Conservation Commission

TOWN OF PRINCETON

BOARD/COMMITTEE: PRINCETON CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES

DATE: October 15, 2019                TIME: 7:00             LOCATION: Town Hall Annex

Attendance: Chairman Brian Keevan, Barbara Laughlin, Ron Thompson, and Rachael Catlow

Brian Keevan called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM.

Votes taken in the following actions are “all in favor” unless noted otherwise.

Public Hearings and Meetings:

Item 1: 7:02PM – DEP File #267-0414.  A public hearing was continued for the construction of a single-family house and septic system at property owned by Jennifer Greene located at Map 13A, Lot 8/11.0 on Merriam Road.  Brian Recused himself as an abutter since he’s a Trustee with the Princeton Land Trust. Doug Andrysick presented on behalf of the property owner with Plans dated September 26, 2019.  An abutter, Greg Mahoney, attended the meeting.  At 7:15 PM, the Commission voted to continue this hearing in order to have a quorum to vote on an Order of Conditions, possibly Tuesday, October 22, 2019.

Item 2: 7:16PM – DEP File #267-0426.  A public hearing was opened for a Notice of Intent (file number pending) for a public water supply well installation at Town Line Garage owned by Dick Stewart.  Doug Andrysick presented on behalf of the property owner.  The new well requires a protective Zone I radius of 100-feet.  The well site falls within the following buffer zones: 200-foot riverfront buffer zone, the 100-foot wetlands buffer zone, NHESP Priority & Estimated Habitat of Rare Species.  Division of Fisheries and Wildlife correspondence dated October 09, 2019 indicated that this project will not adversely affect the Resource Area Habitat of state-protected rare wildlife species, and it will not result in a prohibited take of state-listed rare species.  The MA Department of Environmental Protection issued an approval dated May 9, 2019.  The DEP NOI fee submitted was a Category 1, whereas, the activity meets Category 3 criteria.  At 7:46 PM, the Commission voted to continue this hearing in order to have a quorum to vote on an Order of Conditions, possibly Tuesday, October 22, 2019.

Item 3: 7:49PM – The Commission opened a public hearing for a Certificate of Request for DEP File #267-0344 submitted by Anna Hagberg, 12 Radford Road.  A request for Certificate of Compliance was received by the Commission via email on October 7, 2019.  At 8:00 PM the Commission voted to issue a Complete Certificate of Completion.

Executive Session:  The Commission did not enter into an executive session regarding the Four Corners Agricultural Lease Agreement.

Commission Other Business, Mail, Procedures, etc.:

On October 14, 2019, members of the Commission attended a site walk at 93 Main Street to see current site conditions and review work completed and pending work.  During the site inspection, silt fencing repairs were not yet completed.   A possible wetland/wet area was observed west of the residential structure.  The Commission requested that the applicant provide proof that there is not a wetland resource area.  At this time, the Commission still has outstanding questions that have not been addressed since receipt of a Request for Determination on May 7, 2019.  At 9:14 PM, the Commission voted to issue an enforcement action and request the following:  completed installation of erosion controls, an actual Site Plan showing current and proposed site conditions (including the building footprint), all jurisdictional wetland and riverfront buffer zones, a report from a qualified professional wetlands scientist describing whether or not there are additional jurisdictional resource areas and said areas be shown on aforementioned Site Plan,

The Commission discussed the October 13, 2019 site visit at 151 Brooks Station Road.  A septic repair at 155 Brooks Station Road has been recently completed and stabilization is in-progress.  An abutter was concerned about water flow changes to their property.  A review of Commission files shows there is no wetlands DEP file # for this property for any work since construction in the early 2000s.  The Commission will reach out to the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) for any relevant files regarding this property.

Brian provided the Commission with an update of:

• 77 Main Street (septic replacement)
• 23 Hubbardston Road (upcoming Certificate of Compliance request)
• 16 Pine Hill Road (wetland restoration)
• Conservation Restriction at Clearings Way – no formal action at this time
• Trail Construction at CHCA – DCR issued a variance for the Watershed Protection Act
• Mid-State Trail distance running race – Brian sent Certified Mail to and spoke with the race organizer to re-route the trail.

The Commission discussed a distance running race on the Mid-State Trail on October 13, 2019.  At 9:12 PM, the Commission voted to send correspondence to the race organizers to notify them that the Commission is opposed to the race occurring on the Four Corners Property due to restrictions outlined in the current Four Corners Land Management Plan that designate approved land uses.  Copies of correspondence will be sent to the Town Administrator, the Mid-State Trail organization, and the current Four Corners tenant.

Forest Cutting Plan(s): None.

The September 17, 2019 meeting minutes were reviewed and approved as amended at 10:07 PM.

Brian reviewed mail received by the Commission.

The next PCC meeting is scheduled for November 19, 2019.

Meeting Adjourned at 10:08 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Barbara Laughlin