Town of Auburn

Conservation Committee

April 6, 2010

 

The monthly meeting of the Conservation Committee of the Town of Auburn was held In the Town Hall

at 7:00 p.m.  Chuck Joy presided. 

 

Present:  Chuck Joy; Anne Gagnon; Stephanie Hanson; Jill Morrison; Jeff Porter; Paul Raiche; Duffy

Smiley and Alan Villeneuve.  

Absent:  Jacqueline Cote (alternate).

 

MINUTES:  The minutes of the last meeting were approved.

OLD BUSINESS

Jill Morrison stated she was interested in establishing an Outreach Committee to educate residents about the amazing land in Auburn and ways they can help preserve our paradise.  The focus of the committee would be to present conservation ideas in a positive light, focusing on ways people can make small changes that will yield big impacts collectively. In an earlier conversation, Stephanie Hanson had told Jill about community-based social marketing.  This is a tool to present ideas in a positive way, breaking down concepts in to actions people can take. The idea is to motivate residents to commit to preserve Auburn’s amazing resources.  The committee is still in the conceptual phase but Jill would like to organize a full-page article in the Crier monthly to update the website with links, facts, tips, articles, etc.  In the future, Jill would like the Auburn Conservation Committee to organize festivals such as the Tread Lightly Festival, hold more trash pickup days, and have other family-oriented activities designed to educate residents in a fun way.  Jill asked the members to send any links or ideas they may have on presenting materials.  Duffy Smiley stated the NH Fish and Game Department has a great web site for children at www.wildnh.com. 

Chuck Joy wanted to know if Jill wanted to reach outside of the Conservation Committee for help, signing up volunteers as it goes forward.  Jill stated that as the committee gets going, help will certainly be appreciated as a lot of research and creativity will be required. She is open to ideas at this point. There will be a sign up sheet at the festival, in the crier, at the web site, etc.  Jill knows that Jarlene is interested in participating and Jarlene is good at research.   

The Earth Day festival will be held at the Audubon Society on 04/17/10 from 10:00 to 3:00 p.m.  Chuck Joy will ask Gary Poulin who is a trustee at the church about tables.  Jill was wondering if anyone had any easels to use for that event.   Duffy Smiley may have one.  Also, are there are large maps available. Chuck Joy said to ask Aimee Sayzak from SNHPC.  Stephanie Hanson has the map on CD and will try to extract them for use.  Anne Gagnon said she will be available that day from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Jill will run the scavenger hunt. Stephanie Hanson will be present the whole time.   Jill will run the nature tour.

CHESTER HILL/MARTEL:  Todd Connors from Sublime, civil engineer and Keith Martel from Martel Builders presented maps and discussion concerning the concerns of the Conservation Commission and go over a few aspects.  They have made quite a bit of progress and they are quite optimistic that they have are getting toward the end of the review by the Planning Board.   The buffer setbacks have been noted with revised maps for review.  The two things that Todd went over were a wildlife corridor and culvert crossings. 

The Planning Board asked Sublime to consider using the 100-year storm as their design storm for all the roadway cross culverts, or any culvert that crosses a wetland from left to right.  At 2 locations, they have added a second culvert, up at the duck pond.  We may choose to put in a second one to keep things open.  We currently have an 18-inch at one and a 24-inch at another.  Our intention is to leave the duck pond as we see it today.

The culverts are off 121, Chester Road.  The culvert is ½ foot below this culvert. We will replace the two culverts with an 18-inch and a 24-inch as per the map.  The next crossing is a small finger wetland. This has an 18-inch culvert that is oversized for the flow.   Paul Raiche asked what the elevations would be on the two duck pond outlets.  The current elevation is 320.5 feet above sea level, the other elevation is 321.0 feet, and they will be maintained.  

Stephanie Hanson asked if they considered an open-box culvert.  Todd Connors explained that they did consider, however, the road would have to be raised quite a bit. That would increase the embankments. Alan Cote commented on his distaste for the 3-sided box culverts mainly because there have been terrible results after floods with those type of culverts.   The Rockingham County Conservation district would like to have a corridor following the wetland up toward the back where the Gagnon parcel is.  They would like to take ownership of it through easement and any corridor opportunities would be done that way.   Sublime is working on their wetland application and it has been submitted and met with Frank Richardson and Laurie Summer but they have not been contacted yet.  There are no pending comments with them. 

Alan Villeneuve asked what happened with the wells and Stantec.  Todd Connors said they reviewed this and we tried to do what they asked and what the Conservation Committee asked and find a solution somewhere in the middle.  It required Sublime to move a few houses.  They were able to keep every single well out of the wetland buffer with the exception of one; it is in the “cluster” buffer.   DES and Stantec requested that we actually draw on the plan a well radius easement in case in the future if someone has to re-build their septic system, it is clear where their cannot build it. 

We talked about potential deed restrictions on fertilizer and things of that matter.  Todd Connors stated he has not added any note on fertilizer; they will do that as a deed restriction. 

Todd Connors explained there are 29 lots on 200 acres and the Gagnon parcel is 19 lots on 62 acres and he does recognize that the development is all crowded to one side but that is consistent with ideas behind conservation subdivision clusters.  

Stephanie Hanson asked what would be done for storm water management.  Todd explained that there will be vegetative buffers and level spreaders.  DES in areas where they are closer to the wetlands, i.e. the duck pond we do not have the ability to deal with storm water very well so they agreed to intensive planting along the bottom of the shoulders with Lowbush blueberry and some cranberry bushes, something that will act as a filter, the root systems of the planting will absorb some of the runoff and will take away some of the nutrients in the runoff and DES seemed to think that was a reasonable compromise.   Post-construction the treatment swales will be maintained by the Town. 

Alan Villeneuve asked about phasing.  Keith Martel will grind tree stumps to the extent that it is practical.  We do have a note on the road plan that states stumps will not be buried.  It is their intention to build the road in one phase, and then build the homes in phases that are consistent with growth control. Alan Villeneuve asked where will the equipment be kept and stockpiling.  Sublime’s plan is to stockpile on lots.  We will clear the lots and clear the roadways.  As construction moves, the staging area will move with it. Todd will designate a lot if that is your concern.   Keith will stage the lot clear.  Todd stated we could agree that the stockpiling area would not be any closer than 125 feet from wetlands. 

Stephanie Hanson asked about blasting.  There would only be a small area for blasting.  Stephanie asked if they are required to construct the connecting road, there will be a small area for blasting; Stephanie would like to recommend to the Planning Board that if there is some blasting that the developer submit some certification from the blasting contractor that there is no perchlorate In any of the blasting agents.  Todd Connors believed that a permit would need to be obtained for blasting through the Fire Department. He suggested we contact the Fire Department and recommend they require this for future projects. In the meantime, Todd will make a phone call and make sure that it be done and they will put appropriate notes in the plans.  

WATER SHED: Paul Raiche stated to be aware that someone from the Recreation Committee should be contacting the Conservation Committee regarding the trimming that is occurring at the Little League field.   

AUDUBON:   They obtained the funds to protect the land.

TRASH DAY:  May 8 is trash day. The Fire Department is willing to let us help.  With the help of Duffy Smiley, we could draft a letter for the newsletter.  We will meet at the Fire House at 8:00 a.m. Free coffee and donuts, all the bags you will need. We establish some routes, bag your trash, return to the Fire House and enjoy hamburgers and hot dogs for a job well done.   Alan will work out the details and will add to the Crier and with the school newsletter. Anne Gagnon will notify the Girl Scouts about this day.   

Stephanie requested funds for the Conservation Committee activities at the Audubon Earth Day Festival of 04/17. Alan Villeneuve made a motion to spend up to $300 to purchase materials for activities for the Earth Day Festival.  Jeff Porter seconded the motion. Motion passed.

ADJOURNMENT

Alan Villeneuve made a motion to adjourn. Jeff Porter seconded the motion.   The meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m.