LINCOLN CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes – August 12, 2009
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Peter von Mertens (co-chair), Jim Meadors (co-chair), Jim Henderson, Joyce Hersh, Ben Horne, Ari Kurtz, and Sara Lewis. STAFF: Thomas Gumbart, Angela Kearney.
WETLANDS FILINGS
Deliberation on Closed Public Hearing – Request for Determination of Applicability – Jamie Atkins. 5 Sandy Pond Road. (53-6-3). Jim Meadors was not at the previous hearing and requested that the Commission briefly review the discussions that took place during the July 22nd meeting. Abutters, Gerry and David Lattimore, were in attendance. They requested permission to share their concerns regarding plantings between their property and the Atkins’ property. The Commission allowed them to express their concerns and explained that they do not have jurisdiction over the area of concern because it is located outside the 100-foot Buffer Zone Resource Area. The Commission does not have jurisdiction over landscape lighting, but did include a condition referencing flood lighting onto the agricultural field.
The Commission reviewed the attached conditions of the Determination and voted unanimously to issue a Negative Determination of Applicability.
PUBLIC HEARING - Notice of Intent – Laura Bossert. 53 South Great Road (80-4-0). For the reconstruction and expansion of a septic system within the Buffer Zone Resource Area and Riverfront Resource Area.
Benjamin Ewing of Stamski & McNary, Inc. represented the client with a plan to install a new, 5-bedroom septic system. The septic system will be located in the area of the existing septic system, on existing lawn. It will be located completely outside the 100-foot Buffer Zone Resource Area, but within the 200-foot Riverfront Area. Two large trees and several rhododendron shrubs will require removal. The alternative location, outside the 200-foot Riverfront Area, will result in significantly more vegetation removal and grading disturbance. The system is increased in size to accommodate interior renovations to the house and detached garage/studio. There are no proposed exterior changes to the house or garage/studio.
The Commission was unanimous to issue a negative Determination of Applicability.
PUBLIC HEARING - Notice of Intent – Hunt Building Company, LTD for family housing renovations and infrastructure work within the Buffer Zone Resource Area and Riverfront Resource Area at Hanscom Air Force Base in Lincoln (Map 7-Block 3-Lot 0).
A site visit was held on Tuesday, August 11th.
Dave Pickart and Ken Staffier from VHB represented Hunt-Pinnacle Development Group with a plan to rehabilitate approximately 11.4 acres of privatized housing within the Buffer Zone Resource Area at Hanscom Air Force Base. Representatives from Hunt-Pinnacle Group and from Hanscom Air Force Base were present at the hearing. The proposed project entails demolishing existing buildings, upgrading/improving existing infrastructure, rehabilitating existing structures. The project also involves the construction of 108 new residential buildings, 44 of which will be located in the Buffer Zone Resource Area. There will be approximately 4.2 acres of work, including stormwater management measures, within the 50-foot Buffer Zone Resource Area. Much of this work will take place in previously disturbed areas with approximately 9000 square feet of
disturbance taking place in undisturbed naturalized areas including grading and revegetation activities.
Similar work was proposed as part of a previous NOI filing (DEP #203-781) by American Eagle Communities in November 2005 and an Order of Conditions was issued in December 2005. That work was only partially completed and the Order has since expired. The currently proposed project is somewhat smaller in scale than that which was proposed by American Eagle Communities. Dave Pickhart presented several solutions for minimizing impacts to the Resource Areas including: erosion and sedimentation control, reuse and redevelopment of existing disturbed areas, an extensive stormwater management system that infiltrates water as close to the source as possible, construction of 4 gravel wetlands, shared infiltration trenches and other low-impact techniques to attenuate peak flows and filter water, restoration of approximately 1.7 acres of upland and
enhancement of approximately 1.5 acres of upland. Also, extensive oversight, monitoring and education will be undertaken to encourage residents to respect and protect the resource areas on site.
Specific restoration and enhancement measures proposed in and adjacent to wetland resources on the property are described below. In addition to offsetting the increase in impervious cover and work in the 50-foot Buffer Zone Resource Area associated with the project, these measures will:
• Provide a wider and more contiguous buffer in certain portions of the site;
• Limit ongoing encroachment into the wetlands by residents of the neighborhood;
• Introduce and intersperse several ecological communities adjacent to wetland resources;
• Add habitat features, cover and food sources for a variety of wildlife; and
• Provide shading and lower water temperatures in one of the onsite streams.
Approximately 1.5 acres of currently developed/degraded land that lies in close proximity to wetland resources will be restored into a natural environment. These areas are presently covered by pavement and buildings or consist of exposed soil. The proposed restoration measures include:
• Demolishing and removing any remaining structures, pavement and stockpiles;
• Removing all rubbish and debris;
• Filling in any excavations and adding a six-inch thick layer of topsoil;
• Planting a mixture of woody species as specified on the accompanying plans;
• Installing habitat features such as nest boxes, brush mats and rock piles;
• Hydraulically applying a native seed mixture that has blended into a bonded fiber matrix;
• Placing natural barriers (such as boulders) and installing signage to prevent subsequent mowing and/or yard waste disposal.
Approximately 1.2 acres of degraded uplands that abut wetlands on the property will be enhanced by adding woody plantings and habitat features. These areas are presently covered by maintained or overgrown lawn. The upland enhancement measures will include:
• Removing all rubbish and debris;
• Planting randomly-spaced clumps of woody species;
• Installing nest boxes; and
• Placing natural barriers and installing signage to prevent subsequent disturbance.
The Commission discussed the proposed plans and asked several preliminary questions including: What percent of the total housing area would be treated for stormwater runoff? Would improvements within the housing area enhance the overall quality of the Shawhween River?
Dave Pickart from VHB felt that this project would make a significant improvement to the overall water quality. Don Morris, representative of the Air Force Base, made it clear that the project also needs to meet the guidelines of the MA Clean Water Act and that the stormwater calculations must show an improvement in recharge rate and quality from the baseline situation.
The Commission would like to hire an independent consultant to review the stormwater calculations including flow rates, groundwater recharge, and bacteria counts. They would also like VHB to provide the percentage of change in infiltration rates and water quality between the proposed design, pre-development conditions in 2005 and the project as planned and permitted by American Eagle. Hunt-Pinnacle was in support of the Commission hiring an independent consultant. They did however, request that the Commission approve demolition work in some areas so that the project could move forward.
The Commission voted 7-0 to approve the demolition of houses on Hickock Lane and Battle Road Glen provided that a memo outlining the proposed work is submitted. The Commission voted 7-0 to hire an independent consultant and to continue the hearing to August 26, 2009 at 7:45 pm.
Deliberation on Closed Public Hearing - Notice of Intent – Jonathan Grindlay. 145 Old Concord Road. (58-1& 2-0). For restoration activities in wetland and buffer zone resource areas.
The public hearing was attended by Josh and Sandy Grindlay (property owners), Dave Burke (wetlands consultant), and Whitney Beals as an observer. Buzz Constable represented the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust. Jim Meadors chaired the meeting and guided the discussion through each point of the Draft Order of Conditions. Along with clarification and type edits, specific focus was given to the required costs for the monitoring and reporting program and for the tennis-court removal.
The Commission voted 7-0 to issue an Order of Conditions.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
National Grid Headquarters in Waltham – Conservation Commissioners and Staff have been invited to take a tour of the new, “LEED-Gold” National Grid headquarters building in Waltham off of Winter Street. Green features include LID Stormwater infiltration measures, solar panels, energy-efficient fixtures & appliances, and use of rapidly-renewable and non-toxic materials.
Hemlock Treatment of Codman Hemlock Grove – Jonathan Bransfield recently treated the Codman Hemlock Grove and said the trees are looking really healthy. They should not need to be treated next year.
Town of Lincoln Land Parcel near Walden Pond – Tom Gumbart is working with Walden Pond to transfer a small parcel of land near the park to the State in exchange for land in North Lincoln that was given to the Town for the Sunnyside Affordable Housing project.
Pierce Park Drainage Work – Tom Gumbart is coordinating with other Town Staff to prepare an RFP for drainage improvement and pond restoration work at Pierce Park. Conservation Staff will be preparing a Notice of Intent for the work.
ACTION ITEMS
Order of Conditions Issued to Grindlay – 145 Old Concord Road
Determination of Applicability Issued to Atkins – 5 Sandy Pond Road
Bills and payroll signed.
Minutes Approved 7/22/09
Respectfully submitted: Angela Kearney, Conservation Planner
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