2023.01.12 Staff Report - Cutlery Attachment A Draft“ATTACHMENT A”
The Commission finds that the entirety of the work referenced qualifies as a limited project
as defined in 310 CMR 10.53 (3) (q)
Note: The Commission MUST be able to make this finding to issue an Order for work as
proposed. Any portions of the work that do not qualify as a limited project must meet all
applicable performance standards.
The Commission finds that the following Conditions are necessary to meet the
performance standards set forth in 310 CMR 10.21 through 10.60 for the protection of
those areas found to be significant to one or more of the interests identified in M.G.L. c.
131, § 40
20. 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.
21. Prior to the initiation of any work, the applicant shall submit to the Commission a
sequencing plan for construction, erosion and sedimentation control installation, and dust
control. The plan shall specify discrete work areas. The entire site shall not be
destabilized concurrently. Stump removal shall be accomplished step-wise, section-by-
section. Work on the retaining wall will be scheduled for low-flow periods. The plan
shall include detailed provisions for measures to be taken during rain events.
22. Prior to the start of any site work, excavation or construction, a pre-construction
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
Commission, in order to ensure that the requirements of this Order are understood by all
parties. Prior to the pre-construction meeting, all erosion control devices must be
installed.
23. All required permits must be obtained from federal, state and municipal agencies and
departments prior to the start of any project.
24. A copy of this Order and associated plans shall remain on site during all construction
and/or building activities. The project manager and all 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.
25. All revised plans, referenced within this Order of Conditions, shall be approved by the
Conservation Commission and incorporated into the permit by reference and shall be
followed during the course of construction.
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. Soils exposed for periods greater than two months 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 them from being washed from slopes by rain
or flooding. Preference should be given to biodegradable materials.
29. All disturbed areas shall be graded, loamed 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.
Condition 30 is specific to the Northampton Wetlands Ordinance:
30. 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; any area within 100-feet of a
wetland ; any area within 200 feet of a perennial stream; a vernal pool, or any area within
200 feet of a vernal pool unless such areas are specifically approved by the Commission,
in accordance with 310 CMR 10.00, and City of Northampton Ordinances - Chapt er 337
31. Ongoing conditions that shall not expire with the issuance of a Certificate of Compliance
are as follows: 33
32. Upon completion of the work covered by this Order, 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 any ways that 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 structures; 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.
33. 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 deed or legal instrument conveying any or all of the owners' interest in said property
or any portion thereof, shall contain the following language:
"This property is subject to the Northampton Wetlands Protection
Ordinance and/or Wetlands Protection Act. Any construction or
maintenance work performed on this property may require an Order of
Conditions, and/or a Determination of Applicability from the Northampton
Conservation Commission.
34. Any fencing shall include a minimum six inch gap immediately above ground level to
provide for wildlife passage.
35. An annual report, in accordance with the Massachusetts Inland Wetland Replication
Guidelines, shall be provided to the Commission by November 30 of each year, for the
first three growing seasons. The report shall contain all elements required in monitoring
the wetland replacement area, and shall detail how and to what extent the replacement
area meets the General Performance Standards and the Wetland Replication Plan in the
NOI. If non-compliance with any Performance Standards or the Replication Plan is
documented, the report shall include a draft “corrective plan of action.”
36. Prior to the issuance of a certificate of compliance, the applicant shall demonstrate that at
least 75% of the surface of each replacement area has been re-established with
indigenous wetlands plants.
37. The Commission shall be given 48 hours notice prior to the beginning of construction of
the wetlands replication area, to allow for discussion of requirements and to ensure
compliance with all special conditions.
38. Any future alterations of areas shown on NOI plans as Wetland Replication Areas, except
as may be required to maintain them in restored or mitigated condition, are prohibited.
Additional allowable activities are removal of species listed on the Massachusetts
Prohibited Plant list and planting of native species.
39. Prior to construction, the applicant shall provide a long-term operations and maintenance
plan for the stone wall, gabion baskets, riprap areas, and orange marker layer. The Plan
shall include provisions for annual inspection and reporting, inspection following flood
events, and repair and restoration.
40. Immediately following completion of the geocell portion of the project, the applicant
shall provide a detailed planting plan for review and approval. Plantings shall include
overstory trees and understory shrub species, and shall include low-height species within
the geocell area. All tree species shall conform to those included on the City of
Northampton’s approved tree species list. A request for certificate of compliance shall
include an assessment of all plantings following three growing seasons. Any plantings not
successful at that time shall be replaced.
Note: The entire site lies within riverfront area. The application indicates that tree removal is
necessary to successfully implement the project, but relies on natural long-term
repopulation, which will limit species to those found onsite. Plantings will further the
interests of the Act and create shading, food, and habitat, and allow for more plant
diversity and variation of canopy height. The Commission should discuss minimum
number of plants required.
41. Prior to any portions of the project that involve land under water work, the applicant shall
provide an onsite Spill Kit to include absorbent booms and pads. Overnight equipment
storage shall not occur below the retaining wall. An oil-only sorbent boom shall be
installed inside the turbidity curtain.
42. Timber mats sha ll not be constructed from treated wood.