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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - WREC - 10/28/2015 (2) Weir River Estuary Park Committee (WREPComm) DRAFT - Meeting Minutes from October 28th, 2015 - DRAFT The meeting, held at the Weir River Estuary Center (333 George Washington Blvd, Hull) on Wednesday October 28t"was called to order by 7:05pm. Members all present: Dick Avery(Cohasset), Faith Burbank (Hingham), Patti Coyle (Hingham), Dave Sibor(Hingham),Judeth Van Hamm (Hull), and Scott Plympton (Hull). Housekeeping: Members present reviewed and approved the minutes from September 151"; no other votes were taken. Patti Coyle volunteered to serve as Scribe. Updates on current activities: a) Cohasset: Dick Avery reported that the algae blooms in Straits Pond from September are gone again in October. Straits Pond Watershed Assoc. and Hull Conservation Administrator Anne Herbst will look into this phenomenon further(Salinity? Fresh water algae?Temperature?). b) Hingham: New Conservation Officer Loni Fournier came on board October 191". The consultants for the Trails Plan project presented a final draft for comment at a public stakeholders' meeting on October 51". Ms. Fournier joined the group when the final Plan was shared with the public on October 215t. Find documents at http://www.hingham- ma.gov/Committees/Trails/index.html. Noonan Property: 127 Rockland St: The CRs (Conservation Restrictions) for Parcel B(see http://www.hingham-ma.gov/Committees/Weir River/documents/CPC Noonan.pdfJ have been forwarded to State for approval. 129 Rockland St (pka "Lot 2"): Mike Noonan's property has two 3-bdrm sewer hook-ups. At this time,the intent is to build one 3-bdrm single-family house at 129. On October 271", Paul Feldman of South Shore Development, LLC, came before the Board of Health to ask for a variance for foundation to groundwater regulation (cellar floor variance). Faith Burbank attended, to advance general environmental, neighborhood, and MA ACEC concerns for this area (referenced WREP Land Protection Plan, Hingham Open Space Plan, Noonan CPC application info (2013)). Ms. Burbank explained: 1)The Weir River Estuary as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern, designated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; 2) the value of Sidney's Pond to the drainage of the Summer St.-World's End area into Weir River; 3) historically, Sidney's Pond was an excellent smelt habitat,and restoration of that has been a MA Marine and Fisheries priority here for the last several years;4)Sidney Ice House has been listed on Hingham Historic Inventory. Ms. Burbank also pointed out that damage from blasting to nearby Kilby St properties is a possibility, due to other residents' previous history of damage during another blasting project across the street, and that there are stormwater run-off directional concerns. Lastly, Ms. Burbank spoke of former ConCom Agent Abby Piersall and WREPComm's continued requests for a pathway around the Pond shore on the southern corner of this property,which would link to Sidney's Pond Path on Parcels A and B. Both the BOH and Mr. Feldman agreed that further investigation was needed. A BOH site walk is proposed with further comment within 90 days. Mrs. Burbank agreed to provide info and maps for BOH follow-up. Collapsed culvert at Kilby St bridge: No maintenance/ repair here (see images on pages 3 &4) since problem was discovered by Mass Marine Fisheries/CZM staff in spring 2013. Significant vegetation growth (such as phragmites) on both sides of the culvert indicate that water flow from Sidney's Pond tributary has been blocked, making it difficult if not impossible for fish to move between the pond and the river; flooding at extreme and spring tides has been occurring here. Rockland St Culvert/Bike Path/turnover to town: no activity; Faith to check files for more information. c) Hull: Crescent Beach: The Town learned that it was awarded a $1.5M grant and a $1.5M low interest loan for final design, permitting, and reconstruction of the Crescent Beach seawall at Gunrock by the MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Per the EEA's announcement: "The existing concrete seawall and grouted stone revetment along Crescent Beach has been damaged and has had a series of repairs since they were originally constructed. The existing seawall shows areas of cracking, spalling and breakage. Scour on the backside of seawall from overtopping waves nearly exposes the footing at some locations along the seawall, particularly along the west end. During periods of coastal flooding, splash-over and wave overtopping, amplified by the smooth face of the revetment, transports sediment, debris, and contaminants to Atlantic Avenue and Straits Pond. The seawall runs along the north side of Atlantic Avenue at Crescent Beach. Atlantic Avenue is one of three evacuation routes for the Town of Hull. Closures of Atlantic Avenue during storms result in delays for emergency respondents and for local traffic. Clearing Atlantic Avenue is a frequent cost to the Town due to sediment, debris, and water which Page 1 of 4 overwash the road during even minor storm events. Further,the improved management including minimization of the overwash resulting from this project will help improve the ecological health of the nearby Straits Pond, which falls within an Area of Critical Environmental Concern." At a Special Town Meeting (STM) on October 15th, Hull voters unanimously approved the Town's borrowing of up to$3.25M to supplement the state grant package. Straits Pond Watershed Association's Dick Avery attended the STM. Lofchie Property:Judeth Van Hamm said that she will start fundraising to purchase CRs,valued at about$100K,to protect a portion of this 2-acre property at the western edge of Straits Pond. The Cohasset Conservation Trust has offered a $40K donation for this purpose, provided Hull can match it. Open Space: Heard around town that a new Committee has been appointed to research all the open space in Hull. Dick Avery commented that the Weir River Estuary Park is probably the largest single open space in town, and expects that the WREPComm's Land Protection Plan will be very valuable to this new group. Hull Lifesaving Museum's 29th annual Head of the Weir Regatta on October 241h drew over 50 boats to race out the narrow estuary and onto open water, traveling from West Corner (on the Hingham/ Hull/ Cohasset line), past Bumpkin Island, across Hull Bay,to the museum's Windmill Point Boathouse at Hull Gut. Committee Action Items: a) Members also attended the Trails Plan meetings(Oct 5th and Oct 215t),Aquarion's Customer Advisory Board meeting (Oct. 19th, handout), and the Hingham Water Supply Committee meeting (Oct 27th, handout). b) Goals for 2015 (FY2016): Cohasset: arrange to have a walking path cleared at Straits Pond, understand algae re- blooming, continue to work with Aquarion, strengthen the membership in the Straits Pond Watershed Association (SPWA). Hingham: Update Land Protection Plan for Sidney's Pond and 60 GWB, list potential Eagle Scout Projects, advocate for marking property lines at 60 GWB, identify signage needs for WREP properties in conjunction with the Trails Plan, reach out to the Harbor Development Committee, get signs from the State for the Weir River at GWB and Rockland St bridges, contribute to update of Open Space Plan when appropriate. Hull: raise funds to purchase CRs for Lofchie property. Judeth Van Hamm also proposes working to get physical bike lanes and trails and getting them marked for the Park,so people can see that they have a safe place to ride. For example,Atlantic Ave is paved, but not marked. Geo.Washington Blvd needs cross walks at Muzzi's Corner in Hingham, Rockland Circle(Saporito's), the Medical Center and the Estuary Center in Hull. At the State-level, David Loutzenheiser of MAPC advocates for and leads bike transportation projects. Also, several members think it will be a good idea to track activities with software as had been done in the past. Wrap-up Next WREPComm Meeting: Wednesday December 2nd from 7-9pm at Hingham Town Hall (210 Central St.) The meeting ended at 8:58pm Page 2 of 4 y O 11 e p 4 � e u ■/a/a/!■!r E. y ■a■i■■■■■ aE � . ■rrrrr■ ! ■ffff■■■ i! ■ ffff!!! ■ � •++rsss rr+r+ rr • 444t4444rMa j ' A•444!\4l14a � 1 V c O U R W a ti ■■■®®■®■❑®❑ 11©❑®�❑ a z o b a Page 3 of 4 r a MI. 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