The Raynham Channel

Conservation Commission 10/15/2025

• Raynham

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(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)

A failing culvert doesn’t just slow traffic—it can back up storms, strand neighbors, and choke a living stream. We bring you inside the Raynham Conservation Commission hearing where Pine Street’s twin-barrel concrete box over Bassett Brook gets a full rethink to meet modern stream crossing standards, protect wetlands, and reduce flood risk. Along the way, we navigate what the law actually requires, why “wider and embedded” matters for fish passage, and how a carefully staged plan can keep a one-way lane open while crews rebuild the crossing.

We start with a quick procedural item—a single-family lot with grading in a buffer zone that’s continued pending a DEP file number—then move into the main event: design choices that trade debris-prone boxes for an embedded four-sided structure with natural substrate and scour protection. We walk through resource areas affected—bank, land under water, bordering vegetated wetland, floodplain, and riverfront—and unpack the replication plan that restores wetland functions one-to-one. DEP’s feedback triggers practical steps: confirming abutter notifications, clarifying whether a Chapter 91 license applies, and coordinating with MassWildlife on potential time-of-year restrictions for a cold-water fishery. On permitting, the team explains why a separate 401 Water Quality Certification isn’t required under the thresholds and how a 404 application to the Army Corps fits into the timeline.

Neighbors raise pressing questions about sidewalks, tree clearing, and construction impacts. We keep the focus on wetlands jurisdiction while offering clear answers about staged demolition and reconstruction—half at a time, alternating one-way traffic, and improved conveyance that reduces backwater and flood hazards. To make it tangible, the project will mark limits of work, replication areas, and drainage features so residents can see what’s changing on the ground. It’s a candid look at how public works, environmental standards, and community needs meet at the water’s edge.

If this kind of nuts-and-bolts civic work matters to you, follow the show, share this episode with a neighbor on Pine Street, and leave a quick review telling us what you want clarified next. Your questions shape what we cover next time.

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SPEAKER_04:

Good evening, everyone. Would you like to call the October fifteenth meeting of the Uranian Conservation Commission to order? Please be advised that all these meetings are recorded.

SPEAKER_09:

All public hearings and meetings served by the Iranium Conservation Commission on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 5 30 p.m. in Iranium Veterans Memorial Town Hall, Donald McKinney. McKinney Meeting Room, 53 South Main Street, Ranium Mass. Are relative to findings and joint hearings and all meetings under Mass General Law Chapter 131 and 40 as amended in the town of Ranium Well and Protection By Law.

SPEAKER_04:

All right, even the first one we have up is those who are watch 7. Um we have those email buffers for single family home.

SPEAKER_08:

Located at lot 7 Spruce Street, Rainham, Massachusetts. Property is owned by West Pine Estates. It is shown as parcel 55-7 on the Rainham Assessors Map 13. Spruce Street Austin Shircle. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, October 15th, 2025, at 5 30 p.m. at the Rainham Town Hall, located at 558 South Main Street, Rainham, Massachusetts. Copies of the NOIN plan may be reviewed reviewed at the Renum Office.

SPEAKER_00:

Hi, I'm uh Bernard Perati. Um I'm uh PLS, so I uh survey and I'm here to present the plan. I will present this plan. Okay. Um this is the uh the lot seven single family dwelling. Uh the work is um there's only grading being done within the buffer zone. Um all the other work is uh outside the buffer zone. Okay.

SPEAKER_04:

Do you know the difference between the real property line and the real property line?

SPEAKER_00:

I don't know exactly. This rear dashed line is the uh rear horizontal setback that's twenty. This looks like it's not even less than that slide table.

SPEAKER_09:

Anyone have any questions?

SPEAKER_00:

I believe all the trees the tree removal has already been completed out of the site.

SPEAKER_04:

My only uh question to the board would be I realize the wetlands are off the lot of being so close to the property line. I believe they should be inside just inside the property line. Anyone from the audience have any comments, questions, concerns?

SPEAKER_07:

No are you here for this project, sir?

SPEAKER_04:

Are you here for this project? Yeah, okay, step up to the mic, please. Give me the name and address. Hold on. You're trying to get it's not for this. Oh good thing you got good neighbors.

SPEAKER_00:

For the DEP number, what are they we missing the the last those last four digits? Well, the first number two six nine uh all ready number numbers. Oh, I see. Yep. Yeah, okay. Yeah, you must have not have yeah, they must not have been approved.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, last we checked with the DEP website, uh uh there was no numbers issued.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, okay. Then I'll check I'll check with them and we'll get that number to you.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, so um we will have to continue this to uh next meeting. Okay, because there's no way we can't close it without giving the email.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, we didn't include that in this.

SPEAKER_04:

That wouldn't be on the planet. I wouldn't think so. Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay. All right. No problem then. We'll get that to you and we'll close it up next time.

SPEAKER_04:

So can I have a motion to continue to October?

SPEAKER_09:

Uh would be November. Oh, sorry. Uh motion to continue November fifth meeting.

SPEAKER_04:

All in favor, a nine. Opposed.

SPEAKER_08:

Notice of an intent filed by uh Raymond Peterson incorporated on behalf of the Rainham or the Town of Rainham for the proposed replacement of the existing culvert, which conveys Pine Street over Bassett Brook in the town of Rainham, Massachusetts. The culvert is located approximately 415 north of the X254. And 531 515 copies go.

SPEAKER_03:

Um let's just write it. The town is proposing to replace the existing culvert, which fine street over the basketbrook. Uh, you can look at the function here, which is five steps in front of you. The basket brook flows down the page. Uh it's approximately 815 feet east to the Potton River. Uh the existing culvert is a very poor condition. Um there's some pre-severe erosion that's down at the uh concrete pier. The existing culvert is a twin barrel concrete box that uh was displayed in the latter half of the 20th century. So this project came about, the town got a grant from the Division of Ecological Restoration to study and design for replacement. So the existing culvert doesn't meet the street crossing standards, you know, or conditioned structurally. The proposed replacement will meet the street crossing standards and provide transportation. So the resource areas present on the site include bank and land underwater associated with acid brook, right on the stream, uh, border and vegetative adjacent to passive brook, 200-foot riverfront area associated with the brook, and uh bordering lines of the flooding flood. So the center of the project is really the culprit replacement, but we're also going to be doing roadway reconstruction on Pine Street. So flight line to establish consistent 13-foot lane widths and construction of a sidewalk on the southbound side or the uh west side of the roads adjacent to 961 and 925 on Pine Street. Um total improvements to catch bases for construction of existing outfalls, and that's sort of a summary of the project. Um happy to turn it over to the commission if there's any comments, but also just note that we did receive the file number from DEP with some comments, which I'm happy to read in for your references and we provide responses as well. Yeah, if you want to do the DEP conference. Sure. No, absolutely. So TEP indicated, uh let's see. First one, the applicant may wish to reach out to the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife for any potential time of year restrictions given proximity to the Ton River and the books classifications of cold water fishery. Uh so we did get in touch or we reached out to Mass Wildlife regarding potential need for time of year restrictions. Uh, we have not heard back from them. We anticipate that they'll also be involved in the uh Army Corps permitting process that we'll go through for this. So if we hear back, we certainly share any updates with the commission regarding time of year restrictions and build those into the contract specs so that they're not doing water work during those windows, but as of this point, no updates. I do have just a copy of the email that we sent to Mass Wildlife.

SPEAKER_04:

Okay. And I know it's different divisions within Mass Wildlife.

SPEAKER_03:

Um have you uh checked for national average? Yep. Yeah, we're not looking within the speed priority at a time. Uh second comment, let's see. Uhunders list was not included in the NOI that the department received. Conservation commission should confirm compliance with 310 CMR 10.054A. So we have the certifications there, and then this is the map and certified list that we received from the assessors. Yep.

SPEAKER_04:

And did you forward that information to DEP? Yep.

SPEAKER_03:

Okay. Yeah, and we received confirmation that they had received our license. Um additional requirements, Chapter 91 license may be required. We were aware of that. We're filing a WW04 determination with the Department of Waterways to determine whether or not they're going to require a full license for this in certain cases with the DER called replacement grants. They don't require a full license, but we're going to confirm that with them regardless of the commission we notify for that submission as well. And then they provided a slightly longer comment here based upon the information submitted in and with your notice of intent. A separate 401 water quality certification application form is not required, provided that A, activities are conducted in compliance with Mass General Law Chapter 131, section 40 of the Weapons Protection Act. And the final sort of conditions permitting the activities does not result in the loss of more than 5,000 square feet cumulatively of ordering and isolated vegetative weapons in land of the water, and/or the dredging of more than 15 yards of land of the water. So we are below both of those thresholds. That's in the resident 10 of the WPA13 that we provided, as well as outlined narrative. They also indicate the final order of conditions requires at least one to one replacement of the PPW, which we are proposing. That's on the direction right here, the east side of the project. There's a weapon replication area down here, just the west side. I'm looking at the side now, I apologize.

SPEAKER_04:

I'm looking at the one.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, northeast of the other way. Okay, so the east side. Um perfect. And uh yep, so that was indicating that we will not require a water quality circuit as correctly designed to anticipate any changes in the system is requested from us. Um and then we'll also be filing a 404 application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers probably next week. Um we can certainly copy the commission on that. Um the only other thing I would mention before giving it back to you, is I know that we have at least one of butter reach out to us as Mr. Domo at 925 Pine Street. He has some questions about the roadway improvements as well as the uh right-of-way takings, which we're proposed as part of this project. Um, you know, my specialty here is the informative environmental stuff, but I know that Norm from the highway department, as well as my colleague Sid, who's a resident engineer working on a few projects in Random, you know, will be in touch with the letters regarding the right-of-way process. Um that will be in the next few months here. And I think they anticipate breaking ground before the the winter shutdown at this point.

SPEAKER_04:

Um I think staked out or laid out now. Um as far as limit of proposed improvements, things like that. I mean, yeah, basically where the cover's gonna go or uh you know where the area of uh disturbance will go.

SPEAKER_03:

Is anything marked yet? I don't think no, there's nothing marked yet, uh, but we could you know arrange for that to actually.

SPEAKER_04:

Because what I'd like to suggest to the board is that uh everybody take a ride down there and and uh take a look at it. Oh I have a second time. It would be nice if we have a couple markers to show you know um kind of the layout of where the culvert will go and uh the area of disturbance. Yeah, the replication area.

SPEAKER_03:

Yep. Yeah, I think you know we could definitely arrange for that. One thing I would say is that this culvert is much wider than what's out there now. Yeah. And that's to you know meet the stream crossing standards and better pass the flood flows that we get, especially if you're a non-free event. Um so that's where some of the impacts that you just openbox covered, right? Yeah, it's a four-sided, but it's uh gonna be embedded natural string that material.

SPEAKER_09:

I just echoed the concrete thing just made.

SPEAKER_02:

What's the existing carry right now? Is it a bridge or is it a it's uh twin barrel concrete box? Okay, yeah. So it's uh it doesn't matter that he doesn't have an open box because they gotta dig it out anyway.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah. Yeah. You're gonna have to dig all that out. Yeah, it's 36 inches.

SPEAKER_04:

Each one is 36 inches wide by 46 tall, and uh and the the reason we've been trying to do open box culprits whenever we have crossings like this is for the fact that no debris would get hung up in one that's that big that will stop and back up the flow and flood people out.

SPEAKER_03:

That's that's our biggest worry. Absolutely. And so this one, like I said, it's 20 feet wide, and the height of the structure itself when they install it is 10 feet, and then you get uh 12 inches of modified rock fill for scour protection, two feet of natural material, so it's still gonna have an opening of seven feet in height, much much higher than what's out there. So I think yeah.

SPEAKER_04:

No, I I mean I've been out there, I know what I was up there with looking at originally when they had the temple road closure. Yeah, and uh you know it definitely needs a replacement. Alright. Um if anybody else said anything, I'll have to comment. Come on up, sir. Just just to let just to let you know that just to let you know, we can't address any type of road work, land taking, it's strictly the weapons protection act, is what we're just for conservation. Conservation for weapons. Same thing. Conservation. We're in charge of the weapons protection act, so that's what we're doing here.

SPEAKER_07:

My good my only concern as far as that was the uh the sidewalk. We can't talk about the sidewalk. I wonder if there's a sidewalk over the front of my house or on the other side of the street.

SPEAKER_04:

That's no, that's what you're gonna have to talk to the highway superintendent. Um but I believe his comment was the sidewalk's gonna go on the west side of the road. Which is what I'd like to be.

SPEAKER_07:

Just to clarify if I so what's your address, sir? 972.8. 972, yep.

SPEAKER_03:

So you're on this side, and the sidewalk is on the opposite side from you. So on the other side? Yeah, so it's adjacent to 961 and 925. So it's uh select concrete sidewalk here. Yeah. So you got a room right there. Yep. So it's a little difficult to see that the sidewalk runs right. So this is this is the uh station.

SPEAKER_07:

Yep. All right.

SPEAKER_03:

The sidewalk's gonna end right there. Yeah, so the sidewalk ends just within our project list. There's no tree taking on that. So there will be some tree clearing. You can see this thick black line. But I'll buy the clo I'll buy the role, but nothing, nothing further. No, nothing further. All right.

SPEAKER_07:

That's great.

SPEAKER_04:

Do you agree with that, sir?

unknown:

Okay.

SPEAKER_01:

Uh just one question.

unknown:

Just like I was.

SPEAKER_01:

Uh and next one maybe we've uh brick nuts for I was just wondering why we're at this point. We issued like 150 permits for single-filled homes down the street that are already being built. Shouldn't have this been done before we did that.

SPEAKER_04:

That's a question I cannot answer. Yeah, I just take it. That would be a question for the border selectmen or the highway department.

SPEAKER_01:

And how are you gonna build this bridge? There's only one way in and one way out. So it's gonna be you can't tear the bridge out. You've got to build one side and another side? Yep. Okay. All right, we'll take it.

SPEAKER_03:

So just keep to that theoretic, we are gonna be doing staged construction. So essentially, uh, let me just pull it up so I can make your sequence in the NOI. So your first phase is gonna be pre-demolition site preparation. Um, you know, that's gonna involve relocation of utilities, installation erosion, sedimentation controls, you know, all the site work to stake out will certainly be sooner than that, but it'll be staked. Uh demolition, we're gonna start on the upstream or west side of the culvert. So they'll you know take out that half, keep half of the roadway open, and then construct the west side, open that newly constructed portion, then move down to the downstream side, do the demolition there, build the downstream or eastern portion of the culvert, then reopen the whole roadway. So, yeah, it'll be phased, uh, probably alternating one-way flow, but it's a it's a relatively lower traffic roadway, so it should be okay on the floor.

SPEAKER_06:

Why have the barrels moved to the other side since they plated that side? This was the weakest side of the bridge. Now the barrels are over here. So now they're driving on the weaker side of the bridge.

SPEAKER_04:

That that is once again a question for the highway department. Yeah. Um I'll follow up with Norm. Um Norm's a very good guy. He'll be willing to answer. He's supposed to meet with him, anyways. Yeah. Yeah, he definitely answered.

SPEAKER_06:

Alright, anything else? That should be it. Okay. You guys can't answer anything for us, so you guys can't answer anything anyways, it's up to these guys.

SPEAKER_04:

I mean, I can answer wetlands questions. I'd love to answer them, but as far as layout and sidewalks and pipes still going through my yard? There's two.

SPEAKER_03:

So which property users? 961, 961, so here. Uh drainage pipes in the proposed condition. Here we see that triangle. And then another one here where you see this one.

SPEAKER_05:

Where's the one you said? And you go off. Okay. Yeah, that's the same.

SPEAKER_04:

Okay. Um that said, uh where do you think you could get you know the state of? The state of.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, I think your next year is November, right?

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah. And your next meetings are two weeks. I mean that'd be that would be quick. Yeah.

SPEAKER_09:

I think it's three weeks actually. Is it three weeks?

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah. I lost my check. If we could potentially continue to that next year. The November 5th? Yep. And then what I'll do is get in touch with our survey team, see if they can get someone out within that window. If not, I'll follow up and we'll just request to continue with us.

SPEAKER_04:

Alright. Yeah, I just want everybody to get a look at it and see where it actually thinks are going to be. Absolutely. Okay. Alright. Uh we have a motion to continue to November 5th, please.

SPEAKER_09:

I will make a motion to continue uh to November 5th.

SPEAKER_04:

I'll second that motion. Motion seconded. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Yes. So our next meeting, gentlemen, will be on November 5th? No. Okay? Thanks.

SPEAKER_06:

On this. Yep.

SPEAKER_03:

Okay. Um doing. So get in touch with more and see tomorrow.

SPEAKER_04:

Did everybody get a chance to review the minutes of October 1st? Yes. I'll make a motion to accept the minutes for October 1st. Second. Do I hear a second? I will obstacle. Did you read the minutes?

unknown:

Second it.

SPEAKER_04:

I will hear it. Yep. Motion made and seconded. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Abstain. Phil seconds? Alright. No correspondence. No real site visits going on. So this gets done. So with that, what should you do at your hand? Second. Second, all favor. Aye. I post.