The Conservation Commission at work. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – About a dozen Westfield State University environmental students were in attendance at Tuesday’s Conservation Commission meeting. Adjunct faculty member Karen Leigh, who is the conservation coordinator for the city, said she asks her students taking wetlands, assessment and planning to observe at least one meeting a semester. “I think it’s important,” Leigh said.
Other Conservation Commission members who teach at WSU include Chairman Dr. David A. Doe and Dr. Carl Grobe, professors of biology.
After public hearing, Eversource Energy was given approval to install a new transmission line from Pochassic Street to Medeiros Way on an existing right of way. The utility had received a letter of approval from Natural Heritage with some conditions, including the removal of invasive species, knotweed. The city asked for a $10,000 bond to ensure completion.
A public hearing for Line Right of Way for Eversource Energy for structure replacements, access road upgrades and construction of a work pad to facilitate ongoing maintenance and repairs of existing structures was continued to Nov. 22. The $34 million Eversource project involves a new switching station at Pochassic Street and three miles of new transmission lines, some new poles, and an access bridge crossing wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas up to the existing Buck Pond substation on Medeiros Way.
Owner Nikolay Stepchuk was also given approval to renovate a single family residence and remove accessory structures. A $2,000 bond was requested for removal of invasive species knotweed, and trash removal on the property.
John English of Speedway LLC at 310 East Main St. was given approval to remove underground storage tanks and backfill to existing grade at the former gas station. A $2,000 bond was requested by the committee.
Leigh reported on road repair work done by the Department of Public Works on North Street at the request of the commission, where they installed stone line channels and swale in an area with runoff. “They did a good job,” Leigh said, and the enforcement order was lifted.
The DPW also re-established a stormwater swale along Springfield Hill Road. Leigh said the 1200 feet of swale adjacent to the roadway had filled in over time, and runoff was undercutting the road. The DPW removed the swale, and put in a stone lined channel re-establishing the swale.
A request for a certificate of compliance was given for the property of Steve Oleksek at 944 Western Avenue, who had installed chain link fencing around two solar fields, with a path between the two.
A discussion was held on an emergency certification for a blocked culvert at 1101 East Mountain Road. Leigh said she had been originally contacted by an abutting homeowner, whose back yard was being flooded and who was concerned it would impact the septic system.
Leigh said she did a site visit and the property at 1101 East Mountain Rd. is in a wetlands area with a stream that runs through it. She said the owner, Dan Sears, is trying to sell the property, which is vacant. A previous culvert that had been installed near the driveway in the wrong place below grade was apparently blocked and flooding the area.
Leigh said an emergency certification had been given to clear the pipe. She said Sears hired Fletcher Sewer and Drain Co. to clear the pipe, which they had worked on for two to three days. “It’s not a good situation,” Leigh said. She suggested removing the pipe and re-establishing the stream.
Leigh also presented a request from Brandon Osborne of 60R-13 Montgomery Road for a partial release of a $2,500 bond he had given to the city. Leigh said Osborne had done a good job controlling the site which borders wetlands, and the last piece involved invasive management, and recommended the partial release of $2,000.
“We don’t do a lot of partial releases,” said Commission member James R. Murphy, and asked how long the removal of invasive species, in this case multiflora rose would take. Leigh said his consultant on the project is out of commission, and he might need some guidance on the removal.
Leigh also said that Osborne had presented the commission with a two-year plan for restoration of the wetlands, which included removal of the invasive species and went beyond the commission’s requests.
Murphy said he was uncomfortable doing a partial release, with Grobe agreeing, acknowledging that Osborne has been conscientious in working with the commission. Both were concerned about setting the precedent.
Doe said there didn’t seem to be any special circumstances for the request. Leigh said he was working on building the house first and needed the money, and meanwhile was living with his in-laws on the abutting property. The request for partial release was denied.
