Lincoln Conservation Commission
MINUTES
Wednesday, July 7, 2004
Lincoln Town Offices
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Toby Feibelman, Jim Henderson, David Katsuki, Mary Lincoln (chair), Jim Meadors & Peter VonMertens. STAFF: Tom Gumbart, Angela Kearney.
WETLAND FILINGS
Public Hearing - Notice of Intent: Richard Johnson, 1 Grasshopper Lane (Map 51-Block 14-Lot 0).
Richard Johnson hired CLE Engineering, Inc., Jeff Oakes, to present a wetland re-vegetation plan for trees and shrubs that were cleared from 15,700 square feet of wetlands and 8,300 square feet of buffer zone without a permit. Mr. Oakes proposed a planting of 22 native shrubs. He proposed selecting one healthy leader from each stump sprout to replace the canopy trees that were cut. The commission was concerned that the Ash trees may not stump sprout or be significantly viable to re-establish canopy cover. The Commission also discussed options to move the mow line back from the edge of wetland toward the 50 buffer line and plant additional trees and/or shrubs within the buffer area.
Ed Lechtenberg, Jill Harkaway, and Bruce Clark are abutting property owners who live on Storey Drive. They raised concerns that the clearing was extensive and with this clearing comes adverse impacts to the wetlands and intermittent stream. Cumulatively, as more homes are built and woodland cleared, the impact can be significant. The Commission agreed with this line of reasoning and will require the Johnson's to restore what they altered through a clear Order of Conditions (wetlands permit). Fortunately a large number of healthy canopy trees remain on site. In addition, during the work the Johnson's removed a significant amount of construction debris from the property and removed all the driveway pavement and replaced it with crushed stone.
The Commission voted 6-0 to continue the hearing to 9:00 p.m. at the July 21, 2004 meeting. A site visit was scheduled for Thursday July 8, 2004.
Public Hearing - Notice of Intent: United States Air Force Base, Hanscom Field.
Hearing postponed until 7:45 on July 21, 2004 due to late payment for Legal Notice in the Lincoln Journal.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
DeCordova Sculptures
The Commission reviewed the proposal for three additional sculptures to be located within the established, upper zone on the slope at the Museum. Sculptures are already located in this zone and the stone pathway leads through it to keep people on the path itself. DeCordova staff continue to do just one late season mow in this zone and no pesticides are being used. This proposal is in line with the existing management plan for this property.
State of the Town Planning
A preliminary report is due in the Selectmen's office by July 15th. Mary Lincoln is working on a draft and will distribute it for comments prior to submittal.
Topics proposed for continued development include: Open Space Plan, regulation improvements, and definition of wetlands delineation. Conservation Commission would like to establish measures to quantify past work and define future goals. Would also like to be pro-active through education and outreach measures.
Capital Budget Update
Board agreed improvements to the Muster Barn should be done this year with designated funds. Remaining money in the Pond Restoration and Wash House accounts was returned to the Town. Snider Pond has been completed and there is still money in the gift account to allow for ongoing monitoring and the Wash House removal has been completed.
Commission Assignments, Liaisons, Subcommittees
The Commission reviewed appointments and revised this to include the new Commissioners.
New Life Community Church
At a recent Land Use Group meeting this church presented their development plan. Tom Gumbart showed the plan to the Commission. Site is off Rt. 2A on Bypass Road. The land is primarily in Concord, with some parking and access located in Lincoln. Wetlands are located in Concord and their Natural Resources Dept. will conduct the wetlands permitting. Traffic flow onto Rte. 2A and Rte. 2 was deemed to pose no impact .
Deed Restriction Eisner, 215 Lincoln Road
Ken Eisner is ready to move forward. Tom Gumbart will coordinate with Mary Lincoln to meet with Mr. Eisner.
Pole Brook Watershed Management
Tom walked this area with Cynthia Ritsher to discuss the watershed. Together it was decided that it would be a good idea to send an educational letter out to all the abutters to the brook system giving tips on how to be a good neighbor to wetlands. There are several places where minor dumping of landscaping debris has taken place within the buffer zone and areas with unauthorized vegetation clearing. The Commission agreed to have Mr. Gumbart work on such a letter and that it would be good to do some neighborhood outreach.
Thoreau Institute Trail from Wetland
Permission granted for Thoreau Institute to flag trail from Walden Pond during celebration of Thoreau -150 years. Tom suggested they mark intersections with small, temporary in-ground posts.
Sunnyside Lane and Walden Update
Tom Gumbart and Angela Kearney, along with Tim Higgins and Dave McGowan (DCR Land Acquisition), visited the Town-owned parcel of land that lies within the Walden Woods State Reservation. Lincoln is preparing to deed this property to the Commonwealth as part of the arrangement to purchase the Sunnyside Lane lots for affordable housing.
FireflyWalk
Sara Lewis will lead a firefly natural history walk on Monday July 19th at 8:30 p.m. meeting at the Town Offices. We will then go into the Smith/Andover Field where she has been studying these insects for a number of years. This is cosponsored with the LLCT.
Lincoln's "Quiet Spaces"
The Rural Land Foundation is preparing a fund-raising drive for protection of the Harrington Land and Row land, both off of Tower Road. The Commission will participate in this effort.
ACTION ITEMS
Beaver Control Emergency Certificate (BCEC): The commission voted 6-0 to ratify the BCEC allowing Integrated Wildlife Control for the Mass Bay Commuter Rail to gradually drawdown the water level in the pond by dismantling the existing beaver dam.
Order of Conditions - DEP# 203-761: issued to SPNEA-Codman House for the replacement of an existing culvert (Map 83-Block 2-Lot 0).
Minutes approved from 05/19/04.
Bills & Payroll - signed.
Respectfully submitted,
Angela Kearney
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