[0:00] All right, thank you.

[0:01] I'm just trying to kind of.

[0:03] Yeah, I'm going to speak for all the participants.

[0:06] Thank you.

[0:07] That one.

[0:08] Thank you.

[0:11] Well, I was going to see the curries.

[0:12] I too.

[0:13] It's good question.

[0:16] The moment.

[0:19] All right, six o'clock now.

[0:21] Do we want to wait a few minutes for you?

[0:24] I love all.

[0:25] In parking lot.

[0:27] I agree.

[0:28] So I wouldn't.

[0:29] Thank you.

[0:33] Thank you.

[1:12] You

[1:23] need a minute to settle in, Bob, are you ready to settle in?

[1:30] Is there a vodka?

[1:31] No, he's not coming tonight.

[1:36] Yeah, give us a second.

[1:58] All right.

[2:06] This conference will now be recorded.

[2:10] Did he go?

[2:12] OK.

[2:13] Open up the planning board meeting here on Tuesday, September 15th.

[2:19] All members present except for one.

[2:26] First item is, yeah, senior public hearing,

[2:30] foam water and scenic food permit.

[2:34] This being possible.

[2:35] Yes, they requested to continue to October 20th.

[2:39] They're still waiting for the peer review

[2:41] from conservation.

[2:42] They agreed to do the peer review through BSC.

[2:45] That was the one where there was a miscommunication,

[2:47] and they had paid for their own reviewer.

[2:52] And the contract with BSC was signed at the end of August.

[2:56] So I'm hoping that by our next meeting,

[2:58] there should be at least the initial peer

[3:00] you comments? Yeah, that one is getting continued again along with number three.

[3:10] So do we need to

[3:11] open up by hearing and then postpone it? Yeah, okay, all right. I don't know too,

[3:19] continue public hearing stormwater cynic road permit applicant, land planning, ink, owner,

[3:25] Rosie in a rail to trust location, the MKZ Road Spencer Mass, Street Address, not yet assigned.

[3:34] This is map R01-18-01, the applicant is seeking a stormwater permit under Article 14, stormwater

[3:43] management by law, of the Spensis and General by law, and scenic road permit under MGL Chapter 40,

[3:51] section 15C to build a new single-family home with a septic well-in-new driveway.

[3:59] Property is located within a rural residential zoning district.

[4:05] Okay, so, anyway, I'd comment before we open the meeting, while we're hearing it.

[4:12] So I think since they're not here, we aren't supposed to open it to public comment.

[4:17] Is that correct?

[4:19] You could, everything needs to be on the record, but you probably recommend that whoever speaks would come back next time, just to make sure that the applicant can hear.

[4:29] Let's find out if I want to see if I do that first of all.

[4:32] Didn't want to hear what I want to speak on this item.

[4:36] Anybody online want to speak on this item?

[4:41] But I have a motion to continue to the next meeting.

[4:44] I'm going to move on to between.

[4:46] Okay.

[4:46] All right, roll call vote, Jenna.

[4:50] All right, Charlie.

[4:50] All right, jibbles, aye.

[4:54] Next item.

[4:56] Same situation.

[4:59] Continued public hearings,

[5:00] foam water and scenic road.

[5:03] Remit, applicant, land planning,

[5:05] hank, owner, bedrosium, relative trust,

[5:09] location, VM, KC road, Spencer, masks,

[5:12] street address, not yet assigned.

[5:15] Assessors map are 01-18-02, the applicant is foreseeking, it's somewhat a bit an article

[5:23] 14, it's somewhat water management by law of the Spencer General by law, and a scenic

[5:28] road permit on the MGL tap the 40 section 15C, the bill they knew singer film me home with

[5:35] a septic well and new driveway, the property is located within the rural residential zoning

[5:41] district.

[5:43] I want to speak on this item online, so I'm motion to continue.

[5:51] I'm going to have to go to the 20th.

[5:53] Yeah, second step.

[5:54] We'll call Gina.

[5:56] Hi, Charlie.

[5:58] I have all tied.

[6:02] Next item.

[6:04] I'm four.

[6:07] Public hearing, site plan reviews, special permits.

[6:09] Don't want to permit applicant.

[6:12] Doing the power company and master's electric company owner.

[6:15] doing with power company, 7.5, 9, metal road, and this is map U11-9 and 10.

[6:26] The applicant is seeking a site-plan review, special permits,

[6:30] or a permit under section.

[6:33] 7.

[6:33] Very few, 3.4.2, 8 special permit for structures within flood plain.

[6:41] in the spent to stormwater management by-law,

[6:44] Shonako 14 of the Smith-General by-law's proposed construction

[6:48] and installation of certain sub-station-related equipment

[6:52] and facilities that it's existing electric sub-station.

[6:56] The property is located within the rural, residential,

[7:00] and commercial zoning districts.

[7:05] Showtime.

[7:07] Good evening, Mr. Chair.

[7:09] For the record, my name is Joshua Lee Smith.

[7:11] I'm going to turn you with a law from about as you can do it and I'm here this evening representing my client, which are two applicants moving the power company and Massachusetts elected company as you mentioned at the outset, Mr. Chair.

[7:26] Also, as you mentioned, we are here tonight seeking...

[7:30] 3 permits. The first of which is a special permit, considering work within the floodplain, district, we're also seeking a stormwater permit, and then lastly, we're seeking site plan review approval in connection with this project.

[7:51] He's the civil engineer of record, behind me are a number of representatives consultants with the company who are also here for moral support for us, but also to answer any questions if I, if we cannot answer them.

[8:08] We've handed out a slide deck, which thank you, Vivian, is also being displayed, not sure if you also have electronic people.

[8:20] I wanted to run through this pretty briefly.

[8:23] The slide deck is longer than we're actually going to be formally presenting.

[8:28] This is a pretty straightforward project.

[8:32] Vivian, do you have the plans?

[8:35] Yeah, I don't have a copy of the slide deck.

[8:38] OK, that's fine.

[8:39] That's why we brought paper copies.

[8:42] So as I said, I'm going to run through this pretty quickly,

[8:45] give it a little back arm, talk about the projects,

[8:48] as well as the need, and then get into some of the standards

[8:51] and the need to be met with respect to these permits.

[8:55] So as most of you probably, this is an existing substation site,

[9:00] on Mandelek substation.

[9:01] We'll start at this slide right here.

[9:04] The station itself has been in existence for decades.

[9:09] The last time this station was upgradable with respect to equipment within the

[9:16] substation site was back in 1990s.

[9:20] So like a lot of durable equipment, it comes a time when that equipment needs to be replaced.

[9:28] So that is part of the project here is replacement equipment.

[9:32] The other part, which is more land use related, is some improvements with respect to infiltrations,

[9:41] stormwater at the substitution site as well, and we'll get into that a little bit more detail

[9:45] in a moment. As you mentioned, Mr. Chair, this is actually a zoned lot. It's located both

[9:53] with a commercial district, but where the project work is happening is entirely within our

[9:58] rural residential portion of the site. Again, it's an existing

[10:03] substation and will show on one of the slides coming up, the

[10:08] relatively minor area where the improvements are taking place.

[10:13] There is an expansion of the substation fencing in the rear portion of

[10:17] the site, as well as I mentioned, some improvements with respect to

[10:21] more facilities. If I'm going to jump to this light here is this aerial picture gear. Again,

[10:29] just to get your bearings. The site is a little bit oddly shaped. So what's highlighting

[10:35] yellow here is the NEP portion of the site. So the vast majority of this substation site

[10:41] as you can see is on New England power company land. And it's oddly shaped because it in the rear,

[10:48] It butts the seven mile river so it it basically follows the midline of of the of that area

[10:58] Directly to the north is MEC owned land Massachusetts electric company land and there's a small portion in the northern part of that substation yard that you can see

[11:11] That is

[11:13] actually on the MEC land. So the substation yard itself is actually also split in terms of being mostly on the

[11:22] NEP land, but a small portion of it is also on the MEC land. Hence that's why we filed as co-oplicants between the two companies and

[11:30] yes, they are affiliates, both affiliates with national grid.

[11:35] So again, the substation yard itself, the front portion of the yard is in that commercial zone.

[11:43] And surrounding the site to the direct south is municipal owned DPW facility to the north is that MEC land, which has an operation center.

[11:57] The direct lake across the region is a hurry.

[12:00] And then again, to the rear is a sub mile river, and the site is somewhat constrained as our wetlands to the west and north.

[12:12] The next slide here just gives a street view,

[12:14] and I'm sure most of you are more familiar with this than I am,

[12:18] but that's basically what the site looks like

[12:20] as you from the driveway entry point.

[12:25] This color code it's slide here.

[12:29] This red, there are the pink area here,

[12:32] depicts the expansion of the subiation fencing,

[12:37] which is commeter with the expansion of the subation yard.

[12:40] So, as I mentioned, relatively speaking, this is side would call this a sliver, it's a small portion of land that's being expanded in order to accommodate in here which is where the new equipment is and Vivian, I don't, yes, so as shown on the plans, the darkened areas show where there are various pieces of equipment, a lot of the infrastructure there, the support structures.

[13:10] already exist. So there are however transformers, circuit breakers, however that are being replaced in kind.

[13:21] And so the portion that we're showing again, this expansion of the yard, this actually, there's no equipment actually going in within this expansion portion of the substitution yard.

[13:33] but it needs to be expanded anyway in order to provide clearances from the new equipment that's being installed.

[13:42] In addition to that, just to the north of the pink here, to the north of the expanded

[13:48] substation fencing, is a new infiltration basin, as well as respiratory flood storage,

[13:56] which Brendan will get into a little bit more detail in a moment. As I mentioned at the outset,

[14:00] The proportion of the site is within a flood plane.

[14:04] So part of this is in connection with that to allow for better management with a

[14:11] sort of slow water and in the low chance that there might be some type of flood event

[14:18] occurring.

[14:20] I will point out with respect to the flood plane, the 100 year flood elevation is about 633 feet.

[14:29] The equipment subsation yard is about is a little over two and a half feet above that floodplain elevation.

[14:37] That's the hundredier flood.

[14:41] Right.

[14:44] So the next slide shows a little bit more detail with respect to the grading work and shows that in the

[14:54] I'm going to stop there that Brendan, Brendan, you want to, to, to, to, to, to, to.

[15:00] I'm sorry. Well, my name's Brendan Mauer. I'm a civil engineer with Burns and McDonald.

[15:08] And we did the design here for the creating and drainage stormwater site layout, things like that. And so like Josh touched on. Part of where we're expanding the substation yard where the fence is, is bumping out is.

[15:28] technically in the hundred-year floodplain so we're filling an area within that floodplain

[15:37] and to offset that or excavating in a equivalent area so that there's no loss of flood

[15:44] storage and that's what's illustrated on our grading plan with the it's kind of like a dark gray

[15:52] area and then there's a table as well that explains at each elevation stage the amount of

[16:02] volume that we're filling and then the amount of volume that we're creating.

[16:07] So you can you can see that we're actually it's a net total increase in flood storage

[16:15] that we're proposing, so the other part of the grading and stormwater plan here is there

[16:25] is some minor increases in impervious coverage, some new impervious area that we create

[16:32] through our foundations for the equipment, and so we have to follow the stormwater standards

[16:38] for that. And that's what that infiltration basin is for. Just due to the way of the terrain

[16:49] out here in the substation yard, we ended up choosing to put the infiltration basin in a location

[16:56] where it would actually capture the runoff from the adjacent parking lot. That's on National

[17:04] So that we are effectively infiltrating and managing a much larger area of pavement and what we're actually creating.

[17:21] So that's why that basin is where it is.

[17:28] It was fairly straightforward, it's not a big, it's not a big watershed or a really large change in

[17:37] and land user or in per-risk coverage.

[17:45] Is there any questions that you all had about the storm water?

[17:49] I wanted to, the trace is just what I thought did that, and thankfully just the system will.

[17:57] It's just a surface piece.

[17:59] Just a basin?

[18:00] Yes.

[18:01] Yeah, it's a surface basin.

[18:03] So we're digging down a little bit and Birmingham on one side.

[18:08] And it's going to collect stormwater from, like a lot.

[18:12] Correct.

[18:14] And where's the stormwater go on that current pad?

[18:18] It drains off the edges into the floodplain and the wetlands.

[18:24] Okay.

[18:24] Does your oil spill transformers on there?

[18:28] Yes, there are.

[18:29] How do you contain your oil?

[18:31] Though, so there's an oil containment system around the transformers.

[18:37] It's a, I'll call it an engineered system.

[18:41] that has a special kind of liner that allows clean water to drain out into the ground

[18:51] and when there's oil and the water in the event of a spill that liner

[18:58] kind of solidifies and it it doesn't allow any drainage out into the ground.

[19:04] But this is around the perimeter of the existing concrete pad?

[19:08] No, I don't think. No, that is for the new transformer that's going in.

[19:15] Okay, so how does the existing equipment have transformers in oil and a system of collector?

[19:24] The existing system, I believe, is getting replaced as well.

[19:31] Okay, I guess the bottom question I have and how are you containing oil-filled transformers?

[19:37] Is it not existing now and if it's new, what are you proposing to do that with?

[19:42] How to do that?

[19:44] So I know that the new transformer has that system.

[19:50] The existing transformer that's out there.

[19:54] I believe we're proposing the same system around it.

[19:59] So when it rains, this oil, when it goes in there, and it goes on top of the water,

[20:05] And then it goes away.

[20:07] It doesn't drain out it.

[20:10] So it stays there and the alarm goes off to National Grid so they know there's a spill

[20:15] and they have to come out and pump out the oil and dispose of it.

[20:19] Okay.

[20:20] So if the major rainstorm thing fills up the water, oil sits on top, runs out over the pad

[20:27] into the wetlands?

[20:28] No.

[20:29] Now it's sized, the volume that it can hold is, I believe it's more than 100 years stormed

[20:38] depth.

[20:39] Can it hold the rainwater from 7, 25 years storm?

[20:44] Yes.

[20:45] About 7 inches of water?

[20:48] Yes.

[20:49] You have some information on that system that we can look at?

[20:53] I don't have it with me, but yeah, there are calculations that go along with that.

[20:58] myself and I believe the war and the conservation point I want to see

[21:03] all you're doing that and more information on and how it works.

[21:10] Okay.

[21:11] I think something important.

[21:15] Okay, not yet.

[21:17] What's the closest that he or this is going to come to the war?

[21:22] How do you mean the closest like the...

[21:29] Yes, so in our drawings, you can see the edge of the wetland?

[21:34] No, it doesn't have an intervention on it.

[21:38] So we're basically where that compensatory storage is.

[21:43] We're going up to the edge of the wetland.

[21:46] You're going right up to the edge?

[21:48] Correct.

[21:51] With the grading, the station is not within the wetland.

[21:59] It's on the flag well, yes.

[22:04] And Spencer, there's a 200-foot set back from the very well.

[22:08] Yes.

[22:09] Sorry, Corey, it's been a national very environmentalist and

[22:11] sigma permitting.

[22:12] We have a notice of intent in front of the presentation.

[22:15] Right now for the impacts to the 100-year flood plan and the

[22:20] buffer zone.

[22:21] We studied all of this work stays outside of the 200-foot

[22:24] from area.

[22:25] But the existing sub-station is already within the buffer zone.

[22:28] additional impacts are

[22:30] Minimal from the expansion and the commencement mitigation. So, yes, we great up to the edge, but that's all going to be risked, like.

[22:39] Vegetated and restored. It's also in the industries to have a task. So we've got some pretty strict requirements for making sure that that remains available in festive dayters, these have a task. So everything outside of the fence will be restored to habitat value and.

[22:54] needs from our standards, that comes from mitigation and the data to restore the buffer.

[23:00] Okay, have you presented this to conservation yet?

[23:03] Yeah, we did last week.

[23:05] We did have a DEP number assigned, so God continue to next week.

[23:08] And we have God and a DEP number now.

[23:10] We also have a couple of comments from DEP.

[23:12] We need to address nothing too substantial that we won't discuss with the condition next week.

[23:18] And then I'm going there also.

[23:20] That's okay.

[23:21] Any information on how this container system works at the same time?

[23:27] Sure.

[23:27] I'm sure we'll be there.

[23:29] That's the same question.

[23:30] Yes.

[23:31] I'm tired.

[23:33] Come up to talk more about that, I think.

[23:36] Okay.

[23:36] I can speak to Dr. Sala.

[23:39] I can speak to the container system.

[23:41] It's existing on the transformer.

[23:43] Do you need to speak to the mic?

[23:45] Yes, please.

[23:46] Sorry.

[23:48] I

[23:52] just wanted to.

[23:54] touch base on the existing transformer.

[23:57] We're not on the other side, how's it?

[24:00] The existing transformer was built with a different

[24:03] containment system.

[24:05] It is still a valid containment system that we can

[24:08] drain the oil from without the water, without the oil

[24:12] leaving the containment system.

[24:13] We do have drawings.

[24:14] We can provide for what.

[24:16] And then the new transformer has a different standard

[24:19] that we have to call.

[24:21] So.

[24:23] I'm sorry.

[24:24] Oh, different.

[24:24] The old system is a liner and a soil system.

[24:30] So we line the base of that.

[24:33] The concrete foundation gets lined with a soil that a liner.

[24:38] And that's how we used to contain it.

[24:40] There's a specific system we use now.

[24:42] It's based on the same principle except that we,

[24:46] it's the seams are different when you, when you join them.

[24:50] So are you going to inspect the old one at the same time?

[24:56] The problem with us taking the old transformer offline to do that, it's a lot more intensive

[25:04] than what we had planned.

[25:07] Once we do have a couple of structures adjacent to that transformer, once we open that up and

[25:12] change those structures, we're going to reinforce the liner and inspect that in turn.

[25:22] So it's not a complete car free pad. There's basically holes on the transwomen's that

[25:27] earth is there.

[25:31] It's a, it's a, I don't remember this specific liner. It's a rubber line

[25:38] It's underneath a cubs the concrete and rises up and contains the volume of I think it's like 125% of the volume of oil in the transformer and it will hold everything and contain the oil a

[25:58] off of the calculations, and if I need to see more detail, because yes, we can provide the

[26:04] detail. I think it's part of 100% plus price 25 year range storm, which could be

[26:09] seven inches. This is spread out, and it's only six inches deep. Your range is going to fill

[26:15] it up and your oil is going over the edge. So I need more information, how it works. We understand

[26:20] we're following the code precisely based on what's required, we need to provide the information.

[26:25] Yeah.

[26:36] And we also have any questions.

[26:43] So the big catch base in areas basically that make up floodplain

[26:48] boil, the one in the back part, the shaded area, yeah, that's the

[26:53] correct. Okay, it's not for the loading pad, it's not for the driveway.

[26:57] That, yeah, that's just purely creating floodplain.

[27:00] Make up floodplain, boil. Correct.

[27:02] Because you're filling in with a little expansion area.

[27:07] And the tension system, there'll be a design first to look at and how it's getting there and where it's going.

[27:16] I guess the tension there is a retention.

[27:19] It is, so it retains smaller storms and then larger storms will flow out of it.

[27:27] Okay, so it's the tension, retention, then autoghost correct away.

[27:33] It overflows into that area, just adjacent to it, and then it drains to the west towards the river.

[27:42] Just overlay and flow.

[27:45] And that existing parking lot's being re-graded, so it's all pitched to that.

[27:50] No, the catch basins are what's happening.

[27:53] It drains there now, or just kind of getting in between it and the wetland.

[27:59] So that's why we located the basin where it is.

[28:02] So we'll see some drawings of all that,

[28:04] grades and details, and how it's being built.

[28:08] That's all included in this plan set,

[28:10] and there was a stormwater report as well with the calculation.

[28:13] I'll just look at this.

[28:15] So we have a post-pacancy of drawings.

[28:17] Correct.

[28:18] I didn't get that far.

[28:19] Mr. Chair, it is the grading and drainage plan in the plan set.

[28:26] Maybe maybe we can go to that.

[28:30] There's a there's a there's a grading and grading plan. There's a cross section of the site lower the idea of drawings.

[28:39] Okay. And then there's there's some details as well.

[28:48] Yeah, this is,

[28:54] but I can yeah, I can pull drawings from my computer.

[28:58] These are the success to those.

[29:08] So I plan, general notes,

[29:16] breathing and drainage plan. That's all.

[29:19] Yes. Yeah, it's right here on the street as well.

[29:23] I think it's

[29:27] a bit better for my eyes.

[29:29] I think I can see you.

[29:36] We just have to focus on the size of it.

[29:39] There's just a little point.

[29:43] Generally, you guys look at these already.

[29:49] I

[29:56] have a project I hadn't seen this, so I was asking questions.

[30:02] That's fine. I see you spill way.

[30:11] Yes, we have a, there's a stone, local berm, that's kind of our four bay pre-treatment. And then there's a, it's actually a turf free enforcement mat for the spill way.

[30:27] So right now, all that gray goes right where you show that little

[30:32] the right hand side of this drawing of what is right to the right of the filter

[30:37] berm stone berm is where the water is naturally flowing right now.

[30:42] Right, yeah, it basically the runoff from that parking lot enters the basin and like the northeast corner.

[30:53] And you're building up the berm at a 637 elevation.

[30:57] So it gets in there correct.

[31:09] So basically it's going to run through there, run through the stone, fill the berm

[31:13] after heavy storm. We just got to write out the spill way.

[31:17] Let's go in now.

[31:19] Exactly.

[31:21] The smallest storms I'll sit in there and soak in.

[31:24] And pull straight correct.

[31:26] Do we know the impervious that ground is it? Does it matter?

[31:30] Yes. In the storm water report, there's, there's a lot of soil data with, I think they

[31:36] Doug some test peds and did infiltration testing found the seasonal high water elevation

[31:42] classified the soils so it's all it's all it's all sized based on that investigation.

[31:50] So it has ground water levels that are current or that normal high ground water,

[31:55] high ground water levels that never report. Yeah they determined those.

[31:59] You know if I have an idea if there's six hundred and six hundred and six hundred

[32:06] I

[32:15] can pull the report off my computer to confirm, but it just just the information be nice to have I know

[32:22] I know it was generally right around the elevation of the wetlands, which is

[32:27] I think that was like

[32:31] 631

[32:33] And we're up around 635

[32:35] five,

[32:39] I'll sit there to find the word overflows, you know, the water is, is it a foot

[32:44] below grade or five feet below grade? It's, I think it's more than that, even. Well, I'm

[32:53] going to look at how much volume is available in the earth before his groundwater, because

[32:57] that's not going to go the way. The groundwater is, it's at least two feet, season all high

[33:03] water is at least two feet below the bottom of the basin.

[33:10] So it's not going to fill up for the ground water.

[33:29] And these drawings show anything on the transformers that are there and how the oil spill would go wherever it goes.

[33:40] Not in the set of drawings, no.

[33:56] We have great ink last section.

[33:57] It's been way of something on that.

[34:01] I found you, I didn't get a chance of it before me.

[34:29] I'll put it please.

[34:33] When do we get these?

[34:35] Um, in August, I believe?

[34:39] They were sent to us, I must have missed that.

[34:41] Yeah, they were, they've been on the website for, since we got the application.

[35:07] It's the endows and settlement.

[35:10] Sorry.

[35:16] Just to bring this one to the conservation.

[35:36] When do you guys find on this project yesterday?

[35:41] Last month.

[35:42] Pretty much yesterday, Mr. Chair.

[35:44] This is this project is among a number of other projects.

[35:55] So the suite of projects that are all looking to commence within months, the last slide if we go back to the slide deck gives a schedule with respect to the work.

[36:10] We're looking to get permits in hand, including these permits.

[36:15] We also need to, as was mentioned before in the conservation commission.

[36:18] In addition to that, we also have it here in scheduled for the ZBA, so we're looking to wrap all of that up within the coming months.

[36:29] So fall of this year, construction commencement, we're looking to commence towards the end of the calendar year.

[36:37] But of course, a lot of all needs to happen with these unique types of projects in advance of actual commencement.

[36:45] And so we're really hoping to get our discretionary permits in hand as soon as possible.

[37:01] Just a moment.

[37:03] No one else in a board has questions.

[37:04] Open up to the public.

[37:06] Open.

[37:07] Board.

[37:10] Um.

[37:11] And they put in a room.

[37:13] The comments on this question.

[37:19] You can say.

[37:20] Okay.

[37:22] I'm at the folks you pause, right?

[37:24] Um, I just, if I go in the wrong direction, please read the red me.

[37:28] but last time in the July 20th.

[37:34] Yes, that was an odd meeting. No, no, it was in a different meeting, but the poll project has some significance in this project. Is that correct? Mr. Chair, can I just ask? What address are you? 7, Paul's right? 7, Paul's correct? Are you in a butter to the substation?

[37:57] I'm not, I'm a 20-year Spencer resident.

[38:02] And you'll understand the reason I'm asking the question.

[38:04] You answered the question I was going to ask,

[38:07] because at that meeting, and you'll understand why I'm asking

[38:09] at that meeting, I'm not sure if the minutes were published

[38:13] recently, but the last time I checked for the meeting minutes

[38:16] on that date, they were not published.

[38:19] So that's why I'm asking the question this time.

[38:22] It was stated that the situation had not been updated since 1998.

[38:27] And you basically, and from that, whether it's 98-95, whatever.

[38:32] And you'll understand my curiosity.

[38:34] I was under full of bylaw committee and I'm kind of curious,

[38:37] because I believe the McCormick Road Solar Project

[38:41] was brought to that substation.

[38:44] And my concern is the substation didn't have to be updated

[38:48] when they plugged in the power from the McCormick Road Solar.

[38:53] Mr. Chair, I'm not, I'm at a loss with what, is this an active project that's happening in the town?

[38:59] So for you, it's done.

[39:02] But it needed, it was routed down to the substation.

[39:06] And I'm just kind of curious if you said in the 90s,

[39:08] it hasn't been updated.

[39:10] It's surprised.

[39:10] I'm curious because it surprised me that if you plug something like that into it.

[39:15] You can speak.

[39:16] That's surprised.

[39:17] This is the curiosity.

[39:18] Yes.

[39:23] So I'll answer that in the general terms, so when we build substations, there's generally excess capacity available.

[39:29] So if the station applies to us to interconnect and there's that capacity available, there would not have been a need to help through the substation.

[39:37] Okay.

[39:37] Now the substations that capacity, so we need to do so.

[39:48] and has been updated since 98, but the flag wouldn't meet to say, Jesus, you put it all

[39:54] that in, and there's no update, modern technology and so forth, which I was concerned

[39:58] with, that's all.

[39:59] Yeah, you just like build a new question.

[40:01] And we're into that question, so we need to, too.

[40:05] Okay, thank you for clarifying that.

[40:06] I hope you understand why I'm asking you one.

[40:09] I want to thank the Board for asking a relevant questions, Ted, I think, help protect

[40:14] that town.

[40:15] A lot of the stuff, I don't know anything about.

[40:16] I'm a resident, I just like to know what's going on in town and I'm curious about the issues and I'll just make one comment in regards to this project and you guys know it

[40:28] The town only has two wells and one of them is in the back there, so I'm sure you know what I just want to point that out and if you guys weren't aware of that that you know so thank you

[40:37] Thank you for your attention.

[40:37] Thanks, Beth.

[40:39] We have a talk, we want to think.

[40:43] We added a feeder a couple of years ago to this

[40:46] substation, who did a feeder that connects to the town of Spencer

[40:51] so a year ago.

[40:54] There have been upgrades, oh sorry,

[40:56] the substation is here and we're not so good.

[41:01] So, Mattel, who's on?

[41:04] That's it, okay, yeah.

[41:07] And when I was in a room, I have any questions in this project.

[41:11] Anybody online, have any questions or comments?

[41:29] Obviously you have to go to the conservation next.

[41:34] So I think we should continue this for this our next meeting.

[41:39] And the meantime, get me information or our information on how the

[41:50] So that we can feel comfortable with the oil is not going to end up in the wetlands or the

[41:55] town of Well.

[41:58] And it's good information to have help us make a decision and make sure you guys do

[42:02] what you need to do so that you are containing the oil, the oil, the oil, the oil has

[42:07] that I see there.

[42:11] A lot of more time, look at these,

[42:15] that makes sense.

[42:16] I know you're wondering, Dante, everybody does.

[42:18] But yeah, Mr. Chair, to be honest, we are hopeful that this would be done this evening.

[42:23] And this is a great straightforward project.

[42:27] The equipment we're talking about is replacement equipment.

[42:30] The transformer containment system, whatever exists

[42:34] not there today, is what's going to be replaced with

[42:41] is in accordance with national electric safety code.

[42:44] And exists in the thousands upon thousands of unmanned

[42:48] substations throughout the Commonwealth.

[42:50] The system we can show us.

[42:54] Yes.

[42:55] We can show you.

[42:57] All right.

[42:57] That's what I'd like to see.

[42:59] That works.

[43:03] I don't know what else I'm at.

[43:04] I think that of the project it is pretty straightforward.

[43:08] I don't know if they made your problems other than that.

[43:10] Potential contamination problem.

[43:12] I mean basically it was.

[43:15] We certainly could provide the information and we will.

[43:18] It was explained by both of our engineers that it's a containment system that provides

[43:26] a containment with respect to the oil plus capacity in terms of, as you mentioned, if there's

[43:32] a hundred-year.

[43:33] My back storm is a petroleum business of thirty-something years, the containment systems and

[43:39] everything.

[43:40] So I want to see something that I know worked.

[43:47] So if it's a great system, I'm sure it is.

[43:50] I just want to see it.

[43:51] You got all the equipment there, that's been replaced with new,

[43:55] I don't even know if the old stuff is reasonably safe the way it is.

[44:00] We do it.

[44:00] It's put in there, so it doesn't have an accident.

[44:03] They have an anti-accent, so that's good.

[44:04] Just a little else any comments or a comment.

[44:10] No, I just think some shop drawings would be good.

[44:16] We certainly have those.

[44:19] That's it.

[44:19] Had we known, we would have brought that with us today.

[44:21] And basically it's a drawing that this shows exactly what was described here.

[44:29] I do have one question.

[44:30] So the existing that you have when you guys start to replace that is there going to be any major disruption to the system that you have underneath.

[44:41] I just want to kind of understand what the potentials are as you're changing these.

[44:45] What could happen to the existing system?

[44:47] I know that somebody had mentioned you guys, but I wouldn't expect it, but will it disrupt anything when you guys are doing that?

[44:53] When you say a system, are you talking about it?

[44:55] The truth, the truth, the place is it.

[45:00] It's a political agreement system. Will it, will it, will it don't oil containment system? Will it do just drop anything?

[45:10] It shouldn't. It's a, it's a, it's a below grade system. So if, if they did,

[45:18] after, you know, maybe like, add a conduit or something like that, they would, they would do it and repair the liner as part of that work.

[45:29] Okay,

[45:39] to the chair or end or Vivian,

[45:42] when is the next available planning board meeting?

[45:44] October 20th.

[45:46] So that's gonna be one week after the ZBA hearing.

[45:49] Thank you guys.

[45:49] We'll be at.

[45:51] Okay.

[45:51] Is there an application after us?

[45:55] I mean, we have computers.

[45:57] We can, we can try to pull up those oil containment drawing.

[46:01] Mr. Chair, we can, we can show you right now.

[46:06] We can, again, access to our files.

[46:08] we could show you right now.

[46:09] Oh, we need time to look at them.

[46:11] I'm not going to do it on a spot.

[46:14] I agree.

[46:14] Well, so I stuff that submitted, like you did it,

[46:16] all I guess that was great, or triage,

[46:18] is no sale.

[46:21] So I need some time to look at.

[46:26] OK.

[46:30] Vivi, you said, October 20, 20, it's on October 20.

[46:38] Thanks, Pia.

[46:40] You could just sign the continuous formula for you.

[46:44] Yeah.

[46:44] We've got to let's go to other

[46:48] pounds with this type of information.

[46:50] You'd have to bring them into payment information.

[46:52] I'll show it to them at a time.

[46:54] Very rarely, because it is, it is routine equipment.

[47:02] And it's, it's a mineral oil to be clear.

[47:07] Oil, oil is like oil.

[47:09] What is not, it's not like petroleum, not petroleum, yes.

[47:14] It's like a carousine, a lot of quite dead, you look at

[47:21] what, how long you'd be adjusting

[47:23] the trans someone's that are in there now and when did they go in?

[47:28] I don't know how long those people in there, they're adjusting the trans ones.

[47:33] I don't have an exact answer how long you'd be adjusting trans ones.

[47:35] When did they get installed?

[47:37] I don't know.

[47:38] I don't know.

[47:40] They're all PCPs in there,

[47:46] we don't know.

[47:47] Yeah.

[47:48] What's in there besides doing it?

[47:50] You know, there's a big issue, what can you be with transformers a while back, depending on their age, they're going to have those in the oil.

[48:00] That's also a contaminant beside the oil.

[48:03] We don't want to get an answer there and see what's going on.

[48:06] If they're more recent, they won't be in there, but if it's old, then it could be.

[48:11] So that's got to be looked at when you remove them, they're not going to be spilled on any oils.

[48:18] We've made a concerted after overtime and I can't speak today to these transformers to remove the PCV transformers

[48:25] So I'd be surprised if they were still there, but we'll verify the date.

[48:29] Yeah, that's what we need to find out.

[48:30] All right.

[48:31] The signal.

[48:32] Yeah.

[48:32] There'll be extra caution.

[48:34] Yes.

[48:34] Okay.

[48:35] Nothing for.

[48:41] All right.

[48:42] So I think we'll look for a motion to continue.

[48:46] Can we continue this to the 20th?

[48:50] I'll go.

[48:52] Thank you.

[48:57] Jolly.

[49:00] Jolly.

[49:02] Jewell.

[49:04] Jolly.

[49:05] Thank you.

[49:06] Thank you.

[49:07] I'll have you.

[49:44] I just have the continuous form.

[49:47] Yes.

[49:48] Thank you.

[49:50] Thank you.

[49:54] Thank you.

[49:55] Thank you.

[49:55] One year.

[49:56] All right.

[49:58] I can't find my.

[50:00] I'm going to be very nervous.

[50:03] I.

[50:06] I.

[50:06] George.

[50:07] Okay.

[50:14] Moving on.

[50:17] And we'll find discussion in action, 46 greenville streets don't want to pollute your

[50:22] intervention plan.

[50:25] So where are we out on that?

[50:28] All right.

[50:29] So this was for the cell tower at 46 greenville street that was approved last June in 2025.

[50:39] And one of the conditions on that decision required the stormwater pollution prevention plan to be submitted.

[50:44] And the original plan that was sent to the board had a few errors in the lot size and lot

[50:52] disturbance, so they submitted a new one where they corrected those errors and then it

[51:01] was sent to BSE for peer review and dominant from BSE didn't have any comments aside from

[51:07] making sure that they attach the appendix from the plan that was submitted originally.

[51:13] So I just asked him to send me a version that has the appendix and other than that I added the email from Dominic to your packet because he didn't we didn't get a formal peer review comment on that, but that was just him saying that it looked good to go.

[51:32] So if the board finds it acceptable, we'll just need to make a finding that stormwater pollution prevention plan satisfies that condition and then I can write up a memo for the building inspector.

[51:49] You said Dominic's comments are in here?

[51:54] Yeah, I put it next to your packet.

[51:56] This is an email.

[51:59] Here, I have a copy too.

[52:00] No, I go in somewhere.

[52:02] Let's see it.

[52:07] I'm done.

[52:10] I

[52:21] just have one question.

[52:23] Do we need conservation aground and inspect erosion controls?

[52:28] So that wasn't over.

[52:30] The requirement in the decision, but I think that it would be a good idea to ask them if they could add that to their inspections.

[52:40] Yeah, because that would be good at that.

[52:43] Yeah, and that one was right outside of conservation jurisdiction. They had moved it, yeah, right to the edge of the buffer.

[52:49] So that would be good to have them go out.

[52:51] You know, it would flow into the violence.

[53:01] So that we have to wait for conservation to do that thing or

[53:06] No, so we can say it's okay based on Dominic's.

[53:12] And that wasn't the final inspection.

[53:15] That was just the inspection of the erosion controls

[53:18] before they start the production.

[53:21] So yeah, I can talk to Sam, the conservation agent,

[53:25] she's not an intel Monday,

[53:27] but I can ask her to add that to the conservation site,

[53:30] as it's once they have their erosion controls up.

[53:39] So, what action we have to now just recommend to

[53:44] alert it to the bill inspector?

[53:46] Make me make a motion that you find the stormwater pollution prevention plan acceptable.

[53:53] And that satisfies condition number 31.

[53:59] Yeah, and this is number 31 from the decision.

[54:03] So, so I'll make a motion to

[54:05] We'll approve the SPU GP, I'm 31 and I'm on the previous approval decision, that's

[54:16] right.

[54:18] Okay.

[54:20] Second.

[54:22] Roku, Gina.

[54:24] Hi.

[54:24] Charlie.

[54:25] Hi.

[54:25] Charlie.

[54:26] Well done,

[54:34] Ellen.

[54:34] Yeah.

[54:35] Thank you.

[54:36] Item six discussion.

[54:38] Data Center.

[54:40] One more.

[54:40] and more auditorium and zoning by who's talking about that.

[54:46] Yeah, so this one, town council is working on preparing a

[54:50] moratorium. So once we have that, we'll have to do a formal public hearing with

[54:54] advertisement. So this is just I just wanted to touch base with you all on this.

[54:59] But the Board of Selectmen would like to have a moratorium on data centers on the

[55:10] on preparing a data center by law, so as part of the zoning by law review, we've asked the consultant

[55:16] to incorporate that into it. But for the moratorium, they're looking to put a hold on data centers,

[55:25] so that the town has time to prepare a by law because right now we have nothing in place that's

[55:30] regulating data centers where they can be, how big they can be. So the moratorium will just give us

[55:38] I'm going to make sure we're not caught unprepared.

[55:43] And for late to this governor, Haley, I don't know if you've seen,

[55:46] but she just signed an executive order last week that, yes,

[55:50] that requires proposed data centers to get local approval

[55:53] before they can get their state permits.

[55:55] That's very big.

[55:57] Yes.

[55:59] Yes, it is.

[56:00] A political rule?

[56:02] Mm-hmm.

[56:04] Nobody's ready for this, including the state

[56:08] Well, but I don't think I won't make any more comments, but I think they have any recommended

[56:19] as he leaves office, have any recommended.

[56:23] Okay.

[56:24] Yeah, they don't have any samples or recommendations, but there have been a few other towns that

[56:31] have already passed moratoriums, and then a lot of other ones that are exploring doing it

[56:36] Right now, so we'll have some examples from other people to look at.

[56:40] We have the attorneys done that, so that's real.

[56:41] I meant to need draft, you know, any recommended draft?

[56:46] No, not yet.

[56:48] Okay.

[56:49] I think I think we need to, um, you know,

[56:53] get a more dormant place.

[56:55] Definitely.

[56:56] Absolutely.

[56:56] We have enough time before timing to do this.

[57:00] Probably.

[57:02] So we need a special meeting.

[57:03] Yeah, that's fine.

[57:05] Just for the public hearing.

[57:08] I should hopefully hope to strategy.

[57:12] By the end of the week, you have a more torn language,

[57:15] and we're drafting the warrant this week.

[57:19] So hopefully we can have it to you next week.

[57:21] You can work it.

[57:22] If you can time into your October 20th meeting,

[57:25] I don't know.

[57:26] That's enough time.

[57:27] It should be enough time between men and tummy 15 days.

[57:30] I would like to check the town council how much time needed between.

[57:33] in publication dates, so the sooner the better.

[57:37] Okay, agreed.

[57:40] I'm going to add a discussion on the topic.

[57:46] Next item is discussion.

[57:48] What is zoning by law?

[57:50] A amendment staring committee member?

[57:54] Yes, so we, the town has contracted with the firm community scale,

[57:59] for the zoning by law review and update project.

[58:02] And to lead this project, we're going to be assembling an ad hoc committee.

[58:06] made up of representatives from the various boards and committees.

[58:11] So I was hoping that we could get a planning board member on there where you're one of the boards that works closest with the zoning bylaws.

[58:18] So you all have some of the most experience with how any issues in the permitting process, any suggested recommendations.

[58:31] And for the time commitment for this, they'll be meeting on an as needed basis once we get

[58:36] deliverables from the consultant draft suggestions and then there's going to be two public meetings that community scale is going to be leading and the steering committee members would be encouraged to attend those meetings.

[58:49] The first one, I can talk about this more in my report, but we're looking to do a joint meeting on October 7 with the Planning Board Board of Selectmen zoning board and conservation commission.

[59:00] question about that because if I would volunteer, we have an EDC meeting that day.

[59:06] Yes, I was going to talk about this that are meeting tomorrow because we're meeting tomorrow,

[59:16] the next meeting, if we keep doing the first Wednesday, the month would only be two weeks apart.

[59:23] So I was going to see if people wanted to reschedule the October meeting and then just have that be coming to

[59:33] Coming to the public meeting for the zoning by-law review.

[59:38] I'm talking

[59:41] October 7th to have a meeting about what?

[59:45] The zoning by-law and some division regulations.

[59:48] Wait, that week for a conference.

[59:51] Okay, I'll be sending out a link to you all tomorrow.

[59:55] that community scale uploaded the zoning by law, subdivision rigs, and the zoning.

[1:00:02] And then you can go through and highlight specific sections of the zoning by-law and leave comments. And then you can leave pinpoint comments on the zoning map, which I actually have it on my computer here. So I can put up. And just show you how to, you can leave comments that way if you're not able to attend the meeting.

[1:00:22] So yeah, this is the website you can view the zoning by-law here and then on the side you

[1:00:30] just click comment and then you can type your comment and then that's just going to go straight

[1:00:34] to the consulting team and then the map is

[1:00:45] right here so then you can click comment

[1:00:49] on a place and then pick any location and then add your comment there.

[1:00:56] So I'll be sending that out to everyone tomorrow morning

[1:01:03] and then the second public meeting is still to be determined

[1:01:07] But that'll most likely be after we get the first set of proposed changes from the consultants and then we'll have a meeting to get feedback from the community

[1:01:17] So I need a wall to yes

[1:01:20] I don't

[1:01:24] want to

[1:01:25] Kind of the time

[1:01:33] I have too much of a workflow

[1:01:36] I can't.

[1:01:37] All right.

[1:01:37] The girls had to give it the vibe because it wasn't here.

[1:01:42] Okay, good.

[1:01:43] Thank you, Gina.

[1:01:46] Thank you.

[1:01:48] Anything you want me to bring up?

[1:01:53] A little ease on it.

[1:01:54] I'll put it on me.

[1:01:57] And then.

[1:01:59] Okay.

[1:02:01] All set on that now?

[1:02:03] Yes.

[1:02:05] Next item is plan board revolving the count, the numberage press, and voice approval.

[1:02:13] So we need to approve an invoice for $147 for some advertising.

[1:02:20] Yeah, I believe that was the national grid hearing that we just had.

[1:02:26] Those are just the new leader advertisements.

[1:02:31] So I have a motion to pay this bill.

[1:02:34] So move to pay the salvage press call.

[1:02:37] A second there.

[1:02:39] All call, Jenna.

[1:02:41] Sorry.

[1:02:42] I'll tell you about

[1:02:51] the boss.

[1:02:58] Channel board discussion board liaison reports.

[1:03:01] By what I think.

[1:03:03] You know, I don't have news.

[1:03:06] No.

[1:03:07] No.

[1:03:12] Okay.

[1:03:14] I don't plan every four new business.

[1:03:18] So the next meeting is going to be October 20th at 6 p.m.

[1:03:21] We have the two William KC applications that were continued in the National

[1:03:25] Great Application and aside from that we don't have any new applications.

[1:03:29] We might still get some ANRs by then.

[1:03:33] I don't know.

[1:03:34] And then we do have the 2027 meeting schedule, so if you want to

[1:03:46] Yes, yeah, no changes to that third Tuesday of every month. That's 6pm.

[1:03:52] I'm just making a note to send you all that tomorrow morning

[1:03:56] What time is the meeting for this?

[1:03:59] That's going to get six

[1:04:03] and then as we're talking about with the zoning by law review and update the joint meeting on October 7th

[1:04:09] So yeah, that'll just be an opportunity to share your recommendations and

[1:04:16] I will send you a link to the website to comment on the zoning by law

[1:04:21] And community scale is still in the process of looking over all of the town's previous planning documents like the master plan, the town center design guidelines, and they've also been looking through the planning board and zoning board minutes to see what kinds of projects have been approved every single time to identify different uses that could be allowed by right or, for example, the zoning board if they're always approving a certain type of variance.

[1:04:50] if maybe we could allow that in the zoning by-law.

[1:04:53] So we are making some steady progress on that.

[1:04:56] And hopefully once we have the meeting on October 7th,

[1:04:59] we'll get a lot of good feedback from all the boards.

[1:05:02] And then we're going to be opening that up to public comment as well.

[1:05:06] And fall-town meeting is November 5th at 7 p.m.

[1:05:13] And the economic development committee is going to be meeting tomorrow at 6 p.m.

[1:05:18] They are currently working on serving business owners.

[1:05:22] We've only gotten a few responses so far, but we're trying to get some more.

[1:05:28] And the survey were hoping that we can get some responses so that we can use it in the zoning by law review.

[1:05:37] And see if business owners have any, if there are any regulatory requirements that were,

[1:05:46] making it more difficult for them to open their business in Spencer.

[1:05:51] And they've also been working on creating some ideas for welcome signs for Spencer,

[1:05:59] which has been exciting.

[1:06:00] So we're going to be talking about that tomorrow.

[1:06:04] No official plan.

[1:06:05] We're just trying to get the ball rolling on getting some more signage.

[1:06:10] And for MVP 2.0, we're in the community engagement step of the process.

[1:06:17] So the core team, as they call it, is going to a bunch of different community events over the next two months.

[1:06:24] And we're going to try to talk to as many people as possible about their experiences living in Spencer and how they've been impacted by severe weather events.

[1:06:34] Like droughts, extreme heat, severe storms.

[1:06:43] So we're still working on that, but we're about halfway through the MVP process, which is exciting, and aside from that, that concludes my report.

[1:06:56] I just have one question about community scale.

[1:06:59] Are they also going to be looking at this subject?

[1:07:03] Yeah, so sometimes I drop that from when I'm explaining it just because it's so

[1:07:08] wordy, but yes, it's so that website has the zoning by law, the subdivision

[1:07:12] regs, and the zoning map.

[1:07:16] Is there something to stake, put out a huge

[1:07:18] someone put out about being able to build houses on logs that aren't beaten, zoning by law?

[1:07:23] No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[1:07:30] The various requirements for MGL, chapter 40, REA sections, the various standards, so they changed it so that

[1:07:48] And you can, sorry, I'm just trying to,

[1:07:51] there were a lot of big changes in that one.

[1:07:55] It was the allow residential use experiences.

[1:08:02] So, it sounded like you didn't have that necessarily,

[1:08:04] but it just sounded like me to setbacks.

[1:08:06] Yes, yes, sorry.

[1:08:08] So, yeah, one of the standards they changed was that

[1:08:11] Uh,

[1:08:14] frontage, lot area, and lot coverage, um, were no longer that it required variance.

[1:08:23] If there was a, for existing non-conforming structure, that was being altered or extended.

[1:08:29] So, they used to need a variance if they were doing that, but now it's allowed by right.

[1:08:35] You recent the KPMO.

[1:08:36] Yes, yeah, I can send that out to you again.

[1:08:38] P.P. did a kind of a two-pager, I think we'll watch it.

[1:08:42] I think we'll watch it.

[1:08:42] Yeah, so she'll send it.

[1:08:44] All right.

[1:08:46] Yeah, sorry.

[1:08:47] There were a lot of big changes in that one.

[1:08:48] So it's hard to summarize off the top of my head.

[1:08:51] All right.

[1:08:52] And community skills looking at all that legislation.

[1:08:55] Yes.

[1:08:56] So yeah, that's a big part of it is bringing the zoning by-law up

[1:08:58] to the new state standards.

[1:09:02] All right.

[1:09:02] It'll set.

[1:09:04] Good done.

[1:09:05] Next is a citizen input.

[1:09:07] If I hear a lot of speak.

[1:09:11] I'm at the full seat pause drive. I just want to thank the board again for asking relevant questions of the applicant along along the way

[1:09:19] the intention of protecting the polls. I appreciate it. Thank you.

[1:09:23] Anybody online have any comments?

[1:09:26] Uh, important. Okay.

[1:09:29] We'll hold minutes.

[1:09:33] You want to wait, you want to table these knees up on?

[1:09:38] Yeah, because Gina, you weren't up the last week, didn't you?

[1:09:43] Okay, that's my motion.

[1:09:45] Okay.

[1:09:48] We'll do the minutes of the next meeting.

[1:09:51] All right.

[1:09:53] Shall we adjourn?

[1:09:54] Motion adjourn?

[1:09:55] Okay. All right.

[1:09:56] Alright, alright, alright.

Spencer - Planning Board - 2026 September 15

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