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Conservation Commission Meeting 11/20/2024
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(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)
This episode provides insights into Raynham's cutting-edge conservation strategies. Join us as we explore the compelling proposal for a building addition at 1443 Broadway, presented by Rebecca from Solar Engineering, which seeks to expand within a wetland buffer zone without disrupting existing ecosystems. We'll unpack the challenges and triumphs of adhering to Massachusetts General Law and local bylaws, ensuring erosion control and pollution prevention measures are top priorities. Our discussion also delves into the board members' reflections on similar past projects, with an emphasis on environmental compliance and the natural buffering of existing structures.
But that's not all; we also bring you an update on the Popeyes drive-thru project on New State Highway, highlighting the approved modifications as well as implications for the riverfront area. Hear about the remarkable efforts of Jean and Cathy Romero in fostering community education on conservation, including osprey nesting initiatives. Finally, we tackle a curious situation at Park Avenue involving a potential beaver dam and discuss the administrative steps needed to address this challenge. Balancing urban development with environmental stewardship, this episode underscores the community's unwavering commitment to sustainable growth and proactive conservation efforts.
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All right, good evening. I'd like to call the November 20th meeting of the Conservation Commission to order. Please be advised all these meetings are recorded Will if?
Speaker 3:you could read it All public hearings and meetings heard by the Rainham Conservation Commission on Wednesday, november 20th 2024 at 5 30 pm in the Rainham Veterans Memorial Town Hall, donald L McKinnon Meeting Room 558 South Main Street, rainham, massachusetts, are relative to joint to filings and joint hearings and or meetings under Mass General Law, chapter 131, section 40 as amended in the Town of Raynham Wetland Protection Bylaw.
Speaker 2:All right, thank you. First on the agenda is a notice of intent for 1443 Broadway, dep number 269-1067. 67, even though you.
Speaker 4:Need presents early Christmas present Three and only two get back Do you need the white slips, or is?
Speaker 2:that okay? No, it's okay Okay. All right Will.
Speaker 3:All right Will. In accordance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 131, section 40, and the Town of Raynham Local Bylaw, the Raynham Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, november 20, 2024, at 5.30 pm in the Donald L McKinnon Meeting Room. Raynham Veterans Memorial Town Hall at 558 South Main Street, rainham, massachusetts. On a notice of intent application filed by 1443 Broadway LLC, rainham, the applicant proposes to construct an addition to an existing commercial building within the buffer zone to a bordering vegetated wetland. The property is owned by 1443 Broadway LLC and is located at 1443 Broadway Random, map 3, parcel 92.
Speaker 4:Good evening, rebecca from Solar Engineering. For the applicant. We're also leaving, but we're the applicant in order of 4443. We appear to discuss the proposed addition that we're going to. Actually, I was going to show you the construction plans. It wasn't put in the package, but sometimes it looks better when you actually see the addition. I only have two. I'm so sorry if you can pass them on. So what we're doing is we're going to be demoing a portion of the building to make this a bigger and more connected space. So the other thing I have is pictures, in case you haven't been out there, on what it looks like, kind of a couple years ago for a drive-by Put this piece right here. This piece right there is going to be what's demoed. So we're going to be taking out this piece right here, okay, and then we're going to actually put it all right back a little bit bigger and a little bit grander, with office, more usable space, overhead door. Those floor plans will show you what the intended use for the inside is.
Speaker 4:All of this work is on existing impervious services. There's no new impervious surfaces for any of this. It's all existing pavement. For the parking, the roof area will still connect to the rain garden that was there in the back for a previous notice and intent and improvement plan. I have pictures and files of that if you wanted to see it.
Speaker 4:The wetlands were flagged April 2024 because there is actually a potential river up a little bit further back. We are 200 feet plus and we do show the riparian on that. In the upper north in the green case, yeah, there's a green patch. That's the 200 foot to the river. That's out there. So we did have ecr do that for us when they flagged the new border and vegetated wetland. We have erosion control along the back where the work will have a limit right in front of the rain garden to protect it, and we did. We got the DEP numbers so we satisfied all of their comments and concerns with O&Ms and long-term pollution prevention plans and other erosion control management systems. I can go through the numbers if you want or you can ask questions and, like I said, the owner is here. If you have more specific questions he can answer.
Speaker 2:How do you feel? Thank you.
Speaker 6:Well, we have seen something similar to this way back on when they did an addition by Turner Brothers, so that's kind of similar to that and they're working. Then the buffer zone but that area is already in previous, so it really qualifies as what you call a redevelopment right, because you are replacing in-kind in previous with in-previous Yep Now for redevelopment. Dep usually would like to see any improvement in green space, green areas, but if there were let's say that there was something there in the period that they wanted to remove they should be able to work in this. This is one of those classic examples of the fact that the existing building actually will act as a buffer. That's why I asked. So just basically, the O&M needs to be tight and the long-term pollution prevention plan, but other than that, it's really.
Speaker 2:I hate to use the phrase here, no-brainer. Yeah, I remember when we did the addition here a few years back, about three or four years. Yeah, yeah, yeah, about three or four years yeah, anybody on the board ever comments we should put a 50-foot on here so I can see how far it was.
Speaker 3:You don't have a 50 foot because it looks like it might be outside the 50 foot, but I can't tell it's like dead nuts on in the corner with my ruler does that change your opinion of things if it's outside the 50 it would.
Speaker 6:No, that's a little corner. There will have, right where the building was, what I would call the little L bottom of it, that little corner there, that little corner might be.
Speaker 3:That's what I'm saying. It's like right on the line of 50 feet, so that's the only spot that I think they're disturbing. That would be within 50 feet. 50 feet is typically our well, the final notice done.
Speaker 6:They didn't do a request.
Speaker 3:I know I appreciate that I mean it would have and it would be easy to tell that we would normally have allowed that.
Speaker 4:But we did a notice of intent for we did a closeout. We're here again just as a courtesy to make sure.
Speaker 3:It would make the decision easier. It's like cut and dry. Alright, give me your plan back. It looks like it is. It's very close. It's just maybe the corner that's nicking it.
Speaker 6:Right that would be my comment on it. But then they will be doing some drainage work though.
Speaker 3:Those are going to be inside the 50. Outside Well, the rain garden, the connections If you look at the the rain garden itself is.
Speaker 6:To tie into the rain gardens and then you have from the building corner there the existing building corner to the roof drains. Those are going to be Okay. Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 3:I don't think that's a big deal All right, anybody else have anything?
Speaker 2:No, I just have one question for the owner. What is it you guys do? I drive by here four times a day.
Speaker 5:We're a laboratory equipment installation company. So yeah, we're a service. I employ all union carpenters Most of our work is in Cambridge, boston. We go down to Providence but yeah, we don't. Very often I have people knock on the door seeing if they can blood work and stuff like that. But yeah, we're just, we're a construction company. We install laboratory furniture and equipment.
Speaker 1:Okay, I asked the same question too. I see the sign out there.
Speaker 2:I'm like what do they actually do?
Speaker 5:We've got a couple good ones.
Speaker 1:Get the phone calls the whole nine yards when you guys are doing the construction. You look like you're pretty tight in the back corner here. Yes, is there anything that's set up that? It looks like you have a silk barrier but is?
Speaker 4:there for the construction debris. Put all the debris now there to prevent it from we're doing a silt sock. Okay, so they've got the silt sock all around it. Yeah, and there's not a lot of tow pull. That's changing. So I'll foresee slopes issue. So it's just really going to demark the limit that the contractors have to stay on Right, so they'll have to put everything on the pavement area and pull it off set.
Speaker 1:It's already impervious areas all right.
Speaker 2:Any other comments? Any comments from the audience? Sure, all right. What would you like to do we? I would like to close. Would you like to close?
Speaker 1:All right. Motion to close the notice of intent 443 Broadway, dep. 269-1067.
Speaker 2:I will second that motion. It's too late. He likes it.
Speaker 5:Motion to remain second at all in favor.
Speaker 2:Aye Opposed, yes, yes.
Speaker 1:Do what, do what. It would be nice. Oh, can we do that? You need to close it. Okay, all right, we have one in December. Yeah, we have one in December.
Speaker 6:Yeah, first of all, is it in December? No, all right, because you're presumably two weeks from today.
Speaker 1:It should be okay. Yeah, yeah, you can vote on that, okay.
Speaker 4:I was going to say are we going to? I will be there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay Then you have the floor. Okay, we're good, we're good, I'm not going to be there, you're not? Well, then, do we want to go run in now?
Speaker 2:then I mean, we can it's gonna be, doesn't matter it doesn't matter it's up to you guys to decide.
Speaker 1:We don't risk a quorum issue. That's fine. They're already gonna be down too, okay, all right, then let's go for it all right, uh motion.
Speaker 6:The only suggestion with that is that any stockpile of material to be cast on the outback, any stockpiling of construction material in the area of the existing on the southwest corner of the property, okay, you can add that to the special conditions.
Speaker 1:Okay, do you want a motion I don't want to overstep?
Speaker 2:want to overstep. I'd like to have a motion to approve um dep number 269 1047 for 144 I mean 1443 broadway 1067. 1067 is a deep number. Oh nice, I'm sorry, dad say it wrong.
Speaker 1:Oh, I'm sorry, Dan, it's the wrong Motion to close. To approve the notice of intent 443 Broadway, dep 269 1067, with the stipulation that the material will not be stored on site.
Speaker 6:I'll second that To the well. Any stockpiling to be limited to the southwest corner, not 27.
Speaker 2:Okay, okay, get that done. All right Motion has been made. Second, seconded All in favor. Aye Opposed In the address.
Speaker 4:Thank you, I think you can. He almost slipped. I think he has a second on that motion.
Speaker 2:Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 5:Thank you, thank you next47, this is a project that we've taken up before it's Popeye Chicken in the Shaw's Plaza Go ahead.
Speaker 7:Sir, good evening Commission. For the record, my name is Tom Liddy, professional wetland scientist from Lucas Environmental. As Mr McRae just pointed out, we were here this time last year actually following a notice of intent for a proposed Popeyes drive-thru and restaurant located at 300-362 New State Highway. At that time this project was reviewed by Planning Board, zoning Board of Appeals as well as this commission, obviously due to the proximity of the site to the 200-foot riverfront area and 100-foot buffer zone of Damlot Brook riverfront area and 100 foot buffer zone of dam lot brook. As part of that project we proposed um approximately 200 2717 square feet of new degraded area within the riverfront area and that required a mitigation plan in the form of. We did a robust invasive species removal and restoration plan within the the forested areas along the brook. That mitigation area totaled 5,600 square feet because we're required to do that at a 2 to 1 ratio. So we got all the approvals at the end of last year with zoning planning.
Speaker 7:Dot needed to review it because it's right on 44, and it's taken this entire year. But we got an approval from DOT. They asked for a modification to the access driveway located here. They wanted a larger turning radius coming in, and this resulted in some modifications right here to allow that wider area, and so this axis drive, this egress driving excuse me was modified slightly. So what we come away with is 47 square feet of new degraded area within the riverfront area, the the total alteration doesn't change. This is all in the improved moment of work. However, because we're coming away with 47 square feet of new degraded area, we needed to be sure that our mitigation was still appropriate. So, even at a two to one ratio, we still fit within that 5600 square foot mitigation area, and this is so.
Speaker 7:We're requesting this as a minor modification in lieu of you know, a know, formal hearing and public hearing. As I mentioned, this will need to go in front of planning and zoning. The attorney has been talking to the building inspector about what they'll be requiring, but we wanted all three boards have the same plans and Just be covered across the board with all these with this minor change. So just be covered across the board with all these with this minor change. So the building doesn't change, the footprint doesn't change, the normal parking spaces doesn't change, the grading doesn't change. It's really, it's really this modification here. So so that's, that's it really. So if you have any questions, I'm happy to answer, that's all good, what do you want?
Speaker 6:Yes, it's very devious, 47. It's something that you're not gonna see out there. So I will say that it's a minor modification that does not require an amended order and that in the ASBIL there will be something on the ASBIL that reflects that configuration.
Speaker 2:I just have one question With making the entrance wider. That didn't go into the area that we talked about, that we had to dig down to get soils that were drainable. No, just that, that's on the other side.
Speaker 7:Yeah, that was up here. Okay, cuz, at our in the initial review, we're gonna try to infiltrate the roof runoff. Yeah, and they were gonna put in an underground infiltration area that I believe it was in this corner. Okay.
Speaker 2:Alright, I just wanna make sure it didn't infect. No Cuz we went around around on that one.
Speaker 7:We did, yeah, we did I just want to make sure it didn't infect. No, it won't, because we went around and around on that one. We did, yeah, we did, and as far as the existing pavement see this blue area the existing pavement line is right here. We're pulling that back still. So it's really. It's all within the approval limit of work. Okay, and that's something that could be caught in the Aspel plan, but we just wanted, since this is going in front of all the boards, we just wanted to be consistent with the plan set across the three boards.
Speaker 2:Just had to answer the question.
Speaker 7:Sorry, I ramble sometimes.
Speaker 2:Anybody else have any questions? All right With that, I will. Oh, anybody else? Nope, all right with that, I will. All right, motion then.
Speaker 1:motion to approve and Agree that it's a minor modification to the order of conditions for 300 362 new state highway. No-transcript.
Speaker 2:I will second that motion. Motion being seconded All in favor, aye Opposed Unanimous. Thank you very much.
Speaker 7:Thank you, sir.
Speaker 2:Thank you. How's your other project? And fight going with the fish ladder.
Speaker 7:It's still going.
Speaker 2:All right.
Speaker 7:We got the 401 water quality cert last week, and so we're just waiting on the Army Corps permit and then Chapter 91, and I think the Office of Dam Safety still has an issue there, but we're close, so no fish ladder no fish ladder.
Speaker 2:We spent months trying to make it work all right, thank you thank you all all right, um next up we have um the save program we have our to save participants.
Speaker 4:Yes, good evening. I'm Cathy Romero. My husband, jean Romero's here and I'll speak for us, unless you have any questions for him. Jean did his usual work at Hewitt's Pond and Forge River Conservation Area picking up trash and clearing sticks and cutting fishing line, doing doing that kind of work, documenting any issues out there, taking some pictures, and when he encountered people walking it Hewitt's Pond, would you know if they asked questions, would give them some answers and a little tour of the area. So that was Jean's project. I have the paperwork here for my project. At your request, I did some research and created a PowerPoint presentation about the osprey nesting at Borden Colony and took the PowerPoint and made it into a video with an audio narration so that I have it saved to the thumb drive and I'm going to share it with the Senior Center and probably the Historical Society and they can run the video on their own. They don't need somebody to present it, just like with the Hewitt's pond project I did before.
Speaker 2:I wonder if you can share it with the cable company, and they can. Sure they could play it on a little too yeah, that'd be cool.
Speaker 4:yeah, to be nice. All right, thank you that suggestion, and I printed out the slides and the narration. I have the option, if somebody's deaf or hard of hearing, they can look at the notes that accompany each slide in case they can't hear the audio. Thanks, nice, sure, yep. Okay, and I put stickies where you have them.
Speaker 2:I'll take care of that Can you return them to the assessors.
Speaker 4:please Do you want me to hold on to this?
Speaker 2:Yeah, you can hold on to that and share it with the people who you just said.
Speaker 4:All right, so thank you. We appreciate the opportunity to do projects and I think you want to talk about I can't wait to see this.
Speaker 1:Good Okay, thanks.
Speaker 2:Yes, we Amy and you, I know have had some discussion about next year's agenda.
Speaker 2:And Amy needs some help in the office getting rid of this. We're running out of room, so we need some help getting files boxed up, sorted out, labeled, and they're moving some of the old files down to the old law school. But it's quite a big project and Amy does not have the time to do it herself. So we approached Kathy and she is on board with sitting down with Amy and figuring some of the things out. Some of the stuff we had Amy came up with was boxing of old records to be put in storage, disposable of records according to mass record retention, schedule Labeling, filing of new records, computer database, excel spreadsheets, whatever that is, and general office organization. So I'm 100% on board with this because, like I said, we're running out of room. Yeah, we are. We kind of got files here and there. That's a great idea. My system before was just put them on top of the filing cabinets.
Speaker 1:Well, it was the system for years. No, it's a great idea. Pile management, pile management Is that what it's called?
Speaker 2:Yes, I have some experience with that I was good at it. That's a great idea. With that, I'd like to just take a vote to say that that's a good program for next year.
Speaker 1:All right. Motion to approve.
Speaker 2:Second Motion to be made. Second made. Second is all in favor, hi. Proof on to send all righty.
Speaker 4:Thank you, thank you very much.
Speaker 6:You got you and Gina very diligent, so it's appreciated.
Speaker 4:I'll be. I'll be in touch with Amy and do the paperwork for next year. Yeah, yeah, extend it. Yeah, okay, sounds good, thank you.
Speaker 2:Do you need copies of these? No, I have copies, you have copies okay, I'll get these signed and get them to the appropriate people.
Speaker 4:All right. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you, we're all set.
Speaker 1:Thanks Gene, thanks Gene.
Speaker 2:Good night.
Speaker 5:Our other volunteers working on the same trails that we are.
Speaker 6:Not that I know of, no, no, okay, because the volume of track for the past couple of years has been like 40% of what it used to be when I first started doing this.
Speaker 2:Well, they know you're on patrol, yeah.
Speaker 1:I don't know if the scouts are doing anything.
Speaker 2:I know the scouts used to go up there and once in a while do some stuff, but nothing official through here, not through us.
Speaker 4:Yeah, Well, it's good to hear anyway.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm glad to see people are taking pride in it. Good Thank you.
Speaker 4:All right, take care, take care, good night.
Speaker 2:Happy Thanksgiving, all right. Next on the agenda did everyone get a chance to read the minutes of November 6th motion to accept second all in favor. Aye opposed unanimous bill. Thank you, thank you, you did something to your will, that's it. Just that one, amy. Just that one. Just that one bill. No.
Speaker 7:He took care of his October bill at the last meeting. Oh, okay.
Speaker 2:I'm looking out for you Correspondents. I don't see anything. Site visits. I did a couple site visits the last couple days. One was some dead trees on johnson's pond. I actually called in the tree warden to get his opinion on them and they are full of ants at the bottom. So they're going to take them down. But, as we all do, leave stumps. And the other one wasn't interesting. Today I went to Park Ave to the apartments, which you've got to go through Taunton to get to it. Oh yeah, but there's a pumping station down there for the apartments and there's like a little pond there or whatever, and it's creeping up towards the pump house. So they went down there and looked and there was a question of whether what beavers were building a dam, and it sits right up against the brand-new railroad bed and the water's gotten quite high. But I went down there and looked and I saw no evidence of beavers chewing the trees or anything like that.
Speaker 2:So I think it's just a blockage yeah, blockage of old sticks and stuff that we're in the woods. It just kind of made itself into a little dam.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they've got to take care of it because it's been ultra dry lately. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's backing up now, so the sewer superintendent was going to contact the property owners and take care of it. Yeah, so that's all I have. Anybody else have anything?
Speaker 4:Amy.
Speaker 1:I just have to have you sign the order that you guys issued.
Speaker 6:Oh, ok, maybe it's got that public special, that one special. That's not yes.
Speaker 2:And it was that the stockpiling of material be limited to the southwest corner of the property. Correct, and our next meeting is December 4th. December 4th, yes, and I will not be here. Got a note for me, mike. I won't be in Disney. I want a note from Mickey, yeah.
Speaker 6:That's too bad. No for me. All right, raleigh Davis, are you waiting for your?
Speaker 2:motion. Motion to adjourn. Second Does she finish this? No, all right. Motion to be made. Seconded All in favor Aye, opposed, unanimous.