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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-05-09-CONCOM-min.pdf May 9, 2000 MINUTES - LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION Commissioners present: Lisa Baci, Bebe Fallick (8:45), Philip Hamilton, Joyce Miller and Richard Wolk. Absent: Duke Bitsko and Angela Frick. Others present: Marilyn Nordby and Linda Gaudet. Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 7:55 p.m. in Room G-15, Town Office Building. Order of Conditions. 6 Lake Street - 201-466 It was moved, seconded and unanimously voted to approve the Order of Conditions as submitted. Certificate of Compliance. 33 Ledgelawn Avenue - 201-417 It was moved, seconded and unanimously voted to issue a Certificate of Compliance for 33 Ledgelawn Avenue. Minutes - It was moved, seconded and unanimously voted to approve the minutes of April 25, 2000, as amended. Site Visits - It was decided that the site visit for Lot 3, Hartwell Avenue, will be held on Saturday, May 20, at 10 a.m. HEARING. Rte. 2/95 Level (3) Communications. LLC, Fiber Ontic Cable Installation 8 p.m. 201-468 Present: Rebecca Longley, Parsons Brinckerhoff Network Services, Inc., representative; and Louis Falco, Kiewit Construction Co. Others are listed in the file. Ms. Longley presented the plans for the installation of a fiber optic cable system in the median of I-95/Rte. 128 and Route 2 for a distance of approximately 3.2 miles. There will be no work outside_thehighwa.y_right-of_wa_y_s. Thisinstallation_is_part ofanetwork_for_transmission_of long distance voice and data traffic. The cable installation will require excavation of a trench 18 inches wide with a minimum depth of 42 inches and maximum depth of 52 inches. The trench will be backfilled with sidecast material the same day Handholes for access to the cable line will be installed at 3,600-foot intervals. Ms. Longley reviewed the plans showing the wetland resource areas adjacent to the proposed work areas. Erosion control measures will include the installation of silt sacks at catch basins connected to downgradient resource areas and hay bale check dams in and around catch basins connected to storm drains which discharge to the shoulder of the road. They will not be removed until the areas are stabilized. Approximately 500 feet of cable will be installed each day Ms. Longley has contacted the Cambridge Water Department regarding the Waltham portion of the work and received their approval. Mr. & Mrs. DiLuna of Wellington Lane Avenue expressed their concern about the location of the gas lines on Rte. 2 and the possible impact of water on their lot due to this project. The MINUTES LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION 5/9/00 PAGE 2 representative assured the DiLunas that all gas lines are located by Dig Safe before construction begins, that the project work is only in the median of the highways, and therefore they will not be impacted. It was moved, seconded and voted to close the hearing. The wetlands line delineated on the plans was not officially accepted. HEARING. 53 Ledeelawn Avenue. R. Heinwartner&A. Newmark, Addition 8.20 pm 201-467 Present: Amy Newmark and Robert Heingartner, applicants; John Noonan, representative from Noonan& McDowell; and Howard Van Vleck, architect. Mr. Heingartner said they need additional space for their family and home business. They have tried to minimize any intrusion into the brook area and they use only organic materials on their yard. This project has been approved by the Board of Appeals. The project is detailed in the NOI submitted for the project. Mr. Van Vleck distributed basement and first floor plans for the residence. John Noonan presented the plans. The proposed addition is located partially on an existing driveway and partially on existing lawn area within a stone path. Approximately 800 s.f. of Riverfront area will be altered, 200 s.f. of that area is new impervious cover. The entire lot is north of and within the inner riparian zone of the North Lexington Brook. The runoff that I currently drains from the driveway toward the brook will now be directed to a drywell. Mr. Noonan said that they will move the hay bale line closer to the construction area and further from the bank. There are no erosion problems on the property now The existing house is 36.7 feet from the wetlands; the proposed addition is 37.8 feet from the wetlands at the closest point. Therefore the degree of nonconformance has not been increased. The rate of runoff from the area will be decreased because the stormwater drainage system has been designed to mitigate not only the runoff from the new impervious surface, but also from the back half of the existing house. The_Commission isconcemed that_the area is entirely within the inner riparian zone. The applicant said the screen of trees at the top of the slope in the back yard will stay There will be access to the drainage facility if maintenance is ever required. The bottom of the drainage structure is at elevation 200 and the brook is at elevation 196. (Bebe Fallick arrived at 8 45 p.m.) Mrs. Miller read the Engineering report from Tom Hayes,the Commission's consultant, which stated that a soil test and percolation test in the general area of the drywells should be requested to determine seasonal high groundwater elevation and percolation rate of the soils. Letters from the neighbors in support of the project were read and will be kept on file. Mrs. Miller explained that while they may have personal feelings about projects,the Commissioners must make their decisions based on the State Wetland Act and the Town Wetlands By-Law only MINUTES LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION 5/9/00 PAGE 3 With the applicant's approval, it was moved, seconded and voted to continue the hearing to May 23 at 8.30 p.m. Reed's Brook Project, Arlington - Ms. Nordby reported that DEP has done the testing and the report is on file in the office. The conclusion is that contaminants were below their applicable MCP reportable concentrations except in one area. 109 Maple Street - Mrs. Miller reported that the Commission met on site with the owner, Mr Minassian, who wants to do some tree clearing on his property within 59 feet of the brook. It was decided that the Commission will permit the trees that were inspected to be removed. Staked hay bales must be installed along the bank of the brook prior to this work. Once completed, a buffer planting shall be installed along the edge of the brook to stabilize the embankment. Mr. Minassian was agreeable to this on site. A confirmation letter will be sent detailing the requirements. Shaker Glen Garden Project - Ms. Nordby presented the plan submitted by the Lexington Garden Club for approval. The Club proposes to create a buffer zone of trees at the base of the embankment to screen the abutting church and parking area. The Commission gave their approval. Orienteering Discussion, Whipple Hill - The Commission reviewed the draft letter to Robert Dangel which was approved as amended. Ms.Nordby noted that Rosemary Green, Whipple Hill Steward,thought the Orienteering Program was a fine idea. CONT'D HEARING, 57 Solomon Pierce Road - 201-465 9 pm The Commission received copies of the revised site plan for 57 Solomon Pierce Road that addressed the concern of a neighbor that the runoff from the roof would impact his land. Fred Russell, the representative's engineer, reviewed the plan they submitted to mitigate for this runoff. They propose installation of a crushed stone pad 2 feet wide and 6 inches deep under the drip line of the overhang of the roof on the addition's west wall. This should prevent any erosion and provide some infiltration capacity Since there is no increase to impervious surface,no Engineer-ing-review-is-necessary.In-response to theCommissions_previoussequest, * Resell said the applicant agreed to increase the vegetation on the wetlands side of the access roadway Abutter John Carter addressed his concerns about the gully being impacted by runoff, the possible number of trees to be cleared, the elevation of the building and the slope of the roof. Mr. Russell responded that the crushed stone beneath the addition will allow the water to filter into the ground and not go into the gully If this does happen, it can be rectified by installing a dry well. When the ground is frozen, the snow will melt and water will run down the driveway as it currently does. It was moved, seconded and voted to close the hearing. MINUTES LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION 5/9/00 PAGE 4 CONT'D HEARING, Old Smith Farm. 160/170 Wood St. Wood St. R.T - 201-457 Due to a lack of a quorum for this hearing, it will be necessary to continue the hearing. With the representative's consent, it was moved, seconded and voted to continue the hearing to May 23, 2000 Commissioners decided that another site visit is not necessary Commissioners Baci, Fallick, Hamilton, Miller and Wolk voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of approving minutes and discussing land acquisition. The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Linda A. Gaudet Secretary f