2011-01-04-SLC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Brunell identified that the Town is considering a $22 million road paving program with a goal of getting the town roads to 83% of standard. The recommendation for the consultants is to focus on the main roads (getting them up to standard) and then considering secondary roads based on available resources. The intent is to present the plan to Town Meeting in March to get approval for the funding of the project. If approved, then a plan will be prepared with details of how the paving will be conducted. Mr. Brunell recommended that the SLC interface with the Planning Board o if it has recommendations for alternative technologies or approaches that should be considered as part of this project. Mr. Moraff identified that there are draft town regulations in development that address stormwater management. A key element of these draft regulations is that new development shall not increase stormwater runoff on the property or adjacent properties. These draft regulations only address new construction. Some communities are considering regulations that would also address re-development. Mr. Sandeen identified that the IGCC out of California has also developed standards with a large emphasis on water. The SLC needs to identify who in town is involved in reviewing these o regulations. Mr. Brunell recommended that the SLC contact the Conservation Committee, the Planning Board, and the DPW. He also identified that most re-development in town is “by right” and the Town has limited authority, but the Planning Board has been successful in getting people to do what’s right. The Planning Board can also change by- laws. During his discussion with DPW, Mr. Moraff promoted the idea of running larger, more visible pilot projects in town that would demonstrate the use of new technologies/ approaches. He identified that other towns, such as Franklin, were implementing new technologies and that Lexington could also learn from them. A key point in the planning of such a project would be to match the implementation to an area of town that has experienced stormwater damage (flooding) so that the benefits can be more clearly assessed. The project could address any paved area (street, parking lot, etc.). Mr. Moraff presented a series of slides showing how some of these technologies/ approaches have been implemented in Portland, OR and Edmonston, MD. Additional information is available at the U.S. EPA site “EPA Green Street Guide”. The presentation includes a list of benefits of the new technologies. Benefits discussed during the meeting included: Reduced flooding in the affected area o Reduced strain on the MWRA and pollution in the harbor (that would o result when sewers are overwhelmed by stormwater) Reduced energy consumption related to pumping stormwater o Nutrient retention – keeping nutrients (e.g., fertilizer, etc.) from getting o washed into waterways – a cause of “dead zones” in the waterways. It was Page 2 of 4