Conservation Commission

CONSERVATION COMMISSION LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS June 25, 2025 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. This meeting was held both in person and virtually using Zoom. Members Present: Chair Brad Buitenhuys, Vice Chair Kevin Dillon, Commissioner Perry Downs, Commissioner Stephen Laput, Commissioner Marie Burns Members Absent: Commissioner Paul Belley, Commissioner Roberto Ciccarelli Others Present: Dylan Ricker, Associate Planner CALL TO ORDER B. Buitenhuys called the meeting to order at 7:01pm with a quorum of members present. ORDER OF BUSINESS CONTINUED BUSINESS Request for Determination of Applicability Keolis Commuter Services 32 Cobble Hill Road Somerville, MA 02143 Project Location: Vegetation Management in the MBTA Right-of-Way A Request for Determination of Applicability has been filed by Keolis Commuter Services to renew the wetlands map along the right-of-way (ROW) in order to continue vegetation management activities as outlined in the proposed 2026-2030 Vegetation Management Plan. On Behalf: Matt Donovan, Applicant’s Representative M. Donovan said the plan is designed to control vegetation to keep the railway safe. M. Donovan explained the vegetation management schedule and plan. M. Donovan said the chemicals are sprayed directly onto the track. M. Donovan said they use approved sensitive area chemicals approved by MassDEP. M. Donovan said they are seeking a positive 2a determination for the maps and a negative determination for the work proposed in the plan. Speaking in Favor: None Speaking in Opposition: None Discussion: B. Buitenhuys said he has no concerns. K. Dillon asked if there are anything different compared to 5 years ago. M. Donovan said no changes. Motion: P. Downs motioned, and K. Dillon seconded the motion to issue a Positive 2a determination for the mapping. The motion passed unanimously, (5-0). P. Downs motioned, and K. Dillon seconded the motion to issue a Negative 3 determination for the work. The motion passed unanimously, (5-0). Request for Certificate of Compliance Atlantic Oliver II 240 Industrial Ave LLC 125 High Street, Suite 220 Boston, MA 02110 Project Location: 240 Industrial Avenue East, 01852 A Request for Certificate of Compliance has been filed by Atlantic Oliver II 240 Industrial Ave LLC for their Order of Conditions issued April 2024 to expand and modify the existing parking area at 240 Industrial Ave East. On Behalf: Jared Grondin, Applicant’s Representative J. Grondin explained the work, and said the work has been finished and the area is stabilized. J. Grondin said no additional work was done beyond what was approved in the OOC. Speaking in Favor: None Speaking in Opposition: None Discussion: B. Buitenhuys said the property looks like a vast improvement, and the work appears to be done satisfactorily. Motion: P. Downs motioned, and K. Dillon seconded the motion to issue the Certificate of Compliance. The motion passed unanimously, (5-0). Request for Determination of Applicability Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust 660 Suffolk Street, Suite 335 Lowell, MA 01854 Project Location: 36 Merrill Street, 01852; 15 Davidson Street, 01852 A Request for Determination of Applicability has been filed by the Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust to engage in invasive species management at Jollene Dubner Park and along the Concord River Greenway. All work is within the 100-foot buffer zone of the Concord River. On Behalf: Jane Calvin, Applicant J. Calvin said the trust stewards the Concord River Greenway and Dubner Park. J. Calvin said the parks have an issue with Japanese knotweed. J. Calvin said they would like to go out with volunteers to cut the knot weed, and will be removing them in a manner that best prevents knotweed from growing back. J. Calvin said they will utilize chemicals that are very specific and would not have a long life in the waterway. J. Calvin said at the greenway they will be spraying around the greenway and at Dubner park they will be injecting the herbicide. Brian Colleran, Applicant’s Representative Speaking in Favor: None Speaking in Opposition: None Discussion: B. Buitenhuys said he’d like the opportunity to speak with their contactor and would like to return to the application. J. Calvin agreed. J. Calvin said the knotweed is impacting the infrastructure and impacting the riverbank and there is a need to remove the plants. B. Buitenhuys asked for the process for removing the Japanese knotweed. B. Colleran said they are doing multiple cuts of the knotweed to damage the knotweed as much as possible to limit the amount of herbicide that will be needed. B. Colleran explained the logic behind the type of removal and why it is more effective. B. Colleran said they are trying to damage the invasive to make the herbicide most effective. B. Buitenhuys asked how the applicant plans to do the cutting to minimize the splintering and spreading. B. Colleran said it is the nodes not splinters that cause the knotweed to spread. B. Colleran said all the stems and branches that are cut down need to collected because they contain the nodes. B. Buitenhuys asked where it is being disposed of. B. Colleran said it will be bagged and thrown in the garbage. B. Buitenhuys asked what chemicals will be used, and if the spray and injection are the same. B. Colleran said the chemical is the same. B. Colleran said they will use glyphosate, and said he is using the water safe formulation. B. Buitenhuys said he understands the need and believes the herbicide is necessary to remove the invasives. B. Buitenhuys asked how long the removal takes. B. Colleran it is expected to be a 3–5-year job. B. Colleran said he tried the treatment last year and it killed the invasives by this spring. B. Colleran said there is a chance that if everything goes well it could be a 2-year job. B. Buitenhuys said the treatment plan appears effective and is worth studying deeper. B. Buitenhuys expressed support for the work. B. Buitenhuys asked how the practice would differ if they were not within the wetland buffer. B. Colleran said he would use the same strategy outside of the wetlands buffer. K. Dillon asked about the removal method using mesh wiring to choke out the knotweed. B. Colleran said he has seen the strategy fail, and it is expensive. B. Colleran said most manual labor removal is not effective, and the issue is that the plant can grow above the mesh and it can encompass the mesh. B. Colleran said the mesh needed would need to be very thin. Motion: M. Burns motioned and S. Laput seconded the motion to issue a Negative 3 determination. The motion passed unanimously, (5-0). NEW BUSINESS Request for Determination of Applicability City of Lowell 375 Merrimack Street Lowell, MA 01852 Project Location: Aiken Street Bridge, 01854 A Request for Determination of Applicability has been filed by the City of Lowell to resurface the Aiken Street Bridge. All work is within the 100-foot buffer zone of the Merrimack River. On Behalf: Andrew Maesner, Applicant’s Representative A. Maesner explained the project and said there is no anticipated impact on the river, only the roadway. Speaking in Favor: None Speaking in Opposition: None Discussion: B. Buitenhuys asked if there would be netting. A. Maesner said there is shield under the bridge to prevent anything from getting into the river. K. Dillon said it has been a longtime since this has been completed. A. Maesner confirmed and said it will improve roadway. M. Burns asked about staging equipment. A. Maesner said there is no need for staging. Motion: P. Downs motioned, and K. Dillon seconded the motion to issue a Negative 3 determination. The motion passed unanimously, (5-0). Request for Certificate of Compliance Mark James 84 East Avenue Lowell, MA 01854 Project Location: 84 East Avenue, 01854 A Request for Certificate of Compliance has been filed by Mark James for their Order of Conditions issued July 1999. On Behalf: None Speaking in Favor: None Speaking in Opposition: None Discussion: None Motion: K. Dillon motioned, and M. Burns seconded the motion to grant Certificate of Compliance. The motion passed unanimously, (5-0). OTHER BUSINESS 5/14/2025 Meeting Minutes K. Dillon motioned, and P. Downs seconded the motion to approve the meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously, (5-0). ADJOURNMENT K. Dillon motioned and P. Downs seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. The time was 7:38PM.