2021.02.25 Staff Report
Conservation Commission Staff Report 1
February 25 , 2021
To: Conservation Commission
From: Sarah LaValley
RE: Staff Report, February 25, 2021 Commission Meeting
5:30 PM – Notice of Intent for shed and barn construction within bordering land
subject to flooding (CT River). Joe Jasinski, 43 Fair St, Map ID 32A-248
Application Overview:
The application proposes construction of a 30-40 foot barn with flow-through flood venting, within
the Connecticut River floodplain. The barn will consume 1598 cubic feet of floodplain storage,
spread between between the 113 and 125 foot elevations. An 1598 cubic foot area of fill is proposed to
be removed between the 117 and 118 foot elevations.
DEP Comments :
DEP Comments and applicant responses/clarifications are included in the application packet. These
clarify the floodplain elevation, datum used, and work footprint.
Consistency with the Wetlands Protection Act, Staff Recommendation :
As noted in DEP’s comments, the proposed compensatory storage cut and fill volume calculations
does not strictly comply with the Performance Standards. The regulations state that “Compensatory
storage shall mean a volume not previously used for flood storage and shall be incrementally equal to
the theoretical volume of flood water at each elevation, up to and including the 100-year flood
elevation, which would be displaced by the proposed project.” Removal of volume at only one
incremental 1 foot elevation does not actually comply with the performance standards. 310 CMR
10.57 (4) requires that Compensatory storage shall be provided for all flood storage volume that will
be lost as the result of a proposed project within Bordering Land Subject to Flooding, when in the
judgment of the issuing authority said loss will cause an increase or will contribute incrementally to
an increase in the horizontal extent and level of flood waters during peak flows. The project will
result in an increase of 324 cubic feet (12 cubic yards) reduction in flood storage below the 117 foot
elevation, but no overall loss of flood storage.
If the Commission finds that the work will not contribute to extent and level of floods, an Order of
Conditions can be issued, with standard conditions, and documentation of fill removed. If an
elevation certificate is required by the Building Department, the Commission must be provided a
copy.
Glendale Road Parking Option
The City owns a surplus property on Glendale Road that was retained for future development as part
of a planned limited development project, which the City is now moving forward with. The surplus
parcel is adjacent to the West Farms conservation area, and includes a r etained right for a parking
lot. The City is unlikely to ever pursue a conservation parking lot on this property, and staff requests
a vote from the Commission to make clear that the parking lot rights are relinquished on any portion
of the lot that the buyer plans to use for their own driveway access, to clarify title and allow the
property to be sold.
Conservation Commission Staff Report 2
February 25, 2021