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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-03-19 Conservation Commission Minutes ()ONSLUI,VATIO:v COAUIUSSION NORTH ALNDOTEM, ITIASSALCHUSEITS 01815 AMY C A public hearing was held by the North Andover Conservation Commission on Wednesdayp March 19, 1975, in the Meeting Room at the North Andover Fire Department. The following Members of the Commission were present ; Patricia Trombly, Chairperson; Ailliam Lafond, William Chepulisl Joseph DeAngelo, Arthur. Resca, and Associate MemberB Vincent Turano and Henry Fink, Ms. Trombly called the hoaring to order. at 700 PX The first item d was a public hearing on a Notice of Into of tho Massachusetts Deyartme&L of Pvblic Uorks on the TOPICS plans on certain sections of North Andover for State improvemont projects, File Noy 242-10. Piancis Burke, System; Design Engineer, Massachusetts Department of Public Works requested that the bill for the advertisement of the hearing be sent to the Chief Engineer, his atteqjion, and then introduced the projects under consideration. (1) Sidewalk, Now High School area - There is wetlands conflict at Cochichewick Brook, where the existing culvert will be extended five (5) feet with a sidewalk. The contractor must Qosply w!''Gh the Clean Water Act, especially near the brook to prevent siltation, etc. He must submit a schedule of operations. The project will be done one side at a time to limit the amount of siltation, and the water will be directed to thio same area where it is nm (2) Chickering Road at Andover Street intersection - Channelization groject, The only drainage no, is to an 8" steel pipe which the State intendsto extend resulting in no more surface drainage in the area. K This will not add or subtract water in any direction. (3) Route 125-114 intersection - The State wants to put in a clo3ed system which will be outletted in the same location as it now does. K (4) Hillside Road, West - Assistins catch basin is being moved in a we5terly direction because of Andover By-Pass. The same 12" pipe is bin„ put in which will run parallel to the By-Pass. The water Is now runnin�� off the road, The State plans to put in catch basins which will Sower the amount of oedimentation and will dig up the old road for a 900 intersection with and over the By-Pass. A ditch still goer: under Arena Road. There will be an 18" pipe into the existing ditch. Mr. Chepulis questioned if all work was being done on State property. Mr, Burke Informed him that it was either Yate property or that easements hbeen asked obtained. Mr. Gelinas ad as to the direction of water flow In the 8" pipe along the north side of Chic%ering Road at Po ern Street Intersection. Mr. Burke replied that the flow will continue southvewl, 2o He also stated that the State has complied with Chapters 61 and 62 of the State Environmental Acts. K. Trombly asked for further questions on the projects outlined. There being none, Mr. Chop"Tis moved to take the ppojects described under advisement, No. Trombly moved to Voue the Waring on the TOPICS projects at 800 P.M, Chairperson, M8. Trombly, reopened the meeting at 6:20 P.M. , for a public hearing on a Notice of Intent of the Planni, Office for Urban Affairs, Archdiocese of Boston, File No. 242-9. The Archdiocese was represented by Er. Stephen Diamond, Mr. Peter Ogren, and Mr. James Dolan, Attorney for the Archdiocese. Ms. Trombly outlinod the provisions of the Wetlands Act pertaining to the action under consideration. Filing for thio heaxing is pormi5sible before the State Houoing Appeals Committee issues a comprehonsivo permit, Within tvanty-one (21) days after Tiling, • hearing must be hold after which there ore twenty-ono (21) days to iss"o • permit with conditions on It, Once the docislon Is made, there are ton (10) days when appeal can be madu by the ArchQocevo or anyono affected by the decision, The Department of Natural Resources hao senny-001) da; s to ovaluate the caws and issue an or&r and than there are ten (10) days to ask the Department of 3atural Resources for a hearing. Attorney KmW Dolan introduced Mr. 03ren who prevented the plans for tho proposed drainage project gith the assistanco of Mr. Diamond, Mr. Ogren began uith a Geodedic Survey Map, 1966 (Plan 1) showing the hydrolooic features of the site at that time, Aftor development of Herita3e Green in 1967, the hydxaullc changes belan to appear, The plan showed the A pipe draina6e system at Heritage Groen. A series of photographs were then presented, Photograph I - Flom this point, water flown throuSh land of the Archdiocese along tho come tory to a 36" culvert and other cul verts. lie noted "Point A" as a discharge point from Herltaoe Creen. There is a unique catch basin wherein a pipe dead-ends and water flows up over the top of oald catch-basin and down through the cemetery sito. Photograph 2 Shows the new water course in the area. Photograghs 3 and 4 - Show 11 geologic feati.n':es which indicate that a now water courze has developed in H recent years. The major change in the hydraulics in the area seem to be from the up-flow catch basin which has diverted wafer through the cemetery land and around the cemetery plot. (Plan 2) - The Heritage Green Original Site Plan, 1966: This shows a pipe going out "to the stream". The developer at Heritage Green apparently did not route the water from the catch basin to the stream, The Kainage system terminated at the catch basin and this allowed the water to find its own route through the Archdiocese site. x. (Plan 3) - Camp, Dresf:er 6: McKee: This plan shows a courses similar to the original plan, The Archdiocese proposed to take drainage at "Point A" and pipe it down through the cemetery site to Waverly Road to the same, point of discharge in a westerly direction along Waverly Road and down to the Shawnheen River. This area was identified ,as a problem in the Camp, Dresser & McKee study. The major change is that the drainage sy8tom will go OR land of the petitioner, not on other land as pTopoved by Camp, Dresser & McKee. 3. (Plan 4) - Schematic drawing of Drainage and Utility Systems: All water which appears at "Point A" and "Point B" (Wood Lane) flows out at an existing 36" drain at "Point C" going under Waverly Road. 12" culvnrt!-� are "Points D and 2" on the Notch. The Archdiocese intends to roatorc the hydraulics in the area to what they were in 1966. A 43" culvert is "Point F", (Plan 5) - Proposed Drainage Plan (Same as the plan sketch In book) : This plan restores original conditions from "Point A" to "Point F" and discharges watcT where Camp, Dresser and McKee said It should go. The ratio of flows are! 50 of flow t"at now appears at "thin point" will go down Waverly Road Into a 30" culvert next to the existing 48" culvert; 40% continues to pass in a 36" culvert at "Point C". The 12" culverts remain essentially unchangod. Xr. Ogren stated that he believed that this is adequate capacity for ton and twenty-five year stoTms, The presentation then retuxnod to r1an 4, Schematic Drawing of Drainage and Utility Syste=, An 18" sanitary Eewer lino was outllned In Waverly Road, which would service all unitn. Nater lines will be coastructed from YaVerly Road and tie into thu- Farr devel.opmanit for feeds from three (31 points. Ms. Trombly asked wheTe the water goeo from watorohed "Point A" and Autran Avenue, through an open ditch. Xr. Ogren answored that it onlers a 8mal1drainpipe which discharges Into a little drainage ditch and dQeo not enter the site. Ms� Trombly as%Q if there was any data on soil tests. Mr. Ogren answered that soil tests wore -dug on the proporty and he does not see any structuyal problom, for houses of this wine. No porvolation tests wore made because thern would bo no discharge into the ­,!to. Rr. Rc-cat asked as to the character of the soil tests, Mr. Ogren ansuered that there was a high water content and clay type soil which was charactaristic of retaining ound water. Ms. Trombly a5ked if putting zo much water into a piped system could change thi hra-ter table. Nrc. Oc'roa adv Sod that they were talking about a A run-off which will not mako any significant difference to the water table, Mr. Turano notea that there wore two drainage alternativ=: closed conduit and open conoult systems= Why was the olo sed system choBen? Q. Ogren explained that it would be cheaper to develop an open system, but that % Vto was steep and the velocity of flow fast and had a tendency to create 02 own 3radjant (i.e. the No& on the site which has done just that! and causes tromendons erosion, Therefore, this water cannot be contained without a clonod system; also tho safety of children was taken under con5ideration. M*. Trombly asked who owned the property at the outflow of the culvert at "point F" , the ditch behind Demoulas. Mr, Ogren advised that it was D Bealty and an adjoining land- owner, Fournier. Ms. Trombly then asked if the Archdiocese had easements to dump the water. Mr. Ogren said that there were no easements and that the krohdiocese felt that the wator belonge to this flow, Ms. Trombly then id requested that Mr. Ogren further disQuwa "Point F". He then peoduced a display of photographs and an accompanying plan, PhOtOgra& I - UP Roche property toward the barn. Fhotograph 2 Upstream side at Roche property. The culvert Wa5 replaced by the Town and last year the area was basically ponacd. Photograph Looking down Raverly Road past culvert site. Photograph 4 - Looking downs ural to Jov&opod or utilizod land of landowner. Photo6raph 5 Looking down5tream A 4. toward open aroa and wetland. Photograph 6 C103e-up of lower portion of outfall. Photograph 7 - Flood IJain or low area. It was noted that there is a very short distance beta oon the site and the area which remains flooded, Mr, Ogren observed that the outfall. Is suitable for dischargo because it provionoly discharged in this area. The Camp, Dresser W McKee Study showed that the 48" pipe should be adequate to handle the flow the Archdiocese pats in, but that officials indicatod A: it would be botter to discharge individually instoad of through the; State pipe. Mr. 03ren stated thatthe Archdiocese will reinstall curbing, etc. around pipes as In State installation. Mr, Cyr, North Andover Highway Surveyor, requested that Ms. Trombly read his letter previously submitted to the Commission into the record. Said letter indicated his strong disapproval of drainage plans boing presented and his reasons for said rejection. Ms. Trombly asked if it was within Mr. Cyr's jurisdiction to deny Permission to dig up the otreot to lay 2ipe. Mr. Cyr replied, "yen". He also stated that a 4' culvert invialled by the Tona, with ;ate apycoval; was not dono because of the Camp, Dresser & McKee Report. It was installed because of the danger of water in the Nartin and Autran Avenlic'. The Edgulawn drain, Martia Avenue, Autran Avenue and Roche proporty caused the 4' culvert to bo constructed, The water course that now flows from the drain On Welawn Avenue from point of discharge has been dreaged out by machine. He stated he would not, under any circ"mstances, allow water to be piped uodor Wyerly Rood because he feels the Town would bo open to lawsuits by landowners Whure the water is to be dincharged. He repeated his opposition to drainage plans as proposed and otated he had not seen the drainage plan boing presented by the Archdiocese at this hearing, MT. Ogren stated that the celetary caretakor had constructed a 10' dike to caune water to go around the cemetery, not through It, This caused the 6' drain which runs along the cemetery border, Mr, DoAn3elo asked when Heritage Green completed the culvert and when water started to go through the Archdiocese property, Mr. Ogren advised that It was after 1966. Mr. DoAngelo then asked ift after 1966 when water did start to cause erosion, It would take ei6ht Years for such a large ditch to be created. Mr. Ogren replied that the increasing flow, as a result of improvemonts which took place ovor the yearG, has flowed into the brook anal through a Poriod of time the dike was built and the drainage couxse altered to ac=Wate the water, Ms. TroAbly then opened the hearing to questions from the floor. James Roche, abutter, *aid that all water went down to Points A and B and then trees absorbed the water over fifty years. cwignally, this land was a swamp; water came down Andovor Street to Wood Lane before the Parr development, James Uattie, 655 Waverly Road, made some comments on the dTainage. Points D and E go between his property and that of another, He has had to reseed his property for the past four years. No expressed concern about more ruiioff due to hot-topping of the proposed site, and advioed that the culverts on his land have to cleaned out every three days. He also wantecl. to know why the Archdiocone did not make any percolation tosts on the site n and would not let any of the North Andover residents who volunteered to make such tes ts, into the: site. Mr. Dolan replied that the. Arc;hdi oceno has engaged 1L-. Ogren, a professional r ngi.ncer, hydrologist, and trust his judgement; and that the: Archdiocese has complied with the law. Mr. Ogren advised that culver& D and E have showod very little hydraulic change. In fact, some reduction has occurred, The stay the; now draina; e is designed, Sh/; of the flow will go to culvert F. The drainage will follow the natural water courses. Mr. Beattie stated that he has lived in the axea. Fourteen years and had no probl cm for the; fiat tea years, but has had an erosion problem for the past four years and has had to reseed his property and may now lose a, tree because of erosion. He is seeing a lawyer to sue because of the erosion problem. He would like to see: percolation tests on the: Archdiocese property. Mr. Scanlon, Board of Health, advised that 180 ani.ts were built in the adjoining apoxt tent complex in 1969 which may be the cause of Mr. Beatta e's water problem. Ms. Tiombly asked if any engineering could be dour-, on culverts which would eliminate clogging. Mr. Ogron said that :sumps :such as those used by the State could be installed. Kay Hoar, 667 Waverly Road, advised that 'choir- homes were all, built on filled land, and that when the: culverts blocked daring the last three years, witer runs down her driveway like a stream. Ms. T ombly <:.::ked if there was any s'ay the people could handles the problem on their own property. Mr, Cyr advised that it was not lossible right now. He said the only solution is to get permission from Mr. Roche to pipe Edgelawn water through his proDerty or doHn Wood .Lanae to Greene Street and into the river. Hr. Dolan said that he had talked with sir. Roche Owned Piling 2/3 of the water thro"gh his site) to nee if he would agree to allow the Archdiocese to pipe the water all the way, and Mr. Roche decided against this. Mr. Ogren indicated lural: the same results can be achioved with tho proposed Archdiocese Vai.nage plans. V�r. Ogren :stated he had view& the site where the 4' culvert exists. Vory little flowed through and thore was a sizeable ponding area, upstream. Mx. Beattie: said that if Mr. Ogren has noti.cod the large pond on the Northeast side, how can the Archdiocese propose to channel more water into the area whore it i o going to back app into the farm prolarty. 0. Trombly replied that, the Arc:hdi.oceso cion; not intend to tie into the 45" cu-lvert, but intends to put in a 30" calvert which vill discharge downstream. The culvert will be on the lame side as the cemetery. Mr, Cyr said that if water from Lctgelawn Aven"o, Adams Avenue, Autran Avenue, and Martin Avenue is to be piped, the first thing to be done is to obtain an casement. 2/3 of the water on the site is going to be picked up by the site drainage system. This is water which was not inteided to be discharged at this point. Water now flows down to Rache prorcrty. If Mr. Roche would agree to an casement it would eliminate a problem. 3 6, Mrs. Hoar stated that the photographs exhibited did not shovt the erosion problem that e^xlt5ted behind their ho;iies. Dejnoulas had to build a wall to contain eroded selime-ot 1-Yhich i;,- now overflowin- said Mr. Dolan said that the /-krchdl.t)cese will roduce the erosion, problem in th(, area, indicated, and All doqjosit the water downstream. 1�fir:. OU-ren said that the proposod area, 1111exe the water will be. dischax-ed has a lesser gradient which will result in 105s erosion. Ms. Trombly suggested that the Archdiocese ma%e percolation tests available -to the public. A question arose as to whether there were any catch basins Ixoposed for they site. Mr. Ogren roplied that there were two catch basins and indicated their location on the plans. 1,11r. Dolan said that the krchdiacese, has to subriAt more re-fined and detailed plans of I.-he. -Ate at a, later &t t 0, Mr. Cyr stated lie had never witnessed planej showing a sepaXate 30" oulvert going undor Waverly Road. Mr. Dolan said that thel3e, Plans were. necossit%ted because of Mr. Cyr:'s concern, at the Housing Appeals committoo heaying.rj that the 48" culvert would. not cont-cain all the crater. Mr. Donahue asked which way the cemetery draInage is to be plpeda' Mr. Ogren repliod that there is no Intent"Lon to t:l_e Ll the cometory to the proposed drainage system. Mr, Beattie; -that the tho cemetery now goes across -the. road. Mir. Ogren said that the-re is presently a 12" dxainage pipe from the cemetery. Kr. Cyr noted that the present catch basin d-ischarges into a 36" culvert. fir. Q-,ren said that If the Town pats in berms It could divert drainage oil "lavorly Road Into catch ba"Flins and til-, 111to the proyjos("d Archdiocese drainage system. The street-A grado, above. tho culvert slope,-, from 61,6 to 53,5, Mr. ChOPU13.3 Inade several obsorvatlon,7, as to inforviation appuiring on the, Environmental Impact Statement regarding, water consumption, sepia e disposal, and trach disposal. Particular intarc-,,A was -n��Arjud regarding tra,-ih dasposal in vlof i of future consideraiionz for land,-,Cill rcqulre�ilents. Ms. Ttrombly asked if all buildings were to be. constructed on a slab. Mr. %-ren replied that this was the proposed co nstlru-c lAon in order 'to cause as little grad-J.:; di.stlarbanco. cis po.,islble. The nteep entering crado will be cut down to Pitt in a road. Ms. Trombla, rius-Lzostod that Catch bas I n S should be ins t.alled along the road entering the prol)erty if severe cut-down of Grade Is interided. The question was raised., from IL',he floor, a.S to whether all, catch basins proposed have a sump for sedimentation. 11,1r, O�-ren replied that thoy do. The spectator then asked what kind of pipe was going to be u6ed. Mr. Ogren replied that It waz reinforced concretue with an expected life of over 100 years. Mr. Beattie a.,,,ked if the Town system can hold the acldltlonal flow from the property, t fi. Tror-,ibly rioted th'at the AchdiucieLse ha,, to �;et a permit to t."u-, in to Town sewage. Mr. Dolan said he had tic) ro,,,.S3ofi to believe that the Town system could not hold the additional -floi-t frrjm the pr:cajcct. Ma, Trombly suggested that thoy co"Id check w1th Mr. Borgesi regarding sewer Wacity. Mr. Gelinas and Ms. Trombly then diocussed the obtaining of State or local permission after dotermination of whether the sewage system can handle the eAra flow, Ms, Trombly noted that Mr. Ogren will Submit soil data and that the Commission has twenty-one (21) days to make a decision. If anyone wishes, they may see the secretary in arouad two (2) weeks to find out if a permit bas been issued or fox copies of the Wetland Act. A question was asRed, from t1r. audience, as to what was a "Coir prehenAve. Pormit". Ms. Trombly gave a brief definition for the spectntors. Ms. Wombly asked for further questions, There being none, Mr. Chepulis made a motion to take the petition under. advioement, The he aria was adjourned by the Chairperson at 10:00 P.M.