Forms and plans shall describe the proposed activity and its effect on wetlands, flooding, and off-site runoff. The following items are set out as a minimum standard and are not intended to be a complete and final presentation as to what the form or plan should include. The applicant may submit or be required to submit to the Commission any further information which will assist in the review and which is deemed necessary to determine the proposed effect on the interest protected by this Bylaw. All applications should include the original material and one (1)
copy.
All forms, plans, drawings, sketches, and calculations shall be dated and signed by the person responsible for their preparation. Plans and drawings involving the practice of surveying or engineering shall be stamped and signed by the appropriate design professional(s) who shall be registered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Narratives shall include a discussion of the proposed activity and its impacts on the wetland functions and values (or interests). Section 1.5 lists the performance standards which must be addressed. One word answers such as none or minimal may not be accepted. If the applicant contends that there will be no effect on the interests which the Bylaws protect, the applicant must demonstrate to the Commission’s satisfaction why there will be no effect.
For small projects, plans of a lesser standard deemed appropriate by the Conservation Agent may be submitted. At a minimum single family plans shall include scaled drawings based on certified plot plans or subdivision plans. The Conservation Commission may override the Agent’s recommendation if the Commission feels additional plans are appropriate. All plans submitted under any section of these rules and regulations shall be of adequate size, scale and detail to completely and accurately describe the site and the work proposed. The Ashburnham Conservation Commission reserves the right to request additional narrative information on the forms or other information on the plans.
All plans, calculations or supporting data submitted under the provisions of the Notice of Intent, and Certificate of Compliance sections of these Rules and Regulations shall meet the following requirements unless otherwise deemed sufficient by the Commission:
1. Maximum sheet size shall be 24” x 36” and minimum sheet size shall be 8 ½” x 11”.
2. For subdivisions of land, the first sheet shall clearly show the entire subdivision and all the proposed lots and roadways. This scale may be greater than 1” – 50’.
3. Applicant shall color code at least one plan to be presented to the Commission which shall be color coded as follows:
 Edge of all resource areas and wetlands, flood plains, and other freshwater wetland areas - blue Buffer Zones -orange Riverfront areas including inner and outer riparian zones, violet and violet crosshatch respectively Aquifer Protection Zone – pink Areas of no disturbance - green Resource areas to be altered – blue crosshatched Replication areas – green crosshatch Siltation barrier – yellow Other colors may be used to designate other areas which are important for the board to make its determination.
4. Scale shall be not more than 1” = 40’, 1” = 20’ is recommended.
5. Graphical scale.
6. Lines, symbols, clouding, colors, etc. shall be identified and referenced in a legend.
7. North arrow
8. USGS locus map 1” = 1000’
9. Locations, elevation and datum of the benchmark used for survey;
10. Bearings and distances of all property lines with existing and proposed boundary control points.
11. Existing contour lines at contour intervals no greater than two feet up to the abutters’ property lines.
12. Proposed contour lines up to the abutters’ property line, at contour intervals no greater than two feet.
13. Wetland line indicated by numbers and flags and the type of resource area named, i.e. Bordering Vegetative Wetlands, River, Pond etc.
14. Edge of wetland, flood plain, 100 foot buffer zone and 200 foot riverfront area including division between the inner and outer riparian zone;
15. Replication areas shall be clearly identified including the existing and proposed elevations.
16. Replication areas shall include specific locations of plants, their species and a planting schedule.
17. Locations, inverts, sizes, and slopes of existing and proposed culverts, pipes, catch basins, detention facilities and other storm drainage structures. All existing catch basins located within 200 feet, downgradient of the project shall be located.
18. Locations of all catch basins located downgradient within 200 feet of the project site.
19. Existing and proposed locations, rim elevations and invert elevations of all catch basins, drains, culverts and other drainage structures immediately downgradient, upstream and downstream of the site, as well as on-site
20. Proposed on-site pollution control devises such as oil/gas separators, oil absorption pillows, hooded catch basins, flow dissipaters, detention basins, berms, and vegetative buffers
21. Location and details of erosion sedimentation control devices both temporary and permanent
22. Proposed lowest elevations for cellars or floors
23. Calendar dates, locations of samplings, and results including but not limited to, groundwater tests, percolation tests, soil borings, soil logs, wetland delineation performed, habitat and/or wildlife evaluations and water testing
24. Soil characteristics in representative parts of the property as identified in the Worcester County Soil Conservation Survey and/or as field identified
25. Existing major features of the property such as structures, including, but not limited to, buildings, foundations, stone walls, wells (public or private), embankments, stockpiles of fill, piers, wharves, riprap, cement area, asphalt areas, pools, bridges, trails, historic areas, fuel storage tanks, trees exceeding 12” caliper, vegetation
26. Existing and proposed locations of containment units for solid waste, chemicals, liquid waste, radioactive materials, explosives and other materials or substances as required by the Commission.
27. Abutters’ names, with maps and lot numbers of property
28. Title block which shall be located in the bottom right-hand corner and include identification of project, name(s) of owner, house number if applicable, assessor’s map and lot numbers, names of existing or proposed streets, name of sub-division date, revision dates and scale
29. If the entire parcel is not shown on the plan, the plan shall include a notation that the area not shown has not been addressed by the Request for Determination or Notice of Intent.
30. The following NOTE shall be included on the plan:
ATTENTION: The work proposed on this plan is allowed by an Order of Conditions issued by the Ashburnham Conservation Commission, which includes strict standards and requirements. No work is to proceed until the contractor has reviewed and agreed to abide by all the conditions therein by notation on said plan.
31. The Professional Engineer’s \ Registered Land Surveyor’s \ Sanitarian’s name, wet stamp, signature and date signed.
The Commission shall require proper certification of construction documents by a PE (Registered Professional Engineer qualified in the branch of civil engineering or environmental engineering), a RLS (Registered Professional Land Surveyor) or RS (Registered Sanitarian) based on the following list:
 Engineering Design |
PE |
 Site Plans |
PE & RLS |
 Subsurface Sewer Design (over 2000 GPD) |
PE |
 Subsurface Sewer Design (under 2000 GPD) |
PE or RS |
 Percolation Tests and deep observation holes |
Soil Evaluator |
 Definitive Subdivision Plans |
PE & RLS |
Wetland Crossings
If a Notice of Intent includes crossing of a wetland, the applicant shall submit five (5) copies of the Notice of Intent plans, calculations, replication plans, pictures, narratives and supporting data to the Commission.
The applicant shall also provide proof that there is no ability to access the upland section of their property except through the crossing of the wetland. Said proof shall include letters from the abutting property owners indicating they will not grant access through their property.
Work Within a Wetland
If the Notice of Intent includes work within a wetland, the applicant shall also submit two (2) copies of a narrative which shall explain how the work will be performed; a replication plan including details of types and locations of plant species which will be planted, pictures, wetland assessment, and a wildlife assessment in accordance with MGL c 131 sec 40, and 310 CMR 10:59 and 10:60.
Replication Plans
All replication plans shall include the following:
1. In-kind replication of the same type of system
2. Replication of an area at least equal to the area to be disturbed
3. Detailed plans which shall include construction schedule, planting plan, monitoring and reporting plan
4. Field delineation of existing wetlands, including plants and proposed replication areas
5. Land and groundwater elevations of the area to be replaced and the area proposed after grading
6. Plans, analyses, construction supervision by experts
7. Transfer of topsoil from wetland being filled which will contain seeds, roots and tubers,
8. Use of only native plants and in-kind plants to the wetland being disturbed
9. Replication at first stage of project
10. Siltation barriers to prevent siltation and show limits of work
11. Progress reports at end of each growing season
12. Notice to Commission of major steps
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