Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes 10/18/2022

By Otis Town ClerkConservation Commission Minutes
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TOWN OF OTIS

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

10/18/2022 MEETING MINUTES

 

Location:  Otis Town Hall, One North Main Road, Otis – In Person Meeting

 

Conservation Commission Members present:  Dave Sarnacki, Roger Meyer, Bruce Wall, Jeff Laramy.

 

Conservation Commission Members absent:  Domenic Battista, Jenn Rivers Cole.

 

 

Staff and others present:  Kristen Brown OCC Admin Secretary & others, however, attendees’ names were not reported in the names fields in Zoom application.

 

 

Opening items/Introduction of Commission members and staff.  Dave opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m., and noted that the meeting is being recorded. The deadline for applications for the 11/22/2022 meeting is on Wednesday November 9, 2022 @ 6:00 PM. The next office hours, for the November 22, 2022 meeting, is also Wednesday November 9, 2022 from 6:00 –9:00 PM. Dave introduced the members of the commission, and asked everyone to turn off/down their cell phones for the duration of the meeting.

 

Minutes:  Dave made a motion to approve minutes from the September 20, 2022 meeting; RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes from the September 20, 2022 meeting.

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by John W. Field Tree Svc., on behalf of Justin Long, 142/144 East Shore Rd., map 16 lot 40, regarding the removal of two trees within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection. Per Bruce, no issues, trees should come down. Dave then made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions; BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions.

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Michael LeBlanc on behalf of Mona Shustock, end of Drive D, regarding the replacement of old wooden dock with new dock within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection. Per JL, no issues, however, applicant must apply for Chapter 91 license w/MA DEP, in tandem with this RDA – they will need the paperwork from this RDA to give to DEP. Applicant must also obtain any additional permitting from MA DCR, before work can commence. Dave also noted that once all approvals and permits in place, applicant must do work during seasonal draw-down. Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions including applicant must obtain a Chapter 91 license, any other permitting from MA DEP/DCR & work must be done during seasonal draw-down. JL 2nd the motion & the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions including as outlined above.

 

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted Thomas Garbati, 5 S. Gate Isle Rd., map 17C Lot 22, regarding the removal of three trees and addition of a second floor to existing home, all within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection. Jeff noted that there is a total of 4 trees, and everything is OK w/this submittal. Therefore, Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions. JL 2nd the motion & the Commission voted unanimously for a -3 determination w/standard conditions.

 

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by White Eng., Inc., on behalf of Christopher & Jeanne Davis, Dimmock Rd., map 2 lot 100, regarding paperwork for clean-up work completed within the BZ of associated BVW. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection. Bruce noted that this was the submittal that resulted from an EO, and that applicant had a delineation done; Bruce also noted that this is good to go, applicant has satisfied all requirements. Therefore, Dave made a motion for a -3 determination w/standard conditions; BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination w/standard conditions.

 

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Wheeler Bldg., on behalf of Joan & David Russell, 18 Moody Goodman Rd., map 17B lot 6, regarding removal of a tree & addition of a new garage & patio block walkway within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection. No issues, so Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions; JL 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions.

 

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Wheeler Bldg., on behalf of Pam Kania, 11 Bay Point Rd., map 17D lot 15, regarding the removal of existing structure, within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection. Bruce noted that applicant has added deck replacement to this project as well, and filter fabric & stone will be used to back-fill the deck. Dave made a motion to add above to the project, and to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions; RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions.

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by KJW Env. Svcs., on behalf of Michael Smith, 71 Benton Drive, map 10E lot 49, regarding the installation of enviro-septic system within the BZ of Benton Brook. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection. Per RM, this is all set, everything looks good. Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions; RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions.

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Chaffee Const., on behalf of Elayne LeBeau, 61/67 N. Gate Isle Rd., map 17C lots 29 & 30, regarding hand replacement of existing seawall within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection. Per BW, all looks good with this project except that applicant must forward a copy of the Chapter 91 license, and if they do not have one, then they must obtain a Chapter 91 license from MA DEP. Donnie indicated he would review and confirm this with applicant. Therefore, Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions to include applicant must forward or obtain a Chapter 91 license & call OCC for inspection once EC is installed; BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions, as outlined above.

 

  • Public Hearing – RDA – Submitted by Chaffee Const., on behalf of Robert & Carolyn Coco, 131 Pond Blvd., map 11F lot 91, regarding the replacement of existing stairs and deck within the BZ of Big Pond. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection. Per JL, no issues with this project, all looks good, just need to inspect EC prior to work start. Dave made a motion for a -3 determination with standard conditions to include installed EC must be inspected by OCC prior to work start; RM 2nd the motion & the Commission voted unanimously to issue a -3 determination with standard conditions as outlined above.

 

  • Public Hearing – NOI – Submitted by Eric Hollander, 52 Drive G, map 18C lot 9, regarding the replacement of existing seawall, restoration of storm drains, plantings and regrade, all within the BZ of Otis Reservoir. Dave opened this hearing and asked the Commission if any questions or concerns stemming from the site inspection. Per KB, applicant is still working on getting all the required supporting documentation to go with this NOI. Dave made a motion to continue this hearing until the November 22, 2022 meeting; BW 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to continue this hearing to the 11/22/22 meeting.

 

 

OTHER BUSINESS

 

Enforcement Orders/Letters:

 

    • Enforcement Order – Tree removal within a protected area w/o prior Permission – Gary Belanger, 20 Pine Road Extension. On this agenda for follow-up on RDA required. Dave opened this hearing and noted that this item is on the agenda for follow up only, and as a reminder to watch for applicant’s RDA submittal.

 

 

Emergency Certifications:

 

    • Emergency Certification – 19 Hill Lane, map 15D lot 119, regarding the removal of a dead tree within the BZ of Otis Reservoir, by contractor Burdick Tree Service. Dave opened this hearing and asked Bruce if any concerns observed since he did the site inspection, and none being stated, tree was indeed dead and needed to come down. Therefore, Dave made a motion to ratify this Emergency Certification; RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to ratify this EC.

 

Forest Cutting Plan:

Extensions of Orders of Condition:

Certificate of Compliance Requests:

Unanticipated Business:

 

Next office hours:  Wednesday, November 9, 2022 from 6-9 p.m. at Otis Town Hall.

Next meeting:  Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. at Otis Town Hall, or Remote via Zoom.

 

Dave made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:17 PM. RM 2nd the motion and the Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting.