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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVine Brook Committee report, 1931 REPORT OF THE VINE BROOK COMMITTEE To the Citizens of the Town of Lexington: - The Town Meeting of June 9th, 1930 passed the following vote: - VOTED: -"That ote: -VOTED: -"That the Moderator appoint a Committee of fifteen Town Meeting Members representative of all sections of the Town to review the reports of Metcalf and Eddy and McClintock and Wood- fall, and the studies of the 'Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen relative to Vine Brook Drainage, said Committee to have access to all the records of the Selectmen and the Planning Board, and to be at liberty to consult with any Board, Committee or individual and secure any additional engineering data which they may deem essential to a decision on this project, and that they submit their recommendations at the next Town Meeting. " AMENDMENT: -"That said Committee incur no expense without further vote of the Town." The Vine Brook Committee was organized on September 3rd, 1930 and has since held thirteen meetings. It has studied_ the report ;of McClintock and Woodfall dated March 17th, 1913 and that of Metcalf and Eddy dated September 29th, 1928. It has studied the Brook and a considerable part of the area it drains, consulted with the Board of Selectmen, the Planning Board and wWwiifsns of the Town familiar with and particularly interested in the projectAwe are dealing. To eliminate the possibility of further confusion and to simplify our report we have divided Vine Brook into four sections and present them to you in the order in which webelieve they should be taken up and built by the Town when and if ever so voted. SECTION I From Butterfield's Pona to the southerly side. of Hayes Lane including the culvert under Hayes Lane . SECTION II From Hayes Lane to the southerly side of Vine Brook Road. SECTION III The South Branch of Vine Brook and the Main Channel between Vine Brook Road and the present junction of the North and South Branches . SECTION IV The North Branch of Vine Brook. SECTION I It is evident to your Committee that while. Section II is the most important as well as expensive section considered, the building of it will necessitate the improvement of Section I. This for the reason that Section II once built will discharge the storm waters into Section I at a much faster rate than under present conditions . The brook below Hayes Lane is not in shape to absorb this faster run-off being at present in a dep'lerable condition. We therefore studied this section between Butterfield's Pond and Hayes Lane and find that the improvement should start at a point about 1500 feet north of East Street, from which point to the Pond the fall is ample to take care of the flow of water . The work in this section would consist of straightening, widening and deepening the brook through to Hayes. Lane . preliminary estimates based on an open channel with an average width of 8 feet at the bottom, with 1 to 1 slopes raked smooth and grassed show the cost of this section would run to approximately 06000. exclusive of the culvert under East Street . This East Street culvert we are advised will be rebuilt by the State at the same time they are constructing the State High- way now being planned to pass through this part of the Town. It is obvious that work on Section I should not be started until the State Highway En- gineers and out. Engineering Department have come to an agreement as to grades and until the State actually begins the construction work. Whether the Town votes to proceed with the Vine Brook program or not, the State plans of the culvert at East Street should accord with the Town's plan for widening and deepening Vine Brook at this point. I REPORT OF THE VINE BROOK COMMITTEE * * * x * * Page II SECTION II Your Committee approves the layout of Metcalf and Eddy pertain- ing to this Section lying between Hayes Lane and the southerly side of Vine Brook Road with a few changes . We believe the brook should be covered between Vine Brook Road and Massachusetts Avenue . That a basin be built at Vine Brook Road and a screen erected at this point to catch floating debris before it can enter the covered Hart of tAhe brook. From Massachu- setts Avenue to Hayes Lane the Metcalf and 'Edd �iould be substantially followed. This would give a basin located probably on the southerly side of Vine Brook Road, then a covered brook from this point to a headwall lo- cated 780 feet south of Hayes Lane with an open channel from the headwall to Hayes Lane . We recommend the straightening of the brook at Hayes Lane and the relocation of the culvert under Hayes Lane . Preliminary estimates cover- ing the construction of Section II vary, but from the information gathered, your Committee believes that the cost of this section will run to approxi- mately $90,000. SECTION III The South Branch of Vine Brook runs through private lands throughout its length. The Town discharges storm water from the I+ighland Avenue area into this Branch but the fall is sufficient to care for this drainage with the bottom of the South Branch at its present grade. Therefore your Committee does not recommend the Town entering the South Branch. It believes if the Town constructs Section II as outlined in this report, that the South Branch will have all the outlet it will need to handle any drain- age system which may be installed. SECTION IV The North Branch of Vine Brook drains the Park Land of the Town and should the Town at some future date wish to improve the drainage of the Park area it will have an outlet prepared in advance with the construction of Section II. For the present your Committee feels that no work need be done on the North Branch other than a general cleaning out of the brook through the Town property only. RECOMMENDATIONS Your Committee recommends that the Town build Section II as out- lined in the report as soon as the financial condition of the Town will allow. That any vote to build Section II have an accompanying vote to improve Section I as outlined in this report . That the Town do not enter Section III. That the Town do no construction work on Section N and that any cleaning of that portion located in the Park Land be paid for out of the "Lowering Brooks Account" . we further recommend that no appropriation be made for further studies of Vine Brook, believing that the surveys of Metcalf and Eddy and McClintock and Woodfall are sufficient for the purpose , and that the Engin- eering Department of the Town is able from the data and studies now avail- able to draw up plans and specifications\to cover the construction work. We also recommend that when the Town is ready to proceed with the construction work plans and specifications be prepared calling for estimates on three types of construction for the covered part of the brook; first a reinforced concrete conduit cast in place ; second a reinforced con- crete pipe conduit; third a vitrified segment block conduit. PROCEDURE After giving the matter consideration from every angle your Committee recommends that the work contemplated be done under a Betterment Act. It is our belief that the returns from the Betterment Assessments will not be large . We also believe the Town should, before entering any of the private lands in Se tions I and II, make a taking of sufficient width to enab e the contra/ for to do his work without interference and to - 4ow the T vn ater on . maintain the brook without entering on private .roperty. i s,7ect�:u� l �T "u rutted; i / i rte►' !; ! kc+n�.,l� — - !MARCH 23, 1931.