ARLINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
JULY 10, 2003
Mr. Stevens called the meeting to order at 7:30pm in the second floor conference room of the Town Hall Annex. Present were Nathaniel Stevens, David White, Timothy Sullivan, Catherine Garnett, and Christine Wallace. Judith Hodges, member, and Corinna Beckwith, Administrator of the Commission were not in attendance. Mark J. Cumming of 21 Locke Street, Anya Wittenberg of 147 Thorndike Street, and Brian Rehrig of Academy Street were also present.
7:30pm MISCELLANEOUS –
Sullivan/Wallace motioned to approve the 6/5 minutes with minor edits; motion passed unanimously.
Discussion of e-mail from Associate Commissioner Geri Tremblay about an Eagle Scout wishing to undertake a conservation project to earn Eagle Scout status. Project must be more than a clean-up; it must involve planning and management. Commission discussed possible projects at Meadowbrook Park and on other town conservation lands. Commission agreed to invite Eagle Scout to upcoming meeting to discuss further. Mr. Stevens will contact Ms. Tremblay.
7:45pm – 21 LOCKE STREET - REQUEST FOR DETERMINATION OF APPLICABILITY
Mr. Stevens opened the discussion by reading the legal advertisement placed in the Arlington Advocate.
Mr. Cummings presented the project: the addition to an existing single-family home located within 100 feet of Mill Brook. The footprint of the addition would be just under 500 square feet; the lot size is 5,000 square feet. Around the existing house, it is mostly lawn and some exposed dirt (due to use). Neighboring house is between project site and Mill Brook, and proposed addition would not project out any further than neighboring house, and neighboring house would prevent any construction debris entering Mill Brook. White/Wallace moved to issue a Determination of Applicability finding that the Commission has jurisdiction because the project site is within Riverfront Area and Buffer Zone to Bank, but that the work proposed does not require the filing of a Notice of Intent. Motion passed
unanimously.
8:00pm – 147 THORNDIKE STREET – REQUEST FOR DETERMINATION OF APPLICABILITY
Mr. Stevens opened the discussion by reading the legal advertisement placed in the Arlington Advocate.
Ms. Wittenberg presented the project: installation of fencing to enclose yard and installation of steps to house for a new rear entrance. The fence would allow water to flow under it. Stairs would be wooden with concrete footings. Sullivan/Garnet moved to issue a Determination of Applicability that the Commission has jurisdiction as the project site is within Resource Areas, but the work proposed does not require the filing of a Notice of Intent. Motion passed unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS, CONT. –
Weed treatment in Hills Pond is scheduled to be done on July 14, 2003.
Commission received the Environmental Notification Form (ENF) Certificate for the Winchester Flood Control Project; the Secretary of Environmental Affairs is requiring an Environmental Impact Report and denied requests for waivers.
Mr. Stevens will work with Clarissa Rowe on revising draft maintenance permit for Menotomy Rock Park.
The Commission submitted comments on the Cambridge CSO project.
Kevin O’Brien, new Director of Planning, submitted a memo to request an extension of the permit for Reeds Brook.
The Land Stewards for Turkey Hill are holding a clean-up on Saturday, July 12, 2003 at 3 p.m.
Ellen Mass of Friends of Alewife has requested, via e-mail, a letter of support for a grant application for federal funds to build regional planning capability for the Alewife area. The grant would support “charettes” in which boards or officials from the three Alewife communities (Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge) would participate; after which, there would be sessions for public input. Mr. Stevens will draft a letter of support and circulate it for Commission review. The deadline is July 17, 2003.
Mr. White has signed the Commission up for Town Day which is September 13, 2003.
Mr. White attended the July Arlington Bike Advisory Committee and reported to the Commission that there were, or will be, clean-ups along the bikeway.
Brian Rehrig, Treasurer of the Arlington Land Trust (“ALT”), discussed with the Commission the idea of a Conservation Fund to fund or support projects on Town conservation land. Mr. Rehrig reported that the ALT had decided at its most recent meeting to agree to “host” such a fund, which would allow people to donate money for projects on any or specific public conservation land and be able to take a tax deduction since ALT is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. ALT would kindly do the necessary book-keeping. The Commission and ALT would determine what projects would be eligible for funding. Mr. Rehrig and Mr. White will work to develop the criteria for the disbursement and use of such funds as well as create a name for this fund.
The Commission voted to convene at approximately 9:10pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nathaniel Stevens, Chair
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