Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-07-10 CONCOM-min MINUTES —LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMMISSION July 10, 2007 Commissioners present: Joyce Miller, Dave Langseth, Duke Bitsko, Stew Kennedy, Dick Wolk, Angela Frick Absent: Phil Hamilton Others present: Karen Mullins, Administrator, Adam Bossi, Administrator Assistant, and Louise Vinci, Department Clerk Joyce Miller, Chair, opened the meeting at 7:35p.m. in room G -15, Town Office Building. 7:35 p.m. Meeting- RDA, 38 Grapevine Avenue, Present for the owners /applicant: Frank Sacco, owner /applicant Catherine Sacco, owner /applicant The commission reviewed a plan for an existing deck to be replaced with a larger deck. Comments from the commission: Joyce Miller asked how far the deck would be from the wetlands. David Langseth answered Ms. Miller by saying the map indicated at least 50 feet. Angela Frick asked if the deck would be open. Duke Bitsko asked what material would be put under the deck. Stew Kennedy asked if any vegetation would be removed. Mr. Sacco responded to the commissions question by saying that the deck would be open with spaces between slats, he would use crushed stone under the deck, and no vegetation would be removed. Motion made and seconded to issue negative determination with standard conditions for deck construction, 6 -0 in favor. 7:45 p.m. Meeting- RDA, 88, 92, and 110 Shade Street, Present for the owner /applicant: Richard Kirby, LEC Environmental Consultant Brian Timm, Civil Engineer, Meridian Associates Mr. Timm presented a plan to construct a mixed residential development whose drainage system would overflow to the 100 -foot wetland buffer zone boundary. Mr. Timm pointed out that no activity would occur inside the 100 -foot wetland buffer zone and drainage would be controlled to reduce peak rate. Comments from commissioners: David Langseth noted that no roof runoff controls had been detailed. Mr. Timm responded that there were no roof runoff controls; he didn't feel they were needed. Mr. Langseth was concerned about the proposed detention basin becoming aesthetically unpleasing over time. Mr. Timm answered alternatives to the proposed detention basin had been considered and decided against. Mr. Langseth asked if existing and proposed design points were Page 1 of 4 MINUTES - LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMMISSION MEETING July 10, 2007 reviewed separately for peak rates. Mr. Timm said they had, and peak rates had not increased at each design point. Mr. Langseth read the engineering reports from Michael Flamang dated 6/22/07, and from Peter Chaplin dated 7/10/07 into the record. Mr. Langseth also asked how roof runoff and down spouts at rear of lot would not increase the runoff rate. Mr. Timm responded that the runoff rate had not increased in the overall site calculations. Administrator Mullins requested a copy of details sheet since it was not provided with the filing. Duke Bitsko asked if soil logs were performed in basin areas, and was concerned about groundwater separation. Mr. Langseth asked about long term erosion control at discharge point identified as FE -1. Mr. Timm replied that it was proposed to install a riprap apron with stone dimensions equaling D -50, or 6 inches. Motion made and seconded to issue negative determination with standard stormwater management and erosion control conditions (6 -0). 8:20 p.m. Meeting- RDA Conservation Area Meadows, Commission reviewed conservation "Meadow Mowing Guide" written and submitted by Adam Bossi, Conservation Assistant Administrator. The guide outlines how the meadows should be mowed including, area to be mowed. Other items to be eventually included in the guide are direction of mowing, equipment tire type, and blade height. Comments from commission: All commissioners and the administrator complimented Mr. Bossi on a job well done. The commission also agreed that the guide was a great first step in a plan to better care for Lexington's conservation areas. Comments from the audience: Mr. Tom Costello, 36 Allen Street, was concerned that commission hadn't delineated the wetlands for these plans. The Assistant Administrator responded that the wetlands were identified on the plans based on the Mass GIS orthophotos layer, as well as modified to reflect known additional wetlands boundaries from other filings. Mr. Costello also wanted to know why the mowing was being done and stated that the commission could not mow wetlands per the law. Ms. Miller responded that the mowing would keep the existing historical mowed meadows as meadows versus conversion to forests. Some portions of the mowing were in wetlands, but the mowing would not alter, fill, dredge, remove, the wetlands and would secure the interests by providing species diversity and wildlife habitat, specifically for groundnesting birds. The meadows are only mowed once per year to prevent large woody vegetation from populating the areas. Christine Miller, 22 Saddle Club Road, was concerned about the width of mowing along the bike path in Lower Vine Brook and asked how it was determined. MINUTES - LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMMISSION MEETING July 10, 2007 Motion made and seconded to issue negative determination with conditions including monitoring the areas and updating the guide on a semiannual basis as necessary, 6 -0 in favor. Mr. Costello requested a copy of the Determination and was assured that he would be mailed a copy when issued. 8:55 p.m. Cont. Meeting- RDA 27 Slocum Road, Present for applicant /owner: Richard Kirby, LEC Environmental Consultant Tim Lee, Tim Lee Architecture Brain Timm, Meridian Associates Tim Lee presented a revised plan included drainage calculations and addressing previous comments from the commission. Comments from the commission: David Langseth asked if all patios would drain into trench drain. Mr. Timm said that they would. Mr. Langseth was concerned about long -term maintenance and debris accumulation. He suggested adding another layer of filter fabric 3 inches down in the trench drain to allow for easier maintenance and debris removal. Motion made and seconded to issue negative determination, with standard landscape and stormwater conditions, 6 -0 in favor. 9:00 P.M. Issue Certificate of Compliance: 368 Woburn Street, Motion made and seconded to issue a Full Certificate of Compliance for 368 Woburn Street that includes on -going conditions 6 -0 in favor. 9:05 p.m. Issue Order of Conditions: 201 Bedford Street, The Commission reviewed the draft Order of Conditions and provided additional comments to changes made by Mr. Langseth. Mr. Langseth still did not feel his question about "treatment volumes for high pollutants" had been answered to his satisfaction. He expected the design met the standards, but needed numbers to demonstrate. The administrator stated that she would follow up with the project engineer to inform him that Mr. Langseth needed additional information. The Commission agreed that once Mr. Langseth was satisfied then the Order of Conditions could be issued as drafted and revised. Motion made and seconded to issue Order of Condition, 6 -0 in favor. 9:15 p.m. Cont. Hearin: NOI, 177 Grove Street, Motion made and seconded to continue the hearing to July 24, 2007 at applicant's representative's request, 6 -0 in favor. MINUTES - LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMMISSION MEETING July 10, 2007 9:25 p.m. Land Acquisition Subcommittee would meet the third week of August for reappointment of members to subcommittee and would like to invite Adam Bossi to join them. Proiect updates: 69 Hancock Street- Administrator Mullins informed the commission that the new owners contacted the office and inquired about the ability to remove the buffer vegetation around the pond on their property that was required to be planted per the Order of Conditions. Mr. Bossi, the Assistant Administrator, followed up with a certified letter to provide a clear understanding that the vegetation could not be removed. If the owner wanted to propose a new planting plan for the pond buffer, the owner would need to file a plan with the Commission for approval. Lincoln Park- According to Mr. Langseth the newly installed infiltration system appears to be undersized due to ponding observation after a recent rain event. 9:35 p.m. Commission voted by roll call vote to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing land acquisition and agreed not to reopen the meeting to the public. Respectfully submitted by, Louise Vinci Department Clerk