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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-09-10 CONCOM-min TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES Tuesday, September 10, 2013 7:00 P.M. Parker Room, Town Office Building 1625 Massachusetts Avenue Chair Joyce Miller opened the meeting at 7:00 pm in the Parker Room of the Town Office Building. Commissioners Present: Joyce Miller, Phil Hamilton, Stew Kennedy, Duke Bitsko (arrive at 7:03 pm), David Langseth (arrived at 7:36 pm), and Dick Wolk Commissioners Absent: Jane Warren Others Present: Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator and Michelle Tassi, Community Development Department Assistant PENDING MATTERS 7:00 pm Mountain biking in the Burlington Forest via Lexington Conservation Land – Bob Creech and neighbors Bob Creech, Mike Medlock, and Tina McBride were present for this discussion. Mr. Creech commented on the issues that neighbors were having concerning mountain bikers in the area. Mr. Creech spoke of cars being parked after hours and changing in public areas. He requested that more signage be put up in the area. Ms. Miller stated that the Conservation Commission cannot regulate parking because it is a public road. Mr. Kennedy asked the Commission if they had any suggestions for additional signage. Mr. Wolk agreed with the Commission on a sign being created that has a few bullet points. The Commission discussed options for the bikers to park. Ms. Mullins recommended Estabrook School because they already allow it through the Facilities Department. Ms. Miller suggested that the neighbors speak with Patrick Goddard from the Facilities Department for parking on school property. A steward director meeting will be held to develop signage for the area. 7:19 pm The Commission scheduled the site visits for 7 Idylwilde Road, 61 Solomon Pierce Road, 486 Lowell Street, and Butterfield Dam Pond Rehabilitation on Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 9:00 am. 7:20 pm The Commission postponed approving the minutes of August 21, 2013 until they are corrected. 7:21 pm Motion made and seconded to approve the minutes from the meeting on August 27, 2013, 5-0 in favor. 7:22 pm Reports: Bike Advisory, Community Preservation Committee, Land Steward Directors, Housing Partnership, Tree Committee, Land Management, Land Acquisition, etc. Mr. Kennedy reported that the stewards had been out to the Conservation areas to check the status of the area and do trail cleanup as well. Ms. Mullins commended Mr. Kennedy for taking the initiative to create a document containing all of the trail cleanup and statuses of Conservation areas. Ms. Mullins led a discussion on meeting times for the Conservation Commission. She stated that public documents currently show the meetings to start at 7:30 pm and staff would need time to implement and do outreach for updates. The Commission decided that on January 1, 2014 the conservation Commission meetings will start at 6:30 pm to take up pending matters in the beginning and hearings will begin at 7:00 pm. MEETINGS/HEARINGS 7:29 pm Cont. Meeting – RDA, Lincoln Field DET# 13-15 Pathway reconstruction within the 100-foot Buffer Zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetland Documentation: RDA Application 7/24/13, Two Renovation of Bituminous Concrete Walkway Maps and Walkway Cross-Section 9/10/13 Present for the Applicant: Marc Valenti, Lexington Department of Public Works Mr. Valenti provided a path cross section and the Town GIS map showing the area. Mr. Valenti proposed a small pitch along the path with rip-rap to stabilize the slope. Comments from the Commission as follows: Mr. Kennedy asked if the elevations on the plan were existing conditions and commented that the slope near the field is an improvement for users. Mr. Valenti replied that the elevations were existing conditions. Mr. Langseth asked for clarification on labeling and discussed the slope detail. Mr. Langseth asked the proposal for the upstream pipe end. Mr. Valenti stated that it was a 12” open pipe. Mr. Langseth commented that the detail for the pipe end should be conditioned as an administrative approval in the field. Mr. Bitsko asked if there was a need for all of the rip-rap and if there was a way to achieve the same results with erosion control blankets and seeding. Mr. Valenti commented that the path would have a simple pitch running from the north to the south. Mr. Bitsko suggested seed and blankets be used on the north side rather than rip-rap. Motion made and seconded to issue a negative determination with conditions including exploring alternatives to rip-rap on the north side of the path with assistance from the Conservation Commission, 6-0 in favor. 7:55 pm Cont. Hearing – NOI, 82 Pleasant Street DEP# 201-909, BL 869 Construction of an addition and an extension of a garage within the 100- foot Buffer Zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetland Documentation: NOI Application 8/7/2013, Site Plan of Land, and Supplemental Letter 9/5/13 Present for the Applicant: Albert and Yung Shen Huang, Homeowners Mr. Huang discussed the outstanding issues from the last hearing. He explained that the Town Engineer agreed that the amount of impervious surface decreased. Mr. Huang clarified the straw wattle detail and stone trench along the driveway on the plan. He proposed 209 square feet of construction within the 50’ buffer zone. Comments from the Commission as follows: Ms. Miller read the engineering report and information needed from the previous hearing. The Commission discussed that the Department of Environmental Protection has not issued this project a file number because the applicant did not send an application in until late last week. Mr. Langseth stated that the grading on the driveway should be precise in order for the runoff to shed to the trench and the interceptor edge needs to meet the garage with no gap. Mr. Hamilton is okay with closing the hearing as long as the applicant is aware that an Order of Conditions cannot be issued without a DEP file number. Mr. Langseth disagrees with closing the hearing at this time incase the issuance of the Order of Conditions goes past the 21-day period. Mr. Bitsko commented that this plan was one of the most difficult plans to read, he was disappointed that the engineer was not present at either of the meetings to answer questions, and the applicant needs to submit a maintenance plan. Motion made and seconded to continue the hearing to September 24, 2013 at 7:30 pm at the request of the applicant, 6-0 in favor. 8:15 pm Hearing – NOI, 48 Valley Road DEP# 201-907, BL 867 Construction of an addition and site work within the 100-foot Buffer Zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetland Documentation: NOI Application 8/21/13 and Supplemental Packet 48 Valley Road 9/10/13 Present for the Applicant: Brian Drohan, Homeowner and Rob Marini, Native Landscapes Mr. Drohan gave a brief description of the construction and area. Mr. Marini proposed construction of an addition and deck within the 200-foot Riverfront Area. The exotic species will be removes by hand and replaced with native species. Comments from the Commission as follows: Ms. Miller read the engineering report. Mr. Langseth commented that there were no test pits and the drainage calculations needed clarification and more detail. Mr. Bitsko asked if pavement was being removed from the driveway and how many Norway Maples were being removed. Mr. Marini replied that pavement was to be removed and two Norway Maples would be taken down. Ms. Mullins commented that the sewer connection is not shown on the plan and the previous filing showed more extensive wetlands. Mr. Hamilton stated that the applicant needs to provide new drainage calculations, the location of the sewer line on the plan, elevations on the infiltrator, an alternative to the infiltrator being inside the 25’ buffer zone, porous paver details, a mitigation plan, and the applicant needs to explore the wetland boundary. Motion made and seconded to continue the hearing to October 8, 2013 at 7:30 pm at the request of the applicant, 6-0 in favor. 8:44 pm Cont. Hearing – NOI, 53 Eldred Street DEP# 201-911, BL 871 Construction of a 12’ x 16’ shed within the 100-foot Buffer Zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetland Documentation: NOI Application 8/7/13 Present for the Applicant: Kim and David Johnson Mrs. Johnson proposed a new location of the shed outside the 50’ buffer zone. A new plan has not been submitted yet for approval. Comments from the Commission as follows: Mr. Bitsko asked if the shed could be moved further away from the property line. Ms. Mullins explained that the shed has to be within the zoning setbacks. The Commission suggested that a new plan be submitted with details. Motion made and seconded to continue the hearing to September 24, 2013 at 7:30 pm at the request of the applicant, 6-0 in favor. 8:53 pm Cont. Hearing – NOI, 7 Middleby Road DEP# 201-906, BL 866 Demolition and construction of a new single-family dwelling within the 100-foot Buffer Zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetland Documentation: NOI Application 8/7/13, Site Plan of Land, Memorandum, and Addendum for Drainage Calculations 9/6/13 Present for the Applicant: Scott Smyers, Oxbow Associates, Inc. and Michael Walsh, Homeowner Mr. Smyers explained the memo that contained all of the information that was needed from the previous hearing. Comments from the Commission as follows: Ms. Miller read the information needed from the previous hearing. Mr. Langseth asked for an explanation of the sump pump and path of water for connection to the town drain. Ms. Miller read the engineering report. Mr. Langseth commented that there would be a decrease in impervious surface. Mr. Kennedy asked the Commission if a maintenance plan was necessary for the leaching area and trench. Mr. Wolk commented that he was opposed to the project as proposed. Bill Sweeney of 11 Middleby Road agrees that this is an over-building of the lot. Jackie Quint of 202 Lincoln Street believes the Commission is making allowances for this project and site. Mr. Hamilton gave a summary of the information that will need to be submitted before the next hearing. The applicant will need a maintenance plan showing the inspections ports and amend the memo that was previously submitted. Motion made and seconded to continue the hearing to September 24, 2013 at 7:30 pm at the request of the applicant, 6-0 in favor. 9:26 pm Motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting, 6-0 in favor. Respectfully submitted, Michelle Tassi Community Development Department Assistant