Mitigation Planning, 7/14/04 Attending: OffJake Upton (E. A. Fish), Sandi Bourgeois, Lorelei Kolegue, Bodo Reichenbach, Lee Ellis, Joe Curro, Paul Morrison, Terry Dash, Patrick McMahon (E. A. Fish), Deborah Dill, Elaine Duffy Del LaLuc, Suffolk, will manage the day-to-day construction process. There will be an ebb-and-flow to the construction process—times when the work may impact the neighborhood a lot, and times when it won’t impact as much. Fish/Suffolk wants to keep the neighbors in the loop about when the neighborhood will be affected and therefore when neighborhood involvement will be especially important. Jake suggests that the neighborhood committee speak for the community and monitor how the community is feeling. Symmes Redevelopment Associates (SRA) conceives of the Neighborhood Protection Plan as covering issues with the administration and coordination within the community of the construction. Issues like design or traffic are not part of the neighborhood protection plan. (Construction traffic is part of this process.) The neighborhood will have access to Del LaLuc 24 hours per day. That said, all of us need to be respectful of setting reasonable limits on who, when, and how he is approached. It would be best if the neighborhood could organize a communication plan so that problems are handled efficiently and promptly within the neighborhood in order to make it possible for Suffolk to respond promptly. We discussed the proposed Construction Operations, Impacts & Mitigation Measures. This document is quite general in its language. We expect that as Symmes Redevelopment Associates goes through the special permitting process with the Arlington Redevelopment Board (ARB) over the next few months, specific kinds of construction—for example, specific utilities or sewer lines—will be determined to have impacts on particular areas or at particular times. These specific impacts will provide further details that will be knit into the document as they are encountered. Then during construction, building permits are issued and construction is monitored by the Town to ensure that it occurs in accordance with the special permits issued by the ARB. * Hours of operation. Symmes Redevelopment Associates proposes construction work, including deliveries, on M-F, 7am – 7 pm; Sat 8 am – 5 pm; and no construction work on Sundays and federal holidays. Several neighbors suggested that at the E. A. Fish public presentation in February 2004, a representative of Fish said that there would be no weekend construction. Jake and Patrick will check on this. (No emergency work is anticipated, but if emergencies do occur they will be dealt with promptly, even outside of regular construction hours. * Off-Site Activity. Off-site property should not be affected by this construction, but if it is, that property will be restored to its original condition. * Site Cleanliness. Some neighbors asked that all wooded buffers on the site be proactively protected as much as possible from potential construction difficulties. Neighbors suggested adding regulations for maintaining port-a-potties, especially cleaning them at reasonable hours. * Parking. All construction parking will be on site. * Demolition and Blasting. Will be conducted in a manner that minimizes the impact to the surrounding property owners. Notice will be given to owners of each potentially affected adjoining lot at least 1 week prior to commencement of work. Neighbors ask, “How is a ‘potentially affected adjoining lot’ defined? Neighbors suggest that affected property owners be apprised that they must discover damage related to blasting within a specific period (Fish is researching the state/local laws that determine the length of that period). Neighbors suggest that the Town Board of Health, which is supposed to monitor demolition, may be overwhelmed by the scope of the Symmes development, and that its services should be supplemented (perhaps by a 3rd party) as part of the development. There is a possibility of utility shut-offs that affect the area, and these need to be coordinated. Neighbors ask whether blasting will really extend from 7 am to 7 pm (construction hours) or whether it will likely end earlier; Fish agrees that blasting will occur before 4 pm and will amend the Plan. Neighbors suggest that blasting regulations must be specific to the Symmes site (rather than taken from more general regulations) because the Symmes site is all ledge, and blasting effects may be more extensive or severe than at other sites. Neighbors expressed concern about stone walls that abut the site in neighbors’ yards; these should be part of the inspection before blasting. Neighbors ask that Fish confirm what post-blasting analyses are. Neighbors ask whether quantifiable standards can be introduced into the document—for example, that noise will not exceed 55dBA at the site perimeter during blasting. Neighbors ask whether we can specify the frequency of inspections by Town/state/3rd party officials; and whether they are agreeable to do it, and whether there is funding to do it. (Fish suggests that permitting fees might pay some of these expenses.) Neighbors suggest that these inspectors, their contact information and roles, be added to the communication chart. Neighbors suggest that we take up these issues with various Town officials to ensure that it happens. * Dust control. Water and/or wetting agents will be applied regularly to minimize dust. All construction vehicles transporting materials/debris to and from the site must be covered. SRA shall make provisions to minimize transport of sediment by water runoff or vehicle tracking. * Noise. SRA shall employ reasonable efforts to mitigate noise. Neighbors ask that noise from radios on site be minimized. SRA suggests that measurable standards need to be added to this section. * Lighting. More details will be added to this section when specific development design has been completed and lights have been situated. Neighbors can expect minimum lighting at night during construction. * Pest Control. The program shall include pre-treatment of work areas, including setting of traps. Neighbors asked for careful consideration of how to protect local foxes and coyotes, cats and dogs. Neighbors are aware that previous construction created rat and mice problems in adjoining residential areas. Neighbors ask whether we can see whether pests become an issue, and then start trapping if it is an issue. Or we could trap inside buildings only before tearing them down. We should speak with Del DaLuc, who is experienced with these problems. We need to identify who the Town’s relevant authority is for pest control. * Site Safey. This plan will be developed later by Suffolk Construction. A portion of the site will be fenced off during construction for safety reasons. * Contamination. The neighborhood committee, Board of Health, and all other relevant Town and State officials will be notified when contamination is found. * Staging and Sequencing. These details are still be worked out. The schedule will be shared, including monthly updates. * Existing Utilities. Will be mapped. Neighbors will be notified 2 days in advance (by certified mail?) of potential disruptions. * Signage. Neighbors suggest that a sign be placed at the bottom of the hill to identify the construction site and off-limits areas. * Drainage, Storm Water Management, and Erosion Control. State DEP and MEPA review on-site and off-site drainage plans. All disturbed areas will be revegetated immediately following completion of work. Storm water pollution is monitored by the Town. We should determine who in Town is responsible. * Procedures for Road Improvements. SRA is responsible for controlling traffic and for repairing any damage that occurs to roadways.