Conservation Commission

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, June 15, 2021

TOWN OF PRINCETON
BOARD/COMMITTEE: PRINCETON CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES
DATE: June 15, 2021    TIME: 7:00        LOCATION: Town Hall Annex

Note: this public meeting and public hearing were conducted in person at the Annex, with a remote teleconferencing option available for public participation.  Public participation details were posted with the agenda.

Members in attendance:  Brian Keevan, Bonnie Hirsh, Barbara Laughlin (left 8:46PM) , Susan Mitchell (left 8:42PM), Victoria Taft, and Rachael Catlow (joined 7:48 PM)

Applicants and others in attendance: Tom Lewis, Rick Gardner, Sam Walcott, Joe Forkey

Members in attendance remotely: None

Applicants and others in attendance remotely: None

Brian Keevan called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.

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

Item 1: 7:05 – 7:20PM - Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) for Providence & Worcester (P&W) Railroad 5-year Vegetation Management Plan wetland delineation.  Tom Lewis is representing TEC Associates, the consultant for P&W Railroad.  Brian and Bonnie conducted a visit of the delineated wetland areas on Sunday, June 13, 2021.  During the site walk, Commissioners identified a stream between miles 14 and 15, just north of intersection of Calamint Hill Road N/S and Ball Hill Road, that will be assigned a “no spray zone”.  During the site walk Commissioners and Tom Lewis observed evidence nonpermitted culvert work and dredging of a stream south of mile 13.

The Commission voted to approve a Negative Determination #3 (work in the buffer zone), #5 (exempt activity in the riverfront (310 CMR 10.03(6) and 310 CMR 10.58(6)(a)), and Positive #2A (accuracy of resource boundaries) at 7:20PM.

Item 2. 7:26 – 7:42 PM – (DEP File# Pending) Notice of Intent (NOI) for work at Red Fox Farm at 263 Worcester Road to install a trail across an abutter (263 Worcester Road).  Brian recused himself since he is a member of the Princeton Land Trust. Bonnie was designated as Commission Chair for Items #2 and #3 (7:26-7:53PM).  Rick Gardner of the Princeton Land Trust presented and Sam Walcott (property owner, was present.  Bridges (8 feet and 12 feet in length) will be installed to cross two wet areas.  Work is planned to commence after approvals and associated wait times. Victoria, Brian, and Rachael conducted a site walk.  Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) water quality certification and Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) approvals will be required.  Joe Forkey, a resident, was present to ask questions.  The Commission voted at 7:53PM to continue this public hearing until July 20, 2021.

Item 3: 7:42 – 7:52PM – RDA for trial work at Red Fox Farm.  Brian recused himself since he is a member of the Princeton Land Trust. Bonnie was designated as Commission Chair for Items #2 and #3 (7:26-7:53PM).  The trail will be located entirely on Princeton Land Trust property.  The Commission voted to approve a Negative Determination #5 since the proposed work is an exempt activity (310CMR10.02(b)(2)(a) Unpaved pedestrian walkways less than 30 inches wide for private use and less than three feet wide for public access on conservation property at 7:52PM.

Item 4: 8:04 – 8:26PM – (DEP File #267-0427) Certificate of Compliance (COC) for 155 Brooks Station Road.  Brian and Bonnie conducted a site walk a couple of weeks prior and Brian inspected the property on June 15, 2021.  Site conditions have stabilized and requested activities meet the conditions outlined in the Order of Conditions.  Scotch Thistle, a non-native bi-annual invasive plant, has been documented at the site on the septic mound.  Brian will contact Art Allen and the property owner to notify them that this invasive species should be controlled.  The Commission voted to approve an OOC as site conditions are stable are restored above and beyond the 75% requirement at 8:26PM.

Approve Minutes

Approval of minutes from the May 18, 2021 meeting was postponed to the July meeting.

Commission Other Business, Mail, Procedures, etc.:

8:30 – 8:46 PM – Providence & Worcester Railroad Unpermitted Culvert Cleanout and Stream Dredging.  An old stone culvert at the base of a railroad bed has silt removed from the culvert and nearby upstream area.  The downstream area has been dredged of silt for an estimated 200 +/- feet.  No erosion control barriers were installed, a possible new/deeper stream channel was created and silt/sediment was discarded adjacent to the dredged area.  All completed work is subject to wetland regulations.  Brian will follow-up with a Notice of Violation letter to P&W and the Commission will copy the MassDEP.  The affected parcel with the stream dredging appears to be owned by the City of Worcester, Kevin Scherer.  Brian will also notify the DCR to keep them updated. 

Barbara left the meeting at 8:46 PM

93 Main Street update – Brian is in communication with DEP, who are reviewing the documentation and will provide some advice soon.

Four Corners Trails Kiosk Map – Brian presented the revised kiosk map to the Commission. 

Forest Cutting Plan(s): None

Meeting ended at 9:05 pm

Respectfully submitted, Barbara Laughlin