25C-12 + 25C-17 Tofino Northern Ave CondosImportant:
When filling
out forms on
the computer,
use only the
tab key to
move your
cursor do not
use the return
key.
wpaforrn5.doc rev. 2/27/08
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Resource Protection Wetlands
WPA Form 5 Order of Conditions
Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act M.G.L. c. 131, §40
A. General Information
1. From:
d. Mailing Address
Hadley
e. City /Town
a. First Name
c. Organization
d. Mailing Address
c. Book
7. Dates:
Northampton
Conservation Commission
2. This issuance is for (check one): a. Order of Conditions b. Amended Order of Conditions
3. To: Applicant:
Tofino Associates, Inc. and Northern Avenue
Homes, Inc.
a. First Name
c. Organization
31 Campus Plaza Road
4. Property Owner (if different from applicant):
e. City /Town
5. Project Location:
Latitude and Longitude, if known:
Hampshire
a. County
Book 8428, Page 219
April 15, 2009
a. Date Notice of Intent Filed
f. Additional Plan or Document Title
D-5(
b. Last Name
MA
f. State
b. Last Name
f. State g. Zip Code
Northern Avenue Northampton
a. Street Address b. City/Town
25C 12. 17
c. Assessors Map /Plat Number d. Parcel /Lot Number
246 -631
Mark Darnold and Michael Lui
e: Scale
MassDEP File Number:
111111111111M111
2009 00028315
Bk: 10024Pg: 283 Page 1 of 13
Recorded: 11/17/2009 12:10 PM
01035
g. Zip Code
e:. Latitude f. Longitude
6. Property recorded at the Registry of Deeds for (attach additional information if more than one parcel):
b. Certificate Number (if registered land)
Book 8829, Page 341
d. Page
August 27, 2009
:;'b..Date,.Public Hearing Closed
September 16, 2009
c. Date of Issuance
8. Final Approved Plans and Other Documents (attach additional plan or document references as
needed):
Notice of Intent Plans for: North Street &`Northern Avenue Northampton, Massachusetts
a. Plan Title
The Berkshire Design Group, Inc.
b. Prepared By C. Signed and Stamped by
April 14, 2009 -June 15, 2009 Revisions July 13, 1"=20'
2009 Plant Schedule
g. Date
V
Page 1 of 10
wpaform5.doc rev. 2/27/08
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Resource Protection Wetlands
WPA Form 5 Order of Conditions
Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act M.G.L. c. §40
B. Findings
Denied because:
5. Bordering Vegetated
Wetland
6. Land Under Waterbodies
and Waterways
1. Findings pursuant to the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act:
Following the review of the above referenced Notice 'of Intent and based on the information provided
in this application and presented at the public hearing, this Commission finds that the areas in which
work is proposed is significant to the following interests of the Wetlands Protection Act. Check all that
apply:
a. Public Water Supply b. Land Containing Shellfish c. Prevention of Pollution
f. Protection of Wildlife
Habitat
d. Private Water Supply e. Fisheries
g. Groundwater Supply h. 0 Storm Damage Prevention i. Flood Control
2. This Commission hereby finds the project; :as proposedi is: (check one of the following boxes)
Approved subject to:
a. the following conditions which are necessary in accordance with the performance standards set
forth in the wetlands regulations. This Commission Borders that all work shall be performed in
accordance with the Notice of Intent referenced. above, the following General Conditions, and any
other special conditions attached to this Order. Td the extent that the following conditions modify or
differ from the plans, specifications, or other proposals submitted with the Notice of Intent, these
conditions shall control.
b. the proposed work cannot be conditioned to meet the performance standards set forth in the
wetland regulations. Therefore, work on this project may not go forward unless and until a new Notice
of Intent is submitted which provides measures which are adequate to protect these interests, and a
final Order of Conditions is issued. A description of the performance standards which the
proposed work cannot meet is attached to this' Order.
c. the information submitted by the applicant; is not sufficient to describe the site the work, or the
effect of the work on the interests identified.. in the .,Wetlands Protection Act. Therefore, work on this
project may not go forward unless and until,a revis'ed <:NOtice of Intent is submitted which provides
sufficient information and includes measures which; are adequate to protect the Act's interests, and a
final Order of Conditions is issued. A description of the specific information which is lacking and
why it is necessary is attached to this:Orde,r,'asiper=310 CMR 10.05(6)(c).
Inland Resource Area Impacts: Check all that apply below. (For Approvals Only)
3. Buffer Zone Impacts: Shortest distanceb'etween'Iimit of project disturbance and 35
wetland boundary available) a. linear feet
Resource Area Proposed Permitted Proposed Permitted
Alteration Alteration Replacement Replacement
4. Bank
a. linear•feet b. linear feet
a. square!feet b. Square feet
a. square feet'
e. c/y dredged'
b:square feet
f: c/y dredged
it ..i`...
MassDEP File Number:
246 -63.1
c. linear feet d. linear feet
c. square feet d. square feet
c. square feet d. square feet
Page 2 of 10
wpaform5.doc rev. 2/27/08
Massachusetts Department of Environmentall Protection
Bureau of Resource Protection Wetlands •.l
WPA Form 5 Order of,Conditions
Massachusetts Wetlands Protection `■ct:g:G: :I e. 131, §40
B. Findings (cont.)
Resource Area
7. Bordering Land
Subject to Flooding
Cubic Feet Flood Storage
8. Isolated Land Subject
to Flooding
Cubic Feet Flood Storage
9. Riverfront area
Sq ft within 100 ft
Sq ft between 100 -200 ft
12. Barrier Beaches
13. Coastal Beaches
14. Coastal Dunes
15. Coastal Banks
16. Rocky Intertidal Shores
17. Salt Marshes
18. Land Under Salt Ponds
19. Land Containing
Shellfish
20. Fish Runs
21. Land Subject to Coastal.
Storm Flowage
Proposed.
Alteration
a. square feet
e. cubic feet
a. square'feet b. square feet
c. cubic feet
a. total sg`: feet b: total sq. feet
c. square feet,. feet
g. square feet
a. square feet b. square feet
a. square feet
a. square feet,:
a. linear feet
a. square :feet,,
a. square!feet ;i
a. square feet
c. c/y dredged
a. square feet
a. c/y dredged
a. square feet.
MassDEP File Number:
246 -631
Permitted Proposed Permitted
Alteration Replacement Replacement
b''square feet c. square feet d. square feet
f. cubic feet g. cubic feet h. cubic feet
.,cubic feet
h: :square feet i. square feet j. square feet
Coastal Resource Area Irnpacts: Check all'tl of appl`y' below. (For Approvals Only)
10. Designated Port Areas Indicate size under Land Under the Ocean, below
11. Land Under the Ocean
c. c/y dredged d. c/y dredged
Indicate size under Coastal Beaches and /or Coastal Dunes below
b, square feet
quare feet
b. linear feet
.square feet
b:-square feet
b. square feet
d. c/y dredged
b. square feet c. square feet
Indicate size under. Coastal Banks, inland Bank, Land Under the
Ocean,' and /or i'nl'and `Land Under Waterbodies and Waterways,
above
ki: c/y dredged
b. square feet
e. cubic feet f. cubic feet
e. square feet f. square feet
c. c/y nourishmt. d. c/y nourishmt.
c. c/y nourishmt. d. c/y nourishmt.
c. square feet d. square feet
d. square feet
Page 3 of 10
wpaform5.doc rev. 2/27/08
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Resource Protection Wetlands
WPA Form 5 Order of Conditions
Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act M.G.L. c. 131, §40
C. General Conditions Under Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act
(only applicable to approved projects)
MassDEP File Number:
246 -631
1. Failure to comply with all conditions stated herein, and with all related statutes and other regulatory
measures, shall be deemed cause to revoke or modify this Order.
2. The Order does not grant any property rights or any exclusive privileges; it does not authorize any
injury to private property or invasion of private'rights.
3. This Order does not relieve the permittee or any other. person of the necessity of complying with all
other applicable federal, state, or local statutes, ordinances, bylaws, or regulations.
4. The work authorized hereunder shall be three years from the date of this Order
unless either of the following apply
a. the work is a maintenance dred.ging'proje'ct as provided for in the Act; or
b. the time for completion has been extended toa specified date more than three years, but less
than five years, from the date of issuance. If this Order is intended to be valid for more than three
years, the extension date and the special ,circumstances warranting the extended time period are
set forth as a special condition in this;'Or"der.
5. This Order may be extended by the issuing authority for one or more periods of up to three years each
upon application to the issuing authority at least 30 days prior to the expiration date of the Order.
6. Any fill used in connection with this project, be clean fill. Any fill shall contain no trash, refuse,
rubbish, or debris, including but not limited' to lumber, bricks, plaster, wire, lath, paper, cardboard,
pipe, tires, ashes, refrigerators, motor vehicl.es,.orparts of any of the foregoing.
7. This Order is not final until all administrative appeal periods from this Order have elapsed, or if such
an appeal has been taken, until all proceedings before the Department have been completed.
8. No work shall be undertaken until the Order has become final and then has been recorded in the
Registry of Deeds or the Land. Court for the district:in`which the land is located, within the chain of title
of the affected property. In the :case of recorded land, the Final Order shall also be noted in the
Registry's Grantor Index under the name of the! owner of the land upon which the proposed work is to
be done. In the case of the registered land, :the' Final Order shall also be noted on the Land Court
Certificate of Title of the owner of the land upon which :the proposed work is done. The recording
information shall be submitted to this Conservation Commission on the form at the end of this Order,
which form must be stamped by the Registry of Deeds;, prior to the commencement of work.
9. A sign shall be displayed at the site not less. then two square feet or more than three square feet in
size bearing the words,
"File Number
"Massachusetts Department; of,Environrnental Protection" [or, "MassDEP
246 -631
Page 4 of 10
wpaform5.doc rev. 2/27/08
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Resource Protection Wetlands
WPA Form 5 Order of ,Conti tions
Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act M.G.L. c.,131, §40
MassDEP File Number:
246 -631
C. General Conditions Under Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act
10. Where the Department of Environmental Protection is requested to issue a Superseding Order, the
Conservation Commission shall be a party to all agency proceedings and hearings before MassDEP.
11. Upon completion of the work described herein theapplicant shall submit a Request for Certificate of
Compliance (WPA Form 8A) to the Conservation Commission.
12. The work shall conform to the plans and special conditions referenced in this order.
13. Any change to the plans identified in Cond'itio'n412 above shall require the applicant to inquire of the
Conservation Commission in writing whether:,the;ch;ange is significant enough to require the filing of a
new Notice of Intent.
14. The Agent or members of the Conservation. :Commission and the Department of Environmental
Protection shall have the right to enter and inspect the area subject to this Order at reasonable hours
to evaluate compliance with the conditio'ns`stated in'this Order, and may require the submittal of any
data deemed necessary by the Conservation Commission or Department for that evaluation.
15. This Order of Conditions shall apply to any, successorin interest or successor in control of the property
subject to this Order and to any contractor oi'other person performing work conditioned by this Order.
16. Prior to the start of work, and if the project involves work adjacent to a Bordering Vegetated Wetland,
the boundary of the wetland in the vicinity'of the..proposed work area shall be marked by wooden
stakes or flagging. Once in place, the wetland. boundary, markers shall be maintained until a Certificate
of Compliance has been issued by the Conservation 'Commission.
17. All sedimentation barriers shall be maintained iin good repair until all disturbed areas have been fully
stabilized with vegetation or other means; At no. time shall sediments be deposited in a wetland or
water body. During construction, the applicant or his /her designee shall inspect the erosion controls on
a daily basis and shall remove accumulated s ediments as needed. The applicant shall immediately
control any erosion problems that occur at the site shall also immediately notify the Conservation
Commission, which reserves the right to require, additional erosion and /or damage prevention controls
it may deem necessary. Sedimentation barriers shall s erve as the limit of work unless another limit of
work line has been approved by this Order
18. The work associated with this Order is (i) is riot subject to the Massachusetts
Stormwater Policy Standards. If the work is s ubject to the Stormwater Policy, the following
conditions apply to this work and are incorporated into this Order:
a) No work, including site preparation, land disturbance, construction and redevelopment, shall
commence unless and until the construction period pollution prevention and erosion and
sedimentation control plan required by Stormwate,r,Standard 8 is approved in writing by the issuing
authority. Until the site is fully stabilized, cbnstruction period erosion, sedimentation and pollution
control measures and best management ?practice's'(BMPs) shall be implemented in accordance with
the construction period pollution prevention and =erosionand sedimentation control plan, and if
applicable, the Stormwater Pollution Plan required. by the National Discharge Elimination System
Construction General Permit.
Page 5 of 10
wpaform5.doc rev. 2/27/08
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Resource Protection Wetlands
WPA Form 5- Orderof:conditions
Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act M G L c, 131, §40
C. General Conditions Under Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (cont.)
b) No stormwater runoff may be discharged 'to post-bonstruction stormwater BMPs until written
approval is received from the issuing authority., To request written approval, the following must be
submitted: illicit discharge compliance statement reqUied by Stormwater Standard 10 and as-built
plans signed and stamped by a registered professional engineer certifying the site is fully stabilized; all
construction period stormwater BMPs andany:illicit,discharges to the stormwater management system
have been removed; and all post-construction stormwater BMPs were installed in accordance with the
plans (including all planting plans) approved by the issuing authority, and have been inspected to
ensure they are not damaged and will function properly.
c) Prior to requesting a Certificate of Compliance, the responsible party (defined in General
Condition 18(e)) shall submit to the issuing authanty en Operation and Maintenance (0 M)
Compliance Statement for the Stormwater,BMPS, This Statement shall identify the responsible party
for implementing the Operation and Mainfen'ancerPlan.and also state that 1. "Future responsible
parties shall be notified in writing of their continuing legal responsibility to operate and maintain the
stormwater management BMPs and,imp,leMent,thep9)Iption Prevention Plan; and 2. The Operation
and Maintenance Plan for the stormWater complete and will be implemented upon receipt of
the Certificate."
d) Post-construction pollution preventior- control shall be implemented in accordance with
the long-term pollution prevention plan section :of the approved Stormwater Report and, if applicable,
the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plati-sequired,by the National Discharge Elimination System
Multi-Sector General Permit.
e) Unless and until another party accepts responsibility, the issuing authority shall presume that the
responsible party for maintaining each BIV10`i'S' of the property on which the BMP is
located. To overcome this presumptiorG,:thelando■O)er of the property must submit to the issuing
authority a legally binding agreement acceptable to the issuing authority evidencing that another entity
has accepted responsibility for maintainiqgthe BMP, and that the proposed responsible party shall be
treated as a permittee for purposes of implem9nf6g the requirements of Conditions 18(f) through
18(k) with respect to that BMP. Any failurebf the proposed responsible party to implement the
requirements of Conditions 18(f) through 18(k) with respect to that BMP shall be a violation of the
Order of Conditions or Certificate of Compliance. In the case of stormwater BMPs that are serving
more than one lot, the legally binding agreement s identify the lots that will be serviced by the
stormwater BMPs. A plan and easement deed that grants the responsible party access to perform the
required operation and maintenance must be submitted, along with the legally binding agreement.
f) The responsible party shall operate and rnaihtairi all stormwater BMPs in accordance with the
design plans, the Operation and Mainterii6666 section of the approved Stormwater Report, and
the Massachusetts Stormwater Handbook.
g) The responsible party shall:
1 Maintain an operation and maintenance log for the last three years including inspections,
repairs, replacement and dispo (for ,dispo;sal the log shall indicate the type of material and
the disposal location);,
2. Make this log available to MassDEP: and ,the Conservation Commission upon request; and
3. Allow members and agents of thev'MaSsDEP,and the Conservation Commission to enter and
inspect the premises to evaluate and ensure that the responsible party complies with the
Operation and Maintenance requirements-for each BMP set forth in the Operations and
Maintenance Plan approved by the 'issuing authority.
h) All sediments or other contaminants from stormwater BMPs shall be disposed of in
accordance with all applicable federal, state; and local laws and regulations.
i) Illicit discharges to the stormwater rria'n'a as defined in 310 CMR 10.04 are
prohibited.
MassDEP File Number:
246-631
Page 6 of 10
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Resource Protection Wetlands
WPA Form 5 Order of Conditions
Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act M:G.L. c. 131, §40
C. General Conditions Under Massachu•setts'Wetlands Protection Act (cont.)
j) The stormwater management systemf:approved' in,the Final Order of Conditions shall not be
changed without the prior written approval; of the_issuing authority. Areas designated as qualifying
pervious areas for purpose of the Low Impac(Site Design Credit shall not be altered without the prior
written approval of the issuing authority.,.'
k) Access for maintenance of stormwater BMPs "shall not be obstructed or blocked. Any fencing
constructed around stormwater BMPs shall include access gates. Fence(s) shall be at least six inches
above grade to allow for wildlife passage:,'
Special Conditions (if you need more space'for additional conditions, please attach a text document):
See "Attachment A"
D. Findings Under Municipal Wetlands Bylaw or Ordinance
t i
1. Is a municipal wetlands bylaw or ordinance applicable? Yes No
2. The Northampton
1. Municipal Ordinance or Bylaw
Order of Conditions is issued.
MassDEP File Number:
246 -631
hereby finds (check one that applies):
Conservation Commission
a. that the proposed work cannot be conditioned to meet the standards set forth in a municipal
ordinance or bylaw specifically:
2. Citation
Therefore, work on this project may not go unless and until a revised Notice of Intent is
submitted which provides measures'which are adequate to meet these standards, and a final
b. that the following additional conditions are necessary to comply with a municipal ordinance or
bylaw:
Northampton Wetlands Ordinance Chapter 337 of the
1. Municipal Ordinance or Bylaw Code of Ordinances
3. The Commission orders that all work shelI beperformed in accordance with the following conditions
and with the Notice of Intent referenced `above.;;To the extent that the following conditions modify or
differ from the plans, specifications, or other proposals submitted with the Notice of Intent, the
conditions shall control.
The special conditions relating to municipal ordinance or bylaw are as follows (if you need more space
for additional conditions, attach a text document):
See "Attachment A"
wpaform5.doc rev. 2/27/08 Page 7 of 10
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Resource Protection Wetlands
WPA Form 5 Order of Conditions 2'ii/ I
Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act M.G.L. c. 131, §40
E. Issuance
This Order is valid for three years, unless otherwise specified as a special 5 r r zo q
condition pursuant to General Conditions #4, from the date of issuance. 1. Date of Issuance
Please indicate the number of members who will sign this form:
This Order must be signed by a majority of the Conservation Commission. 2. Number of Signers
The Order must be mailed by certified mail (return .receipt requested) or hand delivered to the applicant. A
copy also must be mailed or hand delivered at the same time to the appropriate Department of
Environmental Protection Regional Office, if not filing electronically, and the property owner, if different
from applicant.
Notary Acknowledgement
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of
On this
Date
Day
Before me, the undersigned Notary Public,
personally appeared
proved to me throu•h satisfactory evidence of identification, which was /were
Description of evidence of identification
to be the person whose name is signed on the preceding or attached document, and acknowledged to
me that he /she signed it voluntarily fo •ts stated purpos
Norniim a
As member of
\\1111///, W
G -4
c.
co
City /Town
r aa��yy
d.00.NW ANN
6 7
111 1110
Place notary seal and /or any stamp above
This Order is issued to the applicant as follows:
11 by hand delivery on
SEtiCiiiLea Avg
Mon Year
Mori Year
VAyE
Name of Document Signer
Signatu -oar blic
Printed Name of Notary Public
alt. 19 2013
My Co mission Expi (Date)
MassDEP File Number:
Conservation Commission
a by certified mail, return receipt requested, on
svvxmihnseizA ?to/
Date
wpaform5.doc rev. 2/27/08 Page 8 of 10
"ATTACIIMENT A"
19. Prior to the initiation of any work, the applicant /owner shall submit a letter of
understanding to the Commission stating that. he /she has received, read, understands and
shall comply with these Orders. The applicant, and, his or her contractor, foreman and /or
construction manager shall sign the letter of understanding.
20. Prior to the initiation of any work, the applicant shall submit to the Commission a
sequencing plan for construction, and erosion and sedimentation control installation.
21. Prior to the start of any site work, excavation or construction, a pre constriction
conference shall be held on the site, between the contractor conducting the work, the
site /project engineer, the applicant, and a member or agent of the Conservation
Coininission, in order to ensure that the requirements of this Order are tnderstood by all
parties. Prior to the pre-construction meeting,- all erosion control devices must be
installed.
22. All required permits must be obtained from the applicable federal, state and municipal
agencies and departments prior to the start ofany.project.
23. A copy of this Order and associated plans:,shall renmam on site during all construction
and /or building activities. The project manager aild.al1 equipment operators shall be
familiar with the approved plans, and shall be informed of their location on the site.
This location shall be accessible to all contractors whenever work is occurring on
site.
24. All revised plans, referenced within this Order.of Conditions, shall be approved by the
Conservation Commission and incorporated the permit by reference and shall be
followed during the course of construction..
25. The areas of construction shall remain in.a stable condition at the close of each
construction day. Erosion control measures shall be inspected at this time, and
maintained or reinforced as necessary. All such devices shall be inspected, cleaned or
replaced during construction and shall, remain in place until such time as stabilization of
all areas that may impact resource areas is permanent. These devices shall also be
inspected to assure that the maximum control has been provided. Any entrapped silt shall
be removed to an area outside the buffer zone and resource areas, and maintained or
reinforced as necessary. Erosion controls shall be,inspected after every rainfall to assure
that maximum control has been provided.
26. An adequate stockpile of erosion control materials shall be on site at all times for
emergency or routine replacement and shall. include materials to repair or replace silt
fences, straw bales, erosion control blankets, riprap, filter berms or other devices planned
for use during construction.
27. Soils exposed for periods greater than two iifontlis shall be stabilized with erosion control
blankets and netting, a covering of straw mulch, or a.temporary cover of rye or other
grass to prevent erosion and sedimentation. Drainage ditches shall be stabilized and
seeded with a native perennial grass mixture., ;Any stabilization materials such as jute
netting shall be firmly anchored to prevent diem from being washed from slopes by rain
or flooding. Preference should be given to biodegradable materials.
28. All disturbed areas shall be graded, loaned and. seeded, or stabilized with erosion control
blankets or netting, and a covering of straw mulch prior to November 30, of each year.
No disturbed areas or stockpiled materials will be left unprotected or without erosion
control after this date.
29. No disposal of soils or other materials shall be allowed within: a 100 -year floodplain; 40
feet of the 100 -year floodplain elevation; any wetland; or any area within 100 -feet of a
wetland, unless such areas are specifically approved by the Commission, in accordance
with 310 CMR 10.00, and City of Northampton. Ordinances.
30. Ongoing conditions that shall not expire with the, issuance of a Certificate of Compliance
are as follows: 32, 33, 34, 35,36, 37 40
31. Upon completion of the -work covered bythis, :Ordeer, the applicant shall submit an as -built
plan, signed and stamped by a registered professional engineer or land surveyor, together
with a written request for a Certificate of Compliance.
The plan and written request shall specify, :?iny;ways, the completed project differs
from the plans referenced in the Order. The ;as -built plan shall include, at a minimum, and
as applicable to the project: elevations of all pipe inverts and outlets, pipe sizes,
materials, and slopes; all other drainage strtiictuires limits of clearing, grading, and fill; all
structures, pavement, and contours within 100 feet of wetland boundaries; all alterations
within the wetland resource areas; and all dates of fieldwork.
32. The owner of the property described in this Order must advise any potential buyer of the
property that any construction or alteration to said property, including brush cutting or
clearance, may require approval by the Northampton ;Conservation Commission.
Any instrument conveying any or all of the owners' interest in said property or any
portion thereof, shall contain language siiila' tine following:
"This property is subject to the Northampton; Wetlands Ordinance and /or the
Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Att. construction or major maintenance
work performed on this property requires an Order of Conditions, and /or a
Determination of Applicability from the. Northampton Conservation Commission.
33. The stormwater system shall be maintained in accordance with the Stormwater
Management Permit issued by the Department of Public Works, the Operation and
Maintenance Plan, and the Declaration of ;Covenants and Restrictions, Easements and
Maintenance Agreements. Annual inspection reports shall be submitted to the
Northampton Conservation Commission.b.y October 1
34. No snow shall be dumped or stockpiled within seventy -five feet of any wetland resource
area.
35. The applicant is forbidden to use any lawn or garden chemicals on the site. An annual
acknowledgement of this requirement shall be provided to the Conservation Commission
by October 1st of each year.
36. The 35 -foot buffer zone to the bordering,vegetated wetlands shall be a No Disturb Zone
unless otherwise authorized by the Northampton Conservation Commission. Permanent
4'x4' (minimuun) boulders shall be spaced 110 more than four feet apart, marking the 35-
Foot Wetland Buffer No Disturb Area, and must remain in place in perpetuity. The
boulders shall be placed along the 35 -Foot Buffer bf. wetland flags A2 -A5, W6 -W1 and
A32 -A73 on the approved site plan.
37. The applicant shall contract with a qtr lified; person, approved by the. Conservation
Commission, to annually inspect the 35 -foot :N.o, :Disturb Zone. The applicant shall
provide Conservation Commission an annual ;inspection report of (1) the integrity of the
permanent markers, (2) the condition of, the No Disturb Zone, including, but not limited
to, any encroachment, erosion, destruction of vegetation, dumping of waste of any kind,
including lawn clippings and other yard waste, and (3) whether any restoration is
required. This report shall be submitted to -the. Conservation Commission by October 1st
of each year.
38. Upon completion of construction activities; theapplicant shall provide the Northampton
Conservation Commission with baseline documentation -:of the vegetation and site
conditions of the 35' No- Disturb area.
39. Upon completion of construction activities, the, applicant shall provide the Northampton
Conservation Commission with a five -year inivasive removal plan for the 35' No- disturb
area. Invasive removal and inventory reports. shall`be submitted by October 1s` of each
year.
40. The applicant shall use Ice Ban, Magic Mmus or an equivalent liquid deicing agent
(not containing sodium chloride,) for routzne deicing on the roadways and paved
sidewalks. The applicant reserves the right to use.a.commercially available sand mixture
on the roadways and paved sidewalks that are uis'ed,as access from parking to dwelling
units if in a particularly severe or icy weather condition the aforementioned product is not
sufficient to permit safe vehicular and pedestrian, travel. The Northampton Conservation
Commission shall be notified within twenty -four (24) hours of any application of a
commercially available sand mixture. The applicant shall make an ongoing good faith
effort to find ecologically benign deicing .solutions for all impervious surfaces. The
applicant shall include a statement on alternative deicing efforts in the annual report.
The Conservation Commission and DPW: shall be notified by the applicant where a
violation of these requirements occurs.
ATTEST: HAMPSHIRE,v Ylaiiumn c`.0 /E.,REGISTE
MARIANNE L. DONOHUE
Comments to the Northampton Conservation Commission
Re: Tofino Condo Proposal
Adam Cohen, 3/12/09
The total new impervious s face Tofino proposes to add to the capture area is
47,959 square feet. Only. 8% of the runoff from this new impervious surface is
to be sent to the infiltration system. Berkshire Design says, "Due to high ground
water and hydrologic group `C' soils throughout the site, infiltration... could only
be achieved to the maximum extent practicable." I am concerned this is another
sign that the intensity of the proposed development is too high for this site. If you
accept this ratio, are you content to accept similar ratios for other projects in the
future?
eL_
Seasonal high groundwater is now reported to be just 14 -16" below the surface
for test pits 1, 2, 3 and 4. Scientific studies we have provided to you suggest the
removal of trees might cause groundwater to rise on the order of 8 inches.
Scientists find that the transitional area between wetland and upland, such as
where Tofino proposes to build, is especially vulnerable to hydrological changes. I
request the Commission retain an independent expert to analyze this situation
and determine if the condos or the stormwater mitigation system would be
imperiled. There may also be impact on the ecology from the watering -up. One
study noted, the clear -cut of riparian and other wetland vegetation may lead to
ecosystem conversion, i.e., to the encroachment...of water tolerant or of shallow
rooted invasive species."
The new test pit data from Cold Spring appears to note the presence of fill at four
locations on the property. I'd like to know if this is evidence that Tofino would be
siting some condos on a filled wetland, which the 2004 Hazard Mitigation Plan
says leads to problems with flooding and shifting foundations, and should be
discouraged in order to protect health and safety.
No seasonal high ground water estimates are provided for test pits 11 or 12 (the
pits closest to the end of Northern Avenue).
Tofino still claims it would own, operate and maintain the stormwater
management system post construction. Would the condo association take over at
some point?
Tofino proposes to use "eco- friendly solutions throughout the site in place of
standard de -icing materials." Tom Fenton, a member of our neighborhood, gave
me the following comments on this: "One of their orders of conditions (proposed)
was to not have any salt put on the roadways, just sand. As someone who has
plowed for 30 years I can tell you that it is highly unlikely that any
Landscape /plowing co. will use straight sand. Not only does straight sand tend to
freeze up in a bulk pile from the moisture content but it will always freeze when it
is in a sander. A minimum of 5 to 10% salt mix is required to keep the product
from freezing. I can also tell you (from experience) that with the amount of traffic
that will flow through there and the amount of winter sun those roads will receive
that the roads will be an icy mess without salt." I would like the Commission to
specify a snow and ice removal regime that will both ensure safety and avoid
harming the wetland.
Tofino promises to apply herbicide "over the years" to combat Japanese
knotweed. Is Tofino committing to do this in perpetuity?
In general, how much is all the stormwater maintenance, invasive species control,
and specialty snow and ice removal going to cost? Would Tofino bill the condo
association, and if so, is this something the condo owners could reasonably
afford?
In the brief you received from Michael Pill, he leans hard on promotion of infill in
justifying his interpretation of the Wetlands Ordinance. Infill is regrettably not
defined in the wetlands ordinance, but mainstream advocates of smart growth,
such as the Urban Land Institute, will tell you that it's more than just mechanically
placing buildings near the center of town. Here, for example, is how the Notre
Dame School of Architecture defines "infill" in Envisioning Sustainable
Northampton:
"Infill: noun new development on land that had been previously
developed, including most greyfield and brownfield sites and cleared land
within urbanized area. verb- to develop such areas." (page G3)
This definition is a poor fit with most of Tofino's land off North Street. This land is
largely undeveloped and uncleared. Responsible sustainable infill should not be
interpreted as a license to pave over a city's green infrastructure. I don't believe
Tofino has justified its intense development of the wetland buffer zone between
35 and 50 feet. To put it another way, if you accept this as qualified infill, you
leave the city vulnerable to future developments that will degrade our quality of
life and violate the spirit of sustainability.
And finally, Tofino has submitted a great deal of data in the four days or less
before this hearing. It is unreasonable to expect the public to be able to obtain,
analyze, and respond to this data in such a short amount of time. I would like to
request that all subsequent data be submitted at least 7 and preferably 14 days
before'any future hearings.
Thank you.