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a M PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
APRIL 19TH Conservation Commission
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AGENDA Monday,April 26, 2021, 6:30 p.m.
Pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of
the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, and the Governor's March 15, 2020 and
subsequent Orders imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in
one place, this meeting of the Lexington Conservation Commission will be conducted
via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. No in-person attendance of
members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure that the
public can adequately access the proceedings in real time, via technological means. In
the event that we are unable to do so, despite best efforts, we will post on the Town of
Lexington website or through LexMedia an audio or video recording, transcript, or other
comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting.
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: Philip Hamilton, David Langseth, Duke Bitsko, Alex Dohan, Kevin
Beuttell, Ruth Ladd and Holly Samuels
Staff Present: Karen Mullins, Conservation Director and Meghan McNamara, Department
Assistant
6:30 PM New Business/Pendine Matters
David Hopkins, requestinguse se of pressure treated wood forag rden plot at Idylwilde Community
Garden
Mr. Hopkins was not present during the meeting. Conservation staff will follow up with his
request.
6:34 PM
LUPA-39, Brian Yun: request to install beehives at Idylwilde Community Garden
Members of the Commission informed Mr. Brian Yun that beehives already operate at Idylwilde
Community Garden and that Mr. Yun should contact Ms. Alix Bartsch who is the current
beekeeper at the community garden before coming back to the Commission. Ms. Samuels added
that the native bee population is already competing with the non-native honey bees.
6:41 PM
Request for Certificate of Compliance: 23 Coolidge Avenue, ViewPoint Cloud Permit# COC-21-
9, DEP4201-1084, BL# 1041
Ms. Mullins confirmed for the property owners, Timothy and Lauren Weeks, that the erosion
control can be removed; however, areas of possible erosion will need to be monitored for an
additional two years as an ongoing condition.
On a motion by Mr. Langseth 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:
Duke Bitsko —Aye
Kevin Beuttell—Aye
Alex Dohan—Aye
Ruth Ladd—Aye
David Langseth—Aye
Holly Samuels —Aye
Phil Hamilton—Aye
6:45 PM
Issue Order of Conditions: 32 Fairbanks Road, ViewPoint Cloud Permit# CNOI-21-9, DEP4201-
1215
On a motion by Mr. Beuttell and seconded by Ms. Dohan, the Commission voted 7-0 by roll call
vote to issue the Order of Conditions.
Record of vote as follows:
Duke Bitsko —Aye
Kevin Beuttell—Aye
Alex Dohan—Aye
Ruth Ladd—Aye
David Langseth—Aye
Holly Samuels —Aye
Phil Hamilton—Aye
6:46 PM
Issue Order of Conditions: 3 Joseph Comee Road, ViewPoint Cloud Permit# CNOI-21-13,
DEP4201-1217
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:
Duke Bitsko —Aye
Kevin Beuttell—Aye
Alex Dohan—Aye
Ruth Ladd—Aye
David Langseth—Aye
Holly Samuels —Aye
Phil Hamilton—Aye
6:47 PM
Schedule site visits for 5/10/2021 meeting
The site visits will take place on Monday, May 3, 2021 starting at 5:00 PM
Approve minutes: 4/12/2021
The 4/12/21 minutes will be approved at the next scheduled meeting.
Reports: Bike Advisory, Community Gardens, Community Preservation Committee, Greenway
Corridor Committee, Land Acquisition, Land Management, Land Steward Directors, and Tree
Committee, HIP Working Group
Mr. Hamilton informed the Commission that the Electric Heat Article passed as well as all of the
Tree Committee Articles.
No update from the HIP Working Group. Bylaw not being adopted but changes within the
Planning Board draft(?) to allow for minor site plan review.
7:00 PM New Public Meetings/Hearings
Amendment to the Order of Conditions: 7 Crosby Road, Maria Hastings School
ViewPoint Cloud Permit# AOOC-21-1, DEP4201-1079, BL# 1036
Applicant/Property Owner: Town of Lexington
Project: Adding 1,033 sq. ft. of pavement to improve bus turning and parent drop-off queueing.
Documentation Submitted.-
-
ubmitted:— Letter; From: Frederic W. King, DGT Associates; To: Lexington Conservation
Commission; RE: Hastings Elementary School Project at 7 Crosby Road Request for an
Minor Project Change; Date: 3/26/2021;
— Plan; "Vehicular Pavement Layout and Materials Plan"; Sheet No. 1.3.01; Stamped and
signed by: Frederic W. King, PE Civil No. 38039; Date: 3/25/2021;
— "Stormwater Management Design and Runoff Calculations Report for Maria Hastings
Elementary School"; Prepared for: DiNisco Design; Prepared by: Schofield Brothers
LLC; Stamped and signed by: Fredric W. King, PE Civil No. 38089; Date: 11/15/2017
and revised 4/16/2021;
Mr. Kevin Riopelle, Project Manager with DGT Associates, presented before the Commission.
The project team is requesting the amendment for an additional 1,033 square feet of pavement to
allow adequate room for bus turnaround as it currently interferes with the parent drop-off lane.
Mr. Riopelle informed the Commission that all work is outside of the 100 foot buffer zone, and
that both Bioretention Basin 42 and Recharger 42 have the capacity to accept the additional
volumes from the impervious surface runoff.
Mr. Michael Sprague, Lexington Engineering, suggested prior to the meeting that the applicant
install a double inlet catch basin to better capture the flow. Although not shown on the plan
presented before the Commission during the meeting, the proposal is to install a double inlet
catch basin on the basin to the right. Mr. Langseth requested that the updated plans be submitted
for the record.
On a motion by Ms. Samuels and seconded by Ms. Ladd, the Commission voted 7-0 by roll call
vote to close the hearing.
Record of vote as follows:
Duke Bitsko —Aye
Kevin Beuttell—Aye
Alex Dohan—Aye
Ruth Ladd—Aye
David Langseth—Aye
Holly Samuels —Aye
Phil Hamilton—Aye
7:09 PM
Request for Determination of Applicability: Valley Road Tennis Courts
ViewPoint Cloud Permit# CDOA-21-2
Applicant/Property Owner: Town of Lexington, Recreation and Community Programs
Documentation Submitted.-
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ubmitted:— WPA Form 1: Request for Determination of Applicability application; Prepared for:
Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs; Prepared by: Megan
Buczynski, Activitas; Date: 4/14/2021;
— Plans; "Site Plan" Sheet No. L1.1 and "Detail Sheet P' Sheet L2.1; Prepared for: Town of
Lexington, Valley Road Tennis Courts; Prepared by: Activitas; Stamped and signed by:
Megan E. Buczynski, PE Civil No. 47392; Date: 4/14/2021;
— Memorandum/Detailed Project Description; From: Megan Buczynski, Activitas, To:
Lexington Conservation Commission; RE: Request for Determination of Applicability
Narrative; Date: 4/13/2021;
— Photographs of Site; Not dated;
Ms. Megan Buczynski, Principal Civil Engineer with Activitas, presented before the
Commission. The proposal is to repaint the existing tennis courts, clean the existing drainage
structure, pipe and outlet, install porous asphalt at the existing gravel parking area and walkways.
This proposal is part of Lexington's mission to provide ADA accessible facilities to its residents.
Questions and Comments from the Commission:
— What prevents people from parking to the right of the proposed paved area?
— Has the representative updated the site plan to reflect the detail on the pervious paver
walkway?
— Do people drive over a Cape Cod berm?
Response from the Representative:
— A barrier could be added to prevent parking to the side of the paved area, however I
would not like to put in curbs.
— The site plan will be adjusted to show the walkway as flush with the ground. It currently
shows the walkways being raised 4 inches.
— A Cape Cod berm is similar to a low profile asphalt curb that people will drive over to
access the parking area. It will help to keep the water flowing down Valley Road and into
the catch basin.
Ms. Wei Zhao, property owner of 25 Valley Road, asked how the change from gravel to paved
parking will affect the runoff towards her property southeast. Ms. Buczynski responded that the
gravel is being replaced with a porous pavement.
On a motion by Mr. Langseth and seconded by Ms. Dohan, the Commission voted 7-0 by roll
call vote to issue a Negative Determination with conditions.
Record of vote as follows:
Duke Bitsko —Aye
Kevin Beuttell—Aye
Alex Dohan—Aye
Ruth Ladd—Aye
David Langseth—Aye
Holly Samuels —Aye
Phil Hamilton—Aye
7:24 PM
Continued Public Meetings/Hearings
ViewPoint Cloud Permit# CN0I-21-11, DEP#201-1219
Ecological Restoration Notice of Intent: 27 and 29 Constitution Road
Applicant: Town of Lexington Department of Engineering
Property Owners: Andreina Toro (27 Constitution Rd), Ricardo Fernandes (29 Constitution Rd)
Project: Kiln Brook culvert daylighting. An existing 36" RCP drain pipe that discharges to Kiln
Brook will be converted to an open stream channel, including a stone lined channel, native
vegetation plantings, a vegetated retaining wall, and an 8'x4' box culvert.
Previous Meeting Dates: 3/29/2021, 4/12/2021
Supplemental Documentation: None
Prior to the meeting, DEP issued a filing number for the ecological restoration and also provided
a list of questions for the applicant to follow up on. The consulting team did not yet have the
time to submit a formal response to DEP and went over the list of questions and responses with
the Conservation Commission.
Responses from the Representatives:
• Invasive species management will include maintenance over the years and will be the
responsibility of the DPW covered under existing policies and procedures.
• Currently running a model to evaluate downstream impacts further than 300 feet.
• Will keep the 10-year storm within the banks of the channel. Mr. Varoujan stated that he
observed the area multiple times during multiple seasons and did not witness a high
groundwater level. He added that a high ground water would be good to vegetate and
nourish the new species community.
• Not creating any new impervious area and providing a small sediment trap.
• No formal trash racks are being proposed but do have a grate that will go over the outlet;
however, it is not meant for trash. Any waste will move through the channel just as it
does today.
• The channel geometry was determined by existing drainage easement and, due to being
between private properties, there just isn't the space to meander the channels.
• Converting the concrete pipe to an open channel will provide growth for aquatic wildlife
and a natural habitat over time.
• There is a safety fence to prevent downhill access. There is a steep slope, however only in
a limited area and there is plenty of room for wildlife to navigate the area.
On a motion by Mr. Langseth and seconded by Ms. Ladd, the Commission voted 7-0 by roll call
vote to continue the hearing to the May 10, 2021 meeting at the applicant's request.
Record of vote as follows:
Duke Bitsko —Aye
Kevin Beuttell—Aye
Alex Dohan—Aye
Ruth Ladd—Aye
David Langseth—Aye
Holly Samuels —Aye
Phil Hamilton—Aye
7:44 PM
ViewPoint Cloud Permit# CDOA-21-1
Request for Determination of Applicability: 500 Shire Way
Applicant: Takeda Pharmaceutical, Co. Ltd.
Property Owner: Shire Human Genetic Therapies Inc.
Project: repave the parking lot and associated roadways. The majority of the lot will pulverize
the existing asphalt in-place and the new pavement will be placed over it. The paving closer to
the building will be removed and replaced. The project will also include other elements to
capture stormwater flow and treat the runoff. New perimeter and interior curbing will be
installed as well as new site lighting poles.
Previous Meeting Date: 4/12/2021
Supplemental Documentation:
— Letter; From: John Hart, PE, SMMA, To: Lexington Conservation Commission; RE:
Takeda-Parking Lot Improvements; Date: 4/20/2021;
— Plans: C-101 "Existing Conditions Plan", C-111 "Site Preparation Plan", C-121 "Layout
and Materials Plan", C-141 "Grading and Drainage Plan", and C-501 "Details I";
Prepared for: Takeda; Prepared by: Symmes Maini and McKee Associates (SMMA);
Stamped and signed by: John C. Hart, PE Civil No. 36738; Date: 3/23/21; Revised:
4/20/2021;
— Water Quality Units Sizing Calculations; Prepared for: Takeda, 500 Shire Way; Prepared
by: SMMA; Date: 4/16/2021;
— Letter; From: Jamie O'Connell, Cambridge Water Department, To: Lexington
Conservation Commission; RE: Request for Determination of Applicability by Takeda
for Parking Lot Repaving and Stormwater Management Improvements at 500 Shire Way;
Date: 4/21/2021;
John Hart, Project Engineer with SMMA, presented before the Commission. Mr. Hart responded
to comments made by the Commission at the previous meeting, including the removal of 5
parking spots in the northeast corner of the lot to reduce impervious cover near wetlands, and the
addition of"no snow storage" signs in areas of the parking lot.
The applicant and the Conservation Commission both received a letter from Ms. Jamie
O'Connell at the Cambridge Water Department requesting that Takeda use an 80% sand/20%
salt mix for the winter deicing efforts to help reduce the chloride load that has impacted the
Hobbs Brook Watershed. Mr. Hart stated that Takeda currently uses a 20 sand/80 ice mixture
and will research to use more sand than ice in their mixtures; however, he couldn't provide an
exact number during the meeting. Mr. Hart added that Takeda does sweep the parking lots twice
a year in April and October, and that they could add another sweep around the month of
February.
Mr. Bitsko commented that the applicant should reach out to other commercial sites in the area
and ask what is being done on those sites to satisfy the Cambridge Water Department.
On a motion by Mr. Langseth and seconded by Mr. Beuttell, the Commission voted 7-0 by roll
call vote to issue a Negative Determination with conditions.
Record of vote as follows:
Duke Bitsko —Aye
Kevin Beuttell—Aye
Alex Dohan—Aye
Ruth Ladd—Aye
David Langseth—Aye
Holly Samuels —Aye
Phil Hamilton—Aye
8:08 PM
ViewPoint Cloud Permit# CNOI-21-14 (No DEP#, Local bylaw only)
Notice of Intent: 1060 Waltham Street
Applicant: Core States Group
Property Owner: Waltham MSG LLC (The Grossman Companies, Inc.)
Project: re-use of an existing drainage connection
Previous Meeting Date: 4/12/2021
Supplemental Documentation:
— "Custom Soil Resource Report for Middlesex County, Massachusetts, JMP.26247 Chase
Waltham"; Date: May 26, 2020
Mr. Alan Roscoe, Project Engineer with Core States Group, presented before the Commission.
Mr. Roscoe stated that the entire site is situated with an overlying fill condition and organic peat
deposit, and that the proposed site development is providing additional treatment with a
significant reduction in impervious surface.
Members of the Commission asked about the infiltration done on the site and Mr. Roscoe
responded that the test holes were done to about 5-7 feet and they filled with groundwater below
the saturation level. It is Mr. Roscoe's opinion, based on experience, that the soil is saturated
below the ground surface; however, the Commission is not willing to close the hearing without
additional tests. The Commission is requesting that additional percolation tests be performed,
specifically at least two tests between B4 and B5.
On a motion by Mr. Langseth and seconded by Mr. Beuttell, the Commission voted 7-0 by roll
call vote to continue the hearing to the May 10, 2021 meeting at the applicant's request.
Record of vote as follows:
Duke Bitsko —Aye
Kevin Beuttell—Aye
Alex Dohan—Aye
Ruth Ladd—Aye
David Langseth—Aye
Holly Samuels —Aye
Phil Hamilton—Aye
On a motion by Ms. Dohan and seconded by Ms. Ladd, the Commission voted 7-0 by roll call
vote to adjourn the meeting at 8:54 PM
Record of vote as follows:
Duke Bitsko —Aye
Kevin Beuttell—Aye
Alex Dohan—Aye
Ruth Ladd—Aye
David Langseth—Aye
Holly Samuels —Aye
Phil Hamilton—Aye
Respectfully Submitted,
Meghan McNamara
Conservation Department Assistant
Approved: 5/10/2021
Archived: 5/11/2021