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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-13-CONCOM-min OVS MORPVI"G Off` OP aw PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES APRIL 19- Conservation Commission Meering broadcasted by LexMedia AGENDA Monday, January 13'h, 6:30 p.m., Parker Room, Town Office Building Commissioners Present: Phil Hamilton, David Langseth, Alex Dohan, Holly Samuels, Kevin Beuttell and Ruth Ladd Staff Present: Jordan McCarron, Karen Mullins and Katie Luczai 6:30 pm - Stewardship Report: 2019 Year in Review Hayden Woods Improvement Project • The Conservation Department received the grant in 2017 and have completed the project during 2019. • Roughly 0.25 miles of trail was improved. • The trail connected Hayden Avenue and Waltham Street trail heads to the main trail system in Hayden Woods. This connection was created in hopes to provide possible future trail connections through ACROSS Lexington. • Ms. Mullins, the Conservation Director, noted that any formal connections created for commercial properties on Hayden Avenue would have to be established with trail easements. This was in response to a comment regarding the possibility of making permanent a temporary access trail from 33 Hayden Ave. Goodwin Properties • Members of the Citizens for Lexington Conservation (CLC) and Conservation staff completed baseline reporting and paperwork for a conservation restriction on the two Goodwin Parcels, located in Meagherville and Katandin Woods Conservation Areas. The CRs are currently awaiting state review. Cotton Farm • The major project at Cotton Farm to improve trails, parking and construct an overlook platform was started in 2019 and is now substantially completed. • Conservation Steward Jeff Howry reported on the orchard at Cotton Farm. The apple trees at Cotton Farm had a very difficult year. There was about 100% fruit loss due to hot weather, disease and insects. • In the coming year the orchard will require continued monitoring, mulching and possible irrigation/spraying. • Educational programs about orchard maintenance will continue in the coming year. Joyce Miller's Meadow • The wildflower propagation area continues to be established in Joyce Millar's Meadow. The site primarily is home to New England blazing star plants. • The planting project is permitted through the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) • The Stewards will be doing an indoor seeding session to begin new plantings in winter 2020. West Farm • The neighbors to West Farm have begun meadow preservation efforts, focusing first on clearing vegetation away from stone walls. • This work will mesh nicely with the Conservation Division's plans to submit a capital funding request through the CPA for meadow preservation at West Farm in FY22. Invasive Species Maintenance • The Stewards and Conservation Staff continue to complete garlic mustard pulling projects. • Japanese stilt grass eradication continues at Wright Farm Etc. • The Conservation Dept. held their second annual spring celebration event at Wright Farm in April of 2019. • Scout groups have continued to complete conservation projects. 7:15 pm - Capital Project Updates o Hayden Woods trail improvements have been completed and the final grant report has been submitted. o Parker Meadow Accessible Trail project is in the design and permitting phase. o Willard's Woods Improvements project is in the land management planning phase; this phase also includes a concept design for Universally Accessible parking and trail upgrades to the property. o The Cotton Farm project is expected to be fully completed by spring 2020. o The Conservation Dept. submitted and received a program improvement request to increase the summer conservation land management staff to three and increase their hourly wage; 2019 was the first year with this new configuration ■ The Department had a wonderful summer staff who contributed greatly to the maintenance of the conservation areas in Lexington. o The Dept. continues meadow preservation programming throughout conservation areas in Lexington. The primary focus at the moment is on Wright Farm. Review of FY21 Funding Requests 2020 Project Planning (FY20/21) o The design for Parker Meadow will be completed this spring. Construction funding for the project will be voted on during the spring 2020 town meeting. o Funding for Daisy Wilson Meadow has been requested through the CPA. If approved, the project would be started in the fall/winter 2020/2021. o The Conservation Department will continue to develop land management planning for the long term care of the conservation areas in Lexington. o The acquisition of the two parcels on Sherburne Rd South and Kendall Rd will need conservation restrictions placed on them;Jordan will be working on that this winter. o The Cotton Farm Orchard will need continued maintenance that may include pesticide spraying. o The Conservation Department will also continue its habitat enrichment project at Cataldo Reservtion in East Lexington install additional trail signage at Meagherville and start field edge clearing at Shaker Glen. Possible Projects for FY20/21 - Dunback Meadow Garden Restoration o After closing the garden last year the Conservation Dept. is now focusing on restoring the garden back as open space. All man made materials need to be removed. Given the protected resource areas on the property any restoration would need to be permitted with the Conservation Commission. - Boardwalk Replacement o Boardwalks need to be replaced at Willard's Woods, Dunback Meadow and Juniper Hill. - A University of Rhode Island researcher is looking to conduct research on utilizing a hypena moth bio-control for black swallowoart. Jordan is working with her to get a land use permit application from the Conservation Commission. Looking Ahead: Goal Setting FY22-26 o Wright Farm ■ Funding requests are in for parking and general improvements. The next step is to consider what to do with the barn located on the property. A subcommittee has been formed to evaluate how to best utilize the property. o Parker Meadow ■ The Conservation Dept. will explore getting baseline information and management plan in place for the pond on the property; this is in response to a lot of public concern about the pond voiced at public meetings and through e-mail during the UA trail upgrade design phase. o Willard's Woods ■ The Conservation Dept. will be considering upgrading the trail system in Willard's Woods to be ADA accessible. o The Department will be updating its Open Space&Recreation Plan in coordination with the Recreation Department in 2022. Greenway Corridor Committee o Brookhaven Trail Connection ■ The GCC is looking to connect trails behind 1010 Waltham Street (Brookhaven). The land behind Brookhaven is owned by the state and has already been approved by the DCR. There are several vernal pools and an abundance of protected resources to consider if they are to establish trails in the area. o Community Connector ■ The GCC would like the Conservation Commission and Stewards to consider developing a trail system referred to as the Community Connector which would go from the Lexington Children's Place to Cotton Farm. On a motion by Ms. Dohan and seconded by Mr. Beuttell, the Commission voted 6-0 to adjourn the meeting.