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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-11-07-CONCOM-min TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES Monday November 7, 2016 6:30 P.M. Parker Room, Town Office Building 1625 Massachusetts Ave Chair Phil Hamilton opened the meeting at 6:32pm in the Parker Room of the Town Office Building Commissioners Present: Dick Wolk, David Langseth, Phil Hamilton, Alex Dohan Others present: Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator and Casey Hagerty, Conservation Department Assistant 6:32pm Executive Session, Exemption 6: Consider Purchase, Exchange, Lease or Value of Real Property – Lexington Montessori, Map 8, Lot 4 7:03pm Pending Issue Certificates of Compliance at 57 Albemarle Road, DEP 201-915, BL 875 Ms. Mullins explained that she has not done a review of this request yet. NEW MEETINGS/HEARINGS DEP 201-939, BL 898 30 Oakmount Circle, Amended Order of Conditions Applicant/owner: Copley Design Modification to the house footprint and watershed areas and realign drainage systems Dan Orwig- Civil Engineer Documents- Mr. Orwig explained that this project has come in front of the Commission two times before. He stated that this change is a footprint change from the first and second design. Mr. Orwig told the commission that the major change with this project is where you pick up the drainage and watershed lines. No work involving the roadway has been changed. Mr. Hamilton entered the engineering report into the record. Questions and comments from the commission: The commission had some questions regarding the approved drainage plan and whether a catch basin in the street was necessary. Mr. Orwig went into the details of that feature and explained that it was added to the plans to further protect the neighbors from any potential flooding. He stated that he was going to speak with the DPW about maintaining this additional feature. Mr. Orwig also stated he could remove this feature from the plan if it is an issue for the commission. Questions and comments from the audience: Tom Fenn, an attorney representing Patty Giencke of 28 Oakmount Circle, stated that the additional catch basins were added to appease the neighbors and they would prefer that it stay. Mr. Fenn explained that the neighbors never received notification of this meeting. The abutter from 50 Meriam told the commission that he also never received notification. Ms. Mullins explained that it is the responsibility of the applicant to notify the abutters. Motion to continue the hearing to January 9, 2017 at the applicant’s request made by Mr. Wolk and seconded by Mr. Langseth. Vote: 4-0 in favor. 7:30pm DEP 201-1036, BL 994 NOI, 6 Candlewick Close Applicant/owner: Robin Pike Project: Construct an addition to an existing single family home Motion to continue the hearing the November 21, 2016 at the applicant’s request made by Mr. Langseth and seconded by Mr. Wolk. Vote: 4-0 in favor. 7:30pm DEP 201-975, BL 933 Amended Order of Conditions, 56 Turning Mill AOOC Applicant/owner: John Dvorak Project: Modify the Limit of Work boundary, remove additional trees and expand buffer zone restoration area Scott Smyers- Oxbow Associates Mr. Smyers explained that he has modified the plan to reflect the requests of the commission from the last meeting. He stated that there is 520 sq. ft. of additional restoration area. Questions and comments from the commission: The commission requested that Mr. Smyers add another FENO marker to the plan to help clarify the Do Not Disturb Area. Mr. Smyers agreed to this request and stated he would supply a modified plan. Mr. Bitsko arrived. Motion to close the hearing made by Mrs. Dohan and seconded by Mr. Langseth. Vote: 5-0 in favor. Motion to issue the Amended Order of Conditions made by Mrs. Dohan and seconded by Mr. Langseth. Vote: 5-0 in favor. Pending Continued Approve $2,500 expenditure from the Lexington Nature Trust for Community Garden site prep Ms. Mullins explained that they are actually requesting a $3,000 expenditure for the garden prep. Motion to approve the expenditure of up to $3,000 made by Mr. Wolk and seconded by Mrs. Dohan. Vote: 5-0 in favor. Use of Trust Funds The commission discussed the various trust funds that the commission can use for different properties. Ms. Mullins explained that the commission needs to keep a closer eye in what funds were available in each account. The commission also decided that they will do some more research into the language of the trust funds so that they better understand what can be done with each fund. 7:53pm Approve 2017 meeting schedule Motion to approved 2017 meeting schedule made by Mrs. Dohan and seconded by Mr. Wolk. Vote: 5-0 in favor. Issue Certificates of Compliance Ms. Mullins explained that the Certificates of Compliance were not ready to be issued. The commission discussed some of the issues they had with 6 Blueberry Road which included the yard drains and the seasonal high water table. 8:04pm Approve minutes from 10/17/2016 meeting Motion to approve the minutes made by Mrs. Dohan and seconded by Mr. Wolk. Vote: 5-0 in favor. (whom?) Schedule Site Visits for the 11/21/2016 Meeting Site visits were scheduled for 11/19/2016 8:06pm Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board Comments The commission discussed how they should go about commenting on planning board and zoning board hearings. The commission decided that they want to extend an invitation to a planning board member and zoning board member to speak at one of their meetings. 8:14pm Reports Mr. Wolk reported that he attended the last Planning Board meeting to hear their discussion regarding balanced housing development and how they define it. Mr. Wolk was concerned that balanced housing was affecting the ability of the Conservation Commission to acquire new open land. The commission also discussed how they should factor slope into their decisions as well as the heights of the retaining walls. Ms. Mullins reported that the 10-12 Rangeway case has been settled by the DEP. They have identified some wetlands. The site would still be under the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission. The commission discussed setting a timeline for the period in which they will approve wetlands boundaries. They will think further about setting a time table for when they will be approved when they will not be approved. 8:27pm Goalsetting Ms. Mullins discussed the idea with the commission of having certain projects that she can sign off on administratively rather than bringing every case to the commission. She explained that she is currently signing off on roofing and solar permits. The commission explained that they will need to create some kind of criteria that could apply to these types of sign-offs. Ms. Mullins explained that the Waldorf School has reached out to the commission to discuss implementing a pond management plan at Peeper’s Pond so that they can use the pond as an educational tool. The commission decided they were in favor of this and recommend that Ms. Mullins meet with the school to discuss this proposal further. The commission stated that their site visit to Bina Farm revealed that there were some issues regarding the runoff from the driveway. Ms. Mullins explained that the Selectmen have voted to approve the stormwater requirements. At this time, they did not take into account the recommendations of the Conservation Commission, but they will be doing revisions in the future. 9:06pm Motion to adjourn made by Mr. Wolk and seconded by Mrs. Dohan. Vote: 5-0 in favor. Respectfully Submitted, Casey Hagerty Conservation Department Assistant Approved 11/17/2016