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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-01-28-LEXHAB-min FROM Hays R Skerry FAX NO. 617 423-4058 Feb. 10 2014 11 16AM P2 LexHAB Minutes of Meeting on January 28,2014 The meeting opened at 7:05 P.M,at the LexHAB office;the Vice-Chairman presided. Present were Bob Burbidge(Vice-Chairman),Les Savage,Dave Eagle,Bill Hays and Gerry Howell.Janet Kern and Ken Kaufsky, representing Lex-Farm,and Bob Pressman also attended)as did several Busa Farm neighbors. The Vice-Chairman noted that the sole purpose of the meeting is to learn more about Lex-Farm and its plans and then to discuss with Janet and Ken matters that affect both LexHAB and Lex-Farm. The following is grouped by subject rather than in the order presented. I. What is Lex-Farm and what does it plan to do? A.Lex-Farm is the acronym for the Lexington Community Farm,Inc.,a Massachusetts not-for-profit corporation.It has a ten year lease from the Town of the entire Busa farm(except for the housing parcel).The Town is not represented on the Lex- Farm board;the Town's interests are represented by a Farm Coordinating Committee. B.Lex-Farm has contracted with Community Farms Outreach to run the farm; CFO is an experienced farm operator which oversees the community farm at the Waltham Field Station. C Lex-Farm will sell participation shares to members who will pay a fixed amount per year and be entitled to a share of the produce over a twenty week period.The Plan is to finance the operation of the farm out of these participation shares_ D Lex Farm also is engaged in fund raising.The goal is$150,000,$90,000 of which will meet the start up costs(equipment,building renovations etc) and the balance of which will underwrite for a limited period the staffing and office expenses of its community outreach programs designed to augment the efforts of such organizations as the Lexington Food Pantry Future occupants of the housing LexHAB intends to build on the site may benefit from this program. E.Lex-Farm does not plan to augment its own produce inventory by purchasing produce from off site vendors;it will however from time to time purchase items which it does not attempt to grow such,for example, as eggs and maple syrup. F Overall,according to Janet,Lex-Farm intends to integrate sound organic farming principles into its program and over time to secure recognition under the highest FROM Hays a Skerry FAX NO. 617 423-4OS8 Feb. 10 2014 11 16AM F3 ratings.At the same time,it will seek to demonstrate effective stewardship and to provide opportunities for townspeople and others to witness and participate in environmentally sound farming. IL Matters of Mutual Concern: A.Surface Water Run-off. Lester noted that LexHAB has engaged an engineer to ensure that proper steps are taken to avoid any increase in the discharge of surface water from the housing parcel onto the Lexarm fields, He stated further that catchment areas(rain guards?)are to be provided under present plans. There was also discussion about the surface water drain pipe that runs from the north side of Lowell Street under Lowell Street and under the housing parcel,thence south easterly under the adjacent field,eventually discharging into the Arlington Reservoir Dave Eagle stated that the location of the pipe is known but not its condition He indicated that a portion of the pipe will have to be relocated so as not to be under any residential structure.It is not known whether the point of reconnection to the existing line will occur on the LexHAB parcel or further along in the fields. B.Slope Treatment_ Both LexHAB and the farm delegation had questions about the handling of , the slope on the other's property Lester indicated that LexHAB intends to terrace the slope on the housing parcel,there will be no vertical retaining wall.There will probably be one or two footpaths running from Lowell Street to the rear of the houses but these will be stair paths following the terracing of the remainder of the slopes. Janet and Ken indicated that Lex-Farm has no plans to alter the existing slope contours east of the housing parcel. C.Use of the Boundary Land at the Rear of the LexHAB Parcel. Neither LexHAB nor Lex Farm has any present plans to run paths,drives or access roads on its side of this boundary Dave Eagle indicated that LexHAB is not requesting any easements over Lex- Farm property in connection with construction of the two houses;he expressed confidence that access for all purposes during construction can be from Lowell Street. D.Construction Disruption: FROM Hays & Skerry FAX NO. Si? 423-4058 Feb. 10 2014 11 18RM P4 Janet and Ken expressed concern that noise and dust incident to LexHAB's construction of its buildings might adversely impact its farm operations which are scheduled to run from April to September Dave indicated that LexJTAB is assuming that construction will be via its time-tested partnership with Lexington Rotary Club and the Minuteman Vocational Technical School and that Minuteman functions only after the normal growing season. Janet and Ken asked whether,if there were to be delay in LexHAB's permiting process, LexHAB would postpone commencement of construction until the next fall season.Bill answered that LexHAB would certainly consider this matter but could not at this stage give a definitive answer E,Next Steps: The Vice-Chair stated that LexHAB's next step will be to ask the Selectmen to determine how many units of affordable housing willallowed on the housing parcel, eventually,the Selectmen will be asked to approve the housing proposal for the site, following which,the project will be submitted to DHCD for its approval.If DHCD approves,the project will then be submitted to the Zoning Board of Appeals for its approval.Only at this point,assuming approvals along the way,will LexHAB be positioned to seek a Building Permit from the Town. There was some further discussion both about the density question and about the next step before the Selectmen.LexHAB members indicated that it may work best to two-step the request to the Selectmen,that is:to appear first before the Board for determination of the number of units to be constructed and then,after more definitive plans are prepared and available(which cannot economically be done until the size and number of and units within the buildings are known),a second appearance before the Board seeking final approval and endorsement. Ken and Janet asked if they could be shown as soon as possible the surface water remediation plan and the plan for rerouting the drain pipe under Lowell Street including particularly the point of reconnection.The Chairman said LexHAB would do its best to comply with these very reasonable requests. There being no further business,the meeting adjourned at 8'40 P.M. Respectfully submitted William C.Hays Secretary p}o tem