Letter: We stand by our statements on Wellesley Country Club plans.

By Lemonia Fotiadis, Phil and Laura Fragasso, Helen and Robert Sagan
Wicked Local Wellesley
Posted Dec 20, 2010 @ 10:50 AM


Wellesley — In the Townsman Forum article of Dec.s 9, Wellesley Country Club (WCC) stated that in a previous Forum article published on Oct. 14 “the writer made several inaccurate statements regarding Wellesley Country Club’s application for a new maintenance building.” We did not.

On Dec 9, the same day that WCC touted their environmental stewardship in the Townsman, the Wetlands Protection Committee determined that WCC was in violation of wetland protection laws for dumping in protected wetland areas adjacent to Rosemary Brook without a permit. The committee announced they would issue a Cease-and-Desist letter to Wellesley Country Club.

WCC seems to steadfastly ignore the fundamental issue in their development proposal — building multiple maintenance facilities in wetland-protected areas when alternative, less-disruptive locations are available on their property.

The proposed construction is taking place in a wetland resource area as stated in our previous column. A buffer zone itself is a wetland resource area under the Wellesley Wetlands Protection Bylaw and the Riverfront Area is a wetland resource area under the Commonwealth’s Wetland Protection Act. These resource areas serve many important environmental functions, including the protection of public or private water supplies and water pollution prevention.

The club seems to believe that buffer zone impacts occur only where shovels hit earth, piles are driven, vegetation is removed and open space is paved over. The authors stand by their statement that all of the bylaw buffer zone -- and indeed areas far beyond the buffer zone -- will be impacted by the construction of these facilities. The proposed maintenance facility alone is a two-story building as long as the entire length of the façade of Wellesley’s Roche Bros. and Citizen’s Bank combined — approximately 245 feet.

State-of-the-art equipment can fail, accidents happen, and mistakes are made. As such, we believe that no unnecessary risk should be taken in this environmentally sensitive Riverfront Area that is so close to our water supply.

At the Wetlands Protection Committee meeting on Dec. 9, Wellesley Country Club representatives acknowledged that the club does use pesticides and fertilizers for their turf management. The equipment that WCC will be storing and maintaining at the proposed facility will be used for applying pesticides and fertilizers or maintaining turf that was treated with said chemicals. While we applaud the club’s efforts to design a state of the art facility, we assert that there is absolutely no reason to expose our water supply and wetland resources to such a risk given that no technological solution is fool proof.

In the Townsman article “Battle over Rosemary Brook intensifies” of Nov, 24, Paul DeYesso, a Wellesley Country Club representative, said, “It’s obviously not the only place this could go, but from an environmental impact standpoint, we feel this is the best location” The authors disagree. The best location is a location away from the Rosemary Brook Riverfront Area where four of the town’s seven drinking water wells draw from the aquifer and contribute to 84 percent of the town’s drinking water.

Progess Update

Dear Friends of Brookside,

The Wellesley Townsman is conducting a poll on whether or not the Country Club should be allowed to build in our Wetland Resource Areas. (Please vote No!)

The article also has 3 maps of the area showing the proposed construction sites. Do check it out:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/wellesley/features/x1757253642/Maps-show-area-where-Wellesley-Country-Club-plans-to-locate-facilities

Wetlands Protection Committee Meeting, Thursday December 9, 2010:

The environment had a "win" at Thursday night's WPC meeting. The Wellesley Country Club was cited for illegal dumping without a permit within the 200' Riverfront Buffer Zone, and was issued a cease and desist order. The area is located behind our Community Gardens.

http://wellesley.patch.com/articles/country-club-issued-cease-and-desist-by-wetlands-protection-committee

We had a really great showing of people in that small NRC office Thursday night. It made a difference. To those who attended, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules, especially during the holiday season.

Please also consider writing a letter to the editor at the Townsman. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about the process.

Happy Holidays!

www.friendsofbrookside.org

Please, Vote NO and help us STOP this construction project in our riverfront buffer zone:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/wellesley/features/x1757253642/Maps-show-area-where-Wellesley-Country-Club-plans-to-locate-facilities?photo=1

WELLESLEY WETLANDS MEETING

WELLESLEY WETLANDS PROTECTION COMMITTEE
MEETING AGENDA
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Selectman's Meeting Room, Town Hall, 525 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA


PUBLIC HEARINGS/APPOINTMENTS

7:00pm Discussion – Wellesley Country Club
The discussion shall involve the WPC’s review of alleged violations of wetlands laws at Club along Brookside Road.

Progress Update

Our “Walk” event was very successful and made the front-page of The Wellesley Townsman on November 18. We had over 110 people in attendance and between the event itself, and handing out flyers at Roche Bros. and the RDF beforehand - - we got petition signatures from over 230 people representing 92 different street addresses in Wellesley. These results were submitted to the Wetland Protection Committee at the last meeting on November 18. We plan to resume a town-wide petition campaign soon and will need volunteers so please stay tuned.

The Wetland Protection Committee has officially contracted with peer reviewer Beals & Thomas, Inc. to assess critical components of the proposed project as well as citizen input and concerns. A copy of the contract that includes the scope of services is attached.

Unfortunate news, a member of the Wetland Protection Committee, Carlos Gimeno, has resigned from the committee. The Wetland Protection Committee is looking for a replacement so if you or someone you know is interested please inquire/apply.

Good news, we have been approved to have an informational, educational table at the upcoming Town Meeting on Dec 6 where we will to share facts about the proposed building project and environmental considerations.

The next Wetland Protection Committee meeting is scheduled for Dec 9 at Town Hall. Please attend if possible. We will send out information confirming the time and agenda as soon as it is published.

We also have a new URL http://www.friendsofbrookside.org. It will take you directly to our blog where information and articles are posted.

Thank you for your continuing support.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Alice Peisch

Alice Peisch will hold Office hours on Friday 11/19 from 12:30PM to 1:30PM at the main library, first come, first serve. No specific room was listed, ask at info desk.

This is a great opportunity to meet her and ask her assistance for our cause.

Wellesley Townsman: Battle over Wellesley Country Club plans intensifies

http://www.wickedlocal.com/wellesley/features/x290101138/Battle-over-Wellesley-Country-Club-plans-intensifies

Wellesley Patch: Wellesley Country Club Plans Three Buildings Near Wetlands

http://wellesley.patch.com/articles/wellesley-country-club-plans-three-buildings-near-wetlands

Wellesley Patch: Wetlands Protection Committee to Discuss Alleged Violations by Wellesley Country Club

http://wellesley.patch.com/articles/wetlands-protection-committee-to-discuss-alleged-violations-by-wellesley-country-club

Update: WALK To Preserve Rosemary Brook - Sunday, November 14, 2010

Dear Friends of Brookside:

Here is a link to story at the Wellesley Patch who covered the WALK on Sunday.

http://wellesley.patch.com/articles/image-gallery-friends-of-brookside-walk-draws-big-crowd-of-supporters#pdf-3138837

WALK To Preserve Rosemary Brook

This has been a busy weekend for us and this coming week will be equally busy. Many volunteers are working to spread the word around town about our WALK this coming Sunday and solicit signatures for a petition asking that the Wellesley Country Club considers another location for their proposed construction.

Our sincere thanks go to the dedicated volunteers who passed fliers at the Recycling and Disposal Facility, those who walked their neighborhoods, Email their friends and neighbors, posted fliers at Starbucks around the area, or stood outside Roche Bros and lastly to all those who managed the logistics. We even had a 4 legged volunteer named Lunar (Elaine's service dog) who stood outside Roche Bros working hard for the cause.

If you do need more fliers to pass out this week, please, contact Sue. She has a list of streets that are unclaimed as of yet. We do need to get the whole town involved in this effort.

To all of you a big thanks and hope to see you on Sunday!

Walk to Preserve Rosemary Brook

If you are going at the Wellesley Dump this morning at 9am and 2pm you might have seen some of our dedicated volunteers handing out fliers and soliciting signatures to support the "Walk to Preserve Rosemary Brook".

Wetlands along Rosemary Brook are a Wellesley Town Treasure and Drinking Water Resource

The Wellesley Country Club (WCC) is proposing the following construction in our wetland resource area bordering Rosemary Brook on Brookside Road:

• 23,400 sq. ft. two-story equipment storage & service center
• 2,400 sq. ft. wash-down facility
• Parking spaces for 28 vehicles
• Bulk storage facility with 6 concrete bays (79’ x 18’ x 17’) for material such as mulch and gravel
• Golf course comfort station/lightning shelter (22’ x 13’ x 20’)
• Total project area 2.6 acres
• Wetland buffer zone disturbance 92,000 sq. ft.

In a Stormwater Management Report dated August 16, 2010 submitted by WCC to the Wetland Committee, Wellesley Country Club explained its problem with its current maintenance facility: “The existing facility is undersized for the needs of the maintenance staff and is considered by the members to be an eyesore located at the main entrance to the Club. Ultimately, the membership would like to remove the building and repurpose the area for additional clubhouse parking and landscaping.”

Sadly, Wellesley Country Club has chosen Brookside Road as the proposed location. In addition to concerns about our groundwater and drinking water, our wetland bordering Rosemary Brook surely ranks as one of the most scenic areas in Wellesley and serves as an important wildlife habitat and recreational resource. According to the Town of Wellesley Comprehensive Plan Update 2007-2017, “The Rosemary Brook corridor of conservation land is the biggest wildlife corridor within Wellesley.” People young and old use this rich wetland resource for a wide variety of recreational purposes. Turtle crossings are a legendary event in springtime. The experience of helping a turtle cross the road to escape danger is a rare opportunity for some, but not for the people who use this area. Walkers, runners and cyclists, as well as bird watchers, wildlife enthusiasts, fishermen, photographers, scientists, educators, artists and history buffs all frequent the wetland bordering Rosemary Brook because of its diverse wildlife habitat, unmatched tranquility, rich wetland vegetation and historical/cultural significance. Did you know Chief Maugus, one of the two Indian Chiefs who engaged in negotiations for the land that later became Wellesley, had a wigwam in these wetlands? According to History of the Town of Wellesley "Maugus' habitation is generally supposed to have been near the spring at the junction of Brookside Road and Oakland Street."

Brookside Road is part of a residential neighborhood. It’s a unique, half-mile, tree-lined, undeveloped wetland resource area between Wellesley Avenue and Oakland Street, bordering Rosemary Brook. Wellesley Country Club’s proposed construction on Brookside Road threatens both the intertwined ecosystem and the Town’s water supply:

• Four of seven drinking water wells draw from the Rosemary Brook aquifer.
• This aquifer contributes to 84% of the town’s drinking water
• According to Wellesley’s Source Water Assessment and Protection (SWAP) Report drinking water wells are located in aquifers with a high vulnerability to contamination due to the absence of barriers that can prevent contaminant migration
• The SWAP report states that pesticides and fertilizers have the potential to contaminate a drinking water source if improperly disposed of, stored, or applied
• The Town of Wellesley Comprehensive Plan Update 2007-2017 states “Non-point source (NPS) pollution from storm water runoff is the greatest threat to water quality in Wellesley.”
• The WCC proposal diminishes our established wetland resource area while simultaneously introducing impervious surfaces, bulk materials and transportation corridors that are all potential sources of NPS contamination and storm water runoff.
• Water quality and disturbance of wetland resource areas are a town-wide concern, and are not just a concern of the neighboring residents. The WCC proposal is currently under review by our Wetlands Committee. There is a series of opportunities for people to voice concerns and the committee is welcoming input from the community. If you share our concerns, we urge you to write to Adam Bossi and Wetland Committee Members via abossi@wellesleyma.gov, and attend the Wetland Committee meetings. To learn more about wetland loss and degradation visit http://www.mass.gov/czm/walossd.htm and non-point source pollution visit http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/whatis.cfm

While we understand Wellesley Country Club’s wish to relocate and expand their equipment maintenance building, we are opposed to locating such a facility in a rich wetland resource area that is so close to the Rosemary Brook aquifer. We ask WCC to reconsider this proposal and to find an alternate and more suitable location that will have no impact on our drinking water, the wetland resource area, Rosemary Brook, and the community.

Calling on all our neighbors who are Wellesley Country Club Members

We need your assistance in preserving the Wetlands, Rosemary Brook and the integrity of the Wellesley town water wells. It is up to you to preserve the environment of our town and show your support in locating the maintenance and storage facility away from the Wetlands area. Stand up for the planet and be counted!

Letter to the Wetlands Committee

The Wellesley Country has every right to upgrade their grounds' aesthetic and service-oriented conditions for the benefit of its membership. It is, as well, all homeowners' right in the neighborhood where the Club proposes to upgrade their maintenance and equipment facilities to keep our properties in top condition, and the surrounding areas, such as the Brookside Rd., and the wetlands alongside the road.

I oppose the Club's choice of location for their upgrades and echo very thoroughly researched comments from fellow neighbors and Friends of the Wetlands members:

The function and values of these protected wetlands areas are important, not only to me, personally, but to the citizens of Wellesley because they affect our drinking water, wildlife habitat, recreational use and historical/cultural landscape.

Therefore, I sincerely ask that the Wetlands Committee ensure the safety of these areas by following the spirit and adhere to the letter Wellesley's conservation regulations; and to urge the Wellesley Country Club to research and design their proposal at an alternate location. This solution would ensure the safety of the wetlands areas and eliminate all risk to our water quality and supply. It would also, very importantly, preserve the open spaces which add to the quality of life in the neighborhoods surrounding Brookside Rd.

We, too,as does the membership of the Wellesley Country Club, cherish beauty and open spaces which enhance the area where our properties are.

Respectully submitted,
Valentina Cannell
Wellesley Hills

Very close to 50 years in a superb area, and hope fervently to have it continue so for many more generations.

Walk to Preserve Rosemary Brook

The Friends of Brookside Association are organizing a fundraiser and invite families and pets for a one mile WALK along the Rosemary Brook on the Woodland trail and Brookside Road. Meet at the parking Lot on Longfellow Pond on Sunday at noon, November 14th, 2010. Enjoy the fall foliage, meet your neighbors, and learn about the preservation of our town's precious wetlands resources. Refreshments will be provided.

Calling Wellesley Country Club Members

We understand your desire to consolidate your facilities and build more modern maintenance facilities. We just ask that you look at your 135 acres and find a location that is away from the Wetlands.

Friends of Brookside - About us

Friends of Brookside is a Community Association of Wellesley residents  in support of a common cause. Our goal is the preservation of Brookside Road and surrounding wetlands from commercial development. Brookside Road is classified as an "ancient way" and it is a narrow, winding road with no sidewalks. It is located partly in the town aquifer, and close proximity to Rosemary Brook and Longfellow pond. It is an area where families, children and dogs enjoy nature walks and is home to an abundance of wild life, turtles, birds, deer, etc.