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Home My WebLink About2002-10-07 Correspondence Town of North Andover of Office of the Planning Department A ° Community Development and Services Division 27 Charles Street * °?A`° � •�' North Andover, Massachusetts 01845 9SSa`"j5�� Planning Director: woods@townofnorthandover.com P (978) 688-9535 J. Justin Woods htq2: townofnorthandover,com F (978) 688-9542 MEMORANDUM TO: Heidi Griffin,Community Development& Services Director FROM: J.Justin Woods,Planning Director Julie Parrino,Conservation Administrator CC: Mark Rees,Town Manager Edward Becker,Executive Director,Essex County Greenbelt Association Planning Board Conservation Commission RE: Bruin Hill/Lost Pond Lane/Woodchuck Hill Substation DATE: May 21,2003 Per your request, we have reviewed our files regarding the Lost Pond Lane Subdivision, the Woodchuck Hill Substation and surrounding open space properties, including Bruin Hill. There are no specific conditions in the Definitive Subdivision and PRD permits for Lost Pond Lane that men- tion trail access or maintenance. There was a condition requiring the conveyance of the open space to the Conservation Commission as well as a condition requiring an agricultural restriction. A note on the approved plans shows the location of the non-motorized recreational path at the end of the cul-de-sac as well as the open space areas. Copies of the open space conveyance and recreation"right to pass"easement(as well as copies of all the other deeds and easements) are in the file, and do not mention maintenance. The recreation right to pass easement grants public access over subdivision lots 6, 9 & 14 and provides access to the Lost Pond Open Space. The North Andover Conservation Commission manages open space properties deeded over to the Town. The Commission is not necessarily obligated or required to build and maintain trails on the designated properties. Volunteers or sub-committees of the Conservation Commission often conduct maintenance tasks. From Ms. Good's email, it appears she utilizes the trails from Lost Pond Lane Open Space and continues over the property of Mass Electric/New England Power, over Foster Street and eventually onto Bruin Hill, a 62.3- acre parcel of conservation land owned by the Essex County Green Belt Association. New England Power received site plan and steep slope special permits to construct a now substation in the fall of 2002. Neither the site plan nor decisions show or require fencing all the way around the access road. It is my understanding from a discussion with the Planning Board Chair that despite the Planning Board's opposi- tion to such a condition, the ZBA required this fencing. The Planning Board would-like to see the fencing around the road not constructed or removed. As a result of the ZBA decision,the plan of record on file with the Conservation Commission, which was granted in August of 2002, was amended in to display a fence all along the access road. Bruin Hill/Lost Pond Lane I Woodchuck Hill Substation Page 2 of 2 May 21,2003 Access to Bruin hill may have been impeded by the current construction associated with the Maritimes Gas Pipeline. Currently, a fence and boulder barrier exist along the northern edge of Foster Street, directly adjacent to the power line right of way, which was erected by the Maritimes Gas Pipeline to prevent motorized vehicu- lar access. In response to Ms. Good's specific questions, the Conservation Commission manages the Open Space on Lost Pond Lane. However, as previously mentioned, the Conservation Commission is not obligated to create or maintain the trails on the property. If Ms, Good were seeking access to Bruin Hill over Mass Electric prop- erty, we would advise her to investigate whether public access is allowed over that property. Ms. Good could also contact the Essex County Greenbelt Association (978-768-7241) to find out what legal access exists to Bruin Hill. Please feel flee to contact us with any additional questions. Respectfully submitted, J.Justin Woods Julie Parrino Planning Director Conservation Administrator Town of North Andover Office of the Planning Department Community Development and Services Division 27 Charles.Street North Andover,Massachusetts 01845s ., Kathy McKenna Telephone (978)688-9535 Town Planner Fax (978)688-9542 October 2,2002 John Chessia Coler&Colantonio,Inc, 101 Accord Paris Drive Norwell, MA 02061 RE: New England Power Electric Substation Dear John: Enclosed please find the following documents/plans for your review and comment: • Application and Correspondence • Stormwater Design Report • Plan set last revised June 12,2002. • Sound Study dated February 4,2002 $2,000 has been collected fi•om the applicant for this purpose. This item has already been approved subject to a satisfactory engineering review. A review letter within the next ten days would be greatly appreciated. As you can imagine the applicant is eager to get construction started. If this deadline cannot be realistically met,please call me as soon as possible. If you have any questions,please do not hesitate to call. Thar y u, /athy McKe a Town Planner IAA.k1?0I WN."'Al`W'X'-4i,11 1-1E H,I)I�:[_rf��ti )'„Ij C'(1; SI:R�'YZI(�iAti:�::yil(7 i�E.lLlil(i ti-):.�II L'L,.a''>.I::(� ',�':.t'• ', TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVElk DIVISION Of' PUBLIC WORKS NORTH ANDOVP" t, MASSA TIU L"T S 01845-2909 1, WILLIAM HMURC'IAK, DIRK`I OR, sso�er q Robert E. I'e��hara, P.E. ��m� � 1'eIepIrcn e (978) 085-0950 1 i @ (978) 68b'-95 i 3 Direclor c?f Engineering � � �p= SRC P1tS5� MEMORANDUM DATE: July 15, 2002 TO: Clay Mitchell Planning Department FROM.• Robert E. Beshara, PE Director of Engineering RE., Site Plan Review New England Power Company 0 Foster Street— Woodchuck Hill Substation No. 56 The Division of Public Works has reviewed the subject plans dated 04121102. The following summarizes our Concerns; 1. Tree clearing at the driveway entrance should be limited to the minimum necessary to attain the sight distance requirement for vehicles entering Foster Street from the development. DPW will work with the applicant to determine the minimum safe site distance requirement. 2. A Street Opening Permit will be required for the driveway entrance which will address the tree clearing, site distance issues, and relocated field stone wall. 3. If a water connection is required by the development, a Water Connection Permit will be required. 4. Zero (0) Foster Street is not acceptable street number. The Applicant needs to apply to the Division of Public Works for a street number to be assigned to the station. It would be entered into the Town's E-9- 1-1 system. reb/mo cc:Bill Hrnurciak, Tim Willett 7-15-02 NE Posner Plan Reviesv.doc T Town of North Andovero ° office of the Building Department Community Development Development and Services Division- 27 Charles Street �'�`ATAP � North Andover,Massachusetts 01845 ?$��C" Telephone(978)688-9545 D. Robert Nicetta Fax (978)688-9542 Building Cafnmissioner MEMORANDUM To: Clay Mitchell,Interim Town Planner �) From: Robert Nicetta,bAding Commissioner I lam/ Date: July S,2002 Re: Proposed Electric Sub-Station 0 Foster Street Map-104B,Lot 28/19 I have reviewed the drawings for the Electric Sub-Station at the referenced location. The applicant has petitioned the Zoning Board of Appeals(ZBA)for a Special Permit pursuant to Section 4.121 (10)of the zoning by-law,please refer to attached Zoning Denial Form. The ZBA special permit must be in place prior to any action taken by the Planning Board site plan review. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. SoARI)OF APPEALS 688-9541 BUILDING 688-9545 CONSEIRVATION 688-9530 HEALTH 688-9580 PLANNING 688-9535 Town of North Andover owyll Office of the Conservation Department Community Development and Services Division 44a ape � 27 Charles Street Julie I'arrino 17 � }978 hone North Andover,Massachusetts 01845 Telephone 688-9530 Conservation Adudnistrator Fax(978)688-9542 MEMORANDUM DATE: July 19, 2002 TO: Planning Board FROM: Julie Parrino, Conservation Administrator SUBJECT: New England Power Company Foster Street Substation New England Power Company has filed a Notice of Intent with the Conservation Commission for construction of an access driveway and substation to be located off Foster Street. Activities will be conducted within Riverfront Area and buffer zone to wetland resource areas, including an identified vernal pool. The Commission's consultant and I have worked closely with the Power Company to finalize the submitted design plans. The project has been designed to meet the performance standards of the Wetland Protection Act and North Andover Wetland Protection Bylaw. The Commission anticipates closing the public hearing on Wednesday, July 24, 2002. Approval of the project will require the construction of a wetland mitigation area and the implementation of an extensive planting plan below the overhead wire lines. An additional potential vernal pool on the site will continue to be monitored to document if vernal pool species occupy the habitat. One of the conditions placed in the Order of Conditions will require the applicant to establish a Conservation Restriction on the property or on off-site properties owned by the Power Company. Details of the Conservation Restriction will be discussed with the applicants over the next several months. It is anticipated that the Conservation Restriction must be placed into effect within three years from the issuance of the permit. BOARD OF APPEALS 688-9541 BUILDING 688-9545 CONSERVATION 688-9530 HEALTH 688-9540 PLANNING 688-9535 Transportation Lana Development � Envi�ronrx�ental.. RECEIVED. . S e r v i c e s JUL 3 1 2002 i Ininglnation Innovatron energy Creating resukts for our clients and benefits for our cutiiniunities NORTH ANDOVER PLANNING DEPARTMriNT. j Vanasse Nangen Brusdin, Inc. July 24,2002 Ref: 06716.56 North Andover Office of Community Development Attn: Mr. Clay Mitchell,Interim Town Planner 27 Charles Street North Andover,MA 01845 Re: Site Plan Review for Woodchuck Hill Electric Substation North Andover,MA Dear Clay: The purpose of this letter is to request a determination from the North Andover Office of Community Development(NAOCD)relating to an apparent conflict of interest issue which has arisen between the Town of North Andover and our firm,Vanasse Hangen Brustlin,Inc(VHB), By way of background,VHB has been providing civil engineering consulting services to the NAOCD, specifically relating to technical review services for submissions to the North Andover Planning Board since August,1999. On June 19,2002,VHB received site plans,a drainage report and an application for a proposed electric substation on Foster Street. The site development is known as Woodchuck Hill Substation No.56. VHB submitted a scope of work and fee to complete an engineering review of this site plan application on July 1,2002. VHB began the technical review of the application on July 19,2002. On July 23,we realized that the wetland delineation was performed by our environmental group. Upon further investigation,we found that the Applicant,Nation Grid,retained VHB's Providence,RI office to provide environmental services for this project. Services that VHB provided to National Grid on this project include wetland delineation,preparation of the Notice of Intent application to the North Andover Conservation Commission(NACC)and attendance at several NACC public meetings to present this project. Please note that VHB did not prepare any of the site design or drainage design. VHB has partially completed the technical engineering review of this project.However,the review effort was immediately halted when we discovered that our Rhode Island office was providing environmental services to the Applicant. In an effort to serve the best interests of the Town and to avoid the appearance of any conflict of interest,VHB suggests that the NAOCD consider excusing us from the technical review of this project. 101 Walnut Street Post Office Box 9151 Watertown, Massachusetts 02471-9151 T:\06716\dots\letters\]tc-planboard-nationalgrid.doe 617.924.1770 . FAX 617,924.2286 email: info@vhb.com www.vhb.com A Mr.Clay Mitchell Project No.: 06716.56 July 24,2002 Page 2 Should the Town feel that this situation does not represent a significant conflict of interest issue,VHB would be willing to continue our technical review for this project. We are requesting that the Town review this matter and make a determination. If requested,VHB can consult with the State Ethics Commission to request an informal or formal determination in this matter. Please note that an informal determination from the State Ethics Commission is anticipated to take up to six weeks. VHB is aware of the time requirements that are placed upon the Town with these types of projects. We regret not being aware of this potential conflict earlier in the process and any inconvenience this may cause the NAOCD. Please call me at your convenience to further discuss this matter. I would be happy to answer any questions or provide any additional information. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. Very truly yours, VANASSE HANGEN BRUSTLIN,INC. 71�/MA- B.IN� Timothy B.M6tosh,P.E. Project Manager--Highway&Municipal Engineering W. John Bechard,Gene Crouch,Paul Knapik-VHB File T;\06716\dots\le tte cs\ltr-pl a nb oa rd-n a tionalgrid.doe