Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-02-15-CONCOM-min.pdf MINUTES - LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION FEBRUARY 15, 2000 Commissioners present: Lisa Baci, Bebe Fallick, Angela Frick, Joyce Miller and Robert Wolk. Absent: Duke Bitsko and Philip Hamilton. Others present: Marilyn Nordby and Linda Gaudet. Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 7.45 p.m. in Room G-15, Town Office Building. CONT'D HEARING. WINNING FARM - 201-441 to 445 A letter from the applicant was read asking for a continuance to March 28. Therefore, it was moved, seconded and voted to continue the hearing to March 28. Minutes - It was moved, seconded and voted to approve the minutes of February 1, 2000, as amended. Certificate of Compliance (Partial). 11 Saddle Club Road 201-434 Ms.Nordby reported that the owner has requested a Partial Certificate of Compliance for the work on the house which has been satisfactorily completed. The treatment of the pond has not been completed. Therefore, it was moved, seconded and voted to issue a Partial Certificate of Compliance for the house addition only for 11 Saddle Club Road. Stone Meadow Driving Ranee/Golf Course - Mrs. Frick reported that she has noticed 10-15 big culvert pipes piled up along the lower driving range and 15-20 small pipes along the fence. They do not appear to be impacting any wetlands at this time, but the area should be monitored to prevent activity that would impact the wetlands. Hayden Woods - Ms.Nordby reported that a lady notified the office that last Sunday she had witnessed an all-terrain vehicle racing through the trails in Hayden Woods. After getting stuck in the brook, it was removed with a backhoe that was parked at the Driving Range. It left heavy tire tracks as far as the playground at the end of Valleyfield Street. She did not yet have any information from the Driving Range about this activity Site Visits - Will be held on Saturday, February 26, starting at Harrington School at 10 a.m., then to Douglas Road. Metromedia/Fiber Ontic Cable Installation The site visit for the installation of the fiber optic cable along the bike path was discussed. The bike path is 7 miles long and it would be impossible to do this in one site visit. The site visits should be broken up into segments, and perhaps Commissioners will take specific segments to inspect. The site visits will be scheduled at the hearing. Ms. Baci requested that Metromedia compare their wetlands line with the line done on the last Bikeway plans. Mrs. Frick,the Commission's representative to the Bikeway Committee, recommended that we notify Jerry VanHook, Chairman of the committee, of this hearing. MINUTES LEXINGTON CONSEERVATION COMMISSION 2/15/00 PAGE 2 Cont'd. Determination#00-3. 35 Woodnark Circle. D &M. Nokes. addition 8 p.m. Present: Mrs. Nokes, applicant; Tom Nigro, Sunspace Design. Others are listed in the file. Mr. Nigro presented the plan for the construction of a sunroom addition to the house at 35 Woodpark Circle. The addition is approximately 55 feet from an isolated wetland. It will be located over and within an existing porch with an increase of 40 square feet of roof area. The foundation for the porch will be rebuilt on sona tubes. A small drywell trench is proposed to mitigate for the increase in runoff. Mrs. Miller read the Engineering report which recommended that the French drain be built with the top of the stone at the existing grade. Mr.Nigro said that he will comply with the Engineer's recommendations. Commissioners agreed with the wetlands flagging. They also requested that erosion control be installed near the work area. It was moved, seconded and unanimously voted to issue a negative determination with conditions. Proiect Impact. Mystic River Watershed Meeting - Mrs. Frick reported that she went to the original meeting in Winchester. Since Lexington is not affected by this watershed, Lexington doesn't have to be involved in meetings. Reed's Brook Project. Arlington Present: Fred Vanderschmidt, FEMA, Greg Kellner and Brian Donovan, URS; Keith Turi, Mass. DEM, Kevin O'Brien, Town of Arlington; Michael Lelyveld and William Toth, abutters; Gary Fallick, Associate Commissioner. Mr. Vanderschmidt was present at the meeting to explain FEMA's role in the Reed's Brook project outlined in his February 4th letter to the Commission. FEMA had awarded a Grant to Arlington to assist the Reed's Brook project for flooding mitigation. FEMA is not a permitting agency It provides funding for projects that require permits from agencies responsible for the local wetlands protection. It endeavors to assure that any activity it funds obtains all local permits in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and does not cause damage to the environment. They work with several organizations including MEMA, DEM, DEP and the Army Corps of Engineers. FEMA, MEMA, and DEM are working together with Arlington to bring this project to fruition. There are time limits for expending disaster money and to keep this grant active, they did a Draft Environmental Assessment on which Lexington Conservation had commented as FEMA hoped they would do. Due to the mediation,no action was taken after the initial Draft was issued and comments received, because they thought there might be changes. Since the mediation has been completed,they can now proceed with their assessment and want to coordinate with Arlington and Lexington during this process. In response to Commission questions, Mr. Vanderschmidt said they will study the project in its entirety to determine potential environmental impacts and will be working with DEP and the MINUTES LEXINGTON CONSEERVATION COMMISSION 2/15/00 PAGE 3 Corps of Engineers. The next draft assessment, for which a public meeting will be held, may be completed by the end of March. FEMA expects additional comments. Mr. O'Brien said Arlington plans to submit the Notice of Intent for work on the brook in late May and anticipates dredging to start next December. Michael Lelyveld asked about the sequence of disbursement of the funds. Funds will be dispersed to the State. A contract will be written with the Town of Arlington. There are many layers of requirements that must be met, including all the permitting. The funds will not be dispersed by the State until all the contract requirements are met. If they are not met,the funds will revert to the Federal Government. Lisa Baci said the Commission is concerned about environmental impacts related to downstream flooding and that it may be awkward if FEMA does their Assessment before the Commission issues their Order of Conditions. Mr. Vanderschmidt said that they will be reviewing our By- Law for their Assessment. He will be looking at the same information as the Commission, although the Commission will be more specific in their review of the Notice of Intent. They will look at the models on the 100-year storm events. Mrs. Miller thanked Mr. Vanderschmidt and his accompanying group for this informative session. Sheraton Extension Permit 201-391 Present: John Farrington, Attorney; Julie Campisani, General Manager; Mike Barry, Engineer for this property Mr. Farrington discussed with the Commission the relationship between the Rt. 2A widening project and the pending Sheraton remodeling project. He reviewed that latest plan from the MHD for the road widening work. The plan shows the new location for the driveway and drainage plan developed to protect the downstream watershed. The State has taken some land by eminent domain for the Rte 2A road widening project from Sheraton. He reiterated that the high pined bluff will remain. He was surprised that the landscaping plan proposed for the upland area at the front of the site was so generous. The snow storage area will be on the ledge side of the driveway Julie Campisani said there is a significant portion of land that cannot be changed because of existing wetlands. After discussion, it was moved, seconded and unanimously voted to issue the Extension Permit to the Sheraton Lexington Inn to expire May 16, 2001 This is the same date as the expiration of the Board of Appeals' Special Permit. It was voted to adjourn at 9:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Linda A. Gaudet Secretary