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Conservation Commission 3/5/2025
(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)
In this episode, we engage in a thought-provoking discussion about local conservation efforts, exploring the balance between development and environmental stewardship. Through firsthand accounts from community members, we delve into the specifics of the ongoing requests for determination concerning properties on King Philip Street and Wildwood Path. As engineers and residents voice their insights, listeners gain an inside look at the decision-making processes that impact our vibrant wetlands.
Get ready to learn about the regulations that protect these crucial ecosystems and hear real worries from those living near proposed construction sites. We touch upon the necessity of responsible land use planning and erosion control measures to safeguard our wetlands. This episode serves as a reminder of the impact of your local governance on the environment, illuminating the often-overlooked conversations that take place in town meetings.
Join the discussion and share your thoughts on the complexities surrounding conservation and development. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review to keep the conversation going!
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Good evening everyone. I'd like to call the March 5th meeting of the Rainham Conservation Commission to order.
Speaker 2:Please be advised all these meetings are recorded Will you read us in All public hearings and meetings heard by the random conservation Commission on Wednesday, march 5th 2025 at 5 30 pm. In the rain in veterans memorial town hall, donald L McKinnon meeting room by 58 south main street. Rain of Massachusetts. A relative to filing some joint hearings and or meetings. Mass general General Law, chapter 131, section 40, as amended, and the Town of Rainham Wetland Protection Bylaw All right.
Speaker 1:First up is a continued request for determination of epic durability for 412 King Phillip Street.
Speaker 4:Good evening. I'm Brad Fitzgerald from SFG Engineering, 28 Main Street in Lakeville.
Speaker 1:Before you go, I just got one question for you. I don't know if I saw this last time or not. The correction on the ad the original ad was wrong. I had the wrong day, had the wrong day, okay. So when did the? I'm assuming by the notices here that the corrected one gets filed on 129?.
Speaker 4:The next day from the first one. Yes, okay, all right very good then.
Speaker 1:Thank you, you're welcome. I want to clarify that.
Speaker 4:Go ahead. Okay, at the last meeting I presented the plan. The owners wish to put an addition, a large addition, on the north side of the house, the existing wetland line there that we re-flagged. It had been flagged a number of times. However, we did not have DEP data sheets, so we did talk to Steven Shamil, the botanist, and he went out there and redid some data sheets and you have those in front of you.
Speaker 4:So he agreed that the line looked good and his sheets. He did his testing at flag number four and he did upland side, he did wetland side and confirmed that the line was accurate.
Speaker 4:That's the original plan yes, okay, I believe the way we left it was that you needed the data sheets. But if you like, I can kind of summarize. The building itself will be 104 feet from the edge of wetland. The driveway will be approximately 74 feet. Finished grading at the driveway will be about 62 feet. Erosion control will be set at 60 feet from the wetland line will be set at 60 feet from the wetland line. We're just requesting, hopefully, a negative determination that the work won't have an impact on the wetlands.
Speaker 1:Okay, so you would assume.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I think you'd better put this in the head of these. Okay, all right, anyone on the?
Speaker 1:board have any questions concerns yeah, no, okay, all right. Anyone on the board have any questions concerns the only no, sure, yeah, actually, the only thing here is the State of Florida, 12-12-f. It's King Philip Street. Okay, so the leader just didn't get that text. All right, just paperwork-wise, just have them change the address. Okay, so it's DEP. Doesn't kick it back and say, hey, that says that and you're on the street. Okay, all right, nobody else. Anyone in the audience have any comments concerns? Yeah sir, step up tonight. Name and address.
Speaker 6:My name's Gerald Mulbeck. I live on the 455 Broadway in Rainham. My property abuts in the rear land, which is probably what we're talking about. My concerns was the I know that the wetland borderline is supposed to be so many feet and then there's a driveway. I believe that's going to be on the side of that house. The approximate addition is going to be 104 feet from the wetland and the driveway is going to be 74. The shoulder has existing wetland. The driveway is going to be 74. The show that is existing right over here.
Speaker 5:Yeah that's existing and then they're doing a adding this little area here. So that area that they're going to be adding is showing the closest point is 74 feet 74 feet.
Speaker 6:And then it was looking for it was looking at 60 feet, so my concern there was the actual grade. I don't know where that is. I didn't go back there and look at where the building is and how much grading there is before it hits the right land.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the grading I'll let the engineer go through it. The grading I'll let the engineer, go through it.
Speaker 4:The grading is minimal. You can see that this line with the 101, 198 would be the proposed grading, so it's gonna be about 60, I think it said 62 feet from the end of that wetland and that will show that you won't see the road controls stay in place until that grass stays.
Speaker 6:So is this the bottom of where the property exists, or is this?
Speaker 4:the element. This is the property line over here. Here's the wetland line here. Okay, broadway's over here. Here that's what the dashed lines are in these. The 98 in the box is a proposed elevation. So that's the proposal. Yes, that's down. A comparison to the existing elevation.
Speaker 4:correct, the existing elevation with that 98 is right now is about 97. That would come up a bottle, for you recently're raising it above a foot, just above, yeah, above a foot, but it's going to feather back down into the distant range, so it's going to slow or wake up towards it. So you're slowing it towards it. So that's my concern, so that the car can get out turn around and it will go down the driveway.
Speaker 6:So this is where the driveway is going to be, this deck, so the hatch, yeah, that's right. That's my concern. This is closer to the well and in the actual building.
Speaker 1:So okay, now these what the turnaround tucked us.
Speaker 6:Okay with that great being and downhill. I mean you guys right, when you have a car, you can watch the car. Is that going to affect?
Speaker 1:to effect that wetland. Because of that, the distance is my concern and my answer to that would be there should be no ill effect from it, because you're 75 feet from the no touch zone and you're another 25 feet from the actual wetlands. So you're looking at, you know, almost 100 feet from the edge of the driveway to the actual wetlands. That's my concern and it's gonna be all yeah, it's gonna be all grass today, everything so car suds, whatever you know, get washed off, will dissipate over a large area. It won't be two feet in the dividend weapons. So there is a good barrier there.
Speaker 6:It won't be channeled toward the wetland, no, it'll be a gentle flow, right, but in time that gentle flow everything moves on as time goes by is my concern. So 20, 20 years from now, my gentle flow is going to reach probably less time than that it's going to reach my wetlands. What I'm finding is that goes into my backyard, that water pressure. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 5:Well, this is a single family project.
Speaker 6:Yeah, I understand that, but that's an addition where someone's gonna be living yeah, but it's still a single family project. Yeah, I understand that, but that's an addition where someone's going to be living.
Speaker 5:Yeah, but it's still a single family house. The State Wetlands Protection Act does not require any minimum distance from wetlands to any building. It doesn't require that the town of Rainham, under its local regulations, require that you be at least 25 feet.
Speaker 6:They are proposing to be at least 60 feet. So Okay, that's those numbers in. I didn't know those numbers in.
Speaker 5:Yeah so they can technically bring everything to 25 feet from weapons that is allowed under these regulations.
Speaker 6:But I'm waiting up to you to make the decision. Anyways, I just want to know my concerns.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, it's.
Speaker 5:So I think I'm answering your concerns, if you will. So by virtue of that increase in separation? Yeah, I didn't have additional protection.
Speaker 1:There's numbers in there that I didn't understand. Yeah, no, thank you, and you know that's why we go town of Rainham. We strive to go beyond the state regulations to address those water issues for people. You know we've doubled the requirement, all right, anyone else? For people you know, with double the requirement, all right, okay, anyone else? All right, what would you?
Speaker 4:like to do. I would like to request that you issue a negative determination. Closing hearing. Closing hearing, please. Okay, you know, don't release anything until I get it revised yes, that's our plan that issues motion.
Speaker 3:Please motion to close the hearing and continue to request for determination. 412 king street, king filler street.
Speaker 1:I will second that motion. Motion to be made and second, to close the hearing. All in favor Aye, opposed None. Motion to issue a negative three determination on the request for determination.
Speaker 5:Applicability for 212 King Philip Street. I will make this after the second search. Do I have a second first Second. So I have a second first. Yeah, I second Second. Okay. So I will recommend that, prior to issue that same offer to the building permit, that a surveyor certify that, in the case of erosion control barrier has been installed and the location approved and inspected by the commission. Prior's Commission Committee.
Speaker 3:Any add-ons to the term no.
Speaker 6:Okay, can I go with that amendment? Yes, and the change in address.
Speaker 1:The change in address. Yes, okay. Motion to be made seconded. All in favor. Aye, opposed Any add-ons. Thank you very much. Thank you, gentlemen, thank you. Motion to be made seconded. All in favor.
Speaker 6:Aye opposed thank you very much, all right?
Speaker 1:Next up is a request for determination of capability for 60 Wildwood Path. Well, sir, 60 Wildwood path. Well, sir. Well, I'll explain in a minute. Okay, go ahead, sir. Sure, oh, I need to. Okay, I can do it. So I thought you were before. Yeah, okay, sir, thank you. I also need full-size copies of the plans. I agree, you'd like that? Okay, well, here, just I'll explain in a minute.
Speaker 2:Just keep them separate, okay, all right In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 131, section Section 40 in the Town of Random, local By-law. The Random Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, march 5th 2025 at 5.30 PM in the Donald L McKinnon Meeting Room in the Random Veterans Memorial Town Hall located at 558 South Main Street, random, massachusetts.
Speaker 2:On our request for determination of applicability filed by Brian McDonald, the applicant proposes to clear and grade to the reader boundary line, which is 75 feet from the closest wetland boundary, at the location of lot 6 of the Wildwood Path and assessor's map 13, plot 43-6, lot 6. The property is owned by Brian McDonald. Copies of the application and plans may be viewed at the random consultation commission office during normal business hours.
Speaker 5:Go ahead, sir.
Speaker 7:Sure. Good evening everyone. My name is Brian McDonald from 74th Street. My wife and I are currently building a home on lot 6 of Wildwood Path, which is also known as 60 Wildwood Path. I believe that will be converted to that address when we officially move in.
Speaker 7:We are now at a point where we are backfilling the property, so it's most cost effective for us right now to continue the grading to our property line while the excavator is actually at the property. As you can see from the drawing, there are some trees that go beyond the 100 foot buffer zone that we would like to remove and continue uh grading to the end of the property. We're also proposing to move that erosion control back beyond.
Speaker 7:That mark looks like we will be, you know, close to around that 75 foot mark from the wetlands and we're also proposing to put a chain link fence in that area as well, closer to that point in the project, and we're also proposing to put an in-ground pool, which you'll see on the drawing as well. That will be right on that 100-foot buffer zone as well. So I worked with my engineer to make sure that we put everything that we're proposing to do on the property, just so everything's kind of laid out so the town knows exactly what we're proposing to do in that section of the property that has the subdivision that's right off of Lucas Street, right, correct?
Speaker 5:right off of Lucas Street, right, correct, right off of Lucas Street, correct? Yeah, lucas is a good surveyor, so they're working on that. So this is like the previous one. Yeah, you know, they've been picking certified feed and erosion control damage. So on, the purpose is to make sure Actually the weapons are a property. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1:Who owns the property out there with weapons in general? Is it part of the development?
Speaker 7:or Actually I don't know. I'd have to look at the kind of master plan. I'm not sure. Yeah, we can follow up with luke on that yeah, it's needed.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean it doesn't affect this, I just care yeah, yeah I'm not, I'm not sure. Remember they built the proper land, that's sort of certified performance.
Speaker 6:Yeah, it's great drive back there too just a little bit.
Speaker 7:So like that, so like the one, just like the other one, the same the infection for the angiocontrol. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Correct, correct, it's on. It's on the horse farm side. So the other east side of the street, the horse farm is out here in the driveway, either before or after it.
Speaker 7:History, I should say after looking right, the property is to the left side. To the left side, yeah, to the left side. So you're on the far right.
Speaker 1:Correct, yeah, correct. The house to the left of us is still on for sale. I think there's like eight lots of solar there?
Speaker 7:Yeah, there's either nine I months or so in there. Yeah, it's either nine I believe all right any questions no, no all
Speaker 1:right, uh would you like to close the hearing sir?
Speaker 7:yes, we've. Now. We've asked for everything of determinations before we continue backfilling and continuing our project. So I appreciate it, you're going to reverse on this.
Speaker 3:It is homework Very good. I'd like to motion to close the hearing. Any questions? Determination on 6th of August.
Speaker 1:I will second that Motion to be made seconded. All in favor.
Speaker 3:Aye.
Speaker 1:Aye, opposed. Yes, I would go with the same as Hayvale line inspection prior to any work.
Speaker 3:Motion to issue a negative determination on the capability of 160-mile-per-minute path, with the installation of motion control barriers, to be respected and reviewed before the work continues.
Speaker 1:I'll second that Motion to be made and seconded.
Speaker 7:All in favor, we uh set and uh certify that they're in the right position. Call the office, send an email and amy will get a hold of one of us. Okay, all right thank you everyone really appreciate it all right, thank you, thank you oh, it's amy's fault enough explanation?
Speaker 1:no, we weren't sure what the plan was going to be, so this was the original plan for the subdivision so we wanted to have that on hand, okay.
Speaker 1:She was covering the bases, ended up not needing it, but she covered the bases. All right, thank you sir. Thank you everyone Thanks. Thank you, yep. We lost one. Okay, all right, thank you sir. Thank you everyone, thanks. Thank you, I lost my glasses, all right, um, did everyone get a chance to review the minutes of february 5th motion to accept. I will second that motion. Motion being seconded. All in favor. Aye pose unanimous. Oh you know.
Speaker 3:I have been saying I realize I wasn't here.
Speaker 1:All right, she's seconded, he abstains, we're all good. Bills do we have any bills? No bills, no bills. All of them are new members. I can't remember any correspondence site visits. I've done a couple of A bills, uh, mess, electric ones yeah, those have been the big ones. Uh, other than that, uh, status quo motion closed.
Speaker 6:Motion to adjourn second is motion to adjourn motion we made second to adjourn all in favor, aye opposed.