Conservation Commission - Regular Meeting

on. [music] So, I'll call the meeting to order. Uh, let's introduce everybody on the meeting. I'm Travis Mast. When I call your name, please confirm you can hear me by verifying you are present. Sandy, I'm present. Jonathan, present. Noah, present. and air present. [clears throat and cough] Leah, I'm here. Is Jan on? I'm here. Hey, Jan.

This open meeting of the Conservation Commission is being conducted remotely via Zoom pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12th, 2020 order. Recently extended on March 28th, 2025. Access info for the public has been provided on the town website. This meeting is being recorded. Please remember to mute your phone or computer when you are not speaking. This is done on a phone by pressing star six. As acting chair, I will introduce each speaker on the agenda. Please note, you will not have screen sharing privileges, but staff can display any visuals per your request. During periods of public comment, participants must use the raise hand icon in the Zoom menu bar to indicate they would like to speak. This is done on a phone by pressing star 9 and then star six to unmute when you are called on. Participants who raise their hand will be recognized one at a time and will be promoted to speak. Finally, each vote taken will be conducted by roll call vote. As a reminder, the commission is concerned with state and town wetlands and storm water ress. Concerns outside of this purview need to be addressed to the appropriate boards. All right. Leah, do you want to do the meeting minutes from

Sure.

I [clears throat] reviewed them. I didn't have any comments or questions. Go around the virtual table. Noah, did you have any comments or questions about the December 16th meeting minutes? No questions or comments about those minutes. Amamira, no questions or comments. Jonathan, no. Sandy, I am good. Do I have a motion to approve the meeting minutes from December 16th? I move to approve the meeting minutes from December 16th, 2025. Second.

Motion and a second. Roll call vote. Amamira, yes. Sandy, yes. Noah, yes. Jonathan, yes. I'm also Yes. I think I got everybody. Motion passes.

Leah, do you want to jump to the hearing? When is that scheduled? So, we've started making the first one 7:05. So, we don't have to have dead time, Sandy. So, go for it. Sandy, do you want me to keep rolling?

If you could, because I'm just bringing up the different things. I'm just reading through. So, uh, Travis, if you could, thank you very much. Pursuant to the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and Grafton Wetlands Protection bylaw, Grafton Concom will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 via Zoom to act upon a request for determination of applicability for improvements to the intersection of Westboro Road Route 30 and Pine Street in Grafton. Application materials, meeting links, and other info is online at the Grafton Town Concom website. So, who is here from the applicant?

I'm Eric Olsson from VHP here to represent the town of Grafton. Hey, Eric. How are you? Good to see you again. Go for it. Um, so you said before, I don't have the ability to share or can I share? No, but Jan can provide um she can do screen sharing if you give her the files you want to show.

That's all right. Yeah, she can just pull up the maps. I I uh I made a PowerPoint, but I forgot that I couldn't share here, but the the maps would be fine. So, um so yeah, this is the Westboro Road Route 30 Pine Street intersection improvements project. The applicant is the town of Grafton. Um and so the project location um is entirely within the existing roadway easement um along the intersection of West Row Road and Pine Street um and and it uh road road shoulders. Uh the proposed work um is the reconfiguration of the existing intersection. Um there's going to be a single exit and entrance lane on Pine Street. Uh they're going to install traffic signals. There's currently no traffic signals. Um they're going to reconstruct the existing sidewalks, install uh pedestrian curb ramps and crosswalks, remove and reset the existing guardrail, and then there'll be paving and milling and and um um the roadway. And then there'll be installation of new signage and pavement markings. Um as far as resource areas that were delineated, um there are adjacent resource areas. There's no direct impacts to resource areas for this project. Um but we are within buffer zones. So, we have BVW um as you can see to the um to the north um northeast and the souththeast um of the roadway there. There's also bank there's Axtel Brook in there which um per stream stats is an intermittent stream so there's no riverfront area for the project. Um portions of the work are located within the 100 foot buffer zone to both PVW and Bank. Um all proposed work is um will be limited to to previously disturbed areas within the existing roadway or road shoulder and there is some uh 25 ft no disturb zone but as you can see it kind of just comes right near the the edge of the work area. So

there's no real impact to the no disturb zone but again any work on this project is within previously disturbed areas. Um, as far as mitigation, um, we will we did propose erosion controls. Um, per your request, we sent in an updated plan set that included, um, erosion controls. I think one thing we didn't call out there is catch basin inlet protection. Um, there are some inlets along Route 30 in the area. So, we will install those as needed. Um and as far as storm water management is concerned, we there will be a overall decrease in the impervious area um within um within the resource area of about or sorry, excuse me, of approximately 1,341 square feet. So it' be a decrease in impervious area um from the current layout. There'll be no new discharges to the wetland resource areas and we are in compliance with all 10 storm water management standards. And as far as regulatory compliance, uh the proposed project qualifies as a minor activity in the buffer zone. Um pavement repair, resurfacing, and reclamation of existing roadways. Um so that's the quick and dirty. Does um so does anyone have any questions?

Uh one quick question then I'll turn it over to the commissioner. So you're not impacting anything outside the existing footprint, but you're reducing the impervious area by 1300 square feet. Well, yeah. I mean within the existing easement, so the road shoulder. Um so you know there's the existing pavement, then there's the existing disturbed road shoulder as well. So we're within um the you know the roadway easement. So is it like currently gravel and you're going to pave it? I'm trying to figure out what that 1300 square feet of impact is. Um let's see. Because I thought it was all within existing disturbance or footprint, not just right away.

Yeah. because I think the reduction is that uh the layout as you can see kind of the layout's adjusted where I don't think they need all the space that's currently out there. So, they're reducing um they're they're restoring some of this area because it's it's uh it's just not needed for the for the layout that they have. Okay. I may have some follow-up questions, but I'll go around to the commissioners. Jonathan, do you have any questions?

Sorry. Looks like right at the corners here, like I I know you can't see my cursor, but where the erosion controls are on both sides of the roadway looks to be where they are proposing to um lman seed. So that's that's where you kind of um regaining some impervious area there. Jonathan, any questions? No, I don't I don't have anything at this time. Noah, no questions. Amira, um, so I just have an a question about the the islands that exist there. So, are those being removed as part of this project?

The concrete island and the uh the median in the middle.

Yes, I believe so. But I think they are they are going to have um there there is going to be some curbing in the middle. So you can see that little long elongated piece right down on Pine Street. So I think the existing one will be removed. Um yeah, it says remove existing concrete island and curbing down in the bottom left. You can see that little triangle there. It says rem removing that. And then they'll be adding a a divider right there on Pine Street. It's like the dark line that's elongated there. And that divider, is that going to be like a concrete median or is there going to be any kind of like it

says proposed proposed granite curve and and cement? So, I think there's I don't think there's going to be any greenery in the middle of the road. I don't think it's wide enough to to accommodate that as far as I can tell. Okay. Yeah. Um, no other questions. Sandy, are you up and running? Uh, yes I am. I have kind of just way in.

Yeah, just it's more of a followup. Um, just because I'm looking at the the plans I think, you know, and I and I go by this intersection every day and I've used it multiple times every day. So, and again, I think, you know, this is what Eric has already said, but I think just you have kind of a blue line here that's kind of, you know, the back of the existing concrete walkway, and it looks like they're they're moving that, you know, southwesterly closer into and tightening up the intersection. Um, and then there's already there's a small little island in there now. They're just adjusting it. So the middle island is there's one there now and they're just adjusting it. And then there's the one on the to the left. It looks like they're removing it and then they're tightening up the radius on the west side. So it looks like they're tightening up. And this is kind of less of, you know, um less of conservation. I'm just curious. We usually see road and intersections get larger, but this one's getting smaller. Was there a particular reason why?

I cannot speak to that personally. Um, Greg Greg is not here on the engineering side. Um, I'm on the environmental side. I I can't say why, but I I know that they go by all the current regulations and rules when it comes to designing roadways. So, I imagine it has something to do with that. Okay. And again, I've just because it's not that old. So, I'm just and I live down the street and I go by here all the time. So, I'm just asking um and safety concerns that you know of too because I there they are putting lights in there with Okay, that answers that answers that question then. If they're putting signals in there.

Okay, so that's a little different thing. And then as far as the signals go and the location of the mast arms and those type of things, I I'm trying to look on the plan to see if where they're located and none of them look like they're located in any of the wetlands or any of the 25 foot disturb areas. Correct. It looks like on the bottom right there in the southeast, the the 25 foot comes right along the corner of the work area. Y So there's nothing looks like nothing within the 25 foot. No disturb, right? Okay. I think this is really just a case of making sure we're just putting up all the erosion controls and protections and protecting the adjacent wetlands turn construction

and it means I'm going to have to stop there a lot more than I do now. But that's not your that's not a conservation commission issue though. So that's why we always do the right thing because all these projects are visible, everyone driving by. Um yeah, Travis, I don't have any more uh questions. I I just was I just happened to look at the plans a little bit closer and yeah, you're getting further away and I think you've already answered this question, but the area that um is going to be, you know, where the existing concrete walk is, it's just going to be uh lman seated. Correct. Right. Okay. Okay. Thank you. I don't have anything else, Travis.

All right, Leah, do we need to vote separately on the the finding that it's a minor activity? No, that'll just be a finding like listed just like we list the conditions. Do you want to go through your special conditions? Sure. Recommendations on this.

Yeah, I have I have a couple things ahead of uh conditions that might help clarify a couple things. Um this is uh offsite work uh triggered by UPS going in. Um, so changes to traffic flow and uh I know they wanted to like get rid of the the right turn only lane because trucks can't make that turn right now. So they wanted to direct people more more squarely to Route 30 with a traffic light. Um, and Travis I think earlier uh the 1300 square ft you were asking about is a reduction in imperous not impacts.

Okay. That is correct. Yeah. Reduction. So, because they're tightening the the road. Yeah. Yeah.

Um, other than those things, I just have one finding uh citing 310 CMR 10.02 2B2P, which Eric mentioned earlier, which is the citation that it's a minor activity um for uh roadway work. And then I have uh three special conditions, pretty standard. one, prior to commencement of work, the erosion control barrier will be installed as they show here. Um, it will serve as the limit of disturbance. They can only use uh natural non-plastic wildlife friendly erosion control materials. They'll keep the barrier uh in good repair until all work is complete and fully stabilized, at which point they'll pull it out. Um, number two, the catch basins will be protected. Um, Eric touched on that earlier as well. And three, at the end of each workday, they'll sweep any sediment that got tracked onto the street. Other than that, I recommend issuing a negative determination. Just don't forget to open it to the public.

Yeah, Eric, any concerns, questions with those conditions. Nope, that sounds great to me. I appreciate it. Thank you, Leah. We're we're not waiting on anything from like the planning board or anything, right? No, we're good to go. So now I'll open it up to the public to see if there are any comments. Jan, nothing from the public. All right. Do I have a motion to close the hearing for Westboro Road Route 30 and Pine Street and issue a negative determination with the conditions as discussed?

So moved. Second. A second. Motion and a second. Roll call vote. Amamira. Yes. Jonathan. Yes. Sandy. Yes. Noah. Yes. I'm also a yes. The motion passes. Thanks, Eric. Thank you very much. Have a great night. You, too. What's next? Westboro. Yeah, which means I'm going to recuse myself. Walk away. Yeah, I'm gonna walk away. I can I have to read this in again, right?

Yes. Have fun. Thank you, Travis, for doing that. Won't take long. Pursuant to the Grafton Stormwater Management bylaw, the Grafton Conservation Commission is holding a public hearing via Zoom to act upon the application for Grafton Stormwater bylaw permit for the demo and construction of a building at 200 Westboro Road in Grafton, Mass. Application materials, meeting link, and other info is posted online at the Grafton Conservation Commission website. who is here from the applicant. Kelsey. Hi, good evening everyone.

Yeah. Uh once again, my name is Kelsey Kern. I'm an engineer with Niche Engineering joined by my project manager, Chris Hodney, uh here on behalf of the applicant, Tus University. So, for a quick recap, happy new year. Um at the 1216 meeting, we asked for a continuence so that Graves Engineering could complete their peer review and then submit um an official sort of response letter. Um, and so Grave did uh complete their review. They issued a response letter on 1219 uh with a little bit of followup there. Uh we did make a correction to a sheet that Graves noted on their 1219 letter. So in addition to all of that, the planning board and the Gratch and Fire Department reviewed the plan set. Um they asked us to incorporate a fire access lane or pulloff. Um and we did that um which resulted in a slight increase in imperous area on the site. So, an updated plan set and a stormwater report were submitted to the conservation commission on December 30th, 2025 um ahead of today's meeting. Um and uh so to summarize just a little bit of of what we did there. So, this the new storm water report was updated to show uh that the project is considered a mix of new development and redevelopment. Uh the project still meets the mass EP storm water standards as well as the town of Grafton and storm water requirements for TSS and phosphorus removal. and the change in impervious area uh was small enough that we did not require a ch that it did not require a change in the um sizing of the infiltration system. So happy to answer any questions you have uh about those changes. Um I do want to mention that the Grafting Fire Department did sign off on the change for the fire access lane. Uh so we're all good there. And so today we're asking the commission to close the hearing. Um happy to answer any questions. Like I said,

um I'll go around the table to see if the commissioners have any questions or comments. Um Noah, no question. Final thoughts. Amira, no questions. Jonathan, nothing from me. Leah, did those changes that were submitted on the 30th, are you good with that? Yep. And I had a conversation with Jeff Walsh today just to make sure that the addition of the fire lane was all awesome. All squared away um and and he's good with everything.

Do you want to run through your recommendations or have they already been discussed? Um I think we started talking about them a little while ago, but I'll go through real quick. Um

thank you. I have three special conditions. One uh per comment number nine from Graves at the start of construction, deeper confirmatory soil testing shall be performed to verify the required groundwater offset for the subsurface infiltration system. Um two, we want a copy of the finalized SWIP and any inspection reports when available. And three, per the letter from uh US Fish and Wildlife Service dated 102425, the project shall be re-evaluated in IPAC and additional coordination with the service shall take place to ensure compliance if number one, the scope, timing, duration or location of the project changes. two, any new information reveals the project may um impact federally listed species or designated critical habitat. Or three, a new species is listed or critical habitat designated. Um, that's all I have for special conditions and everything else is ready to go.

Uh, Kelsey, any concerns or questions about those conditions? I have no questions or concerns, but I'll pass it to Chris just to make sure we heard the same thing. Hey, Chris with the engineering. Yeah, no, no concerns there. We we've actually got that test bit already scheduled, so we'll get that over to you uh once we have it. All right, Leah, I've got it open up to the public, right? Correct. All right, I'm opening it up to the public for comment. Jan, the lines are open. Uh, nothing from the public.

Okay. Do I have a motion to close the hearing and issue the permit with the conditions as discussed for 200 Westboro Road, Tus University? So moved. Second. Motion and a second. Roll call vote. Noah, yes. Amira, yes. Jonathan, yes. I am also a yes. The motion passes. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all. Have a good one.

Action items. Yeah, we just have um two partial certificates of compliance. um the subdivision called Avy Woods. Two more house lots are done. Three and four Avy Road. They need partals from the larger subdivision permits. Um we had to work through a few things with them, but they are now good to go. Is that it? Is that over by Pearls? Yes. I remember that one now. Are we doing these separately? You can combine it.

So, I looked through the photos and I didn't have any comments or questions. Jonathan, any comments, questions? Nope. Nothing on my end. No concerns. Noah, nothing from me. Amira, no questions. Sy's cast. Do I have a motion? I'll make a motion to issue the partial COC's for three Abbey Road and four Abbey Road.

I'll second that. Roll call vote. Noah, yes. Jonathan, yes. Amira, yes. I am also a yes. Motion passes. Is that it? That's it. Should we close it out on her? What What happens when you put me in charge and I have a cold? It's not going to take long. When's the next meeting? The 20th. 20th. Yep. I think I'll be there. Yeah, we can close it out. Motion to adjurnn.

Second. Oh, we've got to vote on this. Geez. Roll call vote. Uh, Noah, yes. Amira, yes. Jonathan, yes. I am also a yes. The motion passes.