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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