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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 3you 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 2All right, thank you. First on the agenda is a notice of intent for 1443 Broadway, dep number 269-1067. 67, even though you.
Speaker 4Need presents early Christmas present Three and only two get back Do you need the white slips, or is?
Speaker 2that okay? No, it's okay Okay. All right Will.
Speaker 3All 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 4Good 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 4All 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 4The 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 2How do you feel? Thank you.
Speaker 6Well, 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 2I 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 3You 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 6No, 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 3That'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 6They didn't do a request.
Speaker 3I know I appreciate that I mean it would have and it would be easy to tell that we would normally have allowed that.
Speaker 4But we did a notice of intent for we did a closeout. We're here again just as a courtesy to make sure.
Speaker 3It 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 6Right that would be my comment on it. But then they will be doing some drainage work though.
Speaker 3Those 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 6To 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 3I don't think that's a big deal All right, anybody else have anything?
Speaker 2No, I just have one question for the owner. What is it you guys do? I drive by here four times a day.
Speaker 5We'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 1Okay, I asked the same question too. I see the sign out there.
Speaker 2I'm like what do they actually do?
Speaker 5We've got a couple good ones.
Speaker 1Get 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 4there 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 1It's already impervious areas all right.
Speaker 2Any 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 1All right. Motion to close the notice of intent 443 Broadway, dep. 269-1067.
Speaker 2I will second that motion. It's too late. He likes it.
Speaker 5Motion to remain second at all in favor.
Speaker 2Aye Opposed, yes, yes.
Speaker 1Do 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 6Yeah, first of all, is it in December? No, all right, because you're presumably two weeks from today.
Speaker 1It should be okay. Yeah, yeah, you can vote on that, okay.
Speaker 4I was going to say are we going to? I will be there.
Speaker 1Yeah, 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 2then I mean, we can it's gonna be, doesn't matter it doesn't matter it's up to you guys to decide.
Speaker 1We 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 6The 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 1Okay, do you want a motion I don't want to overstep?
Speaker 2want 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 1Oh, 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 6I'll second that To the well. Any stockpiling to be limited to the southwest corner, not 27.
Speaker 2Okay, okay, get that done. All right Motion has been made. Second, seconded All in favor. Aye Opposed In the address.
Speaker 4Thank you, I think you can. He almost slipped. I think he has a second on that motion.
Speaker 2Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 5Thank 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.
Riverfront Project Minor Modification Approval
Speaker 7Sir, 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 7Dot 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 7We'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 6Yes, 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 2I 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 7Yeah, 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 2Alright, I just wanna make sure it didn't infect. No Cuz we went around around on that one.
Speaker 7We 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 2Just had to answer the question.
Speaker 7Sorry, I ramble sometimes.
Speaker 2Anybody 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 1motion to approve and Agree that it's a minor modification to the order of conditions for 300 362 new state highway. No-transcript.
Speaker 2I will second that motion. Motion being seconded All in favor, aye Opposed Unanimous. Thank you very much.
Speaker 7Thank you, sir.
Speaker 2Thank you. How's your other project? And fight going with the fish ladder.
Speaker 7It's still going.
Speaker 2All right.
Speaker 7We 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 2We 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 4Yes, 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 2I 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 4yeah, 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 2I'll take care of that Can you return them to the assessors.
Speaker 4please Do you want me to hold on to this?
Speaker 2Yeah, you can hold on to that and share it with the people who you just said.
Speaker 4All 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 1Good Okay, thanks.
Speaker 2Yes, we Amy and you, I know have had some discussion about next year's agenda.
Speaker 2And 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 1Well, it was the system for years. No, it's a great idea. Pile management, pile management Is that what it's called?
Speaker 2Yes, 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 1All right. Motion to approve.
Speaker 2Second Motion to be made. Second made. Second is all in favor, hi. Proof on to send all righty.
Speaker 4Thank you, thank you very much.
Speaker 6You got you and Gina very diligent, so it's appreciated.
Speaker 4I'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 2Do 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 4All right. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you, we're all set.
Speaker 1Thanks Gene, thanks Gene.
Speaker 2Good night.
Speaker 5Our other volunteers working on the same trails that we are.
Speaker 6Not 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 2Well, they know you're on patrol, yeah.
Speaker 1I don't know if the scouts are doing anything.
Speaker 2I 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 4Yeah, Well, it's good to hear anyway.
Speaker 2Yeah, I'm glad to see people are taking pride in it. Good Thank you.
Speaker 4All right, take care, take care, good night.
Speaker 2Happy 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 7He took care of his October bill at the last meeting. Oh, okay.
Park Avenue Pumping Station Issue
Speaker 2I'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 2So 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 3Yeah, they've got to take care of it because it's been ultra dry lately. Yeah.
Speaker 2Yeah, 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 4Amy.
Speaker 1I just have to have you sign the order that you guys issued.
Speaker 6Oh, ok, maybe it's got that public special, that one special. That's not yes.
Speaker 2And 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 6That's too bad. No for me. All right, raleigh Davis, are you waiting for your?
Speaker 2motion. Motion to adjourn. Second Does she finish this? No, all right. Motion to be made. Seconded All in favor Aye, opposed, unanimous.