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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-05-29-CONCOM-min TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES Tuesday May 29, 2018 6:30 P.M. Parker Room, Town Office Building 1625 Massachusetts Ave Chair Philip Hamilton opened the meeting at 6:32pm in the Parker Room of the Town Office Building Commissioners Present: Phil Hamilton, Alex Dohan, Ruth Ladd, Kevin Beuttell, Others present: Casey Hagerty, Conservation Department Assistant 6:32pm Approval to expend funds from the Lexington Nature Trust for the reprint of the Conservation Land Trail Guide. Motion to approve expenditure made by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Mr. Beuttell. Vote: 4-0 in favor. 6:36pm Issue Certificate of Compliance for 92 Grant Street DEP 201-1008, BL 965 Motion to issue Certificate of Compliance made by Ms. Dohan and seconded by Mr. Beuttell. Vote: 4-0 in favor. 6:37pm Approve minutes from 5/14/2018 meeting This will be reviewed at the next meeting. 6:37pm Schedule Site Visits for the 6/11/2018 Meeting Site visits were scheduled for Saturday 6/9/2018 at 2pm. 6:41pm Land Use Permit Application from Lucy Hutyera to conduct a long-term forest health research experiment at Sutherland Woods in conjunction with the USDA and Boston University. The commission stated that they are going to approve this project based on approval from Conservation Staff They requested that the applicant share the research results with them. Motion to issue the Land Use Permit made by Mr. Beuttell and seconded by Ms. Dohan. Vote: 4- 0 in favor. 6:55pm NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS DET 18-10 80 Hayden Ave Owner: MassDOT Applicant: Crown Castle Fiber, Robert Walls Project: Conduit installation Shelly Cullin- Fiber Engineer Documents: RDA Filing Ms. Cullin stated that she has proposed two options to the Commission for conduit installation. The first is their proposed method which would following the grassy area between the curb and sidewalk. The second option would take place in the street and follow the curb line. Questions and comments from the Commission: The commission stated that they find either method acceptable. Motion to issue a Negative Determination with conditions made by Mr. Beuttell and seconded by Ms. Ladd. Vote: 4-0 in favor. 7:O1pm DET 18-11 32 Hartwell Ave Owner/applicant: Melanie Waldron, Boston Properties Project: Landscape Improvements Nick Skoly- VHB Engineering Documents: RDA Filing Mr. Skoly explained that there is one dead tree in the bufferzone at 32 Hartwell that they are proposing to remove. Motion to issue a Negative Determination with Conditions made by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Ms. Dohan. Vote: 4-0 in favor. DET 18-12 33 Hayden Ave Owner/applicant: Melanie Waldron, Boston Properties Project: Landscape Improvements Nick Skoly- VHB Engineering Documents: RDA Filing Mr. Skoly stated that on this site there is one dead tree within the wetland. They are proposing to remove that tree and plant another tree in its place. Questions and comments from the commission: The commission discussed what type of tree is proposed to be planted. The commission stated that they would like to see more than one tree proposed. Mr. Skoly stated that he will talk with the property owner. Motion to continue the hearing to 6/11/2018 at the applicant's request made by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Mr. Beuttell. Vote: 4-0 in favor. DET 18-13 92 Hayden Ave Owner/applicant: Melanie Waldron, Boston Properties Project: Landscape Improvements Nick Skoly- VHB Engineering Documents: RDA Filing Mr. Skoly explained that there are some trees that are 5-6 sick trees within the buffer that they are proposing to remove. Questions and comments from the Commission: The Commission stated that they thought there were a few other trees that were also sick that they are okay with the applicant removing. Motion to issue a Negative Determination with Conditions made by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Mr. Beuttell. Vote: 4-0 in favor. 7:10pm DET 18-9 25 Rangeway Owner/applicant: Camille Jones Project: Construction activities Camille Jones- homeowner Documents: RDA Filing Ms. Jones explained that they are proposing to build an addition to the front of their house. The addition is outside of the 100ft. buffer. Construction vehicles will be accessing the site through the buffer. They are proposing erosion controls. Questions and comments from the Commission: The commission asked if they are going to be doing anything to the driveway. Ms. Jones stated that they are thinking about paving the driveway as it is now gravel. The commission stated that if she does do anything to the driveway she will have to go back to the Commission for approval. Motion to issue a Negative Determination with Conditions made by Mr. Wolk and seconded by Ms. Dohan. Vote: 4-0 in favor. 7:16pm DEP 201-1101, BL 1058 443 Lincoln Street Owner: The Gertrude M. Piantedosi Trust Applicant: Symes Development and Permitting LLC Project: Balanced housing development and associated site work Richard Harrington- Stamski and McNary, Bill Watt- owner representative Documents: NOI Filing, Plan 5/15/2018 Mr. Harrington explained that they are proposing to build an eight unit balanced housing development. The two existing houses on the site will be demolished. The units towards the front of the lot will be within the 100 ft. buffer to the Cambridge Reservior. The units in the rear of the lot will be within the 200 ft. riverfront buffer. They are proposing to revegetate the 100 ft. inner riparian zone as well as create a meadow area underneath the power lines. There will be a trail that will connect to the Old Mill Road trail. A storm water system is proposed for each unit as well as the roadway. Mr. Hamilton entered the Engineering report into the record. Mr. Hamilton entered the Cambridge Water Departments report into the record. Questions and comments from the Commission: The commission asked if the applicant as well as the Conservation Office are able to handle yearly monitoring reports as required by the Cambridge Water Department. The applicant stated that they are aware and open to this condition. The commission asked for more details regarding the meadow restoration and the management of the meadow. The applicant stated that they are proposing to pull all of the invasive species on the site. If hand pulling does not work, they will use a small machine to remove invasive species. They are going to be working with a Landscape architect for the planting plan. The commission stated that they will require three years of monitoring of invasive species. The applicant agreed to this but stated the responsibility will transfer to the HOA once the units are sold. He added that because there is an Eversource ROW under the power lines, the company has a right to mow the area without notice. The commission asked for details regarding the drywells at each unit. The commission stated that the geotextile fabric should be removed from the bottom of the infiltration systems. Motion to continue the hearing to 6/11/18 at the applicant's request made by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Ms. Dohan. Vote: 4-0 in favor. Continued Public Meetings DET 18-8 RDA, 489 Concord Ave Applicant/owner: The Cotting School Project: Increased use of existing path Meg Buczynski- Activitas, Bridget Irish- Cotting School, Bruce Embry- Attorney Documents: Memo from Activitas 5/14/2018 Ms. Buczynski explained that she has done some more research into the historic uses of the existing path. The commission discussed the proposed conditions for the path. The stated that they are okay with the snow being cleared with a snow blower. The commission stated that they want the path demarcated with 8-12inch stones on both sides of the path. If the tennis court needs to be maintained, the vehicle may access it from the school side of the lot. The commission stated that electric wheelchairs may also use the path. If any trees need to be trimmed or removed, the school will consult with an arborist and then contact the Conservation Office to review. Motion to continue the hearing 6/11/2018 at the applicant's request made by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Mr. Beuttell. Vote: 4-0 in favor. DEP 201-1092, BL 1049 NOI, 7 Ledgelawn Ave Owner/applicant: Jian Shao Project: Raze and rebuild SFD Motion to continue the hearing to 6/11/18 at the applicant's request made by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Ms. Dohan. Vote: 4-0 in favor. DEP 201-1098, BL 1055 NOI, 4 Grimes Road Owner/applicant: Irene Palmieri Project: Home addition Motion to continue the hearing to 6/11/18 at the applicant's request made by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Ms. Dohan. Vote: 4-0 in favor. DEP 201-1099, BL 1056 NOI, 473 Lowell Street Owner/applicant: Saurabh and Naridini Lshatriya Project: Home addition Motion to continue the hearing to 6/11/18 at the applicant's request made by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Ms. Dohan. Vote: 4-0 in favor. 8:03pm DEP 201-1100, BL 1057 NOI, 85 Maple Street Owner/applicant: Seaver Construction Project: Raze and rebuild SFD Mary Trudeau- wetlands scientist Documents: Plan 5/29/2018 Ms. Trudeau stated that she has gone back out to the site and has extended the wetlands line to the line at 79 Maple Street. She also explained that Mr. Fred Russell, the project engineer, is no longer a registered soil certifier, but that qualification is no longer needed under the new stormwater regulations. The applicant stated that they did raise the basement floor elevation by one foot and do not anticipate needing to constantly run a sump pump. The restoration plan has been revised to restore the entire 25-50 ft. buffer as well. Questions and comments from the Commission: The commission asked which infiltration system is the sump pump tied to. The applicant stated it is tied to the driveway trench drain and front infiltration system. The commission stated that FENO markers should extend along the entire Do Not Disturb boundary. The applicant stated she will update the plan to reflect that. Motion to close the hearing made by Mr. Beuttell and seconded by Ms. Dohan. Vote: 4-0 in favor. 8:18pm Motion to adjourn made by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Mr. Beuttell. Vote: 4-0 in favor. Respectfully Submitted, Casey Hagerty Conservation Department Assistant Approved 6/11/2018