CONSERVATION COMMISSION

--> [Author:CMM] JFK CIVIC CENTER

50 ARCAND DRIVE

LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS 01852

January 7, 2009

Members Present:

Louisa Varnum, Kathy Downey, Kyle Davis, Anne Chalupka Chris Zacharer, Alysha Lynch

Members Absent:

CALL TO ORDER

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

NOTICE OF INTENT

Diane Perry

112 Marshall Road

Lowell, MA 01852

DEP # 206-0637

Project Location: 87 Lafayette Street

Construction of a Single Family house, flood mitigation vault in the floodplain

NOTICE OF INTENT

Diane Perry

112 Marshall Road

Lowell, MA 01852

DEP # 206-0636

Project Location: 96 Alma Street

Construction of a Single Family house, flood mitigation vault in the floodplain

Louisa Varnum: Motion to hear both projects together

Kathy Downey: Second

All in Favor

Pat Flaherty: I have a drawing for each lot and an old plan that shows an overview. We were here before and at the ZBA and got the required approvals. We had to go to the Planning Board to get the land divided. It was originally one lot bounded by 3 streets. The family divided the lot and kept the original house that is being fixed up. The home was damaged in the flood. The plan calls for 2 3-bedroom houses. We are in the floodplain so we can't fill without compensatory storage so we have the tanks underground. If it floods again the water will flow into the tank. The floodplain elevation is at 71. The existing ground elevation is at 65-66. The utilities will b built above 71, which is a FEMA requirement. We hope to get it approved as it was before. There are no grading changes. It is a pretty flat lot. There are only a couple of trees, one on Rosemont and one on Lafayette. The lots are the same size as the rest of the neighborhood, 7000 sq. ft.

Chris Zacharer: Are there any changes from the last plan.

Pat Flaherty: There are no design changes. Only in the notes. We new a need deed for each because the parcel was subdivided. There are no engineering changes. There are new dates on the plans

Chris Zacharer: Do you have a schematic of the smart vents.

Pat Flaherty: We gave them to the building department and the ZBA but they are not included with this filing. The Building Commissioner was satisfied with the size and location. We can submit the schematics

Louisa Varnum: I am confused with the gallons and cubic feet. Can you speak to that?

Pat Flaherty: The storage in cubic feet is in the first column. It is 1075

Louisa Varnum: So they are exactly the same

Pat Flaherty: Yes. We could make the tanks bigger but we made them exact

Louisa Varnum: Can you explain the dry well

Pat Flaherty: There is one dry well for each lot. They both have a manhole cover. I spoke with the city engineer about connecting to the storm drain but they said no. So the water will perk into the ground after it is full. There are valves between the chambers with back flow presenters

Louisa Varnum: How long will it take to empty them

Pat Flaherty: I didn't do the calculations but I would estimate about 3-4 days. By the time there were full the ground water would most likely also be high.

Louisa Varnum: At what point would they start to fill

Pat Flaherty: there is a schedule on the drawing. It would start when the water reached elevation 64. There are vent pipes on the side of the building. There is a separate pipe for each elevation. It would be a staged entry

Louisa Varnum: are the pipes screened

Pat Flaherty: There are drilled holes on the sides and the top is capped.

Louisa Varnum: is there any way to empty it with a truck

Pat Flaherty: It could be emptied by the manhole cover but the idea would be to keep it closed. It has been used several times in Lowell. I don't see too many problems mechanically. It is a precast item so it would be made in several pieces.

Louis Varnum: Will the open area be loamed and seeded?

Pat Flaherty: Yes it will all be loamed and seeded except he driveway and manhole covers.

Kathy Downey: Can you explain the from the last storm

Paul Broulette: In 2006, the floodwaters were over the counter tops at 99 Rosemont. The building had to be gutted

Pat Flaherty: The building department has been involved in the rehab.

Kathy Downey: How much of the lot was under water

Pat Flaherty: The entire site was underwater.

Paul Broulette: since that flood the city has put in a 4-foot berm at the end of the street. It saved the neighborhood in the 2007 flood. The city has also separated the CSO in the area. We are looking for funding to build a permanent wall

Anne Chalupka: Why would you want to build there

Diane Perry: People were coming to use to build on it. Then the flood and recession happened. Now we want to keep all the permits in order so we can hopefully sell it. When the process started my mother was ill and we could have used the money. She has since passed away.

Kyle Davis: do you have a maintenance plan

Pat Flaherty: No

Kyle Davis: Will you need to clean the silt or check the vents

Pat Flaherty: It might be better to write that into the order of conditions

Kyle Davis: How tick is the foundation wall

Pat Flaherty: 12 inches

Chris Zacharer: in the prior filing the house elevation was provided. If this goes forward the foundation would have to remain exactly as it is in the plans. There can be no jogs. The vent pipes shall be protected with a permanent condition. Vault should be checked annually and after a flood event. This should be specified in the deed. There have been 2 floods between the first order and now. The first flood there was 4-5 feet of water. The second one was not as bad. I can't think of a more unsuitable place for a house. There is a 3-year limit on the order and it cannot be extended if construction has not started

Paul Broulette: I have been to all the meetings. I think it has been designed well and will be pleasing to the neighborhood. I would like to see the parcel sold. I think it would be a good fit. We are working to fix the neighborhood problems

Kathy Downey: Motion to close the public hearing

Anne Chalupka: Second

All in Favor

Kyle Davis: Motion to issue a Lowell Standard Order of conditions with the following special conditions that will pertain to both DEP numbers

1. Foundation footprint shall remain the same

2. Foundation shall not exceed 12 inches in width

3. New owners shall submit development plans for review and approval

4. New owners shall submit a maintenance plan for the vaults.

5. Maintenance Plan shall include a schedule of checking said vaults annually and after floods. An annual report shall be submitted on the maintenance and the serviceability of the vault, including cleaning, checking, maintaining etc.

6. Maintenance plan is an ongoing permanent condition

7. The owner shall submit a deed showing language that references the Order of Conditions and the permanent conditions for approval.

Kathy Downey: Second

All in Favor

MINUTES

Kyle Davis: Motion to approve the minutes of the 12/17 meeting

Alysha Lynch: Second

All in Favor

ADJOURN

Kathy Downey: Motion to adjourn

Louisa Varnum: Second

All in favor

6

4

FAX (978) 970-4262 PHONE (978) 970-4252

08-21-02 document