Conservation Commission - Minutes

Attendance: Chairman Brian Keevan, John Vieira, Barbara Laughlin, Ron Thompson, Rachael Catlow, and Susan Mitchell

Brian Keevan called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM.

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

Item 1: 7:02 PM – DEP File #267-0421.  A public hearing was continued for a Notice of Intent (NOI) submitted by the Mike Pucko for driveway construction across a stream to develop a house lot on Lot 4 Country Lane.  Kent Olfield presented updated site plans and represented the owner.  The Commission will be provided with a list of suggested plantings in the replication area and construction sequence prior to the pre-construction meeting.  The applicant and commission reviewed the plan and revised the replication area to be located downstream of the driveway stream crossing and adjacent to the siltation basin.  The Commission voted to continue this public hearing until June 4, 2019.  

Item 2: 8:09 PM – DEP File #267-0414.  A public hearing was continued for a Notice of Intent (NOI) for a house and septic system on Map 8B, Lot 21 located on Merriam Road for Jennifer Greene. The applicant is still revising engineering designs for the site.  The Commission voted to continue this hearing at a later date.  

Item 3: 8:10 PM.  No DEP File # assigned at this time.  A public hearing was opened for a Ball Hill Road culvert replacement project for the Princeton Highway Department.  Matt Lundsted of Comprehensive Environmental Inc. presented on behalf of the applicant.  The proposed project will replace a five (5) foot diameter metal culvert with a 20-foot open bottom reinforced concrete culvert.  The Commission voted to continue this public hearing until June 4, 2019.    

Item 4:  8:41 PM – DEP File #267-0396.  A public meeting was continued for a Certificate of Compliance for a septic system repair/replacement for 247 East Princeton Road, Marsha and Greg Dowdy.  The Commission voted to approve a Complete Certificate of Compliance.

Item 5: 8:50 PM – A public meeting was opened for a Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) for a property located at 93 East Main Street that is slated for demolition.  Bill Chase submitted the RDA for the proposed demolition of the post and beam barn which will be replaced by a single story garage on the original barn footprint.   The Commission voted to issue a determination with a Negative category 3 with conditions specifically to properly install erosion control along the side of the project area closest to the river, subject to Princeton Conservation Commission (PCC) inspection and approval.  The erosion control(s) will be maintained until the site conditions are stabilized post site construction.  

The Commission discussed two properties located (Lots 3A & 4) on Pine Hill Road.  It appears that work has started on one of the properties without posting requisite DEP File # signage, notification to the PCC of a pre-construction meeting and the PCC has not yet received contractor acknowledgement of the NOI.  The Commission will contact the property owner(s) for an update of site activities.

The Commission discussed 16 Pine Hill Road and that activity has commenced and the Commission will contact the property owner for an update on site activities.

The Commission discussed the Route 140 contractor activity.  The Commission will contact the contractor regarding the NPDES Stormwater Prevention Pollution Plan (“SWPPP”) and copies of written inspection reports required by EPA’s Construction General Permit throughout the duration of construction activities for the record file.

The Commission discussed 23 Hubbardston Road and that the property owner completed the work as described in the NOI.  The Commission will contact the property owner regarding the posting of the DEP File # and trash cleanup.

Brian discussed Article #6 at the 2019 Annual Town Meeting and that the article was approved.

Brian reviewed mail received by the Commission.

The April 30, 2019 meeting minutes were reviewed and approved with no edits.

Forest Cutting Plan(s): None

The next PCC meeting is scheduled for June 4, 2019.

Meeting Adjourned at 9:46 PM.