Busa Land Use Proposal Committee Report 03-14-2011

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lot /farm stand on Lowell Street and via walking trails from Lowell Street and the Arlington Reservoir /Munroe Brook area. LCFC feels that the parking needs would be comparable to parking needs of the current farm operation. It is likely that the impact of traffic on the area would be similar to that for the present farm stand, although a traffic study of the area may be warranted. 5. Impact to abutters and enhancements No additional walls or fencing than is currently on site are proposed. LCFC would seek to enhance the area with landscaping in consultation with abutters. A working farm is a familiar presence to the abutters and the LCF would sustain that land use. 6. Impact to the Arlington Reservoir and enhancements One of the aims of this proposal is to continue best farming practices and continue to research and implement improved farming methods for maintaining the Arlington reservoir's quality. Lexington's 2009 Open Space and Recreation Plan Update cited the Busa Farm as one of Lexington's few open meadows, which provides "habitat variety in Lexington and is particularly important for certain butterfly, bird, and small mammal species..." Continued farm use would maintain this meadow habitat. In a report to the Lexington Conservation Commission dated April 30, 1996, the Land Acquisition Planning Committee wrote, "Successful implementation of a good open space plan for Lexington requires cooperation with nearby communities and resource - oriented regions in the region. The Town should continue and expand upon efforts to coordinate with neighboring communities regarding the protection and maintenance of open space areas that provide green corridors across town borders." Arlington's Great Meadow, in proximity to the land, is one of those areas cited in the report to consider in the context of regional natural resource planning. The Arlington reservoir abuts the Busa Farm land and is also a factor when considering the future use of the land. The Arlington residents who spoke at a community forum in their town were by and large in favor of the continued use of the Busa land for farming. Lexington residents also spoke about the protection of the reservoir, the desire to maintain contiguous natural open space, and the desire for additional walking trails and stewardship opportunities, all of which are provided by the farm proposal. 7. Impact to environmental resource areas and enhancements LCF would continue to provide access to walking trails around the farm to the Arlington reservoir to enhance connectivity to the Munroe Brook area. It would also provide sitting and picnic areas and a garden with shade and seating to provide open views of the farm fields and sunsets that the neighborhood presently enjoys. The Land Acquisition Planning Committee also wrote in its report that "The diversity in age, ethnicity, and income in Lexington's population indicates a need to provide open space and recreation opportunities that appeal to a wide variety of potential users. The fact that Lexington's population is getting older, as noted in Section 3.3, Population Characteristics, points toward a need for open space and recreation areas that allow access for elderly and disabled residents, entrances that permit access, and trails that are well marked and conducive to 'easy' walks. In fact, walkable, accessible areas generally ranked very highly in the survey for what people liked about Lexington's open space." Busa Land Use Proposal Committee Report Page 23 / 52