The City of Lowell • Division of Planning and Development

JFK Civic Center • 50 Arcand Drive • Lowell, MA 01852

P: 978.446.7200 • F: 978.970.4262

www.LowellMA.gov

Adam Baacke

Assistant City Manager/Director

Anne Barton

Deputy Director

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

JFK CIVIC CENTER

50 ARCAND DRIVE

LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS 01852

February 17, 2010

Members Present:

Chris Zacharer, Louisa Varnum, Nate Moore, Alysha Lynch

Members Absent:

Kathy Downey, Anne Chalupka, Kyle Davis

CALL TO ORDER

Chris Zacharer: Called the meeting to order at 7:00

REQUEST FOR DETERMINATION OF APPLICABILITY

Boott Hydropower, Inc.

One Tech Drive, Suite 220

Andover, MA 01810

Project Location: Central Street Bridge over Lower Pawtucket Canal

Jody Trunfio: We're here to Request a Determination of Applicability on behalf of Boott Hydropower. Boott owns eight bridges in the city. They are responsible for biannual bridge inspections and grading, if required. We have been retained by Boott Hydropower to review these inspections. This project is for the Central Street Bridge over the Pawtucket Canal. The latest inspection report noted that there is some deterioration under the eastern sidewalk. The Engineer requested that a bridge rating be done. The bridge rating determined that the sidewalk needs to be replaced in order to meet statutory load requirements. Boott would like to perform this work during this construction season. To protect the area below the bridge, we intend to install timber shielding between the bottom flanges of the beams as well as an outrigger assembly for any concrete that would fall. There would also be some kind of silt fence.

Chris Zacharer: What's your timeframe?

Jody Trunfio: We're estimating that the construction is 3-4 months of work.

Nate Moore: Are there any painted surfaces?

Jody Trunfio: The steel that goes back would be shop primed.

Chris Zacharer: Is the crane going to be setup on the bridge?

Jody Trunfio: No. The location is shown in the traffic management plan.

Chris Zacharer: The canalways are not resource areas under the Wetlands Protection Act. However, they are floodzones. We do retain jurisdiction when the work proposed is connected to a resource area. The project is approximately 200 feet away from the Concord River. The lower Pawtucket Canal empties into the Concord River. The Concord River is a highly sensitive resource area. The scope of the proposed work is in-place. You are not changing the footprint of the bridge at all. Is there anyone here who would like to offer their comments or concerns regarding this Request for Determination of Applicability?

No one present

Chris Zacharer: Motion to close the public hearing.

Alysha Lynch: Second.

All in Favor

Louisa Varnum: Motion to issue a Negative 3 Determination of Applicability.

Alysha Lynch: Second.

All in Favor

INFORMAL DISCUSSION

Mike Gerhardt - College Street Partners

900 Cummings Center, Suite #301U

Beverly, MA 01915

Project Location: 847 Rogers Street

Wants to remove driveway located in the 100 foot buffer zone

Bob Burr: We are interested in purchasing a building at 847 Rogers Street. The building is located at the intersection of Route 495 and Route 38. We're looking to create additional parking for site by relocating a stormwater detention basin to an abutting parcel. We want to know if this detention pond is a resource area or if it is an exception to the Wetlands Ordinance.

Chris Zacharer: I would have to walk the area to see what is out there. The City GIS system identifies it as wetlands. It may have been a marginal jurisdictional wetland when the buildings were constructed. How old are these buildings?

Bob Burr: They were constructed in the late 1980's.

Chris Zacharer: It may have been pursuant to an Order of Conditions or to a Planning Board Order. Has a title search been performed on the property?

Bob Burr: No.

Louisa Varnum: Is the retention basin only for the two buildings on the site?

Brian Jones: There are five inlets to the basin. Some of the inlets are from Phoenix Road and some from various parking areas.

Chris Zacharer: Are any of the inlets coming from Hannaford's?

Brian Jones: I don't think so. It appears that it's all ledge outcrop.

Chris Zacharer: Is there standing water in the basin?

Brian Jones: Yes.

Chris Zacharer: Is it functioning as a retention basin?

Brian Jones: Yes.

Chris Zacharer: Does the overflow go to Trull Brook?

Brian Jones: We would have to get inverts.

Chris Zacharer: If the outlet goes to Phoenix Avenue then it goes to Trull Brook. There is no City drainage out there.

Nate Moore: What do the USGS Topo Maps show?

Brian Jones: I don't know.

Chris Zacharer: Our primary interest in the situation will be water quality as the detention basin discharges to the Trull Brook. This could probably be handled with a conditioned Request for Determination of Applicability.

Brian Jones: We can improve upon anything that is already out there.

Louisa Varnum: Is the any possibility of sizing the replacement detention basin larger than the existing one?

Brian Jones: There may be opportunity to get some more storage.

Julie Salois: My name is Julie Salois from Community Teamwork. I oversee the management of the building at 126 Phoenix Avenue. We see this as an opportunity to benefit the area. We have had storm drain issues.

Chris Zacharer: We are concerned about the inverts and peak flow back to the Trull Brook watershed. We would prefer to see a Request for Determination of Applicability. I'd like to make a site visit.

MINUTES

Louisa Varnum: Motion to approve meeting minutes for February 3rd, 2010.

Alysha Lynch: Second.

All in Favor

ADJOURN

Louisa Varnum: Motion to Adjourn

Alysha Lynch: Second

All in favor