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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-03-14-CONCOM-min.pdf MINUTES - LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION MARCH 14, 2000 Commissioners present: Lisa Baci (8:50), Duke Bitsko, Angela Frick, Philip Hamilton, Joyce Miller and Richard Wolk. Absent: Bebe Fallick. Others present: Linda Gaudet. Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 7:50 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building. Order of Conditions, 6 Douglas Road - 201-462 It was moved, seconded and voted to approve the Order of Conditions for 6 Douglas Road as amended. Minutes - It was moved, seconded and voted to approve the minutes of February 29, 2000, as amended. Site Visits - The Hayden Recreation site visit was scheduled for Saturday, March 25, at 10 a.m. Meet in the upper parking lot off Lincoln Street. Extension Permit—Lexington Club - 201-390 It was moved, seconded and voted to extend the Order of Conditions for a 1-year period for The Lexington Club, Health Development Corporation. DET #00-4, 35 Haves Lane, P Johnson, drainage/single-familv house and street 8 pm widening Present: Peter Johnson, applicant; Gary Larson, architect. Others listed in the file. Mr Larson presented the plans for the construction of a second home at 35 Hayes Lane. The project-is_detailed_in the RFD_submitted_on_2/23/00._This construction is outside the 200-foot_ Riverfront area of the Vine Brook and the 100-foot buffer of an Isolated Land Subject to Flooding (ILSF) at the back of the lot. Therefore, the project is filed for review of the drainage system. A portion of the existing driveway (approximately 900 s.f.)will be removed and the area will be seeded. At present Hayes Lane is not an approved road, therefore approximately 100 feet of Hayes Lane at the intersection with Fletcher Avenue will be widened so that Hayes Lane will vary in width from 12 to 18 feet. A drywell is proposed for the stormwater and the rate of the stormwater runoff from the site will be reduced. A swale captures runoff from the existing house. The Commission is concerned about the present runoff condition where stormwater flows down Hayes Lane to the conservation path and then toward the Vine Brook. Severe erosion is taking place at the path entrance. There is also concern regarding the swale discharging runoff at the back of the lot and the removal of shrubbery for the widening of Hayes Lane. Gary Larson said MINUTES LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION 3/14/00 PAGE 2 runoff from the 200 s.f. of paving for the turnaround at the new house will go towards the swale and all the other runoff will be picked up by a drywell. The runoff causing the erosion on Hayes Lane is from a point in front of the existing house. They are trying to reduce the rate of runoff due to this project with the removal of part of that existing driveway In response to the Commission's comments that the swale ends up in the adjacent property, Mr. Larson noted this is a reflection of what is happening there now because of the existing topographic contours. It will not be as wide and flat as it is now, but the amount of water will be decreased with the new plan. The current runoff is sheet flow; under the proposal,the runoff will be directed through an open grassed swale. In response to a question about the flagged boundary of the ILSF, Mr Larson said that soil samples were taken and he will submit a report showing the locations. Mrs. Miller noted the project has been submitted to the Planning Board for a definitive subdivision review Mr. Larson said that they worked with Engineering to satisfy their safety requirements at the intersection of Hayes Lane and Fletcher Avenue. A number of alternatives were considered. The Engineering Dept. asked for a wider road to accommodate two cars and accepted this plan as the solution. Jean Acker, 27 Hayes Lane, expressed her concerns about the road being widened and the safety issues. She is worried that the cars will travel faster and there may be more accidents. The Engineering memo was not available for this meeting. Therefore, with the applicant's permission, it was moved, seconded and voted to continue the meeting to March 28 at 8.30 p.m. CONT'D HEARING, Bikeway Cable Installation, MFN - 201-464 8.30 p.m. Present: Tim Smith and Steve Shea, Adesta Communications; Mark Heaney and Paul On, SEA Consultants; Betty Eddison, Selectman; Jerry VanHook, Bikeway Committee. Others are listed in the file. Paul On said that the plans had been revised to reflect the changes requested by the Commission as a result of the site inspection walks with the consultants. He reviewed the revisions on each sheet of the plan. In some areas,the alignment of the cable and handhold installations were moved further_from the wetlands, and the crossings were reduced fromil-to-4.Mrs.Millersaid that on Plan C-5,the area at wetland line at BA-4 and the area of running water on C-4 should be marked in blue. Mr On noted that the one on C-5 is the only one in the Commission's jurisdiction. On C 7 Mr. Orr said that their wetland scientist used the 50% rule to determine that the area of standing water was not a wetland. On C-8 Mr. Orr said the wetlands scientist said that an area of what appeared to be a wetland was not connected. Mrs. Miller said the Commission believes it is connected (it may be underground), and considers it a resource area that should be protected. It should be reflected on the plan as the North Lexington Brook. (Ms. Baci arrived at 8:50 p.m.). t_. MINUTES LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION 3/14/00 PAGE 3 Mr Orr said that plans for the records will be resubmitted to the Commission. The Commission gave instruction that they should be notified immediately if an obstruction requires a change to the Directional Drilling plan. Any change will have to be reviewed and approved before a change is permitted to take place. As a result of seeing the size of the machinery used by Metromedia for the cable installation on Waltham Street, Mrs. Frick is concerned about its use on the bikeway project. The pavement is only 3"thick and the weight of the equipment may damage it. Mr On said they will try to reduce the size of the machinery to accommodate the bike path. Mrs. Miller asked him to look at alternatives also. Mr. Orr said that it will be necessary to remove the excavated material in only 20-35%of the areas on the plan. He will check the size of the trucks for their construction specifications and submit a list of the types of equipment that is being proposed. In reference to the Bikeway Committee's request to install a third conduit, Mr. Wolk said he understands that MFN does not want to do this because they prefer not to give future competitors access to the fiber optic route. He also noted that this is not a Conservation issue, but that it would be problematic if the trenching had to be repeated. Mr. Orr noted that MFN is consulting with David Carbonneau regarding this matter. Mrs. Frick reported that there was a unanimous vote at the Bikeway Committee meeting that a third conduit should be installed at this time. Harvey Bingham, on behalf of the Bikeway Committee, raised several issues supporting the installation of the third conduit line. Mrs. Frick submitted a copy for the record. Mr. VanHook expressed concern over the weight of the equipment on the bike path and the placement of the excavated material. Mr. Or replied that the material would have to be stored in a truck, not on the bikeway This may also be a construction staging issue. In reply to Mr. VanHook's question about the diameter of the bore hole, Mr. Shea said the diameter has been increased to 8"because 6"was not large enough. Mr. VanHook asked if the trenching could be changed along the Hartwell Avenue section, but when reviewed, Mrs. Miller said the Commission is comfortable with what has been proposed along that area. Mr VanHook commented on the desire of the Bikeway Committee to avoid the future excavations along the bikeway because more trenching would be detrimental. He believes it makes sense for MFN to install the third conduit at this time. After discussion, Betty Eddison noted that the Selectmen have—ultimate—jurisdiction-over-the—bikeway he---will-check-on-this-fonclar-ification It was moved, seconded and voted to close the hearing. CONT'D HEARING, Old Smith Farm, 160/170 Wood Street, Wood St. R.T - 201-457 Present: Jim Gaklis, applicant; Ron Wood, Guidelines, Inc., and Fred Russell, Engineer The initial hearing took place on October 12, 1999 Mr. Hamilton informed the applicant that when there are a series of hearings over a long time period, there is a risk that the Commissioners who vote won't be at every meeting. He suggested that the applicant be ready to conclude at the next meeting. MINUTES - LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION 3/14/00 PAGE 4 Fred Russell presented the plans to give the Commission an overview of what has taken place over the past few months. This is a Section 9 project under the Planning Board Rules& Regulations. The changes to the drainage mitigation include filling in a portion of the depression while maintaining some of the area for flood storage. Engineering required a 3-1 slope and a shallower basin for safety reasons. They also want to be sure the drainage plan will not cause a surcharge in the town's drainage system during a 25-year storm. He believes this has been accomplished. He said Engineering has given their verbal approval of the project, but are waiting for comments from DPW with regard to certain specific issues. The downstream impacts from the project must be addressed and the peak volume rates and drainage calculations will be shown at the next meeting. Mr. Gaklis noted that the Commission's concerns regarding the ground cover around the detention area and the snow storage plan have been addressed in the letter dated 12/8/99 which is on file. With the applicant's consent, it was moved, seconded and voted to continue the hearing to March 28 at 8:45 p.m. Commissioners Baci, Bitsko, Frick, Hamilton, Miller and Wolk voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing litigation. The meeting resumed in open session. DET #99-23 - 34 Middlebv Road Todd Cataldo submitted a plan revision and asked that it be considered a field change. It was decided that Mr. Cataldo should attend the next meeting to explain the change. It was voted to adjourn at 10:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Linda A. Gaudet Secretary