Lincoln Conservation Commission
MINUTES
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Lincoln Town Offices
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Mary Lincoln, Jim Meadors, Peter von Mertens, David Katsuki, and Toby Feibelman. STAFF: Tom Gumbart, Angela Kearney.
WETLAND FILINGS
Public Meeting – Request for Determination of Applicability: Nina Carmel, 43 Old Sudbury Road in Lincoln. (Map 118-Block 3-Lot 1). For invasive plant clearing and native plant restoration.
The applicant proposed to clear approximately 1,100 square feet of invasive exotic plants including buckthorn, oriental bittersweet, autumn olive, honeysuckle, and multiflora rose; all located inside the 50-foot wetland buffer zone. Some exotic crab apples, located within the 100-foot buffer zone, will also be removed to frame selective views from the house into the adjacent farm field. All clearing work will be done by manual means or a small chain saw and the downed wood will be chipped on-site, out of the buffer zone. Several native canopy trees such as white pine, red maple, and quaking aspen lie within the area, and will be preserved. The area will be replanted with native shrubs, perennials, and ferns of varying heights, fruiting times, and densities to maintain a mottled view between the property
and adjacent field and to enhance the year-round wildlife habitat within the wetland buffer zone. The Commission requested that 2-3 dead aspens at the edge of the proposed work area remain uncut as they provide excellent wildlife habitat.
While the Commission expressed their support of invasive plant removal, they wanted to be sure the work would not result in a ‘clear-cut’ between the property and adjacent field. The applicant reminded the Commission that a continuous canopy cover would remain and some taller shrubs would be planted. The Commission may require additional plantings if sufficient ground cover or mottled view is not obtained. They also asked the applicant to submit an as-built planting plan and photos of the project after the first growing season and any plantings that do not survive the first growing season will need to be replaced.
The proposed work area also holds a conservation restriction by LLCT for the purposes of maintaining a vegetated buffer between the house and field and approximately 140 square feet of clearing will be done on adjacent land owned by Mass Audubon. LLCT and Mass Audubon have walked the property with the applicant and were present at the Conservation Commission meeting. Both LLCT and Mass Audubon approve the work provided it follows the conditions set forth above. The Conservation Commission will also require the applicant to comply with all permits provided by LLCT and Mass Audubon.
The Commission was unanimous on closing the public meeting and will issue a negative Determination of Applicability at the next meeting.
Public Hearing – Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation: Edward Denehy, Page Road in Lincoln. (Map 33-Block 25-Lot 1). For wetlands delineation.
Jerome Carr of Carr Research Laboratory, Inc. represented Edward Denehy with an Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation. Prior to the hearing Conservation Staff, Tom Gumbart, Sean Hale, and Angela Kearney conducted a site visit. The property, located off Page Road, is 80,925 square feet with a horse corral and fence. While there is no house, the entire property (except for a 20-foot wooded buffer along Page Road) is maintained as lawn. An intermittent stream, between 3-4 feet deep with very steep banks, flows west along the northern property boundary. The site visit clearly showed the BVW line to be at the top of the stream bank. It appeared the channel was dug at one point, possibly to drain the lower part of the property. Woodlands north of the stream appeared to be lower with
more areas of flooding and wetland indicator plants, but the subject property, south of the stream, rose gently away from the stream and consisted primarily of upland plants. Wetlands on the east side of Page Road extended south of the stream and were not delineated on the plan. It appeared however, that if they were picked up their buffer would not extend beyond that delineated by the stream. Therefore it was not necessary to have the wetlands on the east side of Page Road delineated and added to the plan. The Commission felt comfortable with the staff’s assessment and agreed with the wetland resource boundary.
The Commission voted 5-0 to close the hearing and issue an Order of Resource Area Delineation.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Town Meeting Issues
The ConCom has no warrant articles this year but it will be important to support the override for keeping all Departments functioning at the current levels. For our Department it will keep the ranger program intact. It will also be important to give the Community Preservation Committee support for their funding choices, which includes the Lincoln’s Quiet Places Project (Harrington/Row).
Amphibian Migration
Conservation Staff are preparing for the annual amphibian migration. They will be closing some roads and placing signs to alert people of their crossing.
RiverFest Event Planning
Lincoln is collaborating with regional groups to plan the annual RiverFest being held this June 11th and 12th. Along with the annual steeple chase and a multi-lingual walk in Walden Woods, the Conservation Commission will host a canoe & kayak paddle on the Sudbury River Saturday, June 11th at 9am. Participants should bring their own boats and equipment.
Brumme Restoration Report
Dave Burke submitted a progress report with text and photos depicting re-growth on the cleared slope over time. Based upon the photos, the plantings are re-establishing nicely. The Commission is satisfied with the progress of the restoration.
Agenda Planning for Upcoming Meetings
The Commission needs to allocate time in future meetings to discuss on-going management issues including Dogs and Beaver at Mt. Misery, Red Rail Farm, DEP Wetlands Revisions and possible Bylaw Revisions.
ACTION ITEMS
Order of Conditions Issued to Guldberg, 263 Old Concord Road 59-5-1&0
Order of Conditions Issued to Jerodel Realty Trust, 63 Winter Street 91-7-0
Meeting Minutes Approved from 1/19/05 & 2/2/05
Bills Paid & Payroll Signed
Respectfully submitted,
Angela Kearney
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