2023-01-12-TREE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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RECEIVED 2023 10 Fet.), 9:4'7' aim Lexington Tree Committee Meeting via Zoom TC'LERK Minutes of January 12, 2023 LEXING,r,ON MA Attending: Gerry Paul (Chair), Gloria Bloom, Mark Connor (Co-chair), Pat Moyer, Nancy Sofen, Barbara Tarrh, Jim Wood, members. Joe Pato, Select Board liaison. Dave Pinsonneault, DPW staff. Other attendees: Pamela Lyons, Rick Riebstein, Charles Hornig, Charlie Wyman, Todd Rhodes Meeting called to order at 7:30 am 1) Barbara Tarrh appointed scribe. Minutes of December 8 meeting delayed and will be approved next month. 2) Forestry Division Updates— Dave Pinsonneault delayed until 8:15. 3) Request to move Center Streetscape tree for bus stop visibility. Pamela Lyons reviewed the history of relocating an MBTA bus stop from 1666 Mass Ave (currently Clay Oven restaurant) to 1684 Mass Ave (currently Conte's Bike Shop) as follows: *The new location includes shelter from the elements in a wide doorway. *The recently implemented streetscape plan included a tree well, tree planting and bench at the new location, which town engineering said was not possible to change so far into the process. •Streetscape tree/bench are positioned approx. midway on the sidewalk landing area at the new stop. MBTA guidelines for relocated bus stops include a 4-foot sidewalk width with a clear and unobstructed landing pad. *The Commission on Disability unanimously supports moving the tree and bench for bus visibility and handicapped accessible dismount from buses. Committee members observed that there are 5 other bus stops in Lexington Center, 10-17 riders per stop, several hundred pedestrians using the sidewalk daily, and appreciation for shade provided by the tree. Relocation vs removal was discussed. Two Tree Committee members expressed strong opposition to removing the tree. Pam will continue to pursue the moving of the tree and will keep the Tree Committee informed. 4) (See articles for Bylaw Amendments for spring 2023Town Meeting in Agenda Packet.) The committee expressed appreciation for Town Counsel's advice and was pleased to know that town trees should be treated as public shade trees, as per MA law Chapter 87. It was observed that, had this applicability been known, tree removals for the new Westview Cemetery building, removals at the front of the police station project would have been required to have public hearings. In the future, it will apply to all public construction proposals, like the upcoming new high school. Town tree removal does not require mitigation. Nancy Sofen has met with Sustainability/Resiliency Officer Maggie Peard to understand how the Tree Bylaw applies to town projects. She stated the Integrated Design Policy updated by Sustainable Lexington is how the town manages its projects.