TOWN OF PALMER
Planning Board Meeting Minutes
March 23, 2009, 7:00 pm, Planning Office.
Chairman Michael Marciniec called the meeting of the Planning Board to order at
7:00 PM. Present were members Norman Czech, Diane France, James Haley, Jr. and Thomas Skowyra. Also present were Town Planner Linda Leduc and Principal Clerk Mary Watson recording minutes.
7:00 PM-Special Permit Application for gravel removal for Jacques Construction for the property located on State Street and Griffin Street, Bondsville.
The clerk read the public hearing notice.
The applicant, Pierre St. Jacques was present along with Donald Frydryk of Sherman and Frydryk Land Surveying and Engineering.
Also present and representing the Board was John Furman of Vanasse, Hangen, Brustlin, Inc. (VHB).
M.Marciniec stated that there are three documents in which the Board would need to acknowledge receipt of. They are:
- The letter dated March 16, 2009 and signed by Pierre St. Jacques requesting to use a hydraulic hammer for crushing purposes.
- The comments from Vanasse, Hangen, Brustlin, Inc. dated March 11, 2009.
- The comments from Sherman and Frydryk dated March 20, 2009.
A motion was made by N.Czech acknowledging all three documents mentioned above. J.Haley, Jr., seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
D.Frydryk stated that the applicant intends to operate in the same area for the 2009 as was permitted under the last Special Permit and continue to work on the close out of the northerly portion of the site prior to continuing with earth removal in the 2009 area.
D.Frydryk reviewed with the Board the comments provided by VHB dated March 11, 2009.
There are approximately ten trips made to and from the site by trucks on days when the site is in operation, however the site is not open on a daily basis.
The current haul route includes turning right on State Street leaving the site to Route 181 North to Route 202 in Belchertown.
L.Leduc stated that there was only one complaint made in 2008 regarding the hammering occurring at the site, however the hammering was previously approved by the Board and was happening during the operating hours as stated in the permit.
D.Frydryk stated that the applicant is requesting waivers for the stormwater of individual cells and the noise study.
Discussions were held regarding the certificate of liability insurance that was received in the amount of $ 100,000. Under the Planning Board Rules and Regulations the required amount needed is $ 500,000, however the Board determined that the amount received is comparable to the other gravel pits in town.
All required documentation such as the hold harmless, covenant and the certificate of liability insurance are on file and are current.
The topsoil stockpile area is shown on the 2008-2010 operating plan and is approximately 4,000 cubic yards.
Discussions were held pertaining to the required quarterly reports.
The Board stated that quarterly reports are required even if there has been no activity on the site.
M.Marciniec stated that the conditions in the 2008 permit have not been complied with specifically the closeout areas as discussed in the site visit back in November 2008.
Mr. St. Jacques stated that the rock splitting took place the end of the summer to prepare for closeout, however he would be unable to properly closeout the 2008 area due to the fact that he would be traveling on grass to get to the current operating area.
M.Marciniec stated that the Board has requested that each year the operating area be closed out and this has not happened in the ten years that the applicant has had the permit.
Mr. St. Jacques stated that the economy is very bad right now. It would be unfair to require him to closeout the 2008 area and not issue a permit for the 2009 area.
L.Leduc stated that no closeout has been happening on the site. The site visit in November 2008 determined the area that was ready for closeout, however it still has not happened.
Mr. St. Jacques questioned why he would have to close out an area if he would have to travel over it and other pits in town have not properly done so.
M.Marciniec suggested to the Board to continue the hearing until May 4, 2009 to determine if sufficient work has been done for the closeout process. The Board can at the May 4 hearing determine if a permit for 2009 is allowable. However, the Board should hold off on the crushing request until the May 4 meeting.
D.Frydryk asked the Board to excuse themselves for a brief moment.
Mr. St. Jacques returned to the meeting and stated that it is a very small area with very large boulders. He asked the Board to be patient and would not be able to do the closeout that quickly.
J.Furman asked if there were any other areas that would be allowable by the Board to be closed out.
Discussions were held regarding the timeline of the closeout process and the specific area that would need to be closed out on the site.
A motion was made by D.France to continue the hearing to May 4, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in which a site visit would be needed one week before the hearing. N.Czech seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
7:53 PM-Discussion with Resource Management, Inc to allow manufactured topsoil to be used in the reclamation process during close out for the gravel pit located off of Park Street and known as JJC Materials, Inc. Present was Tom Christopher and Scott Young of RMI. Also present was Janet Callahan of JJC Materials, Inc.
Tom Christopher presented the information to the Board and stated that this manufactured topsoil is known as short paper fiber and would be used in lieu of the required 3” of topsoil as stated in the Rules and Regulations of the Town of Palmer Planning Board.
This project had previously been approved by the Board of Health on January 8, 2009 and also approved by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on January 13, 2009.
L.Leduc read the proposal for the reclamation for JJC Materials, Inc under the DEP issued permit. The DEP approval is valid for two years until 2010.
M.Marciniec stated that the gravel removal states in the Rules and Regulations for the Planning Board that the requirement for closeout is 3’’ of topsoil. The Board may grant an exception under section 11.8.12 B-Special Exemptions and therefore the Board would have the right to waive this requirement.
Discussions were held regarding what the product is made of.
T.Christopher stated that the product is short paper fiber (sludge) from paper mills with high organic matter that is very easily converted to topsoil.
T.Christopher provided samples to the Board of the product and also provided samples of soil with and without the short paper product.
T.Christopher stated that the short paper fiber product used is primarily from the Erving paper mill located in Erving, MA. It is a by-product of the papermaking process that consists primarily of the wood fibers that are too short to bond in making paper. Short paper fiber also contains lime, clay and the microbial biomass generated during the treatment of process water. This allows the manufactured topsoil to retain moisture for grass growth. The wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Erving also collects a small amount of residential sanitary wastewater of approximately 2% of the total flow to the wastewater treatment plant, where the short paper fiber is generated. The WWTP uses pathogens and does not pasteurize aerobically digested sludge and is relatively safe to use on certain food
crops. This short paper fiber product is authorized for use on agricultural farms with a land application certification.
T.Christopher explained that the product is classified as type 1 and type 2. The type 1 product contains no sanitary component. However, the type 2 product is specific to the Erving, MA site and therefore would be used for JJC Materials.
T.Christopher stated that the JJC Materials site would be monitored for two years.
J.Furman asked about the odor control, trucking of the product and the setback requirements of 300’ from the abutters’ wells.
T.Christopher stated that wood ash is used for odor control, when trucking all trucks have sealed trailer bodies and there are no well issues at the site.
The seed mixture for the product consists of mainly grasses of which are timothy grass, orchard, clover and blue grass that allow more hydrogen in the soil.
T.Christopher stated that samples are taken at the site once a month, whereas the DEP requirement requires once a quarter.
The Board discussed incorporating the samplings on the quarterly report.
The product would begin in the spring at the JJC Materials site per T. Christopher.
A motion was made by J.Haley, Jr., to authorize JJC Materials, Inc to use the short paper fiber as produced by Resource Management, Inc for closeout of the gravel pit. T.Skowyra seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
The Board asked that they be notified once the material has been spread on the site.
Knox Pond Construction Report # 16-for the property located on 1094 Thorndike Street, Palmer.
A motion was made by N.Czech acknowledging receipt of the report. T.Skowyra seconded. The vote passed (4:0:1). Member J.Haley, Jr., abstained.
Letter from Nelson Pease dated March 4, 2009-a letter was received and signed by Nelson Pease who is representing abutter Reese Jones, whose property is located on
37 East Palmer Park Drive, Palmer.
A motion was made by T.Skowyra acknowledging receipt of the letter. J.Haley, Jr., seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
JT Brown Quarterly Report-dated March 4, 2009 for the gravel pit located on Ware Road, Palmer was received by Robert LeMaitre, Civil Engineer and Land Surveyor.
A motion was made by N.Czech acknowledging receipt of the quarterly report. J.Haley, Jr., seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
M.Watson provided the Board with an updated version of the Special Permit and Site Plan application and the Earth Removal Application.
The Board reviewed the updated applications and stated that there were no other changes needed.
A motion was made by D.France to approve the revised applications. N.Czech seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
Meeting Minutes of March 2, 2009-A motion was made by D.France to approve the minutes. J.Haley, Jr., seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
L.Leduc stated that she received an email from the Town Manager about Giclee of New England, whose art shop is located on Main Street, Palmer. They are interested in having a sidewalk display in front of the shop.
The Board discussed having a sidewalk display on Main Street and also having a Farmers Market.
L.Leduc discussed the Upper Bondsville Dam and the grant money available through Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC).
This money would be used for maintaining or removing the dam. PVPC will conduct a public outreach and feasibility study.
The Board discussed supporting the project and therefore a support letter would be sent.
Discussions were held regarding the Planning Board stipend under the FY09 budget. Each member is entitled to receive $ 1.00.
M.Watson verified each address of the Board members and stated that the amount will not be taxed. The accounting office has received the information and the checks will be sent.
8:58 PM-A motion was made by T.Skowyra to adjourn. J.Haley, Jr., seconded. The vote passed (5:0).
James Haley, Jr., Clerk
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