CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
Meeting Minutes of Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Meeting Room #1- 7:00 PM
Vice Chairman Donald Duffy called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Present were Commissioners Peter Izyk, Christine Beauregard and Robert Ring. Also present was Principal Clerk Mary Watson recording the minutes. Chairman David Johnson was absent.
7:00 PM-Notice of Intent for Sherry Granger-for the property located at 81 Flynt Street, Palmer.
Present was the applicant Sherry Granger and Donald Frydryk of Sherman and Frydryk Land Surveying and Engineering. Also present was Bill Gunn of the Palmer Community Development Department.
The Community Development Department has received grant money to allow the applicant to demolish the existing mobile home and rebuild a single family home 26 feet wide by 40 feet long. The proposed home will be located in the same area of the existing mobile home.
D.Frydryk stated that the project includes erecting erosion controls at the limit of work along the roadway frontage and the left property sideline at the edge of the lawn. The applicant is also proposing to construct a 10-foot wide, 65-foot long driveway along the right sideline of the property. The existing residence is 28 feet from the wetland limit. The proposed residence will be 41 feet from the wetland limit.
All disturbed areas will be re-graded, loamed, seeded and mulched. The limit of work would be placed inside the existing landscaped bed along the top slope of the channel.
D.Frydryk stated that the erosion controls would be installed prior to beginning the project and they would remain in place until the area has been stabilized.
C.Beauregard asked why the southeast corner of the proposed house is located in the 50’ buffer zone. If the proposed house were moved out of the 50’ buffer would the applicant consider changing the plan if it would not be too much trouble?
D.Frydryk stated that the Planning Board had approved the applicant for a Finding at their meeting on August 24, however the change does not seem to affect the permit that has already been approved by the Board.
7:10 PM-Member Matthew Trybus joined the meeting.
Discussions were held regarding moving the proposed house out of the 50’ buffer zone.
D.Duffy stated that an amended plan should be submitted.
B.Gunn asked how this would affect the time period of the permit.
A motion was made by R.Ring to close the hearing. C.Beauregard seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
A motion was made to issue the Order of Conditions for Sherry Granger for the property located at 81 Flynt Street pending receipt of an amended plan. P.Izyk seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
Meeting Minutes of July 21, 2009-A motion was made by R.Ring to approve the minutes as amended. M.Trybus seconded. The vote passed (4:0:1). M.Trybus abstained.
Knox Pond Construction Report #21-for the property located on 1094 Thorndike Street, Palmer.
The PCC reviewed the document dated August 3, 2009 and signed by Keith Terry of Sherman and Frydryk.
A motion was made by R.Ring acknowledging receipt of the Knox Pond Construction Report #21. P.Izyk seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
Springfield Street Project Schedule-dated July 23, 2009 has been provided. R.Ring stated that he had visited the site with D.Johnson. The contractor for the project had advised that he would contact the PCC when the erosion controls are in place.
R.Ring stated that he had attended the GIS training in Westfield on August 24 and the software has been loaded onto the PCC computer.
7:30 PM-Notice of Intent for Donald Labare whose property is located on 52 Pinney Street, Palmer.
Present was the applicant Donald Labare and Donald Frydryk of Sherman and Frydryk.
D.Frydryk stated that the applicant is proposing to construct a garage addition to the existing single-family home to be located on the westerly side of the home.
The proposed garage addition would be 28’ x 32’ with a perimeter footing drain and roof leaders connected to the existing drywell on the property. The proposed garage would be located within the limits of the existing gravel drive used to access the rear of the dwelling and would be 23 feet from the wetland limit.
D.Frydryk stated that the lawn would be re-graded in the rear of the dwelling along with the driveway to be paved, construction of retaining walls along the driveway, construction of entrance stairs and construction of a gravel access on the west of the garage to the rear of the dwelling.
D.Frydryk stated that the disturbed areas would be re-graded, loamed, seeded and mulched and that erosion controls would be in place at the limit of work as shown on the proposed plan.
D.Duffy asked why so much work is to be done within the 50’ buffer zone.
D.Frydryk stated that there would be no expansion of the current areas and the work proposed is an improvement for the flooding that has been occurring on the property.
Discussions were held pertaining to the proposed retaining wall.
D.Duffy asked when the house was built.
D.Frydryk stated that according to the assessor’s field card the house was built in 1985.
D.Frydryk presented the PCC with a plot plan of land for Donald and Debra Labare dated September 23, 1987 for the file.
Stephen Moskal, whose property is located on 85 Pinney Street, stated that he is concerned about the water that has been flowing from the stream located on Mr. Labare’s property onto the road. During the winter months there is a lot of ice in the road.
R.Ring stated that it is an intermittent stream and does not run year round.
D.Frydryk stated that the existing intermittent stream drains to the culvert and with the new proposed garage the stream would be re-directed.
D.Duffy asked if the new driveway would lessen the flow to the brook.
D.Frydryk stated that the flow in the easterly brook would not be increased along with any increase to the impervious areas.
S.Moskal stated that in the last couple years there has been constant flooding behind Mr. Labare’s house and asked the PCC where the water would go once the area has been disturbed from the construction.
D.Frydryk asked for a recess in order to speak with his client for a moment.
D.Duffy stated that they would have a ten-minute recess in order for the applicant to discuss the project with the engineer.
D.Frydryk stated that the proposed area in the 50’ buffer zone at the 15’ the applicant could have a permanent boundary to re-vegetate and create a permanent limit of work. This area would not be disturbed again.
P.Izyk stated that the PCC should review the original Order of Conditions that was issued in 1987 when the house was built.
A motion was made by R.Ring to continue the hearing to September 8, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. M.Trybus seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
8:00 PM-A motion was made by R.Ring to adjourn. P.Izyk seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Watson
Principal Clerk
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