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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1964-03-09-LCC-min.pdf A LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of the Regular Meeting held. on March 9, 1964 Mr. Sussman opened the meeting, in the conference room opposite the Building Inspector ' s office in the Town Office Building, at 8 30 p.m. All members were present with the exception of Mr Richey and Mr Mazerall. Mr Shaffrath of the U S Dept of Agriculture was an invited guest Minutes of the previous meeting were corrected and accepted. The one correction was the addition of the sentence, "Mr. Smith concurred, " at the end of the fifth paragraph. it now reads, "Mr. Ells reported that an examination of the law had satisfied him that the town could purchase property for conservation purposes in trust Mr. Smith con- curred " The Commission approved Mr Ells ' recommendation that we stop attaching copies of the correspondence to all copies of the minutes Henceforth, except in special circumstances,—incoming correspondence will be circulated at the subsequent meeting and then kept by the chairman Outgoing correspondence will be circulated at the subse- quent meeting, and copies will then be retained by the secretary and the chairman. The minutes will contain references to the correspon- dence. Mr Ells read a letter he had written to the Finance Committee of the state legislature and our Representatives , concerning the Commis- sion' s support of H 906 Copy attached. Mr Ells brought up the subject of official stationery He had inquired into the matter and learned that LCC must prepare and buy its own letterhead. The matter was deferred HOBBS BROOK BASIN Mr. Ells reported he had received a letter from Chairman of the Selectmen concerning the town ' s access to Hobbs Brook Basin. A, copy is attached. Mr. Ripley reported that Mr Howard of the state 's Dept. of Natural Resources would investigate the possibilities of Hobbs Brook Basin and a meeting with Mr Gullion may be arranged in the future GREAT MEADOW Mr. Ells reported on hEs review of material concerning the past relations of Lexington and Arlington regarding Great Meadow. There are two reasons why Arlington did not want another town to own Great Meadow, flood control being the main interest. Building on the Meadow might mean a flood in Arlington. In Mrs. Shapiro ' s file there is a list of Arlington residents who have shown an interest in keeping - 2 - Great Meadow preserved in a natural state This list may be of interest at a later date Mr Shaffrath stated that he and the Arlington Town Engineer were meeting Thursday, March 12, to discuss flood plain control in the Meadow. This might become a joint, two-town affair It would be a local project with Federal assistance. Mr Smith reported on his discussion with Mr. Harold Stevens, who had searched the title of Great Meadow Arlington can sell it if it so desires. Mr Smith stated there was a General Law which says that a town owning land in another town may not sell that land without first offering it to the town in which the land lies. Lexing- ton would have first refusal, for instance. Mr Sussman asked Mr Ripley to continue investigating taking peat from the Meadow. MR. RIPLEY will inquire further from a previous Town Engineer. WILLARD'S WOODS Mr. Smith reported that there are no legal restrictions on the use of Willard ' s Woods. The Town owns it outright now. He suggested that the LCC ask, to meet with the Selectmen to suggest joint action in the future He further suggested that the Recreation Committee might control part, leaving the marsh and woodland to the LOC MR ELLS brought up a legal aspect called Dedication and will look into it. OTHER BUSINESS Mr Smith reported on a smallswamp. The land has been sold to a developer who has shown willingness to talk to Mr. Smith. MR SMITH will contact him. Mr Ells inquired into the possibility of the Commission's meeting with local builders and developers in a body to explain and discuss the Commission' s aims After considerable discussion, the matter was deferred Mr. Ells brought up the subject of a particular piece of open land . Mr. SMITH will speak to the owner of the private land, concerning a conservation easement U S DEPT OF AGRICUL7JUPE Mr. Shaffrath, invited speaker for the evening, then spoke of planning, watershed projects , and soil conservation services In re- gard to planning and its usefulness , he recommended a book, A PLACE TO LIVE, published by the Dept. of Agriculture In regard to watershed projects , he stated that a major problem is the cost of land acquisitfn. An acre of swamp in the SUASCO district may cost as much as 9k800, some- times a bit more. He gave the Commission copies of -several different pamphlets , published by the Dept. of Agriculture. - 3 - Mr Shaffrath then explained a Soil Coneervatlon Report, which his office can make for a town This includes maps of soils in the town and is an aid for Planning Boards, Conservation Commissions, Town Engineers, and builders and developers. He left sample copies of Soil Reports done in Winchester and Hanover. The cost of such a survey for Lexington,, based on acreage, is an estimated 17-28O0. Extra copies of the report are little more than the cast of the paper, he said. Those towns in Middlesex having taken advantage of this service are Acton, Lracut, Winchester, and Sudbury Wayland has requested it for next year. On being questioned further, he stated that the mapping must be done in summer, the writing of interpretations is finished in the fall. If ordered by mid-June , the finished report will be received by Jan. or Feb. A problem area can be studied first, and preliminary reports made ahead of schedule. Mr Ills remarked that this seemed excellent raw material for the Planning Hoard and the LCC. He asked for a list of maps included in the service. They are listed below; 1 Septic tank filter fields--also indicates permeability of subsur- face and/or general depth to groundwater tables. q. Commercial and industrial sites--two bases a. on-site sewage effluent disposal b communal sewerage system available 3 H one sites--based on houses with cellars, difficulty of construc- tion or added problems of seepage, slops, ledge. Used in conjunction with No. 1 when community sewerage not available. 4, Athletic fields--also indicates more level areas , good drainage, and lack of rockiness. 5 Development of wetlands for waterfowl. 6. Source of sand and gravel--an important resource to develop; use, and provide guidance in use of area after resource is removed. 7 goads--reflects degree of difficulty ( and cost ) of installing and maintainin;; new roads. Helps avoid prd)- lems in development and later municipal maintenance. g oodland-- ;uides selection of areas for Town Forest use, as well as guiding selection of species for reforestation and shade trees. 9. Surface Punoff--permeability of surface of value in storm-water disposal computations. 10 Agriculture--', degrees of suitability. Of lower value in Lexing- ton, since agriculture is now a minimum factor in planning. 11 Land slope Characteristics Complements topographic map; combines with Surface Runoff interpretation to compute problem potential. Ten of the above maps are included in the complete survey price Additional specialty maps are available for a small fee. - g - Mr. Shaaffrath left two semi-transparent maps of the town--one showing swamps and one showing woodlands and buildings. He suggested, the 1955 and 1958 Yearbooks of the Dept . of Agriculture as good source meterial. Local libraries often, nave them. Mr. SMITH will write to thank Mr. Shraffrrath for his excellent presentation and advice. Mr. Ells reviewed a recent newspaper story on accomplishments of Mass, Conservation Commissions. Mr. Sussman read a letter from Vil.liam P. Page, Town Meeting Mem - ber from Precinct 3, regarding a conservation project that might be considered on the erge of great Meadow. It woulri intve planting trees and makin , a firebreak The danger of fires in great Meadow and of citizen complaints over tse years was discussed. No action was taken at the present. Mr . Ells told the Commission or an authority on conservation planting, Mr. Mason of the Mase. Audubon Society. His office is at Drumlin Warm, Cincoln. rsr. Sussman expressed an interest in asking Mr. Mason to review our open spaces end sugkeast areas that could be replanted for conservation purposes Mr. Pipley suggested waitinh., and concentrating on aeeiuirin:r wooded lands. Mr. Ells suggested the possibility of plaratinr, trees along a section of Vine Brook, with the aid of the i'nrk eat . and l-oy `,cout troops. The Park Pept . , now in charge of that area, will be contacted, by MR. SUSSMAN Mr. Sussman reported that the r,.ass. Association of Conservation Commissions was helding three day-long rnehtinrs and would like reser- vations from those members planninh to attend . Pr. 711s is partici- pating on s7 panel at all three meetin,;s The other members said. they would let Mr. Susnmsan know as soon as they were certain they could attend a meetin%. The meetint. adjourned at 11 '^'A5 p.'n. The next meeting will be held Monday, z^,arch 30. The ne,•t two Monday evenings are to be loft vacant for Town Vesting attendance. Yrs David Peiner Secretary OR 1 !