Conservation Commission Minutes
Lenox Conservation Commission
Landuse Meeting Room
June 21, 2018
Minutes
Members present: Chair Neal Carpenter, (NC); Joseph Strauch, (JS); Vince Ammendola, (VA); Dick Ferren, (DF); David Lane, (DL); Rose Fitzgerald Casey, (RFC)
Absent with notification: Mark Smith, (MS)
Staff present: Peggy Ammendola, Land Use Clerk, (PA)
Request for Determination of Applicability, Lynn Campana, 13 Taconic Ave., Map 12 Parcel 8. The project is to replace the existing driveway and 20 feet of sewer pipe that appears to be damaged. It is proposed that eight small trees along driveway will be removed.
Site visit: This was attended by Mr. Dinicola, Lynn Campana, NC, JS, MS and VA. DL went on his own.
David DiNicola of DA DiNicola Excavation, Inc. made the presentation. The asphalt in the driveway is coming apart. The project involves removing asphalt, adding new gravel (1.5 inch size) and repave. Stones that have fallen out will be replaced at the culvert. There has been an issue with the sewer line beneath the driveway, and with the use of a camera, they have found that there is a bow in the line. This will be dug out and replaced. When the paving is done, the edge of the driveway will be dressed up. The gravel exposure will not be very long. It is expected that the job will begin the end of August and will take about 1 ½ weeks. The work being done is in the buffer zone. There are trees along the driveway that have been marked for removal. All have issues. Stumps will remain.
DF made a motion to issue a Negative 3 Determination. DL seconded the motion and the Commission voted to approve 6-0.
Approve Minutes June 7, 2018-DF made a motion to approve the minutes and DL seconded the motion. The Commission voted to approve 5-0-1. RFC abstained as she was not at that meeting.
Other Business
Edith Wharton Park/The Mount-Present were Susan Wissler and Ross Jolly of the Mount and Becky Cushing of Mass Audubon. There is a group of about 40 birdwatchers who meet in the parking lot each Tuesday and walk down past the gardens on The Mount’s property and onto David Carver’s property. (He has given his permission.) They make their way down to the meadow. Ms. Wissler said that they are concerned about the height of the grass with the explosion of ticks. Bobolinks are known to nest in this area and Commissioners do not want to disturb them. DL has been mowing a single file path of 8 feet wide down to the Laurel Lake and informed Ms. Wissler and the others that he will be mowing all of the way around the area before July 4th, or during the first half of July.
Ms. Wissler was pleased with the time line and said that on July 10th the path will be opened to the public. They would like to have some small signage to caution the public about ticks.
JS and DF said that to be safe they recommended that the field not be mowed until after August 1st. DL said that he waits until after the first frost.
The Commissioners said that they don’t want people to cut across the field or have dogs as that would be detrimental to the birds.
Mr. Jolly said that there is a trail on property across from Edith Wharton that leads to the causeway has historically been maintained, but it is now filling in with brush. He said that at some point they would like to restore and asked if they needed to come before the Commission. He was advised to do so.
Site visit-Bakers Pond, June 26th @ 9:00 AM.
RFC made a motion to adjourn. JS seconded the motion and the Commission voted to agree 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola