Conservation Commission Minutes 1/23/08

Minutes: Minutes of the December 26, 2007 regular meeting were reviewed. Paul Marshall moved to accept the minutes written, seconded by Jack Hackett. The motion passed unanimously.

Mark Toussaint advised the Commission members they had all received a summary of the changes, and asked if any members would be able to attend either of the upcoming meetings, February 7^th in the evening, or February 13^th during the day. Paul Marshall, Jeff Winders, Jack Hackett, and Fred Glidden all stated they would go to the February 7^th workshop in Dover. Ms. Cormier also stated she would attend that meeting. The recording secretary will let SRPC know who is attending.

Map 208, Lot 18, Agricultural Zone, Farmington Road (Rte 11), Raven Realty, LLC, Richard Faul, Jr., Norway Plains Associates.

Mr. Richard Faul, Norway Plains Associates, addressed the Commission. He had brought plans that the members could review.

Mr. Faul and the members discussed the type of wetland, the flood plain, and the recently granted variance to allow the Shoe Depot building closer to lot line of new road proposed. The Commission members had questions about the swale, drainage, depth of pit, location of the swale in the outer 25 feet of the buffer and other issues.

Mr. Faul stated the drainage is designed to handle up to 60% coverage by impervious surfaces. He explained how the system is based on the CFS (cubic feet per second) of water flow, and the State mandates they accommodate a

The Commission members were concerned the swale would end up too small to handle all four lots once they are all developed.

There was much discussion about the catch basins, the proposed City water wells in the surrounding area, the soil, the size of the treatment swale and berm, and this being in the Aquifer Protection Overlay Zone.

Mr. Faul advised the members this project has gone to CLD for their review. He also stated he had spoken with Tom Willis, City of Rochester Engineer, who stated he would like one of the conditions of approval to be ongoing monitoring of the water as this is an Aquifer Zone.

After much discussion and review of the plans, the Commission made the following comments: They would like to see minimum tree removal to accomplish moving the treatment swale out of the buffer except for the discharge swale where it meets the 227 feet exit area elevation. They would like to review the CLD report before making a formal recommendation to the Planning Board.

The Commission members also suggested it would be useful to have a plan of the area showing the locations of the wells with the 500 foot radius around them.

Ms. Cormier questioned why Norway Plains had applied for a Conditional Use and not a Buffer Reduction. She is going to check on what the differences are in applying for each of these.

Ms. Cormier stated she had sent an email to Christopher Berry advising him this case was on the agenda for this evening. She had not received a response when she left for the meeting.

Ms. Cormier read through the Wetland Impact Plan and also noted approval conditions listed on the NHDES Wetlands Permit # 2004-02304, especially item #4 that states ‘there shall be no further alteration of wetlands for lot development, driveways, culvers, or for septic setback.’

The Commission members discussed this property, the consensus of the Commission was to go through each applicants requirement listed on the wetlands impact plan.

Mark Toussaint advised the Commission members that he and Fred Glidden had attended this meeting, along with Julie LaBranche (SRPC) Ea Ksander (Planning Department) and Tom Abbott (Code Enforcement Office)who is a committee member as a citizen. Mark Toussaint stated Ms. LaBranche submitted the time line for the Natural Resource Chapter. He explained there was a fair amount of input needed from the Conservation Commission, such as information on scenic places and roadways in Rochester.

It was suggested that the Conservation Commission might want to have a contest asking citizens to submit pictures of scenic places in Rochester, possibly offering dinner for 2 at the Governor’s Inn as a prize.

Mark Toussaint stated that Ea Ksander intends to invite the members of the Energy and Sustainability Commission to come to the next meeting in February.

Ms. Cormier will forward information to Ea Ksander about contacting Meredeth Lineweber, and the library for information on scenic places in Rochester.

Mark Toussaint informed the Commission members he had received an email from an abutter of this property, asking about dredge and fill filed. It was Mark’s understanding from Norway Plains Associates, that no applications had been filed, however, they had been, and the information was discussed at a Conservation Commission meeting several months ago. Mark Toussaint emailed Ms. Cormier and she advised the abutter could contact NHDES directly, and the Conservation Commission can still make comments if they want to.

Ms. Cormier stated that the City had filed the Dredge & Fill, as the City owns the land. After much discussion about this property, the Conservation Commission would like to make a technical recommendation that culverts be used at each filled in place to continue equal flow of water, and they recommend not paving the road.

Ms. Cormier advised the members she had received an email from Sandy Breton, saying her term on the Conservation Commission expired on January 2, 2008, and that she had moved to Dover, NH.

Grant - NHDES 2008 Water Quality Planning Activities in Support of Rivers and Lakes Management and Protection Programs Pre-Proposal Information and Application

The members discussed this grant and Mark Toussaint asked Ms. Cormier if she would ask Ea Ksander about working on it. The Chair asked the members to review the paperwork and it will be discussed at the next meeting.

The budget was discussed with the consensus for the amount to stay the same as it was in FY08. The Conservation Commission has an interest in using some of the Envirothon/Outreach effort money for a Rochester home schooled student. Meredeth Lineweber will look into any home school student who might have an interest in Conservation issues.

This is a matching grant, and the application can be applied for any time during 2008. Jeff Winders knows someone to contact to find out exactly what is available through this grant.

Mark Toussaint stated that Jeff Winders is going to serve on the advisory committee to discuss the mitigation area for the Spaulding Expansion.

Rosemarie had been mailed a packet of information about this, which she took to the Planning Department, and then it was given to Mark Toussaint. Mark Toussaint explained there was a meeting coming up on this, and he wanted to know if any Conservation Commission member could go.

The members discussed this project, stating it was been going on for at least the last 10 years. Jeff Winders stated he will be attending the meetings.

Mark Toussaint received a call from someone wanting to know if they could do some cross-country skiing on the Gagne Farm property. Cross-country skiing is permitted, and the property is accessed on the Lowell Street side. There is an old logging road across from the cemetery on Lowell Street. The logging road leads up to the fields.

Ms. Cormier advised the Commission she has gotten calls about where the required markers can be purchased. She asked the Conservation Commission if they wanted to purchase signs and sell them. We do not have a designated local place to refer people to for purchasing these markers. If the markers are required on the lot, the certificate of occupancy is not issued until they are put up.

The Commission does NOT want to purchase any markers to resell. If the City wants to buy some, fine, but the Conservation Commission does not want to be involved in any purchasing and/or selling of wetland buffer markers.

Paul Marshall stated the Bow, NH Conservation Commission has very nice wetland markers, maybe we can check with them and find out where they get theirs. And Mark Toussaint said he knows the former Chair of the Conservation Commission in Barrington, NH. He will contact her for information about their supplier.

Jeff Winders wanted the members to be aware that tomorrow (1-24-08) at 1 pm, DES was going to meet at the property on Dry Hill Road. He invited any interested members to be there for the site walk.

Jeff Winders advised the Commission that Rochester taxpayers can get a tax break on their property based on a SPI (soil point index score), if their property is in current use. He has spoken with Tom Mullin, Tax Assessor, asking him for a list of the Current Use taxpayers who have not had a SPI done on their property.

Paul Marshall made a motion to have Ms. Cormier send a memo to Tom Mullin requesting a list of current use property not having a SPI score. Fred Glidden seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Paul Marshall moved to adjourn at 8:45 p.m. Jack Hackett seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.