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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-12-11-CONCOM-min TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES Monday December 11, 2017 6:30 P.M. Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building 1625 Massachusetts Ave Chair Phil Hamilton opened the meeting at 6:32pm in the Parker Room. Commissioners Present: Duke Bitsko, Dick Wolk, Kevin Beuttell, Ruth Ladd, Alex Dohan. David Langseth, Phil Hamilton Others present: Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator and Casey Hagerty, Conservation Department Assistant 6:32pm Trust funds Update—David Williams This will be discussed at a future date. Article 97 Senate Bill letter This will be discussed at the next meeting. Approve Insignificant plan change: 19 Bellflower St This will be discussed at a future meeting. 6:37pm Issue Partial Certificate of Compliance: 118 Burlington Street, DEP 201-1034, BL 992 Motion to issue a Partial Certificate of Compliance made by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Ms. Dohan. Vote: 7-0 in favor. Issue Certificate of Compliance: 82 Grant Street, DEP 201-988, BL 945 This will be discussed at a future date. Issue Order of Conditions: 271 Lincoln Street, DEP 201-1078, BL 1035 Motion to issue a Certificate of Compliance made by Ms. Dohan and seconded by Ms. Ladd. Vote: 7-0 in favor. Approve minutes from 11/27/2017 Motion to approve minutes made by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Ms. Dohan. Vote: 7-0 in favor. Schedule Site Visits for the 1/8/2018 Meeting Site visits were scheduled for Saturday 1/6/18 at 9am. Joint stewards meeting 1/29/2018 The commission was reminded of their meeting with the stewards on 1/29/2018. 6:44pm DEP 201-1080, BL 1037 NOI, 81 Westview St. Owner: Cheryle West Applicant: Nash Quadir, KUQ Construction Project: Raze and rebuild SFD and associated site work Motion to continue the meeting to 1/8/2018 at the applicant's request made by Mr. Wolk and seconded by Ms. Dohan. Vote: 7-0 in favor. DEP 201-1075, BL 1032 ANRAD, Dunham and Webb Street Owner: Lawrence Trebino Applicant: Angie Kavlakian Project: Confirmation of wetlands line Motion to continue the meeting to 1/8/2018 at the applicant's request made by Mr. Wolk and seconded by Ms. Dohan. Vote: 7-0 in favor. DEP 201-1022, BL 979 NOI, 138 Laconia Street Owner/Applicant: DEBCO Properties, David Burns Project: New Single Family Home The commission stated that this is the last time they will extend the project. Motion to continue the meeting to 6/25/2018 at the applicant's request made by Mr. Wolk and seconded by Ms. Dohan. Vote: 7-0 in favor. 7:53 pm New Meetings/Hearings DET 17-30 RDA, Idylwilde Conservation Area Owner: Town of Lexington Applicant: Lexington Conservation Office Project: Entrance and trail improvements Jordan McCarron, Lexington Conservation Steward Coordinator, explained that there is an old set of stairs on the Middle Street Entrance that are damaged and unsafe. They are proposing to remove the stairs and replace it with a ramped entrance way. There is a natural break in the grade where they will put a natural ramp surface. There will be a slight amount of fill brought it, but the project is outside of the floodzone. The project will increase accessibility. Motion to issue a Negative Determination of Applicability made by Mr. Wolk and seconded by Mr. Beuttell. Vote: 7-0 in favor. 7:OOpm DEP 201-1079, BL 1036 NOI, 7 Crosby Dive, Hastings School Owner/applicant: Town of Lexington Project: New school building and associated site work Vivian Lowe- DiNisco Associates,Fred King- Schofield Brothers Ms. Lowe explained that they are proposing to build a new elementary school on the Hastings School site and then tear down the existing school. The site is a 14.3 acre lot within the Cambridge Watershed. The wetlands line was approved a year ago under the ANRAD process. The existing school is outside the buffer zone; however, the new school will go up to the 50 ft. buffer. They are close the 50%buffer zone disturbance rule, but will not exceed it. Mr. King stated that they will fully meet all of the stormwater requirements. There will be no increase in peak rate or volume. There will be three underground detention systems. The parking area will be made of porous pavement. The entire site has high groundwater. Three bioretention basins will be constructed. The building will be LEED silver certified. During construction, there will be a temporary utility corridor from Mass Ave. Mr. Hamilton entered the engineering report into the record. Ms. Lowe explained the construction sequencing. The new school building will be built starting in June. 79 geothermal wells will be dug 500 ft. deep and 20 ft. apart on the site. Once the new school is complete, the existing school will be demolished around Summer 2020. Mr. Hamilton entered the memo from the Cambridge Water Department into the record. Questions and comments from the commission: The commission asked if they would consider installing a green roof. Ms. Lowe explained that solar panels are proposed for the roof. The commission asked that all crushed stone be washed. The applicant agreed. The commission asked if the geothermal wells will need vehicle access to be maintained. The applicant explained that there are no pumps associated with the wells so they do not need vehicle access. The commission asked for details regarding the level spreader and the stone wall. The commission asked that the applicant revisit the plantings proposed on the slope. The applicant agreed. The commission asked the roof drain emergency overflows be added to the plan. The commission stated they would prefer native plantings on the entire site. The commission asked that the applicant look at adding plantings to the bioretention basins. Questions and comments from the audience: Mary Donahue, 3 Crosby Road, stated that she is concerned about drainage in the area because of the high ground water and increased flooding. Mr. King explained that will be including run off from her property in the school system so she should not see any increase. She stated that she is also concerned about wildlife on the site and trees that are going to be removed. Mr. King stated that they will actually be planting more trees along her property line. Motion to continue the hearing to 1/8/2018 at the applicant's request made by Ms. Dohan and seconded by Mr. Beuttell. Vote: 7-0 in favor. 8:17pm DET 17-31 RDA, 9 Apollo Cir Owner/Applicant: Andrew Paone Project: Second story addition Antoinette Paone, homeowner Ms. Paone explained that they are proposing to build a small second story addition on their home. The entire addition will be within the existing footprint of the house. Questions and comments from the commission: The commission stated that a Limit of work line should be delineated with the contractor and conservation staff. Motion to issue a Negative Determination with conditions made by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Ms. Dohan. Vote: 7-0 in favor. 8:21pm DET 17-32 RDA, Hartwell Ave Applicant: Hanscom Airforce Base Project: Force main replacement Hooshi Afshar- Taj Engineering Mr. Afshar stated that he is proposing a force main replacement project on behalf of Hansom Airforce Base. The permit it just for a 2,OOOsq ft. section of the road north of the Minuteman bikeway and south of Kiln Brook. The entire project is within the roadway and within the highway right of way. They will replace the existing 10 inch and 12 inch lines within the trench. Questions and comments from the Commission: The commission stated that they want silt saks in the all the catch basins. The applicant agreed. The commission asked how long the work will take. The applicant stated likely a few months. Motion to issue a Negative Determination with conditions made by Ms. Langseth and seconded by Ms. Dohan. Vote: 7-0 in favor. 8:31pm DEP 201-XXXX, BL XXXX NOI, 160 Lincoln Street Owner/applicant: Yi Yue, Lyre Investment and Development Project: Renovation of existing house and addition Scott Smyers- Oxbow Associates, Yi Yue- homeowner/builder Mr. Smyers stated that the proposed work includes adding a second story to the existing house, relocating a driveway, and building a garage. The entire addition will be within the area of the current retaining wall, which will be razed. They are proposing to restore the section of the 25 ft. buffer that extends into the yard and place FENO markers. Mr. Hamilton entered the engineering report into the record. The commission asked for clarification regarding whether there will be an increase in disturbance within the 50 ft. buffer. The applicant stated that they will take another look at their calculations. The commission discussed whether the retaining would be considered a structure when determining the threshold for incursion into the 50-foot buffer. The commission discussed options for the buffer zone restoration area. The commission asked if the applicant had explored other options for the building, including going to the Zoning Board of Appeals. He explained that they did go before the Zoning Board but were denied. Motion to continue the hearing to 1/8/2018 at the applicant's request made by Mr. Langseth and seconded by Ms. Ladd. Vote: 7-0 in favor. 9:llpm DEP 201-1044, BL 1001 AOOC, 45-65 Hayden Ave Owner/applicant: King Street Properties Project: Amend approved plan John Rockwood- Ecotech, Doug Hartnett- High Point Engineering Mr. Hartnett explained that they are proposing two additional projects as an amendment to the current permit. The first portion of the proposed work is to replace a corrugated metal pipe stream crossing with a three sided box culvert project that will meet stream crossing standards. During the construction, the culvert was video inspected and found to be failing. The second portion of the proposed project would be to do some additional work on the stream channel segment. Mr. Hartnett explained that they are proposing to create a two foot wide low flow channel within the stream to try to create more positive flow in the area. Questions and comments from the Commission: The commission asked for details regarding the grading on the stream channel. The applicant explained that the stream elevations are flat and there will only be a minor grade change. The commission asked for more details regarding the stream channel plantings. The commission stated that they were concerned that this project was too complex to be considered an amendment. The commission stated that they are aware of future plans to redevelop the site. They stated that they are concerned about the location of the road to the stream and will not consider the culvert replacement as a reason to not move the road in the future. 9:45pm Motion to adjourn made by Mr. Wolk and seconded by Ms. Ladd. Vote: 7-0 in favor. Respectfully submitted, Casey Hagerty Conservation Department Assistant Approved 1/8/2018