2001-10-30
CITY OF BEVERLY
Public Meeting Minutes
BOARD: Conservation Commission
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: October 30, 2001
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman David Lang, Anthony Paluzzi, Dr. Mayo Johnson,
Jay Donnelly
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Jon Mazuy and Richard Benevento
OTHERS PRESENT: Debra Hurlburt, Assistant Planning Director
RECORDER:
Chairman Lang calls the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Notice of Intent
58 South Terrace – sewer line installation – Slly Arsenault
The applicant is seeking a permit to install a sewer line to her home and fix the front portion of
her foundation.
Lang asks what will happen with the existing septic system. The applicant responds that it will be
filled.
Donnelly asks how much excavation will be required for the foundation. The contractor responds
approximately 350 square feet.
Donnelly asks how deep the excavation will be. The contractor responds that the excavation will
be just below the frost line (approximately 4 feet).
Donnelly requests that the applicant use hay bales and silt fences. The applicant agrees to comply.
Lang asks if there are questions from the public. There are none.
Paluzzi moves to close the hearing, seconded by Johnson. All members in favor. Motion carries.
400 Hale Street – sports facility construction – Endicott College
Joseph Orzel from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute introduces Dennis Monaco, Director of
Operations at Endicott College and John Amano from Harbor & Associates
Orzel reviews the location of wetland lines and provides a brief history of the parcel. There are
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October 30, 2001
Page 2
two federal isolated vegetated wetland areas, which were reviewed by the Corps. of Engineers.
The Corps. of Engineers issued a permit in August, 2000 that allowed filling of the areas with
replication. As part of the filing, there was review of a portion of a BVW line. Wetland lines (F,
G, C, D and E) were all subject of a Request for Determination filed with the Conservation
Commission earlier this year. The Conservation Commission issued a Resource Area
Determination in June, 2001. Orzel states he has observed an area just north of flag G1, that
functions as a vernal pool, although it has not been certified yet. There is one certified vernal pool
(vernal pool #86).
Orzel states the proposal is a buffer zone project and there is no work proposed in the wetland.
There will be filling of the isolated federal wetlands, which has already been permitted by the
Corps. of Engineers.
Orzel introduces Mr. Amano. Amano states Harbor & Associates is a Sports Facility Design
Group, which was called upon to design a plan to improve Endicott College’s athletic facility.
The project is approximately 7.1 acres of land. There is 1+ acre of buffer zone and .2 acres of
existing pavement that gets reconfigured as part of the project. The parking was reconfigured in
order to comply with ADA requirements.
Donnelly asks if the proposed grading plan will reduce runoff to the adjacent wetlands. Amano
responds that there is a minor reduction of land contributing to the wetland area.
Amano describes the storm water system.
The athletic field is proposed to be a synthetic turf, which is a natural vertically draining system.
The field can soak up about 8 inches of water in one hour. The field is designed to hold 3 inches
of water before the weight of the water pushes it into the piping system. In essence, it is a big
detention basin. The end result is a decrease in post development runoff from the detention basin.
Dr. Johnson asks if the baseball field is natural turf. Amano responds that the existing softball
field is natural turf.
Donnelly asks what the lighting will be on the athletic fields. Amano responds that the college has
not yet funded the project and he has not yet designed the lighting.
Lang asks what Amano’s thoughts are regarding water quality impacts (i.e. use of fertilizer).
Amano responds that the trend is to use low phosphate fertilizers, however, the college does not
use pesticides.
Lang asks if there are questions from members of the Commission.
Donnelly asks how the massive rock and existing vegetation will be removed without impacting
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October 30, 2001
Page 3
the adjacent wetlands. Amano responds that the applicant will use siltation fences around the site
and the applicant will be diligent. Dennis Monaco, Director of Operations states that any sensitive
area will be heavily matted.
Paluzzi asks what will be done with the rock at the site. Amano responds that there will be
blasting and crushing on site.
Lang expresses concern about the runoff from the softball field (i.e. fertilizer) ending up in the
Pond. Orzel responds that the applicant could be required to provide a turf management plan,
which describes how fertilizer will be applied, etc.
Lang asks if there are any questions from the public.
Renee Mary, 274 Hale Street asks a clarifying question regarding blasting on the site. Amano
responds that the applicant will use a silt fence and can back it up with a chain link fence.
A site walk is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 17, 2001 at 8:30 a.m.
Paluzzi moves to continue the hearing to November 20, 2001 pending a site visit on Saturday,
November 17, 2001, seconded by Dr. Johnson. All members in favor. Motion carries.
Order of Conditions
58 South Terrace – sewer line installation – Sally Arsenault
Paluzzi moves to issue the following Conditions:
1. Standard Conditions.
Seconded by Dr. Johnson. All members in favor. Motion carries.
Certificate of Compliance
28 Paine Avenue
Laura Gibson of Laura Gibson Landscape Design appears before the Commission. She states that
during construction a temporary culvert was installed on the west end of the drainage ditch.
Additionally, the indoor swimming pool was not built and retaining walls were not built because
of potential damage to the roots of spruces. Another retaining wall was not built because the wall
was sufficient to retain the slope.
Dr. Johnson states he visited the site. The work was completed as indicated and everything looks
good.
Paluzzi moves to approve a Partial Certificate of Compliance described by the October 15, 2001
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October 30, 2001
Page 4
letter from Laura Gibson, seconded by Dr. Johnson. All members in favor. Motion carries.
Emergency Certification – 63 Hale Street
Hurlburt states the Conservation Commission has received a request to repair an existing septic
system, which is in failure. Hurlburt states she has spoken with Bill Burke and Joe Reale from the
Board of Health. This is an issue that has been in litigation for nearly three years. The
homeowner has been ordered to finalize the project.
Dan Finn (septic system contractor) introduces George Zambouras (engineer).
Finn states that the Shields family owned the property for years. A gentleman (Testa) built a
house next door. There are two cess pools and one cess pool is breaking out and going into the
abutting property. You can see the effluent on the hot top. The Chase family owns the property
and the City of Beverly has been trying to resolve the system Title 5 compliant for a number of
years. The City of Beverly is at a point now that if the homeowner does not resolve the problem,
the Chases will be by court order in a hotel and the house will be closed. The reason why this has
become an emergency is because the stone washing plants close after the frost (stone is a
component to any septic system). State law requires that the stone washing plants close after
st
December 1. The applicant has to bring a certified check for the entire project to either the court
or to the attorney by 4:00 p.m. October 31, 2001 or he will be in a hotel.
The proposed system is a microfast system, which is biologically treated. The applicant is
required to report periodically to the DEP.
Samboras states the new septic system design will be complete by the end of the week.
Finn states if the Board of Health approves the septic system, it will be installed within two
weeks.
Dr. Johnson moves to approve the Emergency Certification, seconded by Paluzzi. All members in
favor. Motion carries.
Letter from Innovative Engineering Solutions, Inc.
Hurlburt distributes a copy of letter from Innovative Engineering Solutions, Inc. to the members.
Approval of Minutes
Dr. Johnson moves to approve the September 17, 2001 meeting minutes as revised, seconded by
Donnelly. All members in favor. Motion carries.
Paluzzi moves to approve the October 2, 2001 meeting minutes, seconded by Donnelly. All
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October 30, 2001
Page 5
members in favor. Motion carries.
Paluzzi moves to approve the October 16, 2001 meeting minutes, seconded by Donnelly. All
members in favor. Motion carries.
The meeting is adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
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