Conservation Commission

The City of Lowell • Dept. of Planning and Development • Division of Development Services Lowell City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4144 • F: 978.446.7103 www.LowellMA.gov Diane N. Tradd Assistant City Manager/Director R. Eric Slagle Director of Development Services CONSERVATION COMMISSION LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS November 12, 2020 Note: These minutes are not completed verbatim. For further detail, video recordings are available at the Pollard Library, second floor reference desk or online at www.LTC.org. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting was held virtually using Zoom. Members Present: Chairwoman Varnum, Commissioner Lovely, Commissioner Dillon, Commissioner Buitenhuys, Commissioner Downs, and Commissioner Standish Members Absent: None Others Present: Joe Giniewicz, City of Lowell CALL TO ORDER 7:00 PM CONTINUED BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS Request for Determination of Applicability Mark Burns 24 Newbridge Road Lowell, MA 01854 Project Location: 24 Newbridge Road 01854 The applicant is seeking to remove three trees within the 100-ft. Buffer Zone to bordering vegetated wetlands. On Behalf: Mark Burns, Applicant Speaking in Favor: None Speaking in Opposition: None Discussion: M. Burns described the property and where trees would be removed. Commissioners Dillon and Downs both agreed that given the condition of the trees that they should be removed. Motion: Commissioner Lovely motioned and Commissioner Dillon seconded to issue a negative-3 determination. The motion passed unanimously 5-0. Request for Determination of Applicability Sandy Swaile City of Lowell 375 Merrimack Street Lowell, MA 01852 Project Location: 7 Chambers Street 01852 The applicant is seeking to pave an off-street parking area within the 25-ft. Riverfront Area and within the 100-ft Buffer Zone to Meadow Brook. On Behalf: Sandy Swaile, City of Lowell Design Planner Speaking in Favor: None Speaking in Opposition: None Discussion: S. Swaile summarized the project, noting that the area originally had three lots that vehicles would park in. With the project, the middle area has been removed. The proposal is to put millings down to renovate the parking for people in the neighborhood that use it each day. S. Swaile confirmed that they can have the lot graded towards the street and that they can continue to look to remove as many invasive species as they can in the spring. Commissioner Buitenhuys also requested to have some small bushes put in during spring as well. Motion: Commissioner Dillon motioned and Commissioner Downs seconded to issue a Negative III determination. The motion passed unanimously 5-0. OTHER BUSINESS Minutes September 23, 2020 October 14, 2020 October 28, 2020 Motion: W. Lovely motioned and Commissioner Downs seconded to approve the September 23, 2020 minutes and continue the October 14, 2020 and October 28, 2020 minutes, The motion passed unanimously 5-0. ADJOURNMENT