Conservation Commission Meeting: April 15, 2025

Note: this public meeting and public hearing were conducted in person at the Annex, with a remote teleconferencing option available for public participation. Public participation details were posted with the agenda.

Members in attendance: Brian Keevan, Holly Palmgren, Bonnie Hirsh, Jeff Hoodlet

Members in attendance remotely: Jennifer Vuona

Applicants and others in attendance: Dave Jermakian, Gerry Pellegrini, Kathleen Farrell, Larry Greene Jr.

Applicants and others in attendance remotely: Maryann DiPinto, Carlos Nieto, Chris Chamberland, David Farrell

Votes taken in the following actions are “all in favor” unless noted otherwise.

Holly Palmgren called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM.

Item 1: 7:02 P.M. NOI for 175 Brooks Station Rd Lot 1 Driveway – Three Oaks Environmental has filed an NOI (DEP File #267-0467) on behalf of Pickoff Properties for a new driveway off an existing common driveway at 175 Brooks Station Rd to access the newly created backlot. Commissioners visited the site on 4/14/2025, all members except Jennifer in attendance as well as Maryann DiPinto. Maryann explained that the original wetland delineation was completed with the assumption that the shared driveway would use the existing culvert serving the existing house at #175.  She has now flagged additional wetlands, and the proposed driveway within the 25’ layout of the undeveloped lot will require a crossing to be installed.  She asked for a continuation to the May 20th meeting.  At 7:06 the Commissioners voted to continue the hearing to May 20^th.

Item 2: 7:07 P.M. A Request for a Certificate of Compliance was received for DEP File #267-0446 at 33 Radford Road.  Commissioners visited the site on 4/14/2025, all members except Jennifer in attendance along with Kathleen Farrell. Commissioners noted in the field that the trenching work to channelize street runoff was completed and vegetation was stabilizing the banks, but that the barn demolition and replacement did not occur. David did the trenching work in late fall 2024 and reseeded.  No work on the barn was completed and the owner has no intention to complete that portion of the project under this NOI; the house is currently on the market.  In order to issue a complete certificate rather than a partial (which would remain as a lien on the property) the Chair will add a note to the Certificate stating that the portion of the project requesting demo and barn replacement did not occur.  At 7:13 Commissioners voted to issue a complete certificate and to include that note.

Item 3: 7:16 P.M.  A Notice of Intent was filed (no DEP file number at time of hearing) by American Tower Company for culvert replacement and road improvement of an access road to their communications tower off Thompson Road. Public Hearing opened at 7:16 p.m.  Commissioners visited the site on 4/11/2025; present were Brian, Bonnie, Jeff, and Dave Jermakian.  David presented, and also provided updated full sized plans with new sheets revised with new dates (hard copies and pdfs).  Project involves road improvements (some grading and addition of gravel) and culvert replacements.  Three existing culverts will be replaced with larger HDPE pipes in the same locations.  Only one of the culverts is in a jurisdictional area and is a wetland connection with no stream flow. Updates to the plans were made following some questions raised during the site visit, and include the additions of erosion and sedimentation control details and seeding specs changed to a native wetland mix.  No DEP file number has been issued so applicant will have to continue the hearing.  At 7:32 Commissioners voted to continue the hearing to the May 20^th meeting.

Item 4: 7:34 pm.  Holly recused herself for this item.  VHB sent a letter requesting a 3-year extension to the Order of Conditions issued in 2019 for DEP file 267-0424, the culvert replacement for South Wachusett Brook on Ball Hill Road near Hubbardston Road. With multiple administrative extensions the current expiration date is June 21, 2026, but the project is not likely to begin until the summer of 2026. At 7:39 p.m. Commissioners voted to issue an extension to June 21, 2029.

Item 5: 7:42 pm.  Larry Greene Jr. in on behalf of Princeton DPW to discuss a culvert replacement they would like to undertake this spring near 311 Worcester Road.  Existing 12” corrugated pipe will be replaced with HDPE same size.  Lar presented some site photos and GIS maps, and stated that the wet areas are not wetlands or connected to wetland resources, and the activity should require only notification to the Commission under the existing General Maintenance Order of Conditions. PCC will conduct a site visit to confirm jurisdictional status of wetlands on Wednesday 4/23/2025 at 6 p.m.

Item 6: 7:52 pm.  Carlos Nieto and Chris Chamberland, both from Berkshire Design Group, attended remotely and shared their draft designs on screen. Their firm is working with the town on site engineering for the proposed Public Safety Building complex at the Center School site on Boylston Ave. They explained that their designs until recently had placed stormwater basin within the Zone A on the parcel; Brian had discussed this with DEP a year ago and had forwarded the correspondence to the Public Safety Building Committee. Regulations prohibit any discharge of stormwater into a Zone A.  BSG is now in the process of redesigning the site layout to comply with all regulations, and noted in their presentation how dense the coverage of Zone A is within Princeton and all the watershed towns in the area. Stormwater options under consideration include subsurface detention tanks and overflow connections to existing street drainage under Boylston Ave.

Item 7: 8:48 P.M. The Commission needs to re-sign the Order of Conditions issued to NEADS (267-0462) on 8/20/2024 because the Registry needs an original ink for recording.  At 8:50 p.m. Commissioners voted to sign a new page with today’s date but leaving the original issue date.

Item 8: PCC voted to approve the minutes from 1/1/2025 and 4/1/2025 as drafted at 9:00 p.m.

Tabled policy and procedures discussion to the next meeting.

OTHER BUSINESS

• Building Permit subcommittee update: Bonnie up to date.
• Forest Cutting plans: One received, which was an amendment to a plan for work on land of Getchell on Beaman Road adding variable width filter strips.
• Commission business; correspondence; mail; procedures; etc. None

The next meeting of the PCC is scheduled for May 20, 2025.

Commissioners voted to adjourn at 9:04 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Brian Keevan

Documents received/reviewed:

• American Tower Company Construction Specifications
• American Tower Company CAP EX Improvement Plan, site Princeton MA1
• Photos and GIS maps of drainage location near 311 Worcester Road
• Draft site design from Berkshire Design Group for Princeton Public Safety Building