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Home My WebLink About2023-01-30-Concom-minPUBLIC MEETING MINUTES Conservation Commission ___________________________________________________________________________ Joint Meeting:Lexington Conservation Commission and Lexington Conservation Stewards AGENDA Monday,January 30,2023,6:30 p.m. This Conservation Commission meeting was held remotely via Zoom,an online meeting platform.Public Participation via calling in or using your computer was encouraged. Commissioners Present:Kevin Beuttell,Alex Dohan,Ruth Ladd,Holly Samuels,Philip Hamilton (Chairman);not present:Jason Hnatko Staff Present:Karen Mullins,Conservation Director,and Amber Carr,Conservation Coordinator 6:30 PM Discussion of Story Walk at Parker Meadow Conservation Area Mr.Hamilton provided a narrative on the introduction of the story walk at Parker Meadow. Mr.Jon Himmel,owner of 66 Hancock Street,stated that visitors of Parker Meadow should enjoy three-dimensional nature and that the boards should be relocated elsewhere in town in areas more appropriate. Mr.Wayne Harvey,owner of 34 Revere Street,stated that signs on Conservation land should not impede on wildlife and should only provide educational signage on the preservation of the land. Mr.Roger White,owner of 30 Revere Street,stated that the story boards overwhelm the landscape of the area. Ms.Marleen Stone,owner of 19 Woodland Road,stated that 24 boards are too many and overwhelms the view. Ms.Bonnie Newman,owner of 44 Moreland Avenue,is in favor of the story boards and stated that Parker Meadow is a good location that brings in a lot of children. Mr.Clay Stewart,owner of 7A Revere Street,does not think the story walk adds to the experience of Parker Meadow and that the boards should be placed at playgrounds where children congregate. Ms.Kathy Scott,owner of 30 Revere Street,stated that she analyzed the emails received by the Commission from the public to date regarding the story boards,and she counted 21 emails in favor of removing the story boards and 2 in favor of keeping them in place. Mr.Tad Dickenson,owner of 48 Hancock Street,stated that the story boards diminish the Conservation land and that he frequents Parker Meadow and rarely sees children at the property. Ms.Fawn Rosenburg,owner of 63 Liberty Avenue,stated that Parker Meadow is not an appropriate place for the story boards and they should instead be placed at a library or playground. Ms.Marianna Lazarus,owner of 22 Hayes Lane,stated that Parker Meadow is not the only location in Lexington with storyboards,and that the storyboards at Lincoln Field are not welcome there either. Ms.Koren Stembridge,Library Director,stated that the storyboard installation was not done with taxpayer dollars and rather through a grant awarded to the library.She also stated that this partnership can bring a different audience to Parker Meadow and that it only represents a small percentage of Conservation-owned land in Lexington. 7:00 PM Stewardship Report:2022 Year in Review Ms.Carr presented the challenges and accomplishments that occurred in 2022.Challenges include:the increase of trail usage on Conservation lands and ACROSS Lexington trails;user conflicts including bikes and pedestrians,dogs and pedestrians,and unsanctioned bike track construction;only two seasonal crew members were hired for the summer season,and it was an unusually dry year.Worthy accomplishments mentioned include:Parker Meadow improvements project being completed by the contractor;three wayside panels were installed;Daisy Wilson Meadow Preservation completed;West Farm Meadow Preservation (Year 1)completed;Chiesa Farm Field Management Plan drafted;the Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP)was drafted; the Dunback Meadow (old community garden)clean-up;836 observations during the City Nature Challenge;1,344 plants sold during the Pollinator Planting Kit sale;2,000 plants were grown at the Native Plant Nursery;Boardwalk extension projects continued;Cotton Farm Orchard management continued;Idylwilde Community Gardens continued;East Lexington Habitat Enrichment Project continued;the virtual Nature Speaker Series continued;Vegetation management at West Farm and Shaker Glen continued;Garlic Mustard pulling during workday events and Stewardship Saturdays;and weekly meadow trail mowing was performed.Eagle Scout projects in 2022 included the construction of a boardwalk at Meagherville property and signs installed at Parker Meadow and the Burns Parcel at Lower Vine Brook. Capital Projects Update The Commission identified two current FY24 Capital Improvement Projects (CIP)funding requests:Willard's Woods site improvements and Whipple Hill trail repair/fire access.Through the Participatory Budget project,Conservation projects were awarded $100,000 in ARPA funding. Priority Projects for FY24 include:Conservation Restriction enforcement;Willard's Woods Meadow preservation;Willard's Woods ADA design and engineering;Wright Farm site access and parking conceptual planning scope;Parker Meadow construction;Open Space and Recreation Plan 2022 update;West Farm Meadow Preservation;and Wright Farm Barn environmental testing and development of complete design and bid documents by architect for shell stabilization. Capital Improvement Projects in FY23/24 include:Meadow Preservation (Willard's Woods and West Farm),Parker Meadow Accessible Trail Project,Willard's Woods Ecological Land Management Plan,and Universally Accessible Trail Design,Wright Farm,Open Space and Recreation Plan,Whipple Hill trail repair and fire access,and Willard's Woods site improvements. 2023 Project Planning (FY23/24) Conservation Restriction and baseline field work,native plant nursery support,East Lexington Habitat Enrichment project,Cotton Farm orchard management,Chiesa Farm Field Management Plan,GCC Concord Ave land survey for Management Plan,possible Stewardship plan and management at Dunback Meadow. Looking Ahead:Goal Setting FY 25-29 (7/1/24-6/30/29) Goals of the Conservation Division include:land management planning,invasive plant management,native habitat restoration,conservation meadow preservation,trail access and infrastructure,trail connections,education and outreach,land acquisition and historic landscape preservation. FY25 funding priorities include meadow preservation of Idylwilde and Poor Farm,and preservation and rehabilitation of the Wright Farm barn. FY26 funding priorities include Cotton Farm/Community Center connector eastern universal Universally Accessible trail segment design and engineering,and Lower Vine Brook trail improvements. FY27 funding priorities include Parker Meadow meadow preservation and Lower Vine Brook trail improvements construction. FY28 funding priorities include Cotton Farm/Community Center Connecter Eastern Universally Accessible trail segment construction. FY29 funding priorities include only the Open Space and Recreation Plan that will be due again. The Commission discussed the plan for Wright Farm.The Wright Farm Advisory Subcommittee has proposed some basic protective work for the Barn,and the Facilities Department conducted some barn stabilization in 2021.The scope of services and consultant contact are on hold until the end goal is identified.The Commission and Stewards discussed the goals for the management of Wright Farm,including improved public access,stewardship of the site’s natural and cultural values,use for environmental education,access as an entry point to the Burlington Landlocked Forest,and possible connections to conservation land in Bedford.Challenges for the management of Wright Farm include the relatively small size of the site,distance from the center of town,and the expense involved in making the site more accessible and developing the facilities for making the site more suitable for environmental education. Other possible projects in FY 25-29 include:Dunback Meadow garden restoration,proposed trail boardwalk improvements projects and ACROSS Lexington routes. The Conservation Commission and Conservation Stewards will meet again on May 22,2023 to discuss 2023 project updates,FY25 funding preparation and the 5-Year Capital Plan. On a motion by Ms.Dohan and seconded by Ms.Ladd,the Commission voted 5-0 by roll call vote to adjourn the meeting. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell –Aye Alex Dohan –Aye Ruth Ladd –Aye Holly Samuels –Aye Phil Hamilton –Aye Via Video Recording Respectfully Submitted, Meghan McNamara LUHD Department Assistant –Conservation Approved:7/24/2023 Archived:7/25/2023