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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