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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-05-14-CONCOM-min TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES Monday May 14, 2018 6:30 P.M. Parker Room, Town Office Building 1625 Massachusetts Ave Chair Philip Hamilton opened the meeting at 6:30pm in the Parker Room of the Town Office Building Commissioners Present: Phil Hamilton, Alex Dohan, Dick Wolk, Ruth Ladd, Kevin Beuttell, Duke Bitsko Others present: Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator 6:30pm Request by Greenway Corridor Committee to demarcate Lexington ACROSS Routes J and K on existing trails within Liberty Heights, Sutherland Woods, and West Farm Conservation Areas Mike Tabazynski, GCC Representative, explained that they are planning on marking some existing trails on Conservation land as GCC trails in Liberty Heights, Sutherland Woods, and West Farm. They are planning on adding two more routes. They are trying to highlight Conservation areas that are less popular. Questions and comments from the commission: The Commission asked for clarification regarding what signs are to be used. Mr. Tabazyski stated that they will be using the ACROSS markers that they have used on other trails. The commission asked if they are creating new trails. Mr. Tabazyski stated that they are only using existing trails. It was pointed out by staff that the entrance into West Farm across from Bruce Road was a new access trail. The Commission requested that the trail connection be modified at this location from Bruce Road to travel south on the Oak Street sidewalk and connect into West Farm at the existing access trail into West Farm. The Commission discussed trails that may cross over private property, specifically the proposed new route that will connect from the main Sutherland Woods path to Peacock Farm Road. The Commission viewed photos of the current trail conditions in the Sutherland Woods to Peacock Farm Road connection and the Commission was concerned because the trail from Sutherland Woods conservation area appeared to involve constructing new trail through to Peacock Farm Road and appeared the trail may cross on to private property. Thus, the Commission discussed that any proposed new trail route connection from conservation land over the town property between 41 and 43 Peacock Farm Road should require research of the town deed and a survey of the town land bounds to ensure the proposed new trail connection from Sutherland Woods to Peacock Farm Road falls on town land or, if not, appropriate trail easements from private properties are obtained prior to installation and marking as an ACROSS route. Motion to conditionally grant permission to mark Route J and K ACROSS trails on Conservation Land made by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Mr. Beuttell. The subject conditions are to reroute the trail connection from Bruce Road in to West Farm Conservation Area to travel southerly along the Oak Street sidewalk and connect in at the existing trailhead (instead of constructing a new access trailhead into West Farm Conservation Area from Oak Street across from Bruce Road) and to research the Peacock Farm Road town land deed and survey the property bounds prior to install and marking the ACROSS Route connection from Sutherland Woods to Peacock Farm Road to ensure trail route falls on town land or applicable trail easements with private property owners are obtained if trail falls on private property. Vote: 5-0. Ms. Dohan recused herself from the vote since she is a member of the Greenway Corridor Committee. 6:45pm Cranberry Hill Conservation Area Deer Enclosures and Monitoring Presentation by Minuteman High School Students Jason Kim, Brenna Sythe, Otto Rodenbaucher- Minuteman High School Students, Environmental Science majors. The students explained that as part of their Environmental Studies program, they are working with the Lexington Conservation Department and Harvard School of Forestry to study impacts of deer on habitat in Lexington. They are gathering information regarding deer population, diseases carried by deer, and impact on habitat by deer. As part of this research, they have built an enclosure at Cranberry Hill Conservation Area to use as a control plot to compare to another plot on site to see the effects of deer on vegetation. Deer will not be able to get inside of the enclosure, but other animals will be able to. Monitoring the plots will be an ongoing project. Questions and comments from the Commission: The Commission commended the students on their presentation. The Commission asked if the enclosures will have signs notifying people of what is happening. They stated they are planning on putting up signs the upcoming week. The Commission asked how long they plan to collect data for. They stated that this will be an ongoing project for the next few years. The Commission asked if the Norway maple is a high preference plant for deer. The students explained that the deer prefer high sugar plants so they are not sure if the Norway Maple is sweet enough for the deer. 6:59pm Request by Conservation Steward Holly Samuels to use pesticides as a plan change at Cataldo Reservation and along Mill Brook to control invasive species in accordance with Negative Determination of Applicability (DET 17-12) conditions Motion to approve made by Mr. Beuttell and seconded by Mr. Wolk. Vote: 6-0 in favor. Approval of Expenditure from Lexington Nature Trust up to $501 This expenditure will be used for Native Plant restoration in Daisy Wilson Meadow. Motion to approve expenditure made by Mr. Wolk and seconded by Mr. Beuttell. Vote: 6-0 in favor. 7:02 pm NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS DEP 201-1098, BL 1055 NOI, 4 Grimes Road Owner/applicant: Irene Palmieri Project: Home addition Motion to continue the hearing to 5/29/2018 at the applicant's request made by Mr. Wolk and seconded by Ms. Ladd. Vote: 6-0 in favor. DEP 201-1099, BL 1056 NOI, 473 Lowell Street Owner/applicant: Saurabh and Naridini Lshatriya Project: Home addition Mary Trudeau- Wetland Consultant Ms. Trudeau explained that her client proposing to build an addition to their house. The lot has a perennial stream. The proposed addition is no closer than the existing house lot at 37.5 ft. from the wetlands. Currently, there is 1,500 sq. ft. of lawn area that is actually wetland. Her client is proposing to restore the lawn area and remove a shed within the wetlands. A stormwater system is proposed. Mr. Hamilton entered the engineering report into the record. Questions and comments from the Commission: The commission stated that it was not clear if the engineer adhered to the Lexington Stormwater by-law. Ms. Trudeau stated she was going to check with the engineer. The commission stated that there is a portion of the driveway that is being repaved and is not included in the stormwater calculations. Ms. Trudeau stated she was going to check with the engineer. The commission requested that the fabric be removed from the bottom of the infiltration system. The commission stated that a small portion of the infiltration system falls within the easement. The applicant stated she will talk to the engineer about sliding it forward. The commission asked for clarification regarding whether the stream is intermittent or perennial. Ms. Trudeau explained that she ran the stream stats to show that there is less than 1 sq. mile of watershed. The commission requested that FENO makers be added to the plan. The commission stated that the FENO markers can demarcate the BVW line. The commission asked that the engineer use the town standards for the O and M Plan. Motion to continue the hearing to 5/29/2018 at the applicant's request made by Ms. Dohan and seconded by Mr. Wolk. Vote: 6-0 in favor. 7:21pm DEP 201-1100, BL 1057 NOI, 85 Maple Street Owner/applicant: Seaver Construction Project: Raze and rebuild SFD Mary Trudeau- wetland consultant Ms. Trudeau explained that her client is proposing to raze and rebuild a single family home. There site is within the 200 ft. riverfront buffer and the 100 ft. buffer to wetlands. The proposed work is outside of the 100ft. Riverfront area and wetland buffer. There are four existing sheds within the buffer that they are proposing to remove. Ms. Trudeau stated that the applicant is also proposing to restore the buffer in the same area where the neighbor at 79 Maple did. A stormwater system is proposed. Mr. Hamilton entered engineering report into the record. Questions and comments from the Commission: The commission expressed concern about the basement floor being below the ground water on this site because of poor infiltrated soils in the area. Ms. Trudeau stated she will talk to the engineer regarding this issue. The commission also asked that she confirm that test pits were done by a professional soil evaluator. The commission stated that they will require FENO markers along restoration area. The applicant agreed to this. The commission stated that there was concern about the location of some of the wetland flags based on the delineation at the adjacent property. Motion to continue the hearing to 5/29/2018 at the applicant's request made by Ms. Dohan and seconded by Ms. Dohan. Vote: 6-0 in favor. Continued Public Meetings 7:35pm DET 18-8 RDA, 489 Concord Ave Applicant/owner: The Cotting School Project: Increased use of existing path Motion to continue the hearing to 5/29/2018 at the applicant's request made by Mr. Wolk and seconded by Mr. Bitsko. Vote: 6-0 in favor. 7:35pm DEP 201-1092, BL 1049 NOI, 7 Ledgelawn Ave Owner/applicant: Jian Shao Project: Raze and rebuild SFD Mary Trudeau- Wetland consultant Ms. Trudeau explained that she has met with a DEP representative who recommended that they take a patchwork approach to the Riverfront Act in this situation. The commission discussed the Riverfront Act and what standards should be applied to this project. The commission felt that the redevelopment standards are applicable in this situation. The applicant explained that the information she was given from the DEP was different from what the commission has been telling her. Motion to continue the hearing to 5/29/2018 at the applicant's request made by Mr. Wolk and seconded by Ms. Ladd. Vote: 6-0 in favor. 7:50pm Request for Certificate of Compliance: DEP 201-331, BL 283, 960-1010 Waltham Street, Pump house and irrigation system, J. Borrebach, OHI Engineering Mr. Wolk recused himself. Mr. Bill Dailey explained that during a title search, it was discovered that an Order of Conditions from 1993 did not receive a Certificate of Compliance. An irrigation well was installed within the BVW. Mr. Borrebach explained that he cannot certify that the work was done correctly, but they do have a well driller's record stating the work was done as proposed. The area is stabilized. Questions and comments from the Commission: The commission asked for clarification that the work was done correctly. Mr. Borrebach stated that everything on site is currently functioning and has been for 25 years. There is no effect to the wetlands on site. Motion to issue a Certificate of Compliance made by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Mr. Wolk. Vote: 5-0 in favor. Request for a second Insignificant Plan Change Request involving grading and retaining wall modifications on the southern existing campus portion of the site: DEP 201-1066, BL 1023, Brookhaven, 960-1010 Waltham St, J. Borrebach, OHI Engineering Mr. Wolk recused himself. Mr. Dailey explained that during construction of the wall, organic material was found as they dug down. There is concern that the organic soils will not support the wall. They are proposing to shorten the retaining wall as much as possible. In the areas where they cannot shorten it, they are proposing a geoweb reinforced retaining wall. They are proposed seed mix to stabilize the slope. Once a year, the slope of the wall will be mowed once a year. Questions and comments from the commission: The commission asked where the 1:1 slope will be. Mr. Borrebach explained that it will just be on the slope behind the guard rail. The commission stated that they want to clarify how much geoweb reinforced wall they want to allow. The commission decided that up to 60 ft. of the retaining wall can use the geoweb material. The commission asked for more information regarding the geoweb and how long they are useful for. Mr. Borrebach stated that he has used geoweb for many years and has never had an issue. They have been around for a long time. Motion to approve insignificant plan change made by Mr. Beuttell and seconded by Ms. Ladd. Vote: 5-0 in favor. 8:07pm Approve minutes from 4/30/2018 meeting Motion to approve the minutes made by Ms. Dohan and seconded by Ms. Ladd. Vote: 6-0 in favor. Comments for Board of Selectmen Goal Setting Session on May 29, 2018 The commission will draft a letter outlining their priorities that may need selectmen support. Items include ongoing maintenance of Conservation Land, Wright Farm, and staying informed regarding the Hartwell Ave Zoning project. Schedule Site Visits for the 5/29/2018 Meeting Site visits were scheduled for Saturday 5/26/2018. Reports Ms. Ladd reported that she saw a shed behind the property at 91 Woburn Street. Ms. Mullins will follow up on this. It may not be that property. 8:23pm Motion to adjourn made by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Mr. Beutell. Vote: 6-0 in favor. Respectfully Submitted, Casey Hagerty Conservation Department Assistant Approved 6/11/2018