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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-10-19-CONCOM-min TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES Monday, October 19th 2015 6:30 P.M. Parker Room, Town Office Building 1625 Massachusetts Avenue Chair Philip Hamilton opened the meeting at 6:32 pm in the Parker Room of the Town Office Building. Commissioners Present: Kevin Beuttell,Phil Hamilton, Alex Dohan, Dick Wolk, Joyce Miller Others Present: Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator, Casey Hagerty, Conservation Department Assistant Pending Matters 6:32pm Eagle Scout Presentation by Sean Lehoux Mr. Lehoux explained that for his Eagle Scout project he wishes to build a bench at West Farm overlooking Wilson farm. He stated that he will build the bench with the help of his family members. Comments/Concerns from the commission: The commission stated that Mr. Lehoux should seek help from someone who can help him with invasive species removal. Mrs. Miller made a motion to approve the project and Mr. Beuttell seconded.Vote: 5-0 in favor. 6:34pm Eagle Scout Presentation by Liam Wurtz Mr. Wurtz explained that for his Eagle Scout Project he would like to build a compost bin at Idylwilde Community Garden. He stated the project would use cement to secure the pit into the ground. The project would be completed over two weekends with help from volunteers. Comments and concerns from the Commission: The commission told Mr. Wurtz that they would give him a window of time to complete the work. The commission wanted to be ensured that Mr. Wurtz was collaborating with the garden stewards. Mr. Wurtz told the commission he was in communication with the gardeners. Motion to approve the project made by Mrs. Miller and seconded by Mr. Beuttell. Vote: 5-0 in favor. 6:36 pm Plan change 116 School Street (DEP File 4201-965, BL 923) Mrs. Mullins explained that applicant for the project at 116 School Street did not get approval from the zoning board to construct a two family home. She stated that he is now building a single family home. The drainage system would remain the same size and the impermeable surface would be reduced. Comments and concerns from the commission: The commission stated that the applicant did not need to file a formal amendment to get the plan change approved. 6:37pm Issue Order of Conditions to 6 Blueberry Lane, DEP File No. 201-999,BL 956 Motion to issue an Order of Conditions made by Mrs. Miller and seconded by Mrs. Dohan.Vote: 5-0 in favor. 6:38pm Issue Order of Conditions to 12 Brookside Ave, DEP File No. 201-1000, BL 957 Motion to issue an Order of Conditions made by Mrs. Miller and seconded by Mr. Beuttell.Vote: 5-0 in favor. 6:40pm Requests for Certificates of Compliance at 16 Solomon Pierce Road(DEP File 9 201-500, BL 458) Phil Posen, lawyer representing Dr. Huang (owner) Mr.Posen explained that he was seeking a certificate of compliance on behalf of his client. He recognized that his client's situation is not ordinary. Comments and concerns from the audience: The commission questioned the location of where they would be approving an Order of Conditions. The commission stated that they would need to do another site visit before they could issue the Certificate of Compliance. 6:52pm Requests for Certificates of Compliance at 103 Woburn Street(DEP File No. 201-950, BL 908) Steve Stratford, owner Mrs. Mullins explained that the property in question is in compliance with the Order of Conditions. The only question that remains was whether the restoration area meets the requirements for buffer zone restoration. Mrs. Mullins stated that the restoration area looked bare. Comments and concerns from the Commission: The commission stated that they want more seed mix used in the restoration area. The commission wanted to be ensured that the new owner would continue to comply with the order of conditions. Mrs. Mullins informed the commission that they could issue a partial Certificate of Compliance so that the new owner would be responsible for carrying out the remainder of the work. Mrs. Miller made a motion to issue a partial Order of Conditions and Mrs. Dohan seconded.Vote: 5-0 in favor. 6:57pm There were no new reports 6:57pm The meeting minutes will be approved at the next meeting. New Hearings 6:58pm RDA, Dunback Meadow DET 15-25 Applicant: Greenway Corridor Committee Owner: Town of Lexington Conservation Project: Installation of memorial plaque and benches Documents: RDA Package dated 9/28/2015, Pictures, Site Map Susan Kenyon, Greenways Corridor Committee Mrs. Dohan recused herself from this hearing. Ms. Kenyon explained that she and the Greenways Corridor Committee wish to install a memorial bench and plaque on a boulder in Dunback Meadow for her late husband and influential Greenway Corridor Committee member Rick Abrams. She explained that Dunback Meadow was important to Mr. Abrams and it was also along the ACROSS Lexington trail system. Comments/concerns from the commission: The commission asked whether other locations were considered for this project. Ms. Kenyon explained that they had but this was the most feasible as well as sentimental. The commission raised an issue brought by a Conservation Steward stating the boulder should remain untouched. Ms. Kenyon stated that the plaque could go on the benches. The commission raised concern that there is already another memorial project going to be placed in Dunback Meadow. They were concerned that they were allowing too many projects on Conservation Land. The Commission decided they need to make another visit to the site before they could make a decision. 7:11pm RDA, 19 Ledgelawn Ave DET 15-26 Applicant/Owner: Stephen Parus Project: Replacement of a wooden retaining wall, construction of a new permeable paver patio, and replacement of two brick walkways Documents: RDA Package Dated 9/28/2015, Project Description dated 9/29/2015 Site map dated 9/17/2012 Stephen Parus, owner Mr. Parus explained that his proposed project would involve adding a patio with a walkway towards the deck. He stated that he is also changing the size and positioning of the retaining wall in his yard in order to make the yard more level. Concerns and comments from the commission: The commission stated that wall that is proposed extends into the 25ft no disturb zone. Mr. Parus said that he would change that. Motion to issue a Negative Determination with conditions made by Mrs. Miller and seconded by Mrs. Dohan. Vote: 5-0 in favor. 7:20pm RDA, 41 Valleyfield Road DET 15-27 Applicant/Owner: Suzzane Pan Project: Stair replacement Documents: RDA Package dated 9/29/2015, building plans dated 9/29/2015 Carrie Oberhouser Builder and Suzzane Pan, owner Ms. Oberhouser explained that her client hired her to replace the existing asphalt stairs and landing with granite. The new walkway and stairs would have the same footprint as the old stairs and walkway. Comments and concerns from the commission: The Commission stated that they did not see a problem with the stair construction but they had some issues with the rest of the property. They explained that during their site walk they saw disturbances to the wetlands including clearing, a compost pile, and a footbridge. Ms. Pan stated that the footbridge was in place before she bought the property. The commission asked for clarification regarding an issue in 2006 regarding clearing. The language from 2006 stated that the clearing of the wetland needed to be stopped but there was no clear language regarding the compost bin. The commission stated that the enforcement issues are separate from the current construction and will be dealt with separately. Mrs. Mullins stated that neighbors call whenever there is significant rain fall to tell her that the footbridge washed away and is causing downstream flooding. Comments and concerns from the audience: Abutter: An abutter stated that she has lived next door for 35 years and neither her bridge or Ms. Pan's bridge have ever washed away except for one time in a severe storm. Motion to issue a Negative Determination with conditions made by Mrs. Dohan and seconded by Mrs. Miller. Vote: 5-0 in favor. 7:39pm DEP File No. 201-1003, BL 961 NOI, 63 Winter Street Applicant: Barons Custom Homes LLC Owner: Anna E. Rogers Project: Raze and rebuild existing single family home DEP File No. 201-1004, BL 960 NOI, 65 Winter Street Applicant: Barons Custom Homes LLC Owner: Anna E. Rogers Project: Raze and rebuild existing single family home Documents: NOI dated , Building plans dated, Stormwater management plan dated, engineering report dated 10/19/2015 Ann Martin, LEC Environmental, Mark Barons- Builder, Jim Burke- Engineer Ms. Martin presented both of these projects simultaneously. Both existing homes would be demolished and rebuilt. She stated that at 63 Winter Street, the new dwelling would be built completely outside of the buffer zone. The home is designed as a walkout with a porch off of the first floor. There would be a standard infiltration system. Ms. Martin explained that a portion of the project at 65 Winter Street is in the buffer zone, about 85 feet away from the wetland. The work at 65 Winter Street would involve the removal of a barn in the 25 ft no disturb zone as well as the installation of an infiltration trench. Comments and concerns of the commission: The commission questioned why the limit of work extended into the 25ft no disturb zone. Ms. Martin explained that it was because the existing barn is within the 25 ft zone. The commission raised concern about the walkout area at 63 Winter street. They stated they that they felt that there should be a walkable area around the perimeter of the house. The commission questioned how the existing satellite dish would be removed. Ms. Martin told them that it would be removed in the same way that the barn would be removed. The commission requested that there be no fabric on the bottom of the infiltration trenches. The commission requested that they retaining wall be re-evaluated. The commission requested that there be no filter cap on the overflow filter. The commission stated that they wanted a mowing plan for the barn area as well as an O&M plan for infiltration trenches. Motion to continue the hearing at the applicants request to October 26th, 2015 made by Mrs. Miller and seconded by Mr. Beuttell. Vote: 5-0 in favor. 8:03pm DEP File No. 201-1002, BL 859 NOI, 139 Grove Street Applicant: Douglas Orr Project: Raze and rebuild Single Family home Documents: NOI dated 9/29/2015, Stormwater management plan 9/29/2015, Building plans 9/29/2015, engineering report dated 10/19/2015 Doug Orr- Orr Custom Homes and Scott Smyers- Oxbow Associates. Mr. Smyers presented a proposal for a new single family home built within the Riverfront buffer zone. He stated that the proposed project would include an infiltration system, erosion controls, and native plantings. Comments and concerns from the commission: The commission raised a question regarding the retaining wall in the yard. They questioned whether it was good for erosion control. They also questioned whether it complied with zoning regulations. The commission requested that the engineer confirm that they trench drain is flat and can handle the water from the swale. The commission requested that the washed stone detail on the infiltration trench be labeled. The commission requested that the geotextile detail be shown. The commission wanted native seed mix to be added to the planting plan. The commission stated that they wanted the corners of the property demarcated. The commission stated that the applicant needed to add a limit of work line to the plans. Vote to continue the hearing at the applicant's request to October 26th 2015 made by Mrs. Miller and seconded by Mrs. Dohan. Vote: 5-0 in favor. 8:25pm DEP File No.201-996, BL 953 NOI, 16 Summer Street Applicant/owner: Gabler Realty Trust Project: Proposed completion of landscape work, construction of a shed, extension a driveway within the 100-foot Buffer Zone of Bordering Vegetated Wetlands and Bank, and conduct restoration activities Documents: Survey dated 10/19/2015, Drainage plan dated 10/15/2015, Building plan dated 10/2/2015, and abutter's letters dated 9/24/2015 Mike Novak- Meridian Engineering. Mr. Novak explained that he had completed a drainage analysis on the property. On the proposed plan they have added a path to have access down to the stream, an addition to the paved portion of the driveway, and a stone infiltration trench. He explained that they would be doing 375 sq feet of restoration. He stated the fence would be placed three feet off the property line. Comments and concerns from the commission: The commission requested clarification of the soil types. The commission wanted confirmation on the shed setbacks. The commission raised a question about the tree's being cut down along the property line. The commission questioned whether the new impervious surface would by pass by the infiltration system or go into it. The commission requested that the native stumps not be removed from the restoration area. The commission requested that there be some type of demarcation on the property to show where mowing should stop. Comments from the audience: Shelly Henderson, 16 Summer Street- Ms. Henderson requests permission to move ahead with the restoration plan. Robert Whalen, 12 Summer Street- Mr. Whalen brought up the fact that many of the trees that are proposed to be cut down are on the property line. He also stated that the trees were healthy and now appear to be dead. The commission informed Ms. Henderson that she could start with the restoration plantings as part of the enforcement order, but could not go further than that at the moment. Mrs. Miller made a motion to continue that hearing at the applicant's request to November 2nd 2015 and was seconded by Mrs. Dohan. Vote: 5-0 in favor. 9:OOpm DEP File No. 201-984, BL 942 NOI, 151 Grove Street Applicant/Owner: Marcel P.J. Gaudreau Project: Demolish and reconstruct a new single-family dwelling within the 100-foot Buffer Zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetlands Marcel Gaudreau- owner and Scott Smyers- Oxbow Associates Mr. Gaudreau presented is proposed plan for his home at 151 Grove Street. He stated that his plan has changed since he last presented in front of the commission. He explained that the house was made smaller and will include a geothermal energy system. Comments and concerns from the commission: The commission stated that they were uncomfortable with how much of the house would be built in the 50 ft no build zone. They stated that they felt there were other options as to where the house could go. The commission stated they would conduct another site visit. Motion to continue the hearing at the applicant's request made by Mr. Bitsko and seconded by Mr. Beuttell. Vote: 5-0 in favor. 9:40pm DEP File No. 201-986, BL 943 NOI, 6 John Hosmer Lane Applicant/Owner: Arjun Rao Project: Construction of a single-family dwelling and associated appurtenances within the 100- foot Buffer Zone of Bordering Vegetated Wetlands Motion to continue the hearing at the applicant's request made by Mrs. Dohan and seconded by Mrs. Miller. Vote: 5-0 in favor. 9:42 pm Motion to adjourn made by Mr. Beuttell and seconded by Mrs. Miller. Vote: 5-0 in favor. Respectfully Submitted, Casey Hagerty Conservation Department Assistant Approved: 11/30/2015