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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-04-03 CONCOM-min TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES Tuesday, April 3, 2012 7:30 p.m. Cary Memorial Hall 1625 Massachusetts Avenue Chair Joyce Miller opened the meeting at 7:30 pm in the main auditorium of Cary Hall Commissioners present: Phil Hamilton, Stew Kennedy, Joyce Miller, Duke Bitsko, David Langseth, Dick Wolk Others present: Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator; Emily Schadler, Conservation Stewardship Coordinator 7:37 pm Continued Hearing – NOI, 2013 & 2027 Massachusetts Ave DEP 201-837, BL-795 Construct additions, parking and driveway alterations. Documentation: NOI application amended on 3/27/2012 Present for the applicant: Scott Smyers, Oxbow Associates; Gary Larson, Warner Associates; Zoltan Juhasz, Uniterra, Inc.; T. Perez Kennealy, applicant Ms Kennealy introduced Gary Larson, landscape architect for project, to describe changes proposed to driveway. Zoltan Juhasz described plan update and the revised groundwater drainage calculations. Chair Miller read letter from J. Livsey, Town Engineer, and summarized comments from Comprehensive Environmental Inc, and then recognized Douglas Hobbs, resident of 1998 Mass Ave. Mr. Hobbs described his submission which contained questions about impervious surface calculations. Comments from the Commission as follows: Mr. Langseth asked about lighting plan, and commented on regulations concerning amount of disturbed area in buffer zone. He asked if a curb is proposed on the western side of the smaller parking lot. (Answer: it is not planned.) Mr. Bitsko announced having watched the video recording of the previous meeting, on March 20, 2012, qualifying him to vote tonight. He asked about infiltration rates and if they met DEP regulations. (Answer: yes they do.) Chair Miller summarized comments in a letter the Commission received from Kim Woodard, resident at 2030 Mass Ave., which was signed by several people, and separate letters from Jim Williams and Jean Williams, residents at 8 Stratham Rd. Comments from audience members as follows: Ms. Woodard read letter in opposition, focused on concern about effects on groundwater quality and importance of LID (Low Impact Development). Dawn McKenna reported the Tourism Committee voted in favor of project 8-1, and she voiced her personal support for the project. Jean Williams spoke on her concern about increased intensity of activity on the property from the proposed project and its effect on protection of the wetland. (Mr. Larson responded to comments about the number of trees being removed and explained that his opinion is only three trees of importance are to be removed.) Responses from Commission as follows: Mr. Bitsko commented that this is a modification of existing structures, not a new development, and therefore different criteria apply as far as LID is concerned. Mr. Langseth agreed and explained that the Commission encourages LID practices, but that we hold projects that come before us to specific performance standards. He explained that recharge of groundwater is extensive in this proposal; and he explained that intensity of use is not a standard by which a project is judged by the Commission. Charles Hornig, member of the Planning Board, invited public to attend Planning Board hearing on this project on April 12. Motion made and seconded to close the hearing, 6-0 in favor. 8:30 pm Continued Hearing – NOI, Hayden Avenue, Town of Lexington DPW DEP 201-854, BL 812 Maintenance and improvement of existing public roadway, including narrowing the roadway and constructing a 5-foot wide sidewalk Documentation: NOI application Present for the applicant: Tom Laughlin, BSC Group; Dave Cannon, DPW Engineering As requested at previous meeting, BSC met with property owner of 80 Hayden Ave to look at problems the existing roadway stormwater management is causing at that location. There also was a subsequent meeting at the site between BSC, DPW, Ms. Mullins, and 80 Hayden Ave representative. The applicant believes all the problems at that location will be solved and that no plan change is necessary. Motion made and seconded to close the hearing, 6-0 in favor. 8:45 pm Continued Hearing – NOI, Marrett Road, Old Reservoir, Engineering Department DEP 201-849, BL 807 Water quality improvement Documentation: NOI application Present for the applicant: Bernward Hayes, Louis Berger Group Mr. Hayes first apologized to four abutters who were mistakenly not notified of NOI. He then explained that tonight’s presentation is to give an update on responses to the Commission’s questions and concerns from the last meeting, with detailed design to be presented at our meeting in four weeks. He reported that since the last meeting they met with the Army Corps of Engineers, DEP and DCR at the site and they expect agreement that they will be able to remove sedimentation from the vegetated wetland that was the old detention basin. He reported that they double-checked the stormwater retention calculations for the new proposed bi-filtration basin and found that the design exceeds the DEP requirements – at 107% - so they will be able to reduce the size by 7% and still meet DEP standards. They asked about further reduction of capacity and were discouraged by DEP to make further reductions. This 7% reduction in capacity will allow reducing the footprint, as the Commission had requested. It also will be moved southward a bit toward Marrett Road, so that several trees can be saved, and the boundary will be made more curvilinear, to make it look more natural. Also, the landscaping will be made more natural, as requested, so the basin will look more like a forest floor and less like an engineered project. Finally, the parking lot will be reduced to about 60% of its current size, allowing planting of additional trees. Comments from the Commission as follows: Mr. Langseth asked about type of railing along Marrett Road sidewalk. Mr. Kennedy asked if a planting plan, or list of plants to be used, will be included in the detailed design update. Mr. Bitsko thanked the applicant for the responsiveness to the Commission’s concerns and the resulting improvements to the plan. He asked that a section view through the basin, showing existing and proposed grades, be added to the design plan. Comments from the audience as follows: Richard Christiano, 468 Marrett Road, asked about changes this project will cause to the viewscape from across Marrett Road, and when the project will be carried out. Owen Curtain, 451 Marrett Road, asked about the plan for ensuring newly planted trees will succeed. Todd Rhodes, 482 Marrett Road, asked about the sources of coliform bacteria, hoping that the project will correct the problem it is targeting. Motion made and seconded to continue the hearing to the meeting to May 8, 2012, at the applicant’s request, 6-0 in favor. 9:00 pm Hearing – NOI, 18 Brent Road DEP 201-855, BL 813 Construct new pool house Documentation: NOI application Present for the applicant: Rich Kirby, LEC Environmental Consultants; Al Gala, Gala Simon Associates; David Santo, David Santo Construction Mr. Kirby described a plan to reconstruct a pool house and add a covered outdoor shower, all within the riverfront area of a perennial stream. Chair Miller read a report from the Engineering Division. Comments from the Commission as follows: Mr. Langseth asked for details in the plan for the drainage around the shower area, to show that stormwater and sanitary water would be separated. Ann Webster, 16 Brent Road, who is Treasurer of the Pool Association, hoped that curbing to ensure that separation would not impede handicapped accessibility to the shower. Motion made and seconded to continue the hearing at the applicant’s request, to April 17, 6-0 in favor. 9:10 pm Hearing – NOI Request to Amend Order of Conditions (DEP 201-815, BL 773) 9 Brigham Road Construct basement under new garage and add sump pump drainage system Present for the applicant: David Sperduto, Sperduto Land Survey; Al Gala, Gala-Simon Associates Mr. Sperduto described a plan change to previously conditioned plan, to add a basement under the new garage, install a sump pump in the new basement section and drain the sump to infiltration system under the driveway. Mr. Gala described the sump system. Chair Miller read a report from the Engineering Division. Comments from the Commission as follows: Mr. Kennedy asked if the new fill on the right of the driveway will affect the operation of the drainage swale. Motion made and seconded to close the hearing, 6-0 in favor. Mr. Langseth departed at 9:20 pm. 9:20 pm Discuss Community Garden Policies and Fees Ms. Schadler introduced the Idylwild Garden Coordinator, Don Kozak, and the Dunback Garden Coordinator, Alex Bartsh. She explained that the new draft guidelines had been circulated to the gardeners and some comments were received. She summarized the comments, which had been compiled and sent to the Commissioners by email. And, because there was general unhappiness among the Dunback gardeners about the fee hike at Dunback, Ms. Schadler explained what services are provided that factor into the fees. There also was resistance among the Dunback gardeners over the need for uniform policies at both gardens. Because of the lateness of the meeting and the fact that the comments about the draft policy had been read by the Commissioners, Mr. Hamilton asked that only new information be offered in comments at this meeting. Marita Hartshorn, one of the Dunback gardeners, volunteered to help Emily modify the policies to be more suitable to the Dunback gardeners. Chair Miller asked that once the policy draft is revised and circulated, comments again be collected, and she announced that the Commission will then meet again to consider and vote on the policy. 9:40 pm Mr. and Mrs. Srinivasan, owners of residence at 43 Sanderson Road, asked if they need to file an NOI for a bump out to their house within the buffer zone. They were told that they will. Commission agreed to approve use of fire pit at Willard’s Woods for Eagle Scout ceremony on evening of June 2. In response to a request from the Tree Committee to be allowed to erect a storage shed and three E-bins at the Tree Farm, the Commission decided more details will be needed before a decision can be made. The encroachment that the residents at 27 Revere St have made into Parker Meadow, cutting trees and clearing and piling brush, was discussed. There was agreement that steps need to be taken to ensure that the disturbance of conservation land stops and the brush piles get removed. No decision was made on what steps to take next. Motion made and seconded to issue order of conditions for Hayden Avenue, DEP# 201- 854, BL 812, 5-0 in favor. Motion made and seconded to approve March 20, 2012 minutes, 5-0 in favor. Motion made and seconded to approve August 23, 2011 minutes, 5-0 in favor. 10:20 pm Motion made and seconded to enter executive session for the purpose of approving Executive Session minutes and to not re-enter open meeting prior to the end of the meeting, 5-0 in favor. Respectfully submitted, Emily Schadler Conservation Stewardship Coordinator