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Request for A Certificate of Compliance for 17 Hawthorne Terrace 63732 11-05-2020 November 6, 2020 Northampton Conservation Commission City Hall 210 Main Street Northampton, Massachusetts 01060 Via email: SLaValley@northamptonma.gov Re: Request for a Certificate of Compliance 17 Hawthorne Terrace DEP FILE: 249-999 SWCA File: 63817 Dear Commission Members: Attached please find a Request for a Certificate of Compliance for 17 Hawthorne Terrace in Florence. This is an old file, and due to property ownership changes since 1992, a Certificate of Compliance was never requested or issued. The property is currently changing ownership, and the new owners would like to clear up these old Conditions issued under the City’s Wetland Ordinance. A Notice of Intent was filed in 1992, with a supplemental Wetland Replacement Plan (wetland plan) filed with the Northampton Conservation Commission on December 12, 1992. The wetland plan was prepared and submitted by New England Environmental, Inc. (NEE), now part of SWCA. The wetland plan states that three isolated wetlands were delineated at the site in support of constructing a single family home at this property. Isolated wetlands are not protected under the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act but are protected under the Northampton Wetland Ordinance. The project was assigned file number 246-999 (43-35) and ultimately an Order of Conditions was issued on February 8, 1993 (attached). As outlined in the wetland plan prepared by NEE, as part of the construction of the house, one of the isolated wetlands (not a vernal pool) was to be filled and a new wetland area constructed as mitigation. The mitigation was to be a 600 square foot unvegetated basin, with a surrounding area of wetland vegetation, approximately of 435 square feet. NEE participated in the construction of the wetland mitigation area and monitored the area following construction. A letter was sent to the Northampton Conservation Commission dated October 3, 1994 (enclosed) stating that the wetland had been constructed and planted as proposed. Page 2 The property was visited on November 5, 2020 and was found be approximately 810 square feet in area (see Photo 5), and the area was planted with the following well-established native shrub species: • Highbush Cranberry (2) 5 feet tall and 14 feet tall • Winterberry Holly (4) between 6 feet tall and 12 feet tall • Swamp Azalea (1) 5 feet tall • Northern Arrowwood (2) 6 feet tall and 8 feet tall Soils in the depression show hydric soils and evidence of oxidation and mottling from high groundwater. There is no organic soil composition. I would classify this area as a vegetated wetland, and to help the Commission I have placed blue and white striped flagging tape around this area. I observed evidence that the herbaceous vegetation and ferns within the wetland depression had be cut, I also observed an irrigation sprinkler head in this area. Recommended continuing conditions for the Certificate of Compliance: 1. No cutting of vegetation permitted 2. Remove irrigation head from wetland If you have any questions or require further information, please contact me at my direct line 413-531- 7156 or at mmarcus@swca.com. Sincerely, Mickey Marcus Professional Wetland Scientist #1635 Enc. Request for a Certificate of Compliance 1994 post construction letter Orders of Conditions (1993) photographs SWCA Photo 1: 17 Hawthorne Terrace. Wetland restoration is to the left of this photo. All photographs taken November 5, 2020 Photo 2: Wetland has been constructed as a pool, with native wetland vegetation surrounding this area. Photo 3: Winterberry Holly (pictured), northern arrowwood, and highbush cranberry, are well established and growing to up to 14 feet tall. SWCA Photo 4: Soils within the constructed wetland are developing hydric features and show depletions and mottling Photo 5: Area of wetlands is approximately 810 square feet and shown in relation to the house at 17 Hawthorne Terrace.