Conservation Commission
TOWN OF PRINCETON
BOARD/COMMITTEE: PRINCETON CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES
DATE: March 17, 2020 TIME: 7:00 LOCATION: Town Hall Annex
Remote Attendance: Chairman Brian Keevan, John Vieira, Rachael Catlow, and Barbara Laughlin
Brian Keevan called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Votes taken in the following actions are “all in favor” unless noted otherwise.
Public Hearings and Meetings:
Item 1: 7:00-7:16PM – 27 Main Street. The property owner, Sean Coakley, called into the meeting to discuss building a 24 x 36 ft garage/barn structure from a kit in his front yard. The building department has already approved the plans. The Commission asked the property owner to submit a Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA).
Item 2: 7:16–7:18PM – 155 Brooks Station Road (Enforcement Order) DEP File# 267-0427. A public hearing was continued and the applicant asked for a continuance until the April meeting additional surveys and engineering plans are required. The Commission voted at 7:18PM to continue the public hearing until April 2020.
Item 3: 7:18-7:23PM – 93 Main Street (Enforcement Order). Brian provided an update that he contacted the property owner, Bill Chase, about the still-outstanding items required for the Enforcement Order. The erosion controls were fixed as requested. Bill Chase verbally agreed to supply the requested materials. At the time of the March 17, 2020 meeting the Commission has not received a report.
Item 4: 7:23–7:49PM – 23 Hubbardston Road (DEP File# 267-0409). The Commission received a Request for a Certificate of Compliance (COC). Brian and Rachael conducted a site visit on March 15, 2020 to inspect current conditions. Boulders that were originally placed in the swale area have been moved due to snow removal activities. The swale area was significantly filled with sand and there is general debris/trash in the area. Conditions A through E shall exist in perpetuity. An annual maintenance schedule will be submitted to the Commission on or before March 31 annually. The Commission will be notified at least one week prior to initiating maintenance activities and also be provided an annual report of all maintenance activities completed. The Commission voted to approve a COC at 7:49PM with the noted conditions.
Commission Other Business, Mail, Procedures, etc.:
Brian reviewed correspondence from NEADS regarding an extension of a water line from State Route 140. NEADS is required to install a sprinkler system that would be connected to a 6-inch pressurized water line that would enter the property from Route 140 adjacent and be installed adjacent to the driveway. The Commission will ask the property owner to submit an RDA.
Brian provided an overview regarding fire ponds after a meeting for Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant application that was held in February 2020. Brian spoke with Judy Schmidt (former Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) circuit rider) to request that a DEP representative meets with the Commission about requirements related to maintenance of fire ponds. Brian was informed by Judy Schmidt that the Fire Department could possibly bundle all the fire ponds with required and/or proposed maintenance items into a single Notice of Intent application. Brian will request a copy of an example bundled fire pond NOI submittal from another municipality that the MassDEP has deemed sufficient information for a complete submittal. He will also request that a MassDEP representative attend a meeting in the near future.
Brian provided an update on a brief conversation with Paulette McGaw regarding trees on the ground. Brian had emailed Paulette after the February meeting to ask about wood piled in the proposed restoration area. Paulette responded that the trees were cut down shortly after the silt fence was installed and after the fall pre-construction meeting. The onset of winter conditions prevented their removal, which is anticipated to occur when conditions are suitable for restarting the project in the spring.
Brian spoke with Tom Mullen, Town Counsel about matters pertaining to The Clearings and also updated the Town Administrator. Brian is waiting to for direction from the Town Administrator.
Brian provided an update regarding Lot 3 on Bigelow Road where the property has an expired Order of Condition (DEP#267-0334) that was issued in 2007. The original NOI will require a submittal of a request for a COC to close out DEP# 267-0334, and a new NOI will be required. Brian will email Janet Schoeny (a realtor assisting a prospective buyer) about existing property conditions that would be relevant to the intended use of the parcel.
Forest Cutting Plan(s): 1) Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) for a lot near Snow Pond on Bullard Road. 2) Joseph Lee at 98 Ball Hill Road near Cobb Brook. The Commission had no comments.
The February 18, 2020 meeting minutes were reviewed and approved as amended at 8:33PM.
The next PCC meeting is scheduled for April 21, 2020.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:51PM.
Respectfully submitted, Barbara Laughlin