Lincoln Conservation Commission
MINUTES
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Lincoln Town Offices
COMMISSIONERS: Jim Meadors, Jim Henderson, Peter von Mertens, Ben Horne, Ari Kurtz, David Katsuki, & Sara Lewis STAFF: Tom Gumbart, Angela Seaborg.
WETLANDS FILINGS
Town of Lincoln Board of Selectmen. 18 Twin Pond Lane (120-5-0) - Request for Determination of Applicability. At the public hearing Tom Gumbart, Conservation Director, represented the Board of Selectmen with a request to selectively remove several trees and shrubs, most of which are invasive-exotic plants from approximately 1500 square feet of previously disturbed area within the buffer zone resource area. The applicant will preserve several large specimen trees to become protected as part of a conservation restriction that will encompass the entire 100-foot buffer zone and much of the 6-acre property. The conservation restriction will allow maintenance of the view that is created during this work with the requirement that any future work within this jurisdictional area be approved by the Conservation Commission. The applicant will also
remove a significant amount of debris that was part of an old garden within the 100 and 50-foot buffer zone. Work will be done with the supervision of conservation staff and disturbance from equipment will be minimized. Several neighbors were at the hearing to review the plan and ask questions and all viewed the plan favorably. The Commission viewed the plan favorably and voted 7-0 to issue a negative Determination of Applicability allowing the work to proceed as described in the filing but with attached conditions.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Rural Land Foundation and Mall Redevelopment Project
Questions regarding tenant occupancy at the mall arose out of the Planning Board hearings for the Mall Redevelopment Project. Peter von Mertens represented the Conservation Commission at the May 16th planning board hearing to express its support for the Rural Land Foundation and its conservation efforts.
Muster Barn
An adjacent neighbor of the Muster Barn sent a letter to Tim Higgins expressing her dissatisfaction with the unkempt appearance of the Muster Barn. Conservation Staff use the barn as the base for its land management activities. While some tractor equipment is kept outside because it will not all fit in the barn, staff have worked very hard over the past couple years to restore the barn and to prune trees and maintain plantings around the barn. Town Hall staff will also have a work day on June 21st to give the Muster Barn a fresh coat of paint.
Red Rail Farm
The Conservation Commission reviewed the proposed plan for a wireless communications tower on Kim Johnson’s property, which lies within the Red Rail Farm cluster subdivision. Although the Commission has no regulatory authority over what Mr. Johnson does on his private house lot, the proposed tower does directly abut land on which the Commission holds a Conservation Restriction dating back to 1986. While the Commission fully supports Kim Johnson in his agricultural enterprise and does not want to have unreasonable limits placed on his ability to generate income, the Commission does feel that the proposed tower will significantly impact the visual landscape of the area. Tom Gumbart will prepare a letter to the Zoning Board of Appeals expressing the Commission’s concerns and urging them to fully explore alternative locations.
Sandy Creighton 121 Lincoln Road
Peter von Mertens prepared a letter of conditions for Sandy Creighton outlining the steps to complete his landscaping project. Upon completion of this work, all future work will require permission from the Conservation Commission.
Personnel Board Meeting
Tom Gumbart met with the Personnel Board to discuss upgrades for two staff positions. The Personnel Board agreed to the changes and the positions were upgraded to Conservation Planner and Land Manager.
Love Lane Trail
Conservation staff will arrange another time to work with the Love Lane Riding Facility to spread gravel in a low section of trail behind their property.
Mount Misery Beavers
Mike Callahan of Beaver Solutions installed two additional flow pipes to allow for more rapid release of the water after a storm event.
Trail from Garland Road to Deaconess Property
Peter von Mertens is gathering the legal property information and working with the neighbor to install a new trail.
ACTION ITEMS
Certificate of Compliance issued: James B & Suzannah C. Ames. 12 Browning Lane. (92-12-0)
Certificate of Compliance issued: Michael Tennican, 52 Stonehedge. (127-8-0)
Bills Paid & Payroll Signed
Respectfully Submitted,
Angela Seaborg
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