ARLINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
JUNE 3, 2004
Mr. Stevens called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room of the Town Hall Annex. Present were Catherine Garnett, Judith Hodges, Ellen Reed, Nathaniel Stevens, David White, William O’Rourke and Timothy Sullivan of the Commission. Also present were Aaron McGill, Ann LeRoyer, Sue Bass, David Johnson, Barbara Passero, Darrell King, Rachel Philbrick, Ellen Mass, Paul Wolf, Jim Graves, Kristin Anderson, Aram Hollman, Daron Kurkjian, Roger Wrubel, Mark Haley, Fred Paulson, and others.
7:30 p.m. - COMMISSION BUSINESS
Mr. Magil presented the final trail plan for Meadowbrook Park . The work will be done this summer. Ms. Hodges is donating wood for stairs or edging. The Commission discussed trails signs and path width. Mr. Stevens signed the approved project plan for Mr. Magil to submit fpr his Eagle Scout project.
Mr. Stevens announced the proposed changes to the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act Regulations have a public comment period. Any comments should be organized into a group comment from the Commission.
Reed/Hodges motioned to approve the 4/15, 5/6 and 5/20 minutes with minor edits; motion passed unanimously.
7:45pm – CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE – 36 WRIGHT ST
This matter was continued until the final details are received.
8:30pm –BELMONT UPLANDS – alternative development plan
Mr. Wrubel, Director of Habitat in Belmont, opened the presentation with a call for including the privately owned upland called the “Belmont Uplands” in the Alewife Reservation and permanently protecting it from development due to its significant importance in providing habitat to species which utilize both uplands and wetlands for food, housing, reproduction.
Mr. Haley predicted that with the approximately 20 acre feet of storage at the former MDC rink site, this would only produce a 2 inch reduction in flood level within the Alewife basin. The Uplands Alternative Group is proposing to swap the state land located within the clover leaf off ramp from Route 2, that formerly contained the skating rink, for the Uplands land. The “rink site” could still contain condominiums and parking and some flood storage, but at an amount smaller than 20 acre feet. A major attraction of this proposal is that this flood storage would be provide by the private development of this land and not be dependent upon state funding for the “rink site” to be turned into a flood storage basin.
Mr. Hollman asked why Belmont couldn’t develop other land in near the Belmont Country Club.
Ms. Bass responded by stating that that parcel is landlocked.
Ms. Anderson recounted the flooding problems of the Sunnyside neighborhood.
Ms. Mass reiterated the extensive wildlife of the Belmont Uplands, being a rare silver maple forest.
Mr. Paulsen answered questions from the Commission regarding Chapter 40B developments and asked the Commission to respond to the Arlington Board of Selectman’s request for information with a statement that Mass Development should defer their decision on granting the 40B permit until a flood study can be completed.
Mr. Graves reiterated that the rink site is much less valuable as habitat that the Uplands.
Ms. LeRoyer asked how is the Cambridge quadrangle being developed. Mr. Paulsen answered that up to 5 million square feet of development could occur in that neighborhood.
Mr. King has worked at Arthur D. Little for 25 years and recounted past flooding events and some of the land sales in the vicinity.
The Commission will draft a comment for the Arlington Board of Selectman on this issue.
Other business
Enforcements:
No communications have been received from either 335 Mystic St nor 339 Mystic St therefore the Commission will refer the matters to Town Counsel.
53R Park St – Ms. Hodges will conduct a site walk next week.
Ryder St. – The Commission will draft a letter of non-compliance.
The Commission voted to convene at approximately 10:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Corinna Beckwith
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