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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-10-ConCom-min.pdf Meeting broadcasted by LexMedia PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES Conservation Commission ___________________________________________________________________________ AGENDA Monday, November 10th, 2025, 6:30 p.m. This Conservation Commission meeting was held remotely via Zoom, an online meeting platform. Public participation via calling in or using your computer was encouraged. Commissioners Present: Kevin Beuttell, Duke Bitsko, Alexandra Dohan, Philip Hamilton (Chair), Jason Hnatko, Ruth Ladd, and Thomas Whelan; Staff Present: Megan Downer, Department Assistant; Not present: Karen Mullins, Conservation Director 6:30 PM New Business/Pending Matters FY27 CPA Application: Silk Fields Farm Open Space Acquisition Letter of Support Request Mr. Hamilton stated that the Town Manager’s office has filed a request for the CPC for $700,000 to purchase a parcel abutting LexFarm land. The parcel is not conservation land. Mr. Hamilton stated that Town is seeking to purchase the land to keep the parcel open space. Mr. Beuttell stated there are no jurisdictional resources shown on the map of this parcel and asked why the Commission is being asked for their support of this purchase. Ms. Dohan stated that the property is on the Land Acquisition Committee’s list of potential parcels for conservation due to its proximity to LexFarm and the parcel is currently open space. Mr. Hamilton stated that the expressed intent of the purchase is to have a Conservation Restriction on the lot. Ms. Ladd stated that the parcel also abuts Conservation owned land and the parcel has value as a further buffer for the Riverfront Area of Munroe Brook. On a motion by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Mr. Beuttell, the Commission voted 7-0 by roll call vote to submit a letter of support for the Silk Fields Farm open space acquisition. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Duke Bitsko – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Philip Hamilton – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Tom Whelan – Aye Approve Minutes: 10/28/2025 On a motion by Ms. Dohan and seconded by Ms. Ladd, the Commission voted 7-0 by roll call vote to approve the 10/28/2025 minutes. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Duke Bitsko – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Philip Hamilton – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Tom Whelan – Aye Request for Certificate of Compliance: 60 Munroe Rd, DEP #201-990, BL 947 OpenGov COC- 25-17 Mr. Hamilton stated that this site is not ready for issuance of compliance. Request for Certificate of Compliance: 231 Bedford St, DEP #201-257, OpenGov COC-25-18 Mr. Hamilton stated that the pavement has been removed that was unpermitted. Ms. Ladd asked if the extra stretch of pavement that was discussed in the previous hearing has been removed as well. Ms. Martha Sevigny, on behalf of the owner, stated that this area of pavement behind the building has been removed and replaced with pea stone. On a motion by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Ms. Dohan, the Commission voted 7-0 by roll call vote to issue the Certificate of Compliance. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Duke Bitsko – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Philip Hamilton – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Tom Whelan – Aye Request for Certificate of Compliance: 42 Winthrop Rd, DEP #201-1265, OpenGov CNOI-22- 16, COC-25-20 Mr. Hamilton stated that this site is not ready for issuance of compliance. Ms. Downer stated that the Conservation Director, Karen Mullins, has provided comments on the OpenGov portal for review. Request for Certificate of Compliance: 92 Hill St, DEP #201-1332, OpenGov CNOI-24-24, COC-25-21, Partial Mr. Hamilton stated that this site is not ready for issuance of compliance. Vote to Issue Order of Conditions: 101 Blossomcrest Rd, DEP #201-1377, OpenGov CNOI-25- 22 On a motion by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Mr. Beuttell, the Commission voted 7-0 by roll call vote to issue the Order of Conditions. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Duke Bitsko – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Philip Hamilton – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Tom Whelan – Aye Vote to Issue Order of Resource Area Delineation: 28 Hathaway Rd, DEP #201-1372, OpenGov CORD-25-3 On a motion by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Mr. Hnatko, the Commission voted 7-0 by roll call vote to issue the Order of Resource Area Delineation. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Duke Bitsko – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Philip Hamilton – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Tom Whelan – Aye Schedule site visits: 11/25/2025 Meeting The site visits will be scheduled for Saturday November 22, 2025, starting at 9am. Approve 2026 Conservation Commission Calendar This item is postponed to the next Commission meeting. The Commission expressed interest in meeting every three weeks beginning in 2026. Reports: Bike Advisory, Community Gardens, Community Preservation Committee, Enforcement Updates, Greenway Corridor Committee, Land Acquisition, Land Management, Land Steward Directors, Tree Committee Mr. Beuttell stated that the CPC process has begun and no applications have been sent in for his review yet. The Commission voted on the received continuances prior to the hearings start time. Notice of Intent: 26 Watertown Street OpenGov Permit# CNOI-25-26, DEP #201-1376 Applicant/Property Owner: Eduardo Marfurte, Dalto’s Construction, Inc. Project: Raze and rebuild of a single-family dwelling and associated site appurtenances within the 100-foot buffer zone to Bank of a Pond. Previous Hearing Date: 10/28/2025 Supplemental Documentation Submitted:  None *Applicant has requested a continuance without testimony to 11/25/2025 On a motion by Ms. Dohan and seconded by Mr. Whelan the Commission voted 7-0 by roll call vote to continue the hearing to 11/25/2025, at the applicant’s request. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Duke Bitsko – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Philip Hamilton – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Tom Whelan – Aye Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation: 114 Wood Street OpenGov Permit# CORD-25-2, DEP #201-1370 Applicant/Property Owner: Scott Seaver, Seaver Construction Project: Confirmation of resource area delineation. Previous Hearing Dates: 6/24/25, 7/8/2025, 7/22/25 (no testimony), 8/12/2025 (no testimony), 8/26/2025, 9/9/2025 (no testimony), 9/30/2025, 10/14/2025 (no testimony) Supplemental Documentation Submitted:  None Mr. Hamilton stated that the applicant has requested a continuance to 11/25/2025. On a motion by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Ms. Dohan the Commission voted 7-0 by roll call vote to continue the hearing to 11/25/2025, at the applicant’s request. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Duke Bitsko – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Philip Hamilton – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Tom Whelan – Aye 7:00 PM Continued Public Meetings/Hearings Notice of Intent: 40 Earl Street OpenGov Permit# CNOI-25-27, DEP #201-1375 Applicant/Property Owner: Jonathan and Emily Igoe Project: Construction of an addition and a deck to a single-family dwelling and associated site appurtenances within the 100-foot buffer zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetlands. Previous Hearing Date: 10/28/2025 Supplemental Documentation Submitted:  Notice of Intent Plan; Locus: 40 Earl St, Lexington, MA; Prepared for: Jonathan Igoe; Prepared by: Meisner Brem Corporation; Stamped and Signed by: Ian John Ainslie, Civil PE No. 54919; Date: 10/6/2025; Revised: 11/5/2025  Memo; To: Lexington Conservation Commission; From: Ian Ainslie, PE, Meisner Brem Corporation; Subject: “40 Earl St” Notice of Intent DEP 201-1375; Date: 11/5/2025  Drainage Report; Locus: 40 Earl St, Lexington, MA; Prepared for: Jonathan Igoe; Prepared by: Ian John Ainslie, Civil PE No. 54919; Date: 10/6/2025; Revised: 11/5/2025  Engineering Comments; 11/10/2025 Mr. Ian Ainslie, Meisner Brem, presented and stated that at the previous site visit, the Commission noted that clearing had occurred on the rear of the property extending onto the Town’s conservation land. To mitigate for the clearing, a restoration plan has been proposed to restore 885 square feet with a native seed mix and trees and shrubs. Mr. Ainslie also stated that a soil test pit was completed, and boundary markers are proposed at the rear of the property to prevent any future encroachment onto the Town property. Mr. Hamilton stated that it is difficult to find high bush blueberries in the nearby nurseries that are native and not cultivars. Ms. Dohan stated that she found native high bush blueberries at New England Nurseries in Bedford this fall. Mr. Hamilton stated if Mr. Ainslie is unable to find native high bush blueberries and only cultivars, then he should contact Ms. Mullins for a replacement option. On a motion by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Mr. Bitsko the Commission voted 7-0 by roll call vote to close the hearing. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Duke Bitsko – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Philip Hamilton – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Tom Whelan – Aye Request for Determination of Applicability: 139 Worthen Road OpenGov Permit# CDOA-25-25 Applicant/Property Owner: Tom Havens Project: Overflow drain connection from an onsite stormwater management system into the municipal separate storm sewer system discharging to protected resource areas. Previous Hearing Dates: 10/14/2025 and 10/28/2025 Supplemental Documentation Submitted:  Engineering Comments; 11/10/2025 Mr. Ron Tiberi, project engineer, presented and stated that he spoke with Marissa Martel from the town Engineering Department and that she had suggested the test pit be done as a condition of approval prior to starting work and note this on the plan. However, Ms. Martel noted in the engineering comments that she would not recommend it. Mr. Hamilton stated that the Commission does need a positive engineering report in order to close the hearing. Mr. Beuttell stated that the test pit should be done prior to closing the hearing as the Commission normally requires this. On a motion by Mr. Hnatko and seconded by Ms. Dohan the Commission voted 7-0 by roll call vote to continue the hearing to 11/25/2025, at the applicant’s request. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Duke Bitsko – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Philip Hamilton – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Tom Whelan – Aye Notice of Intent: 58 Valleyfield Street OpenGov Permit# CNOI-25-23, DEP #201-1373 Applicant/Property Owner: Richard Deluca Project: Raze and rebuild of a single-family dwelling and associated site appurtenances within the 100-foot buffer zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetlands. Previous Hearing Dates: 10/14/2025and 10/28/2025 Supplemental Documentation Submitted:  58 Valleyfield Restoration Proposal Feedback Request Mr. Gregory Rosa, owner of 58 Valleyfield Street, presented an overview of the proposed raze and rebuild, and the invasive species management and replanting plan. Mr. Rosa stated that the proposed invasive species management includes hand pulling and selective herbicide treatment and management as needed. Mr. Rosa also presented a rough draft of the restoration planting plan which includes four Feno markers along the 25-foot buffer zone, removal of two trees, and replanting of four trees, shrubs, and a native seed mix. Ms. Ladd asked for clarification on the rhododendron to ensure no cultivar is planted and pointed out that butterfly weed and milkweed are not shrubs. Mr. Whelan stated that butterfly weed and milkweed need more sunlight and, as this is a shady area, he suggested sweet pepperbush, swamp azalea and winterberry instead. Ms. Ladd suggested shrubby dogwoods as well. The Commission agreed that they would approve the planting plan once formalized. On a motion by Ms. Dohan and seconded by Mr. Whelan the Commission voted 7-0 by roll call vote to continue the hearing to 11/25/2025, at the applicant’s request. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Duke Bitsko – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Philip Hamilton – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Tom Whelan – Aye On a motion by Ms. Ladd and seconded by Mr. Whelan, the Commission voted 7-0 by roll call vote to adjourn the meeting. Record of Vote as Follows: Kevin Beuttell – Aye Duke Bitsko – Aye Alex Dohan – Aye Philip Hamilton – Aye Jason Hnatko – Aye Ruth Ladd – Aye Tom Whelan – Aye 7:30pm Respectfully Submitted, Megan Downer LUHD Department Assistant Approved: 11/25/2025 Archived: 12/11/2025