HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-07-24 CONCOM-min MINUTES —LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMMISSION July 24, 2007
Commissioners present: Joyce Miller, Duke Bitsko, Stew Kennedy, Dick Wolk, Angela Frick
Absent: Phil Hamilton, David Langseth
Others present: Karen Mullins, Administrator, and Adam Bossi, Administrator Assistant
Joyce Miller, Chair, opened the meeting at 7:33p.m. in room G -15, Town Office Building.
7:33 p.m. Hearin: 26 Ingleside Road,
Present for owner /applicant: Brian Timm, Meridian Associates
Scott Smyers, Oxbow Associates
Stephen and Sabina Caron, owners /applicants
Mr. Timm presented a plan, which included the construction of three minor
additions, the removal of some of the existing driveway to mitigate for the
increase in impervious area, and the addition of pervious patio treated as
impervious for drainage calculations.
Comments for the commission followed: Angela Frick wanted to know if the
patio would be made of pervious material. Ms. Frick was concerned about the
wetland impacts from this project in conjunction with the work being done at 24
Ingleside Road w and wanted a condition added that the patio be made more
pervious. Joyce Miller was concerned about the bed of woodchips /mulch
currently in the 25 -foot wetland buffer zone, and she feels they will end up in the
wetland and would like to have them removed and the buffer zone be allowed to
naturalize. Ms. Miller wanted a planting plan submitted. She also wanted
clarification on the type of foundation that would be used for addition section A.
Duke Bitsko asked if the commission was approving wetland lines as apart of
decision. Ms. Miller answered that the commission was not approving the wetland
boundary and only checked the delineation closest to the project limits. Mr.
Bitsko also asked if the basketball hoop would be removed. Stew wanted to know
how roof runoff was presently controlled.
In response to Ms. Frick, Brian Timm said the patio would be made of paver
stones set in stone dust, but can you use sand if the Commission wishes. In
response to Ms. Miller in regards to foundation type, Mr. Timm said regardless of
foundation type the disturbance to the area would be the same. In response to Mr.
Bitsko, Mr. Timm replied that the basketball hoop would be removed. In response
to Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Timm said roof runoff was controlled using one down spout
that channeled runoff onto the driveway.
Motion made and seconded to close the hearing, 5 -0 in favor.
7:48 p.m. Hearin: 39 Le&�elawn Avenue,
Page 1 of 4
MINUTES - LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMMISSION MEETING July 24, 2007
Present for owner /applicant: Scott Smyers, Oxbow Associates
Brian Timm, Meridian Associates
Richard Jensen and Farzana Khatri, Owner /applicant
Scott Smyers presented a plan to construct an addition with an attached deck and
install an infiltration system. During the presentation Mr. Smyers identified the
stream running behind the house as North Lexington Brook a perennial stream per
USGS map and thus the project falls under riverfront regulations.
Ms. Miller read Mike Flamang's engineering response dated July 24, 2007 into
record.
Comments from commission followed: Stew Kennedy asked where test pit
locations were performed and what was the separation from groundwater. Dick
Wolk asked what part of roof was directed to the infiltration system. Duke Bitsko
wanted assurance that future plantings would be noninvasive, because of the
impact invasive plants would have on the entire river corridor. Angela Frick
emphasized the importance of the river and how important it was to protect it.
Brian Timm responded to the commissioners' comments by stating that the plan
showed the separation from ground water was two feet and that the entire roof
drainage was directed to the infiltration system to provide increased recharge
during smaller storm events.
Motion made and seconded to close hearing, 5 -0 in favor.
8:00 P.M. Hearin: 28 Dewev Road,
Present for owner /applicant: Wenjun Cao, Carr Research Laboratories
Scott Goddard, Carr Research Laboratories
Deepak Mohapatra, Owner /applicant
Mr. Mohapatra explained existing conditions and drainage issues (runoff and
erosion issues from street runoff). Ms. Cao explained drainage plan.
Comments from commission followed: Duke Bitsko asked if there would be a
chance for the stormwater runoff to flow past the trench based on grading and
location of trench. Dick Wolk asked for clarification regarding how this plan will
change existing poor drainage conditions and is not convinced that the proposed
plan will address current situation.
Ms. Cao responded to Mr. Bitsko that there was a chance for stormwater runoff
to bypass the proposed infiltration trench because the trench does not extend
along the entire rear edge of the driveway since the driveway extends on to the
adjacent lot. Mr. Goddard explained to Mr. Wolk that water runoff needed to be
redirected from current flow path and a more detailed plan would be reflected in
the landscape plan to be submitted prior to commencing work.
Page 2 of 4
MINUTES - LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMMISSION MEETING July 24, 2007
Motion made and seconded to close hearing, 5 -0 in favor.
8:25 p.m. Meeting: 15 Independence Avenue,
Present for owner /applicant: Roger Washburn, Landscape Architect
Peter Gammi, Engineer
Roger Washburn and Peter Gammi presented a plan to connect to municipal storm
water drainage system. The description of project included explanation of current
drainage problems where basement floods, and of proposed plan to install two
infiltration systems and redirect stormwater runoff to them with an overflow
connection to the municipal drainage system.
Ms. Miller read Mike Flamang's engineering response dated July 24, 2007 into
the record.
Comments from the commission and staff followed: Administrator Mullins
pointed out for the Commission that she was concerned whether the amount of
runoff directed to each infiltration system would be evenly distributed as it
appeared more runoff was directed to the front system, yet it was sized the same
as the side system. She also inquired of the engineer whether he performed soil
evaluations to evaluate estimated seasonal high groundwater elevations versus
just observing and using groundwater elevations at time of site visit. Duke Bitsko
suggested adding another infiltration system to avoid connecting to the municipal
drainage system. Dick Wolk concurred with Mr. Bitsko's recommendation and
also suggested the driveway remain gravel.
Comments from the audience followed: Abutter David Kelland of 884
Massachusetts Avenue stated that Vine Brook ran through a pipe under his
backyard. The municipal drain flowed into Vine Brook and Mr.Kelland was
concerned whether the existing town drain pipe could handle the added volume of
water without causing a surcharge of the piped brook on his property
In response to Administrator Mullins' comments, Mr. Gammi could not ensure
that the infiltration systems were each sized to handle the amount of flow directed
to them since he did not perform a detailed analysis of the amount of square
footage that would be directed to each. He could ensure that overall the systems
collectively were sized to handle the flows.
It appears that there are two outstanding issues for the applicant to address: 1.
Town engineer follow -up regarding abutter's pipe capacity concern, and 2.
Runoff distribution analysis and add a chamber if necessary.
Motion made and seconded to continue to August 7,2007 at applicant's
representative's request, 5 -0 in favor.
Page 3 of 4
MINUTES - LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMMISSION MEETING July 24, 2007
9:05 p.m. Hearin: 177 Grove Street,
Motion made and seconded to continue the hearing to an unspecified date at
applicant's request, 5 -0 in favor. Once supplemental information is received, a
new ad will be placed in the paper and a new abutters notification will be sent
containing the continued hearing date information.
9:07 p.m. Project updates:
• Avalon Bay- Adam visited site today and many issues still not addressed.
(Commission will visit during 8/7 meeting site visits)
• Sheraton- Adam Bossi was unable to conduct site visit today, but will
follow up with site visit next week.
Commission supports administration in issuing stop work orders if deemed
necessary.
Respectfully submitted by,
Louise Vinci
Department Clerk
Page 4 of 4