Lincoln Conservation Commission
MINUTES
Wednesday, December 3, 2003
Lincoln Town Offices
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Toby Feibelman, Chair Mary Lincoln, Sam Perkins, & Sara Silverstein. STAFF: Tom Gumbart.
New Commissioner: We welcome the addition of Toby Feibelman to the Commission. She fills the spot vacated by Peter Conrad in March 2003.
WETLAND FILINGS & ISSUES
Public Hearing - Notice of Intent: Hanscom Air Force Base - Reconstruction and Addition to Fitness Center.
This hearing was attended by Don Morris and Bill Stansfield for Hanscom Air Force Base, John Maynard and Valerie Miller for the Maguire Group (project designers), James Conway for the Army Corps of Engineers (in charge of project), and Richard Hanson for the Hodess Building Company (the contractors doing the work).
Don Morris, the Environmental Director for the Base, introduced the project for the new Fitness Center. The Air Force determined the need for the facility and Congress approved of the funding. The old gym was built in the 1950s and is outdated.
The worksite is approximately four acres and most of the project is redevelopment of currently developed land. The Shawsheen River runs through the site via twin 66" culverts. The inlet to these culverts lies 75 feet from the work zone and is separated by Marrett Street. There is also a narrow wetland at the northeast corner of the work zone. The limit of construction will remain 50 feet from this wetland. As part of this permitting the Air Force agreed to extend the naturalized edge of this wetland by moving the edge of mowing out approximately five feet. Although the pre- and post-construction amount of paving will remain equal, approximately 17,000 square feet of new impervious area will be added with the expansion of the building. Grass pavers that allow
infiltration will be used for access to the rear of the building, helping to minimize the amount of paving required.
The largest concern for projects in this area is handling the stormwater drainage. Rapid runoff from the Air Force Base can cause a decrease in the quality of the stream habitat and can contribute to downstream flooding. This project includes three high capacity infiltrator galley units that will capture roof runoff for retention and groundwater recharge. On the whole, this project will decrease peak storm runoff by an average of 7.3%. Water quality will be protected by the use of hooded sump catchbasins that will feed into a Stormceptor for additional treatment. Trench drains will also be used on site to help with groundwater recharge. It is a tough site to work for infiltration due to the type D soils that are tight and slow to drain. During construction all the
catchbasins will be protected by haybales and silt sacks. Hanscom AFB sweeps the roads and parking areas as soon as possible after every sanding event during the winter months. There is a USGS stream gauge located just downstream from this area and this data can be monitored to see if there is a detectable decrease in peak flow after storm events.
A NPDES phase 2 permit will be required because the construction site is over one acre and the applicant agreed to submit this to the Commission. The Commission voted 4-0 to close the public hearing and will issue an Order of Conditions at the next meeting.
ACTION ITEMS
Order of Conditions: Issued to the Rural Land Foundation - Trapelo & Page Farm Roads (Map 67-Block 3-Lot 3 & Map 68-Block 25-Lot 0) for the Osborne Pond Project.
The Commission voted unanimously 4-0 to approve of rules for hiring outside consultants as allowed under MGL Chapter 44 Section 53G. The language is based on the MACC model language and adapted as recommended by Bob Ritchie, Assistant Attorney General, Director Municipal Law Unit. Essentially these regulations allow the Conservation Commission to assess fees to applicants let the Commission have independent professional review of filings outside of what the Municipal staff is capable of providing. The revised Lincoln Wetlands Protection Bylaw gave the Commission this authority but the State statute provides a simpler method of handling funds. Planning Boards, Boards of Health, and Zoning Boards of Appeal have had the ability to do this for many years but the Legislature finally included
Conservation Commissions. This document will be filed with the Town Clerk.
Six-month Performance Review for Sean Hale, Conservation Agent, was signed.
Bills were paid and payroll signed.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Bylaw Buffer Zone Regulations
The draft of these regulations was reviewed by the Commission. At the December 17th meeting there will be a public hearing on the proposed regulations. Tom Gumbart will place a legal ad in the Lincoln Journal for this hearing.
Community Preservation Committee
The Commission submitted a request to the CPC by the December 1 deadline. This asks for money to be placed into the Conservation Fund.
Ames/Cadogan House Plan
Peter Bemis, the project engineer, submitted plans to the Commission for this house. After meeting with the Planning Board the house and landscaping layout was revised. This revision has part of the house and driveway located in the outer edge of the buffer zone. Previously this house was permitted with grading alterations in the buffer zone but no construction. The limit of disturbance remains the same.
The Commission was asked whether or not a filing for an amended Order of Conditions was needed to reflect the changes. If the work limit remains the same and the applicant can provide assurance that no additional encroachment into the buffer zone will occur on the property, then the Commission will not require a filing for the amended OOC. The applicant must present a plan to the Commission for permanently marking the edge of the building envelope wherever it meets or enters the 100-foot buffer zone.
Chapter 61A Forest Management Plan - 241 Old Concord Road
The owner of this property, Wallace Boquist, has filed this plan with the Board of Assessors. A site visit will be arranged in the coming weeks for the Assessors and the Commission to walk this property.
RiverFest
The third annual RiverFest, sponsored by the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Wild and Scenic River Stewardship Council, will be held on the weekend of June 12 and 13. All communities are encouraged to organize events that celebrate the SuAsCo watershed. Tom Gumbart will not be here that weekend.
Dogs at Mt. Misery
A letter was received from a family with a young child who had an encounter with uncontrolled dogs on this conservation land. The author urged the Commission to take additional measures to control dogs at Mt. Misery.
Winter Carnival
The Recreation Department is sponsoring the 2003 Lincoln Winter Carnival on the weekend of January 30th to February 1st. All groups are welcome to hold events this weekend provided they are community oriented.
Ari Kurtz/Mt. Misery Issues
Ari Kurtz, of LindenTree Farm, sent a letter to the Commission asking for assistance with several issues affecting the farm operation at Mt. Misery. The beaver dams have caused flooding in the agricultural fields and have taken land out of active crop production and he would like this situation to be addressed. With the St. Anne's parking lot being closed, coupled with the flooding that has closed the trail connection between the St. Anne's Field and the Mt. Misery Fields, trail users are parking on Old Concord Road and entering on the cart path that bisects his farm operation. Dogs that come in with their owners frequently defecate in the fields and Mr. Kurtz would like a trash barrel and bag dispenser installed to deal with dog waste. Also, with the
trail usage changes, walkers are not using the crosswalk at St. Anne's but are crossing right at the intersection of Old Concord Road and Concord Road. He suggests moving the crosswalk to reflect this change in use.
Todd Pond Status Report
The annual report on the management of Todd Pond was received.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Gumbart
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