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ELKS WPA 8A and cover.pdf Northampton Lodge of Elks #997 17 Spring Street Florence, MA 01062-9733 (413) 584-0297 elkslodge997@gmail.com Northampton Conservation Commission 210 Main Street Northampton, Massachusetts 01060 March 13, 2024 Dear Commissioners, The Northampton Lodge of Elks #997, located at 17 Spring Street in Florence, was constructed in 2002. Since the site is in the Mill River flood zone, the Lodge submitted a Notice of Intent and Request for Determination to the Northampton Conservation Commission in November 2001. The Commission issued an Order of Conditions in February 2002. There are no records that the Lodge ever filed a WPA 8A Request for Certificate of Compliance form. Please accept our submission and request at this time. It appears that the site grading was completed in accordance with the 2002 Order of Conditions. A 2023 As-Built survey shows that grading very closely matches the approved site plans. The forebay, detention facility and compensatory storage area elevations in the as-built plans are at or below those shown on the approved site plans, and the flood storage volumes (as shown on the as-built survey) meets or exceeds the foot-for-foot compensatory storage volume listed on the Notice of Intent application. See the included design plans, as-built plans, and engineer’s letter of compliance. Since the Lodge was constructed in 2002, the Mill River has experienced the 13 highest crests ever recorded at the Clement Street monitoring station, all above major flood stage. Despite the river flooding, the water has never reached the building. We believe this is a very good indication that the initial design, and work performed, effectively mitigates flood risks. Further, there is no evidence of erosion on the property, another good indication that the project will successfully withstand future flood events. We believe these facts demonstrate that the project has met the criteria of the Order of Conditions. Included with this application is a copy of the Order of Conditions with notes related to the 18 conditions detailed in Attachment B. The majority of the conditions have been met. There are 3 conditions that may need to be addressed; #s 30, 31 and 32, all related to Wetland Replication and invasive species removal. Per condition #30, it appears that invasive species removal along the riverbank was addressed in 2002. Compared to other wooded areas on the property, invasive plants along the riverbank are much smaller. This is particularly apparent when comparing the size of the predominant invasives such as Oriental Bittersweet. Please see attached proposal for on-going measures to remove invasives. Condition #38, related to ongoing maintenance, has not been specifically addressed in the past, but it seems apparent that the detention basin drain system is functioning properly; inspection shows that the pipes are clear and there is virtually no sediment in the manhole. The Lodge will implement an annual maintenance plan going forward. Maintenance will include broom raking the forebay and detention basin, and checking the piping and manhole for sediment. Thank you for considering our request. Louis Hasbrouck, for the Northampton Lodge of Elks #997 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. Doc: 992208746 OR /6580/1 03/20/2002 09:05 "ATTACHMENT B" 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. NO POTENTIAL BUYERS AT THIS TIME; Order of Conditions recorded. Any instrument conveying any or all of the owners' interest in said property or any portion thereof, shall contain language similar to the following: "This property is subject to the Northampton Wetlands Protection Ordinance and/or Wetlands Protection Act. Any construction or maintenance work performed on this property requires an Order of Conditions, and/or a Determination of Applicability from the Northampton Conservation Commission. 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. CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON SITE All required permits must be obtained from the Army Corp of Engineers (Section 404, Water Quality Certification), Planning Board, Zoning Board, Department of Public Works, or Building Inspector prior to the start of projects involving fill within any wetland resource area; DONE 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; or any area within 100-feet of a wetland, unless such areas are specifically approved by the Commission, in accordance with 310 CMR 10.00, and City of Northampton Ordinances - Chapter 24; DONE All revised plans, referenced within this Order of Conditions, shall be approved by the Conservation Commission and incorporated into this Order by reference and shall be followed during the course of construction. DONE Doc: 992208746 OR /6580/2 03/20/2002 09:05 23.Ongoing conditions that shall not expire with the issuance of a Certificate of Compliance are as follows: 35, 36, 37 & 38. IN PROCESS: SEE BELOW Prior to the start of any site work, excavation or construction, a preconstruction 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, also. UNKNOWN DATE OF VISIT. SEE FIELD REPORTS RE: EROSION CONTROL EROSION CONTROL: 25.Areas of construction shall remain in a stable condition at the close of each work/construction day: A.Erosion controls shall be inspected at this time, and after each rainstorm. B.Any entrapped silt shall be removed to an area outside of the buffer zone and wetland resource areas. C.Any breaches in the siltation barriers shall be repaired prior to leaving the site for the day. D.All erosion controls must be maintained or reinforced to meet specifications in the plans and this order and shall be replaced as necessary. E. An adequate stockpile of erosion control materials shall be on site at all times for emergency or routine replacement. The stockpiles equipment shall include materials to repair silt fences, haybales, or any other devices planned for the control of erosion at the site. DONE: See Field Reports 26.A wetland scientist shall be on site during work that takes place along the riverbank. UNKNOWN 27.All machine work necessary to create the outlet for the detention basin shall be conducted from the top of the bank by reaching over. Only work performed by hand may be done on the bank itself. UNKNOWN Doc: 992208746 OR /6580/3 03/20/2002 09:05 POST CONSTRUCTION SUBMITTALS & WORK IN BUFFER ZONE: 28.Upon completion of the project, the Applicant shall submit a certification that all work has been done in conformance with the provisions of the Order of Conditions and request a Certificate of Compliance. If checked: [X] YES Certification shall include an as-built with a topographic map by a Professional Engineer who shall have been approved by the Commission: SEE ATTACHED WETLAND REPLICATION: 29.Applicant shall submit written notification to the Commission upon installation of the plantings. 30.Invasive plants shall be removed along the riverbank area. 31.A report of the success of re-vegetation activities shall be submitted to theConservation Commission, by a qualified wetlands scientist on the followingschedule:By: September 2002 By: September 2003 32.If more than 75% wetland vegetation has not been established after two growing seasons (2 years), then additional plantings and/or changes to wetland restorationplan shall be submitted to the Commission for consideration and approval. STORMWATER RUNOFF: 33.. Mowed vegetation shall be removed from the resource area, including the floodplain and shall be disposed of according to local, state and federal laws. CURRENT PRACTICE: See photographs 34.All debris, bituminous and construction materials removed for this project must be disposed of off-site in accordance with all local, state and federal regulations. DONE Doc: 992208746 OR /6580/0170 03/20/2002 09:05 POLLUTION PREVENTION: 35.There shall be no application of fertilizers or pesticides to the lawns in the buffer zone or any areas contributing runoff to the wetland, stream, or pond. A provision specifying this condition shall be incorporated into the bylaws of theassociation, and the Conservation Commission shall be provided with a copy of thebylaws showing this provision before a Certificate of Compliance will be issued for thisproject. DONE: See attached 36.Snow plowing from the parking area shall be pushed to the southern and easternside of the parking lot. CURRENT PRACTICE: See attached map 37. There shall be no application of road salt or other deicing chemicals onto the road,parking lot, or driveway because of the importance of the site's wetlands, surfacewater and groundwater to the groundwater supply contributing to the City's watersupplies except those sugar based/organics that have been proven to be suitable foruse in sensitive areas. CURRENT PRACTICE 38. As outlined on the plan sheet L-8, maintenance shall be required in accordance with an Engineer's report. Maintenance report indicating that these measureshave been taken shall be submitted annually to the Commission by July 1. Inspections shall be performed by a qualified person for all stormwaterstructures including the infiltration system. No maintenance reports but current conditions appear to meet required conditions; see sheet L-8 requirements. Minimal debris, silt or accumulation in forebay, detention basin or outlet structures. See photographs and as-built survey elevations. Maintenance plan will be instituted beginning 2024. 39.The applicant shall notify the Office of Planning and Development at the start of construction of the detention facility to allow field verification of the seasonal high groundwater. If it is shown that the outlet structure, as designed, will dewater the groundwater from the site, the applicant must redesign the basin to prevent dewatering of the site. Unknown if this happened wpaform8a.doc •• rev. 5/29/14 Page 1 of 2 Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Resource Protection - Wetlands WPA Form 8A – Request for Certificate of Compliance Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act M.G.L. c. 131, §40 DEP File Number: 246-500 Provided by DEP A. Project Information Important: When filling out forms on the computer, use only the tab key to move your cursor - do not use the return key. 1. This request is being made by: Northampton Lodge of Elks #997 Name 17 Spring Street Mailing Address Florence City/Town MA State 01062 Zip Code (413) 584-0297 Phone Number 2. This request is in reference to work regulated by a final Order of Conditions issued to: Northampton Lodge of Elks #997 Applicant 02/25/2002 Dated 246-500 DEP File Number Upon completion of the work authorized in an Order of Conditions, the property owner must request a Certificate of Compliance from the issuing authority stating that the work or portion of the work has been satisfactorily completed. 3. The project site is located at: 17 Spring Street Street Address Florence, MA 01062 City/Town 22B-110 and 22B-111 Assessors Map/Plat Number Parcel/Lot Number 4. The final Order of Conditions was recorded at the Registry of Deeds for: Pine Street Enterprises Property Owner (if different) Hampshire County 6580 Book 0158 Page Certificate (if registered land) 5. This request is for certification that (check one): the work regulated by the above-referenced Order of Conditions has been satisfactorily completed. the following portions of the work regulated by the above-referenced Order of Conditions have been satisfactorily completed (use additional paper if necessary). the above-referenced Order of Conditions has lapsed and is therefore no longer valid, and the work regulated by it was never started. wpaform8a.doc •• rev. 5/29/14 Page 2 of 2 Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Resource Protection - Wetlands WPA Form 8A – Request for Certificate of Compliance Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act M.G.L. c. 131, §40 DEP File Number: 246-500 Provided by DEP A. Project Information (cont.) 6. Did the Order of Conditions for this project, or the portion of the project subject to this request, contain an approval of any plans stamped by a registered professional engineer, architect, landscape architect, or land surveyor? Yes If yes, attach a written statement by such a professional certifying substantial compliance with the plans and describing what deviation, if any, exists from the plans approved in the Order. No B. Submittal Requirements Requests for Certificates of Compliance should be directed to the issuing authority that issued the final Order of Conditions (OOC). If the project received an OOC from the Conservation Commission, submit this request to that Commission. If the project was issued a Superseding Order of Conditions or was the subject of an Adjudicatory Hearing Final Decision, submit this request to the appropriate DEP Regional Office (see http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/about/contacts/find-the-massdep-regional-office- for-your-city-or-town.html).