/2014 Weir River Estuary Park Committee (WREPComm)
Meeting Minutes from October 29th, 2014
The meeting, held at Hingham Town Hall was called to order at 7:03pm. Members- present: Dick Avery(Cohasset),
Faith Burbank(Hingham),Judeth Van Hamm (Hull), and Patti Coyle (Hingham); absent: Scott Plympton, Hull.
Housekeeping: Members present reviewed and approved the minutes from September 3rd meeting; no other votes
were taken. Patti Coyle volunteered to serve as Scribe. David Sibor is set to be appointed to WREPComm at Hingham
Board of Selectmen meeting tomorrow(10/30/2014).
Impact we've seen from this summer's_drout: "Water Matters"got the spotlight everywhere: 1) reports that between
July 5th-September 15`h, rainfall was 27'Y of normal (2.6" vs. normal 9.64"): 2)water levels at local reservoirs are way
down; Weir River was dry at Union St.,with only a trickle at Leavitt St.; 3) infra-structure surfaced as a constant —i.e.,
water restrictions in Hingham, Scituate, etc., (not Cohasset), low water pressure at Accord Pond and Turkey Hill towers;
4)gardens were dry and wells were low. We expect that summer's conditions impeded herrings' return to the sea.
Water Forum update on next session's focus: There have been three Forum conference calls since our last meeting; no
date has been set yet. Topics/issues: 1) major concern of the Weir River drying up; 2) loss of habitat; 3)what is the
true capacity of the aquifer?; 4)the need for additional flow data and water level data; 5)future hydrological studies; 6)
inclined rate structure to promote conservation; 7) concern about private wells used for irrigation. There has been
some thought about focusing the next Forum on the three towns' Department heads (DPW,Sewer,Conservation,
Planning, Selectmen). However, Faith Burbank has learned that the review period for MA EPA's new Stormwater
Regulations (MS4) has begun,through 12/29/14) http://www.epa.gov/regionl/npdes/stormwater/MS4 MA.html). The
new MS4 is expected to have an impact on development at every level. Department Heads are also currently busy with
the budget process. The sense is that the next Forum would best be held January-March, 2015.
Updates on Current Activities:
a) Hull—Lofchie property on Richards lid(see Map#1): The Eastman Rd right of way connects to the peninsula in
Straits Pond. It is possible to walk all along the western edge of Straits Pond with the access of the Lofchie
property. Conversations with Mr. Lofchie began in late-2011; he is still debating subdivision ideas. Mr. Lofchie
recently hired new legal counsel;while he remains open to the idea of a path along the pond edge on a subdivided
parcel,there is no firm offer of conservation land for a walking path. Horne property on N.Truro St(see Map#2):
single-family home on pilings SE35-1127 (opened 8/17/2010) and SE35-1216 extended roadway(opened
5/28/2013). Though the ConComm has denied the single family home in 7/09 and 11/10, MA-DEP subsequently
determined that the construction of a single family home is acceptable; now, access to that home will be needed.
It seems that the proposed roadway meets sub-division rules,subject to a list of conditions from the Planning
Board. A petition with 200 signatures against this project has been sent to the Selectmen. Judeth Van Hamm has
written and sent a poignant letter to a Horne family member, earnestly asking that this project not go forward.
b) Cohasset(Map#1)--559 Jerusalem Rd: At.8 of an acre,this is a parcel left over from a part of ruins of the former
Black Rock House and of portions of land owned by branches of the Ford family. It has historically been
considered unbuiidabie, and taxed as such; it has a great water view. Because it is within 100 feet of Straits Pond,
the Conservation Commission must approve any development, and also issue a stormwater permit for new
construction. On 10/2/14,after nearly 3 years of hearings (2 ConComm denials; acceptable to MA-DEP; abutters
resistance),5 members of the 9-member Commission voted 3-2 in favor of the merits of the site plan. Winsor
Shores: Cohasset Conservation Trust(CCT)owns these two small parcels at the eastern tip of Straits Pond in Hull,
which extend a fair distance along the shore. It may be time to place a sign/kiosk there.
c) Hingham (Map#2)—Noonan property: CRs for 127 Rockland St(near Sidney's Pond) proceeding; Faith will follow-
up. 134 Rockland St(Boyle Property): No activity since WREPComm mtg 2/25/14. 149 Rockland St(Borhuto
property): Still being considered by Community Preservation Committee; appraisal in progress. Rockland St: MA-
DOT Construction project before turning the road over to Hingham. start date may be moving up,from 2020 to
2018.
Faith Burbank and Patti Coyle also attended several meetings at Town Hall: Water Supply Committee 9 24:
Background: Originally formed in 1946, with the charter to investigate the feasibility of acquiring the private Hingham
Water Company. In 2004, that role was expanded to include monitoring the Town's water supply policy and advising the
Town on water-supply matters more generally, typically in cooperation with Aquarian Water Co, the current supplier. In
2011, a separate group—Water Company Acquisition Study Committee—(httn://www.hingham-
ma.aov/Committees/Water Company/index.html) was established to focus on the feasibility of acquiring the water
company's assets. Meanwhile, the Water Supply Committee dissolved 4/201Z but was re-established in 2014. Currently,
the Committee is assisting the Town in matters pertaining to the Town's Water Supply Policy, and monitoring Aquarion's
ongoing operations within Hingham. Topics: 2014 updates from Aquarion regarding 1)System Delivery/summer, 2) Raw
Water Study,3) New Water Restrictions Format,4)Water Audit Recommendations, 5) Capital Improvements,and 6)
Potential New Source Development. What seemed to be missing was any concern about the high usage—consistently
well above the 3.S1M gal/day Registered Withdrawal Rate from June thru August by irrigation systems—and subsequent
loss of habitat. South Hingham Study Group 9/30 and 10/28: Background: Because residents had questioned if it was
possible to off-set property taxes by encouraging commercial expansion in town, this Group is focused on the area south
of Whiting Street between the Gardner/Whiting Street intersection(Dunkin'Donuts)and the town line. The goal is to
create a vision for the area by examining opportunities and challenges related to infrastructure,zoning, market forces,
housing and open space. The group has met monthly since 1212013, and the challenges have seemed to outweigh the
opportunities(http://www.hingham-ma.gov/Committees/South Hingham Study/minutes.html). The rocky geology
makes it very difficult to get water to the area, past and present. Efforts to find new water sources to supplement the
already-stressed Weir River basin will likely not magically—cost-effectively—appear in the near future. Topics 9/30: 1)
Discussion about Current Market conditions, 2) Existing commercial activity, 3)Commercial Property Owners' Outlook.
The most interesting aspect of the 9/30 meeting was how many people in the audience, as well as group members,
seemed to think that zoning was the biggest challenge,while water issues could be solved—via MWRA, drilling new
wells, new ownership of the water company—in a timely manner. One of the property owners spoke about our
distressed Basin;one Group member did state, based on experience,that the permitting process to increase Hingham's
water supply would take 10 years. It was clear that more people in Hingham need to be educated about the facts of our
water supply. Topics 10/28: 1) Conservation Resources and Open Space, 2) Housing 3) Infrastructure. Abby Piersall used
digital color maps to show where protected areas are, and discussed why they are protected, and the impact these areas
can have on development. Trails Plan:Proposals Review and Selection (10/8 and 10/15):Abby Piersall received$50K
from Community Preservation Act funds at 2014 Town Meeting to hire a consultant to develop a Trails Plan. On 10/8,
the 11 members (including Burbank and Coyle from WREPComm) present discussed proposals from 8 design firms,
noted their personal top-4, and shared their reasoning. The group unanimously agreed to invite 2 design firms to come
and make a presentation. The next week,the group again unanimously selected a firm after two very informative and
enjoyable presentations. Abby Piersall began contract negotiations a few days later. The first meeting with the firm -
BSC—has been scheduled for Tuesday November 181n
Aquarion Customer Advisory Board 10/27: Patti Coyle and Samantha Woods (of both Weir River and North&South
Rivers Watershed associations) are members; Dick Avery has been invited to represent Cohasset. Various presentation
materials (i.e.,the Water Supply Committee) were available for review. Aquarion VP of Operations John Walsh said that
the company would be focusing on "unaccounted-for water" (UAW), i.e.,water lost in the network of pipelines between
the drinking water treatment plant in Hingham and consumers. UAW may be due to water loss through leaks(actual
losses), differences between master meter and service meter totals (paper losses) and/or unmetered municipal uses
such as fire-fighting.The MA-DEP standard is 10%; in 2013,Aquarion's UAW was 21%;that's—1 in every 5 gallons.
Conservation Land Management Planning: Further efforts on documentation likely will be Jan/Feb 2015.
Other Business and next meeting: Next meeting—Wednesday January 7th at 7PM in Hingham Town Hall.
The meeting adjourned at 9:13pm.
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