🏞️ Conservation Commission 7-23-25 AI Recap

Below is a summarized version of the Conservation Commission meeting, organized by timestamps and speakers, focusing on key points raised during the discussion in Reading, Massachusetts. This summary condenses the discussion into major themes, speaker contributions, and decisions, avoiding excessive detail while retaining the essence of the conversation. Timestamps correspond to the video linked at the bottom.

🏞️ Conservation Commission Meeting Summary

📅 Date: July 23, 2025
📍 Location: Town Hall Select Board Meeting Room & Zoom Hybrid
⏰ Start Time: 3:10 (video time)
⏱️ End Time: 4:08:30 (video time)
👥 Attending: Brian Bowe (Chair), Martha Moore (Vice Chair), Walter Talbot, Tim Michel, Rick Keogh
🚫 Absent: Joseph Fleury (Associate)

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🔹 Zero East Haverhill Street – New NOI (RECAL & Pickleball Project)

🕒 6:03–1:14:40 

• Applicant: Town of Reading 
• Project: Reading Center for Active Living (RECAL) & pickleball courts 
• Scope: Community center, courts, ADA walkways, parking, stormwater, landscaping 
• Discussion Highlights:
  • Extensive site visit review 
  • Wetland delineation, stormwater compliance, lighting, tree removal, and turf materials 
  • Request to revise trail alignment to avoid 25-ft no-disturb zone 
  • Snow storage, maintenance, and planting plan discussed 
• Action: Continued to August 27 for revised plans and responses

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🔹 885 Main Street – Continued NOI

🕒 1:14:55–2:31:05 

• Applicant: Primrose School Franchising Company 
• Project: Two-story childcare facility, parking, play yard, stormwater 
• Updates:
  • Building shifted, lighting dark-sky compliant, native landscaping 
  • Turf infill product documentation submitted 
  • Vernal pool evaluation completed (no activity found) 
• Discussion Highlights:
  • Stormwater peer review (Horsley Witten) nearly complete 
  • Public comments on runoff, turf safety, and lighting 
• Action: Continued to August 13; applicant to submit final revisions and fund peer review attendance

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🔹 695 Pearl Street – ANRAD

🕒 2:31:30–2:32:39 

• Action: Withdrawn without prejudice at applicant’s request

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🔹 57 Longwood Road – Continued NOI

🕒 2:32:39–2:34:13 

• Status: Continued to August 27 
• Note: Awaiting revised mitigation plan (landscaping instead of bat boxes)

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🔹 692 Pearl Street – Continued RDA (Tree Removal)

🕒 2:34:20–3:14:50 

• Applicant: Rick Keogh (recused) 
• Update: Planting plan submitted with 24 plantings (mostly shrubs) 
• Discussion Highlights:
  • Commission requested more native trees (minimum 4 total) 
  • Emphasis on diversity, habitat value, and avoiding cultivars 
• Action: Approved with conditions: 4 native trees (including oak and red maple), staggered shrub layout, and true native species

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🔹 Pinevale Conservation Area – RDA (Trail Upgrade)

🕒 3:15:41–3:44:28 

• Applicant: Reading Trails Committee 
• Project: New trail connection from Warren Ave to Pinevale trails 
• Scope: Hand-built trail, 3 boardwalks, signage, kiosk, trash can 
• Discussion Highlights:
  • Public concern about trail proximity to private property 
  • Commission to require survey points to confirm trail alignment 
• Action:
  • Closed hearing 
  • Issued negative determination with conditions: survey verification, minimal disturbance, and notification before construction

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🔹 25 South Street – Enforcement Order

🕒 3:45:05–3:51:02 

• Issue: Unauthorized tree removal 
• Site Visit: 3 trees to be cut to snags, 3 to be trimmed, brush piles noted 
• Action:
  • Martha Moore and Brian Bowe authorized to finalize planting plan 
  • Enforcement order to be ratified at future meeting

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🔹 Bench Dedication at Maillet, Sommes & Morgan

🕒 3:52:02–4:07:00 

• Donor: Gregory Schultz 
• Purpose: Memorial bench for his mother 
• Discussion:
  • Bench already installed; donor to provide plaque 
  • Donation of $2,000 to Conservation Fund approved to cover bench and slab 
• Action: Approved with plaque text to be reviewed by Commission

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🔹 Administrative Items

🕒 4:07:06–4:08:30 

• Violations: None 
• DPW Coordination: Next meeting August 5 
• Minutes Approved:
  • June 11, 2025 
• Minutes Pending:
  • June 25, 2025

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✅ Key Outcomes

• ✅ Zero East Haverhill & 885 Main Street continued for final revisions 
• ✅ 692 Pearl Street planting plan approved with conditions 
• ✅ Pinevale trail approved with survey condition 
• ✅ Bench donation accepted for MSM 
• ✅ 695 Pearl withdrawn; 57 Longwood continued 
• ✅ 25 South Street enforcement order in progress 
• ✅ June 11 minutes approved

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