🏞️ Conservation Commission 8-13-25 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: August 13, 2025
📍 Location: Town Hall Select Board meeting room & Zoom Hybrid
⏰ Start Time: 5:39 (video time)
⏱️ End Time: 3:02:28 (video time)
👥 Attending: Brian Bowe (Chair), Martha Moore (Vice Chair), Walter Talbot, Tim Michel, Rick Keogh, Joseph Fleury (Associate)
🚫 Absent: None

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🔹 Zero East Haverhill Street – Continued NOI (Symonds Way)

🕒 8:39–9:05 

• Applicant: Town of Reading 
• Project: Reading Center for Active Living (RECAL) 
• Action: Continued to August 27 
• Note: Site visit scheduled for August 18 to count trees

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🔹 885 Main Street – Continued NOI

🕒 9:05–1:19:12 

• Applicant: Primrose School Franchising Company 
• Project: Childcare facility, parking, play yard, stormwater infrastructure 
• Discussion Highlights:
  • Stormwater peer review completed 
  • Public concerns about runoff and tree removal 
  • 32 trees removed; replacements meet tree ordinance 
  • No blasting anticipated 
• Action:
  • Hearing closed 
  • Order of Conditions issued 
  • Stormwater permit issued 
  • Conditions include: 3-year survivability (100% trees, 90% shrubs), no salt/fertilizer in buffer zone, quarterly stormwater reports

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🔹 57 Longwood Road – Continued NOI

🕒 12:04–12:21 

• Action: Continued to September 10

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🔹 692 Pearl Street – Continued RDA (Tree Removal)

🕒 12:28–31:01 

• Applicant: Rick Keogh (recused) 
• Update: Final planting plan submitted 
• Discussion Highlights:
  • 14 trees removed (11 hazardous, 3 dead) 
  • Mitigation includes native trees and shrubs, invasive removal 
  • Planting deadline: May 15, 2026 
• Action:
  • Hearing closed 
  • Negative determination issued 
  • Conditions: 3-year survivability, no snags, planting deadline

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🔹 18 Norwood Road – New NOI

🕒 34:54–55:03 

• Applicant: Barat & Anita Batia 
• Project: Demolish sunroom/deck, construct new addition and deck 
• Discussion Highlights:
  • Work within 100-ft buffer zone 
  • Tree protection measures and erosion control discussed 
  • Invasive removal (Japanese knotweed, bittersweet) required 
• Action:
  • Hearing closed 
  • Order of Conditions issued 
  • Conditions: tree protection, soil decompaction, invasive removal, crushed stone under deck

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🔹 1503 Main Street – New RDA

🕒 1:19:33–1:36:23 

• Applicant: Garrett Alakob 
• Project: Replace deck with screened porch and wraparound deck 
• Discussion Highlights:
  • All work outside 25-ft zone 
  • Crushed stone under deck, erosion control required 
  • Roof runoff infiltration system needed 
• Action:
  • Continued to August 27 for infiltration system update

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🔹 50 Longfellow Road – New RDA

🕒 1:36:38–2:09:16 

• Applicants: Ian Moss & JN Stafford 
• Project: Landscaping with stone steps, boulder wall, gravel patio, native plantings 
• Discussion Highlights:
  • Minor encroachment into 35-ft zone 
  • No tree removal; shed on town land to be removed 
  • Native plant list reviewed and approved 
• Action:
  • Hearing closed 
  • Negative determination issued 
  • Conditions: 3-year survivability, erosion control, shed removal, invasive management

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🔹 Zero John Street (77 Walkers Brook Drive) – New RDA

🕒 2:09:28–2:34:37 

• Applicant: Boston Gas Company 
• Project: Replace garage, install underground conduit 
• Discussion Highlights:
  • Work within buffer zone and riverfront area 
  • No expansion of impervious surface 
  • BMPs for erosion, dewatering, and concrete washout discussed 
• Action:
  • Hearing closed 
  • Negative determination issued 
  • Conditions: erosion control, BMP documentation, spring mowing, habitat management

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🔹 50 Johanna Drive – Enforcement Order

🕒 2:34:50–2:43:40 

• Applicant: Gino Fedora (represented by Moren Harold) 
• Issue: Unauthorized tree removal 
• Restoration Plan:
  • 8 trees and 8 shrubs planted outside 25-ft zone 
  • Fence with 3.5″ wildlife gap 
  • Leaf pile removal (top layers only) 
• Action:
  • Restoration plan approved 
  • Enforcement order updated 
  • Planting deadline: November 15, 2025 
  • 3-year survivability condition applied

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🔹 51 Lilah Lane – Certificate of Compliance

🕒 2:43:52–2:47:25 

• Status: Old order from 1989 
• Action:
  • Site visit completed 
  • As-built plan waived 
  • Certificate of Compliance issued

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🔹 25 South Street – Enforcement Order

🕒 2:47:32–2:48:20 

• Status: Final planting plan determined 
• Action: Awaiting homeowner response; update expected next meeting

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🔹 DPW Coordination Meeting

🕒 2:48:26–2:53:51 

• Update: Staff-only format adopted 
• Discussion:
  • New project form required for conservation work 
  • Minor projects may be handled administratively 
  • Wetland firm support agreed for complex projects

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🔹 Administrative Updates

🕒 2:54:05–2:54:50 

• Mattera Cabin Deck: Completed 
• Montessori Forest School: Update deferred 
• Cabin Rentals: Currently unavailable; town reviewing

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🔹 Minutes Approved

🕒 2:55:02–3:02:15 

• Approved:
  • June 25, July 9, July 23 
• New Policy:
  • Comments due within 2 weeks 
  • Updated minutes to be sent before next meeting

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✅ Key Outcomes

• ✅ 885 Main Street approved with stormwater permit 
• ✅ 692 Pearl Street and 50 Longfellow approved with conditions 
• ✅ 50 Johanna restoration plan approved 
• ✅ 18 Norwood and 51 Lilah Lane approved 
• ✅ 1503 Main Street continued for infiltration update 
• ✅ DPW coordination process revised 
• ✅ June 25, July 9, July 23 minutes approved

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