HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-09-15-BLUPC-min
Busa Land Use Proposal Committee
Open Forum
Meeting Summary
Location: Cary Hall
Date: 15 September 2010
Attendees: Committee and Residents (sign-in sheet attached)
Authors: Ginna Johnson, Pam Shadley, Deborah Strod
1. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by chair David Horton.
2. Introduction/ David Horton
2.1 Introduction of committee members
2.2 Review of Board of Selectmen charge for committee
2.3 History of Town purchase of land
2.4 Contact information for committee
3. Description of land/ Pam Shadley
3.1 Town has contracted survey; will be available to all
3.2 Desciption of size, topography, vegetation, environmental resources under jurisdiction
4. Committee documents/ Deborah Strod
4.1 Drafts minutes will be available on website
4.2 Three documents now in draft form, to be reviewed and finalized by the committee at our next
meeting:
-Evaluation criteria for proposals
-Questionnaire for meeting attendees (demographic information and preferences)
-Proposal information
5. Open Forum Procedures/ David Horton, moderator
5.1 Distribution of numbered cards
5.2 Three to four minute limit
5.3 (Later) No applause for individual points of view
6. Committee and Town Representative Statements (given permission to speak first by Mr. Horton due to
schedule conflicts):
6.1 Town of Lexington Recreation Committee:
Advocate for multi-use of property including recreation
Need has grown in Lexington
Not enough fields, loss of fields, must turn down groups requesting fields
Boys, girls, all sports could be at Busa
6.2 Lexington Housing partnership (LexHab, Metrowest Collaborative Community Development,
Lexington Housing Partnership):
Supported the acquisition of land for housing
Affordable units using existing utilities
# of units important; greater density reduces cost
7. Mr. Horton cited 2 letters in support of community farming
8. Open Forum Statements (by number of speaker):
1. Community Farming
Consider ecological principles; species diversity is good, requires a mix of different types of land
Small-scale farming better than recreation or housing, farming should be primary use
Also site sensitive housing, but not playfields
2. Community Farming
Best asset for everyone, should be exclusively a farm
Provides healthy food
Can find alternatives for sports and housing, but not farming
Build an intergenerational community, an inter-ethnic community
3. Support Farming
Exposure to agriculture good, especially for children
Important connection to land and how food is grown
Historical preservation
4. Support Community Farm:
Personal experience: pick vegetables with daughter
Soccer Fields available, but not farm
Farm benefits all, opportunity to get involved
5. Farmer
This community was “Cambridge Farms”
Schoolchildren should be exposed to the occupations of our forebears
6. Importance of Local Food
Health, Environment, Community benefit from local food
Not many people know about community farms or Busa
What a community farm is:
Not for profit business; professional farm manager; CSA (Community Supported
Agriculture) shares
Community has access to a working farm
Vision use existing well and greenhouses, provide food, recreation, jobs, resources
No additional CPA funds required
“New kind of field,” recreation for all
7. Working Community Farm
Children can see where food comes from; elderly see preservation
Vs. soccer and housing degrade environment; can’t turn it back into a farm
chemicals, run off into Res. vs. Busa Farm using IPM (Integrated Pest Management)
8. Farm:
Lexington farms closing down
Belong to Busa; joy of fresh vegetables, learn about farming
Humane production vs. dangerous agri-business
Expand small and medium farms
9. Working Farm
Closer to nature; dog walking at the Res, view of Busa, don’t need to move anywhere else
Waldorf School; important aspect of curriculum, local food, educate children
“Move beyond books and into the fields”
RD
SONG BY 3 GRADER
10. Community Farm
Discovered Busa
Historic preservation, Open Space, Collect and filter water, education, recreation, economic food
Preserve farm to serve entire community
11. Demand for local produce and demand to work on farm
Soccer coach, Habitat for Humanity volunteer, Interfaith Garden volunteer
Farmland scarce
Important to reclaim farmland, provide food and teach children
“Farms like teeth: Take care of them because you’ll miss them when they’re gone.”
12. Four Uses:
1. Farm portion
2. Basketball
3. Tennis
4. Affordable Housing for Employees of Town
Also, join Town of Arlington for mutual uses
13. Community Farm:
Concerned by Board of Selectmen proposals; thank you for Open Forum
Farmed as child: community activities, ice cream making, family events, growing and cooking
food
“Different kind of recreation, not competing but creating.”
14. Abutter
How will the situation change? Listen to concerns
Concern about soccer field: drainage, runoff, noise, traffic
Comfortable with farm, as recreation/open space
Consider impact on abutters
15. 50 years ago was attracted to Lexington by farms
It’s a disgrace old farms were developed
Keep farm:
family recreation, knowing where food comes from
Lexington is trying to be green, and should not ship food far
16. Keep as Community Farm – other towns have preserved and this is our last chance;
has a child who plays soccer and still wants farm
17. LexHab Co-Chair:
60 units of affordable housing are scattered through town now
Hard for those who grew up and newcomers to find housing which is affordable
Seeks a meaningful commitment to affordable housing along with other uses
18. Belonged to Busa CSA (Community Supported Agriculture): Keep as Farm
Kids should know where food comes from
Her kids garden, participate in the Food Project and classes at Codman
Few farming opportunities for youth are available
Please consider Bee Keeping, Chicken Farming and Maple Syruping activities
19. Student Global Warming Coalition representative: Keep as Farm
Volunteered at Waltham Community Farm – learning, food, met people
Would be an educational resource for high school students
Farm better than other uses – increase community and help the environment
20. Student Global Warming Coalition representative: Keep as Farm
98% of population see food as from Stop and Shop
Could provide community service requirement fulfillment opportunities
There are enough fields – she plays a sport
70 students signed a petition to keep as a Farm just in a few bits of passing time
21. Abutter:
Protect from excessive noise
Please create a buffer
Likes Farm/Open Space
Would not like housing or soccer field
Impervious surface of big parking lot would cause drainage issue
Don’t put parking in already wet area
Land is not square, no way to use just a little for a field
Field would be close to a house
Noise might violate the Lexington Noise bylaws and citizen would challenge in court
Contends that land bought with CPA funds specifies housing should only be built on
already-developed land
Contends that 40B requirements already met with Lowell street 40B development
Only 2 buildable lots on Lowell Street, would block view from the street
Beautiful sunsets
Soccer field would be a big change to a quiet neighborhood
Protect the investment of current landowners
22. Abutter: Create Community Farm
Local fresh food
Learning opportunity for students
Can’t change back to farmland once lost
Beautiful sunset
Would not like soccer field – not everyone does a sport (some dance etc)
There are plenty of fields not other farms
Quiet neighborhood – field would change the flow
23. Keep Community Farm
Even though believes affordable housing is key for diversity, and is a soccer volunteer, still pro-
farm
Strong, self-sustaining business plan
Unique use
Largest benefit to the most people
Other towns have community farms already, this is our chance
Learned much from LexFarm presentations
No start-up funds from the town are needed
Would enhance home values
Already has irrigation
LexFarm provides food aide via SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program); there is a
large demand for food aid and fresh produce for low-income families
It would be a place where you’d see people from all over town, just like Cary Library
Would have classes, social events, play in the dirt
24. Registered Dietician
Even though a soccer family, want to keep as Farm
Community service opportunities
Food
Nation doesn’t eat enough veggies – crisis of obesity
“Raise a healthy community” via education and food
Chartwell’s food service made big improvements with pushing
USDA Farm-to-School program – veggies could go to the schools
All in the community can benefit
25. President of Lexington Symphony
Keep as Community Farm
Lexington, surrounding communities and the Earth will benefit
Gave thanks to LexFarm
US loses more than an acre of farmland per minute
Opportunity to act locally
Can’t reclaim
History of agriculture should be preserved
Protect environment, provide food
Related concert 10/9 at 8pm at Follen Church
26. Steward of part of land: Keep as Farm
Been there 5,143 times walking his dog
Preserve connection between land, humans and food
Teach kids about the earth
3000 acres of farmland are lost per week
27. Lives 2 miles from farm: Keep as Community Farm
Member of Waltham Fields Community Farm
Finds it rejuvenating after stress
Recreation for all ages
The whole town should enjoy the same rejuvenation
28. Keep as farm
Produce local fresh food
Distribute food to needy
Selling shares is a proven model
29. Keep as Farm
Sustainability of feeding people
Food security needs to be protected
Earth’s soil is degrading around the globe – soil is critical to life
Kids choosing to do farming, people want to know where food comes from
Food miles are related to greenhouse gasses/fewer varieties
Local varieties are more flavorful and nutritious
Learn lessons with good and bad years
Join together and learn about food growing
Member of Waltham community farms
30. Board Member of Lexington Farm
Keep community farm for Research + Ed. Opp’s
School trips/science projects – water + soil/internships
Adult classes – composting, canning
History – connection to Lexington’s past / Minuteman Tech HS – expand agriculture program
Grants + fundraising, keep costs of programs low
31. Keep site with exclusive use as community farm
Benefits: 1. educ. opp's for kids + adults
2. eating healthy: local fresh produce CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture) sold
out in this region
3. sense of community:
has all necessary infrastructure in place
32. Arlington Resident
Keep farm: encourage adjacent habitat especially for BIRDING
Maintain Biodiversity
33. Abutter: keep working farm // preserve history and site use
34. Keep farm: exercise, work opportunity, social, community
35. Reed St.Resident: keep community farm
develop sources of local food
colleges look for farming experience as way to differentiate applicants
36. Keep community farm
37. Likes educational benefits of local farm
Produce + learning opp’s
Engage schools = hands-on, save the earth – kids
Experiences that don’t exist elsewhere in town
38. Arlington Resident
Synergy between Farm, Reservoir + Bikeway that can be expanded. Keep farm
39. support farm – written comment provided
40. Lexington Farmers Market Advocate – average age farmer is 58 – need new farmers
Supports comm. farm = 1960s = 50 working farms; Now = 2
Need local food, oil is needed for food transport, keep it local
41. Keep comm. farm
42. Land Designer, member of the Tree Committee: Keep farm
“highest + best use” keep farm = good topsoil
43. Keep community farm
44. Keep community farm
45. Keep community farm for children
Lots of conservation land in Lexington, but town lacks farm
Safe, nutritious food, history, education