Conservation Commission

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, December 15, 2020

PRINCETON, Mass.  CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes

DATE: December 15, 2020    TIME: 7:00         LOCATION: Remote access only

Note: this public meeting and public hearing were conducted via remote teleconferencing due to COVID-19 precautions.  Public participation details were posted with the agenda.

 

Members in attendance:  Brian Keevan, Rachael Catlow, Sue Mitchell, Victoria Taft, Bonnie Hirsh.

 

Applicants and others in attendance remotely: Bill Holder, Dan Cannata VHB, Greg Russell VHB Project Manager, Ben Metcalf, Reid Bagley, Rick Gardner

 

Brian Keevan called the meeting to order at 7:07 PM.

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

Approve Minutes

November 17, 2020 minutes were approved with minor edits at 7:10pm

Public Hearings and Meetings:Item 1: 7:12pm – 8:40pm DEP #267-0432  for NOI submitted by the Town of Princeton for three culvert replacements on Coal Kiln Road.  Brian Keevan reviewed the NOI with VHB rep and offered some suggestions including an updated address for DCR. Dan Cannata (VHB) presented the proposed project scope which is for a culvert replacement at Babcock Brook while the other two culverts carry two separate channels of a divided unnamed brook, which are tributaries to Governor’s Brook.  The project scope also includes the addition of a subdrain along the roadway which will consist of perforated pipe with crushed stone.

A site walk was conducted by Brian Keevan, Rachael Catlow, and Bonnie Hirsh on 12/3/2020 along with Ben Metcalf and VHB Reps Greg Russell and Dan Cannata.  The location of the subdrain is along the west side of the road just south of the powerlines and will outflow towards an isolated wetland which the commissioners noted during the site walk was non-jurisdictional.

 

The two existing culverts at the Governor’s Brook tributary location are both 24” in diameter. Both culvert replacements will be 115” x 49” aluminum box culverts, embedded 18” deep with a natural stream bottom.  There will be riprap on the downstream side which will not impact the wetland area.

 

The existing 5’ culvert carrying Babcock Brook will be replaced with a 112” x 75” culvert with wingwalls.  This culvert and roadway are in the floodplain and the proposed project will not meet stream crossing standards, but the proposed construction is a significant improvement over the existing structure. The culvert failed in a storm two years ago and is currently in poor condition. In addition to site constraints, project funding is also a constraint.  In order to meet the stream crossing standard, the project would require MADOT Bridge Review and there would be additional wetland impact issues because of the roadway elevation.

 

The only permanent alteration to the floodplain area for this project is the installation of guardrails.

 

DEP’s comments for the NOI is the need for a water quality certification.

 

A vote was taken to issue an Order of Conditions with special conditions (dewatering and diversion, invasive plants, and minor modifications to the NOI) at 8:39pm by all members via roll call.

 

New Business

Item 2: 8:41pm – 9:00 pm – Request for Determination from Princeton Land Trust/Open Space Committee for trail construction off Worcester Road.  Brian Keevan recused himself as a PLT Trustee.  Rick Gardner presented on behalf of the Open Space Committee. The project is for the clearing of several local foot trails in PLT’s Worcester Road South parcel (formerly of Giard) and a parcel owned by Bruce Jacobson behind Monti Farms.  There are several stream crossings on both parcels, however, the streams are very narrow and shallow and no bridge construction is necessary for foot crossing. 

A negative determination was issued at 8:58pm.  Category #2: no alteration of the area or resources.

Bonnie Hirsh left the meeting at 9 pm.

Item 3: 9:01pm 9:19pm- Request for Determination for Reid Bagley for septic system and new home construction on Stagecoach Road.  The limit of work is just at the 100’ wetland buffer line, however, the project is uphill of the wetland area and there is potential for runoff impacts if the proper erosion control measures are not implemented.  The applicant was encouraged to fill out an RDA to get an official determination from the Commission.

 

Old Business

Item 4: 9:20 pm 9:21pm DEP #267-0407 for Certificate of Compliance - by the Town of Princeton for Culvert replacement on Mirick Road.

 

Brian did a final site walk on 12/15/2020 and noted that all re-seeding and riprap areas were completed as requested earlier this fall.  All present members voted in favor to issue a Certificate of Compliance at 9:21 pm.

 

Item 5: 9:23pm – 9:31pm – Enforcement Order for 93 Main Street, alteration of stream channel and resource area.  An enforcement order was issued at the November meeting requesting an NOI to be submitted by 12/15/20.  No response or communication has been made by Bill Chase to the Commission.  All information regarding the EO has been forwarded to MADEP.

Meeting adjourned at 9:44pm (it should be noted that the meeting ended abruptly due to a town-wide power outage), and that one agenda item for an Enforcement Order for 264 Mirick Road was postponed until the next meeting.

 

Plan Submissions

NOI and Plan and Profile of Coalkiln Road (17 sheets), dated December 2020 by VHB

 

RDA with proposed trail system maps for PLT and Jacobson land off Worcester Road

 

Sewage Treatment and Disposal System plan for Reid Bagley, Stagecoach Road, dated November 2019 (sic – 2020 should be the date)

 

Respectfully submitted, Rachael Catlow