HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-06-18 CONCOM-min
TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
7:30 P.M.
Parker Room, Town Office Building
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Commissioner Duke Bitsko opened the meeting at 8:23 pm in the Parker Room of the
Town Office Building.
Commissioners Present: Stew Kennedy, Dick Wolk, Jane Warren, and Duke Bitsko
(Arrived at 8:22)
Commissioners Absent: Joyce Miller, David Langseth, and Phil Hamilton
Others Present: Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator and Michelle Tassi,
Community Development Department Assistant
8:23 pm Hearing – NOI, Interstate 95
DEP# 201-902, BL 862
Highway & stormwater management improvements along the 5.4-mile
stretch of I-95 within the 100-foot Buffer Zone & 200-foot Riverfront
Documentation: NOI Application 5/29/13
Present for the Applicant: Gene Crouch, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.,
Brian Fallon, MassDOT, and four representatives from MassDOT
Mr. Crouch proposed the resurfacing project of I-95. This project will take
place from Waltham to the Burlington town line and part of Route 2.
Safety improvements will include removing the grass strip dividing the
north and southbound lanes, and replacing it with a concrete barrier, and
porous pavement north of Route 2a. South of Route 2A drains to the
Cambridge Reservoir and the Cambridge Water Department has requested
other treatment for the repaved divider there. Mr. Crouch discussed the
water quality improvements. The project includes reconstruction of
previously installed basins which will improve functionality to provide
greater water quality treatment. The paved swale will be removed and
replaced with water quality swales with proper soils and check dams. They
will construct gravel wetlands, infiltration swales, subsurface infiltration
systems, and pocket wetlands to improve water quality.
Comments from the Commission as follows:
Mr. Bitsko read the engineering report. Mr. Kennedy was pleased with the
informative site visit and water quality improvements. Mr. Kennedy asked
why there were no best management practices further north of Lexington.
Mr. Crouch replied that there is not enough right-of-way and the porous
pavement in the center is meant to act as a maintenance practice. Mr.
Kennedy commented that the plans need to be stamped by an engineer.
Mr. Wolk voiced his concern about the use of two different types of
pavement and when I-95 was previously paved, it degraded under the
paint stripes. Mr. Fallon replied that MassDOT is no longer using the
painting system and the striping will go on the regular pavement. Ms.
Warren commented that she is glad the phragmites may be able to be
managed. Mr. Kennedy asked if the Cambridge Water Department was
present and if they had any comments. Dave Kaplan from the Cambridge
Water Department stated that they are conducting their own peer review of
the hydro calculations for the project and their comments will be presented
soon. Mr. Bitsko commented that the plans need details worked out
concerning the erosion controls on 2:1 slopes, planting/seed mix and
maintenance of best management practice systems, operation and
maintenance plan during and after construction, and porous pavement
maintenance. Two infiltration basins are proposed for this project and are
outside the Cambridge watershed.
Motion made and seconded to continue the hearing to July 2, 2013 at
7:30pm at the request of the applicant, 4-0 in favor.
8:50 pm Hearing – NOI, 44 Hartwell Avenue
DEP# 201-903, BL 863
Construction of a new parking area and the reconstruction of an existing
parking area with associated stormwater management features and
upgrades within Bordering Land Subject to Flooding and 200-foot
Riverfront Area
Documentation: NOI Application 5/29/13
Present for the Applicant: Hilde Karpawich, Kelly Engineering Group and
Tim White, Alexandria Real Estate Equities
Ms. Karpawich proposed an additional parking area to the front of the
building. There will be removal of a pavement area, installation of
curbing, and recharge of building roof runoff.
Comments from the Commission as follows:
Mr. Bitsko read the engineering report. Ms. Karpawich responded to the
engineering report by stating that the soil testing will not matter because
the recharge system can only be located in this area. The Commission
discussed the 2-foot separation requirement. Mr. Kennedy asked where
snow would be stored. Mr. Wolk stated that the owner has to deal with a
sensitive site and not the economy of the site. Mr. Bitsko read the
regulation regarding storage on site. Ms. Mullins read the interoffice
comment that the Planning Board needs to conduct a review and
regulations for Bordering Land Subject to Flooding require flood storage
compensation be at the same elevation as increased volume, so
calculations need to be elevations to elevations.
Motion made and seconded to continue the hearing to July 2, 2013 at
7:30pm at the request of the applicant, 4-0 in favor.
9:07 pm Cont. Hearing – NOI, 19 Grove Street
DEP# 201-900, BL 859
Raze and rebuild an existing single-family dwelling and associated site
appurtenances within the 100-foot Buffer Zone to BVW
Documentation: NOI Application, Wetland Resource Area Analysis, and
Permit Site Plan of Land 5/15/13, Engineering Report 6/4/13, Jason and
Fischer Letter 6/4/13, Revised Drainage Report and Permit Site
Plan/Detail Sheet 6/14/13, and Invasive Species Management Report and
Revised Planting Plan 6/14/13
Present for the Applicant: Rich Kirby, LEC Environmental and Mike
Novak, Meridian Associates
Mr. Kirby discussed the plan changes for this property. Most of the 25’
Buffer Zone will be restored resulting in over 6,000 square feet of buffer
planting and lawn conversion, an invasive species removal plan was
incorporated, the 25’ bounds markers were marked on the plan, the rain
garden was redesigned as a pocket wetland, and the driveway detail was
added to the plan.
Comments from the Commission as follows:
Mr. Bitsko read the engineering report. Ms. Warren noted that there were
other invasive species on the property. Mr. Kirby replied that the invasive
species removal would be a multi-year effort and invasive control is only
proposed within the restoration and lawn areas. Mr. Kennedy is pleased by
the improvements, but questioned if the letter was a part of the proposal.
Mr. Kirby responded by saying that if the Commission conditions the
requirement of invasive species control then the letter would be followed.
Mr. Kennedy asked how many years the Commission would suggest for
successful invasive species removal. The Commission replied that the
Order is good for three years and annual monitoring would occur with a
certification of plantings at the end of year three.
Motion made and seconded to close the hearing, 4-0 in favor.
9:15 pm Cont. Hearing – NOI, 219 Lincoln Street
BL 861
Demolition and construction of a new single-family dwelling and
replication of a wetland within vegetated wetlands and its 100-foot Buffer
Zone
Documentation: NOI Application, Site Plan – Proposed Redevelopment,
and Stormwater Management Report 5/15/13, Revised Plans Letter and
Site Plan – Proposed Redevelopment 6/14/13
Present for the Applicant: Alton Stone, Alton Engineering and Abbas
Amiri, Potential Owner
Mr. Stone described the six items that needed to be addressed from the
previous hearing; a note on the plan regarding the shelf of the wetland at
106’ elevation, removal of the deck, 15’ buffer around the replicated
wetland, planting plan and schedule, and operation and maintenance plan
for the basins.
Comments from the Commission as follows:
Mr. Bitsko read the letter from the abutter that was submitted at the
meeting on June 18, 2013. Mr. Stone responded to the letter. Ms. Mullins
questioned how the runoff was reaching the stormwater wetland. Mr.
Kennedy asked Mr. Stone to explain how the runoff reaches the wetland.
Mr. Wolk needed clarification on where the water would go if the drains
were clogged.
Karen Beck of 228 Lincoln Street voiced her concern about the depth of
the replicated wetland and stated that there have been more drainage
issues since the pipe that drains from the wetland was installed 15 years
ago.
Christian Haddad of 219 Lincoln Street is in favor of the project on this
property.
Abbas Amiri spoke about his discussion with the neighbors at 229 Lincoln
Street.
Motion made and seconded to continue the hearing to July 2, 2013 at
7:30pm at the request of the applicant, 4-0 in favor.
10:36 pm Cont. Hearing – NOI, 36 Sanderson Road
DEP# 201-898, BL 857
Construction of an addition and deck within the 100-foot Buffer Zone to
BVW
Documentation: NOI Application, Roof Runoff Recharge System Detail,
and Plot Plan 5/6/13, Drainage Report 5/16/13, Roof Runoff Recharge
System Detail, Soil Suitability for On-Site Sewage Disposal, Watershed
Delineation Plan, and Stormwater Calculations 5/30/13, Infiltration
Maintenance Letter, Mitigation Narrative, and Plot Plan 6/14/13
Present for the Applicant: Brad Holmes, Environmental Consulting and
Restoration, LLC and Walter Beebe-Center, Essex Restoration
Mr. Holmes presented the hydric soil information that he looked at within
the existing lawn. The closest point to the wetlands is 45.6’ and the
existing structure is 29’ away.
Comments from the Commission as follows:
Mr. Bitsko asked if any concrete bounds markers were proposed along the
25’ Buffer Zone. The Commission will condition the erosion control to be
shifted and to install the concrete bounds markers.
Motion made and seconded to close the hearing, 4-0 in favor.
PENDING MATTERS
10:42 pm
Beehive request for Dunback Meadow Community Garden – Alix
Bartsch/Eugene Ivanov
Mr. Kennedy asked for clarification on the location of the hive. Ms. Mullins
stated that this hive would have the same policy guidelines as the Idylwilde
garden one.
Motion made and seconded to approve the beehive request for Dunback Meadow
Community Garden with previous conditions, 4-0 in favor.
10:44 pm Tri-Partite Agreement – Amount Reduction, Blueberry Lane, Gary Ruping
Ms. Mullins explained that they are proposing a drastic reduction in the
bond amount to $10,750. Mr. Bitsko commented that the bond should
reflect the wetland replication at 50% completion and not 80%.
Motion made and seconded to approve the reduction of the bond from
$394,425.23 to $16,660.00, reflecting the wetland replication at 50%
complete, 4-0 in favor.
10:50pm Conservation CPC Appointment 7/1/13 – 6/30/15
Motion made and seconded to re-appoint Richard Wolk to the
Conservation Preservation Committee from 7/1/13 – 6/30/15, 4-0 in favor.
10:51 pm Motion made and seconded to
issue an Order of Conditions: 62 Grassland
Street, DEP# 201-901, BL 860, 4-0 in favor.
Motion made and seconded to
issue a Certificate of Compliance: 71 Hancock
Street, DEP# 201-857, BL 815, 4-0 in favor.
Motion made and seconded to
issue a Certificate of Compliance: 12 Tufts
Road, DET# 13-09, 4-0 in favor.
Motion made and seconded to
issue a Certificate of Compliance: 49 Fottler
Avenue, DEP# 201-867, BL 825, 4-0 in favor.
The Commission decided to hold off on
issuing a Certificate of Compliance
until the meeting on July 2, 2013 for 15 Peacock Farm Road, DEP# 201-760, BL
718.
Motion made and seconded to
issue a Certificate of Compliance: 3 Stonewall
Road, DEP# 201-482, BL 441, 4-0 in favor.
10:53 pm Reports: Bike Advisory, Community Preservation Committee, Land
Steward Directors, Housing Partnership, Tree Committee, Land
Management, Land Acquisition, etc.
Ms. Warren reported pictures of the apples from the Cotton Farm Apple Orchard.
10:55 pm The Commission decided to conduct a Doodle poll for their site visit
schedule.
Motion made and seconded to approve the minutes from June 4, 2013, 4-0
in favor.
Motion made and seconded to approve the minutes from June 11, 2013,
4-0 in favor.
10:57 pm Motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting, 4-0 in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle Tassi
Community Development Department Assistant