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To: Lexington Zoning Board of appeals At their monthly meeting Dec. 12, 2013 the Lexington Tree Committee approved the following screening street trees recommendations to the Lexington Zoning Board of Appeals for replacement of at Lexington Toyota, 409 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA to achieve the 1988 Special Permit Conditions. 1.The Tree Committee concludes that the screening tree replacement should consist of 10 trees, all of which should be along Massachusetts Avenue. 2.The trees should be replaced in the same positions as the original 10 trees. Because Lexington Toyota put chemicals in the original tree positions, the soil there should be remediated to a depth of 3 feet, to a nominal front to back dimension of 4 feet, and to a width of 4 to 5 feet, or the actual tree pit dimensions if greater than these nominal dimensions. The front to back dimension should be measured from the Massachusetts Avenue right-of-way line such that the front of the tree pit begins on Lexington Toyota Property. 3.To provide a sufficient growing medium for the new tree roots, replacement trees should be planted within 3 planting strips. The first and second strips are on either side of the telephone pole to the left of the dealership as viewed from the street. One tree should be planted on either side of the telephone pole as before, each in its own planting strip. Excavation should not occur closer rd than 3 feet from the pole. The 3 planting strip should be contiguous with the Mass. Ave. right- rd of-way line, starting from the left (west) side of the 3 planting pit easterly to the right side of the th 10 planting pit. 4.The planting strips should be constructed with “Cornell structural soil” (as recommended by Prof. N. Bassuk, Cornell University) or equivalent and be 3 feet deep, 4 feet front to back, and a nominal 13 feet in length either side of the telephone pole (strips 1 & 2) and strip 3 (a nominal rdth 142 feet, or the distance from the left edge of the 3 planting pit to 2 feet past the 10 planting pit). “Structural soil” is 75% crushed stone (3/4 to 1½ inch), 25% clay loam with hydrogel added to retain water. This was installed a few years ago under impervious paving on the south side of Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington Center in front of Michelson’s, Crafty Yankee, etc. The trees planted there are now flourishing. 5.The minimum tree caliper should be no less than 4 inches, and minimum tree height no less than 18 feet. This is much smaller than the mature 9 to 12 inch trees removed, but will increase chance of survival. 6.The recommended species of the ten (10) trees to be planted along Mass. Ave. is Gleditsia triacanthos inermis ‘Shademaster’(Shademaster Honeylocust), the same species recommended by Lexington Toyota’s landscape architect, Mr. Gary Larson. 7.Tree protection such as wheelstops, posts or other guards should be installed at each tree. 8.The Tree Committee suggests that the planting strips be planted with ground cover throughout all three structural soil planting strips, such as a low spreading juniper, Juniperus conferta ‘Blue Pacific’ in order to provide an attractive setting for the displayed automobiles. If desired, paving over the structural soil between the 4 by 4 planting pits would be acceptable. 9. The Tree Committee recommends that the owner consult the Lexington Design Advisory Committee (DAC) for landscape planting ideas in front of the main building and other areas to make the complex blend more graciously with the abutting residential neighborhoods as the Zoning bylaw intends. Thank you for your consideration, John Frey, Chairman, Lexington Tree Committee.