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SOUTH HADLEY CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
February 11, 2008
Approved at 3/10/08 meeting.
PRESENT: Jack Fleming, Chair; Dennis Swartwout, Vice Chair; Jim Canning, Secretary, and Art Jackson. Brad Allen excused. Janice Stone, Conservation Administrator. The Commission met in Room 204, to allow the Planning Board to use the Selectboard meeting room.
1. 7:00 PM OPEN FORUM Opportunity for the public to come in and ask questions, discuss wetland concerns with the Conservation Commission. Lin Pickle asked the Commission for a vote to officially support the Community Preservation Act. There will be a ballot vote April 7, and some public meetings about it before then. Dennis made a motion for the Conservation Commission to write a letter of support for the Community Preservation Act. With no one else present for comments, the Commission proceeded with old and new business. Jim seconded it, and all voted in favor. Janice told the Commission about the HG&E appeal of the Riverside Park Order of Conditions. We have not received a response letter from DEP yet. Bills: Jim reviewed the bills for Janice’s mileage, postage and purchase of a new book on Native Plants. He made a motion to approve the expenditures, which as seconded by Art, and approved by all. The Commission then reviewed the minutes from June 4 and June 25, 2007.
Dennis made a motion to accept them both, and all voted affirmative.
2. 7:15 PM PUBLIC HEARING on a Notice of Intent (288-392) filed by The Mill at Stoney Brook for maintenance and repair of facilities and grounds at 124 College Street. Kathleen Sharkey, treasurer for the condominium association was present to discuss the Notice. This is maintenance and repair of the existing facilities, most of which are in the Riverfront Area of Stoney Brook. The association had a previous maintenance order (288-262) which expired in 2005. The biggest project included in this Notice is the replacement of the foot bridge which spans the river. They expect to use the same footings, but will be replacing the rest of the structure. There should be no change in the footprint of the structure in the Riverfront. They will use some
kind of scaffolding to keep any materials from getting into the water below. The Commission asked about maintaining a no-mow zone along the banks of the river. Kathleen told the Commission that after the retaining wall was put in they have not mowed the banks any longer. The Commission asked about snow disposal, which presently seems to be plowed to the edge of the parking lot facing the stream and pond (above). Kathleen stated that they have no place to put it, since they do not own the land on either side above or below them. Jim made a motion to approve the project with standard and special conditions. Art seconded, and all voted in favor. Dennis made a motion to close the public hearing, which was seconded and approved by all.
3. 7:45 PM DISCUSSION Request for Amendment to Order of Conditions (288-381) for Ledges Clubhouse to accommodate propone tank and pad. Dennis recused himself from the discussion and vote. The Commission discussed the request to place a concrete pad and propane tank and fence in part of the 50’ Conservation Zone. Kevin McAllister from the Golf Building Committee was present and entered into the discussion about the plan produced by the DPW engineer. The Commission agreed that based on the size of the footprint for the concrete pad shown on the plan, Yem should be able to move it all away from the wetland and towards the paved cart path slightly. The work needs to be done very soon, and therefore the DPW is asking for
permission to proceed with the work in advance of a public hearing on the amendment. The Commission agreed that as long as they moved the pad and tank outside the 50’ Conservation Zone, and they still proceed with the hearing process, they can proceed with the work. But Yem must survey in the corners of the pad, showing it is outside the 50’ zone, and Janice must review and approve it before work can begin. Art made a motion to accept the work as an Amendment, and allow the work to proceed in advance of the hearing, as long as the tank and pad are outside the 50’ zone, and they continue with the paperwork and hearing process. Jim seconded, and Art, Jack and Jim voted in favor.
The Commission then discussed the “Farm Tax”, the 25 cents per round fee that is supposed to be paid into an agricultural land fund as part of the MEPA agreement for the construction of the Ledges golf course. Dennis has been tracking down the information on the number of rounds per year. It is hard to find the data for the first few years. There was discussion about whether to look at seasonal or fiscal year records, and whether to use the “equivalent rounds” number. Accountant Bill Sutton has been keeping track of the amount to be set aside. Dennis and Janice will work on this.
4. 8:25 PM OLD & NEW BUSINESS: Janice told the Commission she is working on a new “lease” (license) for farming the fields at Bachelor Brook/Stoney Brook. Request for Certificate of Compliance # 288-352, Improvements to the Dry Brook Wellhead Protection Area. This is for Fire District/Water Dept #2. The Commission cannot act on this request yet since there is a requirement for monitoring for replanting success and invasives control for 2 growing seasons. Next bylaw regulations review meeting will be February 20 at 6 PM.
5. 8:35 PM ADJOURNMENT. A motion was made to adjourn, which was seconded, and voted unanimously in favor. Next regular Conservation Commission meeting March 11, 2008 at 7:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Stone,
Conservation Administrator
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