Lincoln Conservation Commission
MINUTES
Wednesday, January 5, 2005
Lincoln Town Offices
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Jim Meadors, Jim Henderson, Peter VonMertens, Sara Silverstein, & David Katsuki. STAFF: Tom Gumbart, Angela Kearney.
WETLAND FILINGS
Public Hearing – Notice of Intent: Deborah Hawkins, 69 Page Road, Lincoln. (Map 50-Block 4-Lot 0). For single-family site development, clearing, paving, and installation of Title 5 septic system inside the 100-foot buffer zone.
Dave Crispin of BSC Group; Thomas White and Andrew Cohen of Andrew Cohen Architects; and Scott Carman of C2 Studio represented Deborah Hawkins with a Notice of Intent to construct a 4,700 sq. ft., single-family home in a wooded area adjacent to an existing 600 sq.ft. cabin. The entire house is located in a consolidated building envelope completely outside the 100-foot buffer zone. The applicant and design team are very ecologically conscious, as their proposed site alteration is approximately 1.5 acres of the total 12 acre site. They are proposing a green living grass roof, are fitting the house closely into the landscape to minimize grading, and will install catch basins and recharge trenches that will result in no increased surface runoff toward the wetlands and certified vernal pool south of the house site.
While the Commission has no jurisdiction outside the 100-foot buffer zone, they were particularly pleased the applicant chose to build sensitively. Because the house is extremely close to the 100-foot buffer zone, the Commission asked Ms. Hawkins to consider permanently marking the 100-foot buffer line and placing a permanent deed restriction limiting future landscaping and site-clearing within the 100-foot buffer zone. The Commission also discussed with Ms. Hawkins that the Commission, the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, and the Rural Land Foundation are willing to work with her to place a permanent conservation restriction on the undeveloped portion of her property. Deborah Hawkins was receptive to placing a deed restriction inside the 100-foot buffer zone and would like more information and in the future may consider the permanent CR.
Approximately 1,340 sq ft of impervious surfaces (drive, parking, and screened-in porch), limited grading, and tree clearing are proposed between the 50 and 100-foot buffer zone. Roughly 2,040 sq.ft. of existing gravel drive within the 50-foot buffer zone is proposed to be paved and utilized full-time. The Commission was particularly concerned with the conversion and utilization of the existing gravel drive when there is an existing common drive less than 80 feet away, however on a previous site visit many Commissioners related to the applicant’s desire to maintain privacy from the large, neighboring houses utilizing the common drive. Also, Ms. Hawkins is not interested in sharing responsibilities of a shared drive and would like to have a more meandering, woodsy drive approaching her home. During
the meeting the Commission asked Dave Crispin to re-work the plan to show a slight cross-grade of the drive away from the wetland and a gravel trench 18” wide and up to 2’deep along the entire north side of the drive to catch runoff. The Commission also recommended that Deborah Hawkins learn about the breeding patterns of amphibians and exhibit caution when driving near the wetland, particularly in early spring.
The Commission was also concerned about the large impervious parking area and wondered if the design team had considered alternatives such as gravel, grass pavers or graded friction-course-porous pavement to reduce runoff. The design team felt strongly that gravel would result in more damage to the wetland when graded in the winter. They would prefer to stick with traditional paving and assured the Commission that installed catch basins would result in no increased surface runoff. The Commission felt it was reasonable to permit the screened-in porch and grading since it is proposed in an already disturbed site and the cabin is being removed. Also, the applicant is proposing to cease access on an existing 120’ long gravel drive completely within the 50-foot buffer zone.
Two hundred square feet of grading from the septic system was proposed between the 50 and 100-foot buffer zone. Dave Crispin explained to the commission that they are working with the Board of Health to ‘double-trench’ the system so it can be reduced to approximately ½ the size and located completely outside the buffer zone. This should be finalized in the next couple weeks. Scott Carman of C2 Studio discussed briefly Ms. Hawkins intentions to have native, low-growing plants on the septic field and below the house and porch. The Commission would like to have a general list of intended species.
The Commission voted 5-0 to continue the hearing at 9pm on Wednesday, January 19th, 2005.
Public Hearing – Notice of Intent: Peter and Alexandra Guldberg, 263 Old Concord Road in Lincoln. (Map 59-Block 5-Lot 1&0). For vegetation management in the 100-foot buffer zone.
Scott Smyers of Oxbow Associates and Peter Guldberg were present to work with the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT) and Conservation Commission on a long-term solution for management of a slope adjacent to Fairhaven Bay, part of which has a conservation restriction to LLCT, that Peter Guldberg cleared without a permit in September, 2004.
On September 22, 2004, Sean Hale, Conservation Agent and Anna Heidorn, LLCT Stewardship Intern encountered a Conservation Restriction and MA Wetlands Protection Act violation while conducting a baseline inventory for the Fairhaven Bay property. It appeared that the entire slope from the top of the incline to the water’s edge was cut and cleared of almost all taller shrubs and trees.
The Conservation Commission sent a letter to the Guldberg’s in response to the un-permitted clearing dated October 5, 2004. The Guldberg’s replied and arranged a site visit with the Conservation Commission and members of LLCT to examine the extent of clearing on October 19, 2004. In a letter dated October 22, 2004 the Conservation Commission requested the Guldberg’s undertake the following steps to remediate the violation.
· Have a qualified wetlands professional delineate all wetland resources on/ within 100’ of the property.
· Have a registered land surveyor produce a stamped topographical plan of land showing the lot lines, wetland boundaries, 100-foot buffer zone boundary, location of trees within and along the edge of the cleared slope, and conservation restriction area.
· Submit the plan as part of a Notice of Intent filing that includes an ongoing management plan that promotes native vegetation on the slope and discourages exotic invasive plants. The management plan must be developed with a professional who is qualified and experienced with wetlands, native plants, landscape restoration, and wildlife habitat.
The aforementioned steps were taken and presented at the January 5th meeting. Scott Smyers of Oxbow Associates stated the area was historically cleared for views and the soil was effectively stabilized with low-growing woody vegetation, therefore it was not necessary to submit a restoration/planting plan to mitigate the effects of the clearing. The applicant proposed a management plan to encourage native, low-growing vegetation within the buffer zone. Specifically, they proposed to maintain the vegetation on a 1-2 year time frame between 4-6 high within the 50-foot buffer zone and between 1-3 feet in the 50-100 foot buffer. Also, non-native invasive species would be monitored, cut and spot-treated as necessary. The Commission agreed that mitigation with manual planting is not
necessary and would most likely cause increased soil disturbance. The Commission felt strongly that the vegetation in both zones could be higher with particular areas of naturalized shrubs being allowed to grow to 10’ in the 50-foot buffer zone and 5’ in the 50-100 buffer zone. The Commission would also like to see the applicant plan for succession of additional large trees on the slope by selecting individuals to grow and eventually take the place of the existing canopy trees on the slope. Both the LLCT and Commission would like the applicant to monitor and control non-native invasive plants both on the slope and in the conservation restriction area. They would also like the applicant to provide permanent markings along the 120’ contour line for future reference of the conservation restriction area. The LLCT and Conservation Commission hope the applicant fully understands that all future work needs to be reviewed and permitted prior to
commencement. Some of the Commissioners did not make it to the earlier site visit and would like to visit the site prior to closing the hearing. The Commission will draft additional language regarding long-term slope vegetation management. The Commission voted 5-0 to continue the hearing to 7:45 on February 2, 2005.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Muster Barn
Minuteman Tech is gearing up to do the restoration work on the Muster Barn. They will be there one day a week through the remainder of the school year. Prior to work however, they need to get a dumpster, port-o-john, and generator. Tom Gumbart is looking into the cost of renting/buying these items.
Septic Regulations
The Board of Health is reviewing a draft of the revised septic regulations. The Conservation Commission submitted comments regarding the new regulations. The Commission supports the plan to set the maximum percolation rate at 30"/minute, wants all plans to be reviewed by the Conservation Commission prior to approval, believes the 200' setback for systems should be from intermittent AND perennial streams, and that 300' abutter notification following the Planning Board’s methods should be adopted. The Board of Health is looking to approve the new regulations in February.
ACTION ITEMS
Funds approved to RLF for Lincoln’s Quiet Places Project ($50,000)
Meeting minutes approved from 12/15/04
Bills & Payroll signed
Respectfully submitted,
Angela Kearney
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