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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-11-17-CONCOM-min TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES Tuesday, November 17, 2015 6:30 P.M. Parker Room, Town Office Building 1625 Massachusetts Avenue Chair Philip Hamilton opened the meeting at 6:32 pm in the Parker Room of the Town Office Building. Commissioners Present: Phil Hamilton, Alex Dohan, Dick Wolk, Joyce Miller, David Langseth, Kevin Beuttell, and Duke Bitsko (6:32pm). Others Present: Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator, Casey Hagerty, Conservation Department Assistant Pending Matters 6:32 pm th Site visits for the November 30 meeting were scheduled for Sunday November 22, 2015 6:33 Issue Order of Conditions for 63 Winter Street DET File No. 201-1003 BL 960 Issue Order of Conditions for 65 Winter Street DET File No. 201-1004 BL 961 The Commission discussed the restoration of the 25 foot buffer area. They stated they would like trees to be planted in the 25 foot area. Motion to issue an Order of Conditions to 63 Winter Street made by Mrs. Miller and seconded by Mrs. Dohan. Vote: 5-0 in favor. Mr. Langseth and Mr. Wolk did not vote Motion to issue an Order of Conditions to 65 Winter Street made by Mrs. Miller and seconded by Mrs. Dohan. Vote: 5-0 in favor. Mr. Langseth and Mr. Wolk did not vote Issue Order of Conditions for 139 Grove Street DET File No. 201-1002 BL 959 Motion to issue Order of Conditions for 139 Grove Street made by Mrs. Dohan and seconded by Mr. Wolk. Vote: 4-0 in favor. Mr. Wolk stated that he watched the video from the October 19, 2015 hearing previous to this meeting. Mrs. Miller, Mr. Langseth, and Mr. Beuttell did not vote. Issue Order of Conditions for 16 Summer Street DET File No. 201-996 BL 953 Motion made by Mrs. Dohan to issue an Order of Conditions and seconded by Mr. Wolk. Vote: 4-0 in favor. Mrs. Miller, Mr. Beuttell, and Mr. Langseth did not vote Issue Order of Conditions for 255 Worthen Road East DET File No. 201-1006 BL 963 Motion made by Mrs. Dohan to issue an Order of Conditions and seconded by Mrs. Miller. Vote: 5-0 in favor. Mr. Langseth and Mr. Beuttell did not vote. Issue an amended Order of Conditions for 4 Lake Street DEP File No. 201-940 BL 899 The commission stated that they want the Order to state that there be no deck built in the back of the house. Motion made by Mrs. Dohan to issue an Order of Conditions and seconded by Mrs. Miller. Vote: 5-0 in favor. Mr. Langseth and Mr. Beuttell did not vote. Issue an amended OOC 44 Hartwell Ave DEP File No. 201-903 BL 863 Motion made by Mr. Wolk to issue an Order of Conditions and seconded by Mrs. Dohan. Vote: 4-0 in favor. Mr. Langseth, Mr. Buettell, and Mrs. Miller did not vote 6:47pm Mr. Hamilton reported that a site walk took place with the Community Garden Commission at Dunback Meadow. He stated that there will be a meeting in January regarding this subject. 6:48pm The commission stated they would approve the minutes at the following meeting. 6:51pm The commission discussed the 2016 calendar and stated that they would approve the calendar at the following meeting after the discussed changes were made. 6:55 pm Meetings and Hearings: RDA, Colony Road Drain Connection DET 15-29 Applicant: James Anderson and Shirine Boulos Anderson Project: Drainage Connection Mike Cosmo- Ever Brooks Company Documents: RDA, Drainage Calculations, Drainage Plans, Engineering comments Mr. Cosmo explained that this subdivision project has gotten approval through the planning board, but per their approval they need to do road upgrades. The project would involve two catch basins and leaching. There would be a 135 sq ft. increase in impervious surface and no increased runoff with the one year storm. Comments from the commission: Mr. Hamilton entered the engineering report into the record. The commission stated that the applicant must do soil testing at test pit two. The commission asked about how the leaching basins were included in the stormwater calculations. Mr. Cosmo explained that he did not include the leaching basins in the calculations so the estimates were more conservative. The commission asked who would be responsible for cleaning the leaching systems. Patricia Nelson, the lawyer representing the applicants, stated that the owner for the undeveloped lot would be responsible for the caring for the system and that an O and M plan is an on-going condition that was recorded with the deed at the registry. The commission questioned what would happen if the second leaching system was sitting on bedrock. Mr. Cosmo said that there are ways to adjust the system based on the site soils. The commission stated that the planning board requirements must be included in the language of the determination. Motion to issue a negative determination with conditions made by Mrs. Miller and seconded by Mr. Wolk. Vote: 7-0 in favor. 7:10pm RDA, Bridge School Disc Golf Project DET 15-30 Applicant: Peiter Svenson Owner: Town of Lexington Project: Disc Golf Course Installation Pieter Svenson- Eagle Scout Candidate, Steve Mattingly Documents: RDA Package 10/27/2015, Presentation 10/27/2015 Mr. Svenson explained that he wishes to build a disc golf course at the Bridge School for his Eagle Scout Project. He stated that the Recreation Office has already approved the project, but two of the nine baskets fall within jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission. Comments from the commission: The commission questioned how the concrete used to secure the baskets would be transferred. Mr. Svenson told the commission that it will be carried across the field or put in a wagon. The commission stated they were concerned about future maintenance of the course. The commission requested that more research be done into more durable types of metal for the basket posts. The commission stated they were concerned with participants wandering into the wetland during the game. Mr. Svenson stated that disc golf players tend to be very respectful of nature and would follow any instructions or signs that were placed there. The commission provided Mr. Svenson with some suggestions as to how he could move the course further from the wetland. Mr. Svenson said he would look into it, but is confined by the restraints that the recreation department placed on him. The commission asked how many people play at one time. The applicant answered that usually groups of 2-3 play at a time. Motion to issue a negative determination with conditions made by Mr. Wolk and seconded by Mrs. Dohan. Vote: 7-0 in favor. Continued Meetings/Hearings: 7:27pm DEP File No. 201-1005, BL 962 NOI, 60 Hartwell Ave Applicant: Solar City Owner: Town of Lexington Project: Solar PV Project Steve Weihe- Weston and Sampson Documents: Stormwater Management 11/10/2015, Site plan 11/12/2015, Supplemental Information 11/12/2015 Mr. Weihe explained that he submitted an updated stormwater report and that the amount of impervious area will be diminished in terms of peak flow and volume. Mr. Weihe went on to show to the commission pictures of solar panels located at landfills and with grass successfully growing below the panels. He stated that the grass must be maintained and it will act as an erosion control. He told the commission that using silt socks filled with compost would not be a problem. Additionally, Mr. Weihe says that he has been working with a Licensed Site Professional to determine if contamination is a concern. An ALU report was submitted in the supplemental information. The manufacturer of the canopies provided more information to the applicant regarding their structures. The manufacturer explained that the canopies are not water tight, but they provide shade. There are some gutters to help with stormwater runoff as well as a snow guard. In terms of the alternative analysis, Mr. Weihe explained that they looked at many options, but the main goal of the site is for composting. He explained a great deal of thought went into where each footing for the canopies would go based on the operations that go on there. Comments from the commission: The commission stated that they were unsure that the performance standards for the town by-law were being met. They were concerned that the resource area was being greatly affected. The commission stated they wanted to see a full alternatives analysis that takes the resource area into consideration, not just the operations of the DPW. The commission questioned whether a different kind of panel could be purchased that could put out more energy, thus cutting down on the number of panels needed. Mr. Weihe explained that that is not financially viable. The road can also not be relocated to shift the panels away from the wetland. The commission questioned what type of seed mix would be used on the ground mount area. The applicant explained that it is a paved area right now and it will be replanted with a foot of soil. They would be happy to use a more ecologically functional seed mix. The commission asked if the hazardous waste collection shed and dumpster could be moved. The applicant stated that they would have to look into that. The commission stated that the performance standards needed to be enhanced and there needs to be more mitigation. The commission asked where the level spreader would be located. They asked for it to be located at the top of the bottom of the slope rather than the top. The commission asked if the plan had been reviewed by the town engineer. The applicant stated that the stormwater modeler had been in contact with the engineer. The commission asked what will be done to stop the rest of the town operations from extending into the wetland. Mr. Hadley, DPW director, stated that boulders will be placed along the perimeter of the limit of work and it will be done within a month. th Motion to continue the hearing at the applicant’s request to November 30 made by Mrs. Miller and seconded by Mr. Langseth. Vote: 7-0 in favor. 8:19pm DEP File No. 201-984, BL 942 NOI, 151 Grove Street Applicant/Owner: Marcel P.J. Gaudreau Project: Demolish and reconstruct a new single-family dwelling within the 100-foot Buffer Zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetlands Mr. Bitsko stated for the record that he watched the hearing from 6/29/2015 on LexMedia. The applicant did not provide any additional information or request a continuance. Motion to close the hearing made by Mrs. Miller and seconded by Mrs. Dohan. Vote: 7-0 in favor. 8:22pm DEP File No. 201-986, BL 943 NOI, 6 John Hosmer Lane Applicant/Owner: Arjun Rao Project: Construction of a single-family dwelling and associated appurtenances within the 100- foot Buffer Zone of Bordering Vegetated Wetlands Mike Novak- Meridian Associates Documents: Engineering review 11/17/2015, Site plan 10/29/2015, Stormwater report 10/29/2015 Mr. Bitsko stated for the record that he watched the hearing from 6/29/2015 on LexMedia. Mr. Novak stated that the updated proposal for the project at 6 John Hosmer Lane would have a common driveway with 5 John Hosmer rather than two separate driveways. There would be a reduction in total disturbed area. Mr. Novak told the commission that soil testing was done in the back of the house and the results were sand and that he expected the same results in the front of the house as well. He explained that they are going to do 3,000 sq ft of buffer zone restoration and pull some structures away from the wetland. The proposed plan included a plan to soften some grading to make erosion less of an issue as well as put in a bigger drainage system. Comments from the commission: Mr. Hamilton entered the engineering review into the record. The commission stated that the entire driveway should be brought into compliance. The commission asked whether the current house meets the performance standards of current time. Mr. Novak explained that the empty lot was to remain empty as mitigation for the paved driveway not the construction of the house. By bringing the driveway into compliance, the empty lot can be built upon. The commission stated that they were concerned about the grading and the slope towards the wetland. The commission stated that they would want a barrier there to protect snow and other debris from washing down the slope into the wetland. Mr. Novak stated that they could build a rock wall there. The commission asked about a planting plan. They said that they got one for the restoration area but not for the remainder of the proposed house. Mr. Novak said that they would be willing to do native plantings and they will submit a planting plan. The commission stated that a planting plan would be added as a condition. Motion to close the hearing made by Mr. Langseth and seconded by Mrs. Miller. Vote: 7-0 in favor. 8:48pm Motion to close the hearing made by Mrs. Miller and seconded by Mrs. Dohan. Vote: 7-0 in favor. Respectfully Submitted, Casey Hagerty Conservation Department Assistant Approved 12/14/2015