Friday, January 28, 2011
Wellesley Patch: Friends of Brookside Present Alternatives to the Country Club
http://wellesley.patch.com/articles/friends-of-brookside-present-alternatives-to-the-country-club-2#photo-4651638
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Wellesley Country Club Continued NOI - Thursday, January 27, 2010, 9:00 PM
We have just received confirmation of this Thursday night's meeting of the Wetlands Protection Committee. As this process moves forward, your participation remains critical. We know that our increasing attendance is gaining notice and putting pressure on all involved to stay focus on protecting our wetlands. Please, attend.
WELLESLEY WETLANDS PROTECTION COMMITTEE
Thursday, January 27, 2010, 9:00 PM
The Great Hall, Town Hall, 525 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA
Wellesley Country Club Continued NOI – MA DEP #324-647
The proposed project is to construct a golf course maintenance facility, parking lot, materials storage area, stormwater management systems and associated elements within the Riverfront Area of Rosemary Brook, buffer zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetlands and Bank of an irrigation pond.
(The time is approximate as there is other business scheduled before the Country Club)
As with the last meeting, our participation is dependent on the structure of the meeting as determined by the Chair.
You may recall that the community was invited by WPC to present their own Alternative Locations for the Maintenance Facility.
Friends of Brookside volunteers reviewed the Wetlands' files to capture any suggestions by residents that had previously
been
submitted to the
Committee
. Next, community members, working with our paid consultant (Wetlands' Scientist Patrick Garner), identified credible locations, created a proposal, and made an official submission to the Wetlands Protection Committee. We feel these Alternative Sites are very viable.
Going forward we are just as unsure of the process as you are!
We ask for your attendance at these meetings. The Great Hall (upstairs) is once again booked, and once again it's vitally important that the Wetlands Protection Committee members and the Wellesley Country Club representatives understand just how passionate the community is about protecting our town's natural resources.
(The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for February 2nd)
As always, please feel free to contact us with any comments, questions or suggestions.
Thank you for your continued support.
WELLESLEY WETLANDS PROTECTION COMMITTEE
Thursday, January 27, 2010, 9:00 PM
The Great Hall, Town Hall, 525 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA
Wellesley Country Club Continued NOI – MA DEP #324-647
The proposed project is to construct a golf course maintenance facility, parking lot, materials storage area, stormwater management systems and associated elements within the Riverfront Area of Rosemary Brook, buffer zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetlands and Bank of an irrigation pond.
(The time is approximate as there is other business scheduled before the Country Club)
As with the last meeting, our participation is dependent on the structure of the meeting as determined by the Chair.
You may recall that the community was invited by WPC to present their own Alternative Locations for the Maintenance Facility.
Friends of Brookside volunteers reviewed the Wetlands' files to capture any suggestions by residents that had previously
been
submitted to the
Committee
. Next, community members, working with our paid consultant (Wetlands' Scientist Patrick Garner), identified credible locations, created a proposal, and made an official submission to the Wetlands Protection Committee. We feel these Alternative Sites are very viable.
Going forward we are just as unsure of the process as you are!
We ask for your attendance at these meetings. The Great Hall (upstairs) is once again booked, and once again it's vitally important that the Wetlands Protection Committee members and the Wellesley Country Club representatives understand just how passionate the community is about protecting our town's natural resources.
(The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for February 2nd)
As always, please feel free to contact us with any comments, questions or suggestions.
Thank you for your continued support.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Definition: Ancient Ways
Wellesley Town Website: www.ci.wellesley.ma.us/Pages/WellesleyMA_DPW/streetsummary.pdf
ANCIENT WAYS*
Ancient Ways are ways which were in existence when the Town of Wellesley was incorporated
on April 6, 1881, which are characterized as being significant ways for public passage from one public
place to another at the time of incorporation.
Brookside Road
Cartwright Road
Columbia Street
Crescent Street
Laurel Avenue
Rockland Street
Smith Street
* According to opinion of Town Counsel, dated 1/22/87, ancient ways are considered private ways unless
specifically accepted by the Town, i.e. at Annual Town Meeting.
ANCIENT WAYS*
Ancient Ways are ways which were in existence when the Town of Wellesley was incorporated
on April 6, 1881, which are characterized as being significant ways for public passage from one public
place to another at the time of incorporation.
Brookside Road
Cartwright Road
Columbia Street
Crescent Street
Laurel Avenue
Rockland Street
Smith Street
* According to opinion of Town Counsel, dated 1/22/87, ancient ways are considered private ways unless
specifically accepted by the Town, i.e. at Annual Town Meeting.
Definition: Scenic Road
Section 15C. Upon recommendation or request of the planning board, conservation commission or historical commission of any city or town, such city or town may designate any road in said city or town, other than a numbered route or state highway as a scenic road; provided, however, that a numbered route may be designated by a city or town as a scenic road if its entire length is contained within the boundaries of said city or town, and no part of said route is owned or maintained by the commonwealth.
After a road has been designated as a scenic road any repair, maintenance, reconstruction, or paving work done with respect thereto shall not involve or include the cutting or removal of trees, or the tearing down or destruction of stone walls, or portions thereof, except with the prior written consent of the planning board, or if there is no planning board, the selectmen of a town, or the city council of a city, after a public hearing duly advertised twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the area, as to time, date, place and purpose, the last publication to occur at least seven days prior to such hearing; provided, however, that when a public hearing must be held under the provisions of this section and under section three of chapter eighty-seven prior to the cutting or removal of a tree, such hearings shall be consolidated into a single public hearing before the tree warden and the planning board, or if there is no planning board, the selectmen of a town, or the city council of a city, and notice of such consolidated public hearing shall be given by the tree warden or his deputy as provided in said section three of chapter eighty-seven. Any city or town making said scenic road designation may make an ordinance or by-law establishing that a violation of this paragraph shall be punished by a fine not to exceed three hundred dollars.
http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter40/Section15C
After a road has been designated as a scenic road any repair, maintenance, reconstruction, or paving work done with respect thereto shall not involve or include the cutting or removal of trees, or the tearing down or destruction of stone walls, or portions thereof, except with the prior written consent of the planning board, or if there is no planning board, the selectmen of a town, or the city council of a city, after a public hearing duly advertised twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the area, as to time, date, place and purpose, the last publication to occur at least seven days prior to such hearing; provided, however, that when a public hearing must be held under the provisions of this section and under section three of chapter eighty-seven prior to the cutting or removal of a tree, such hearings shall be consolidated into a single public hearing before the tree warden and the planning board, or if there is no planning board, the selectmen of a town, or the city council of a city, and notice of such consolidated public hearing shall be given by the tree warden or his deputy as provided in said section three of chapter eighty-seven. Any city or town making said scenic road designation may make an ordinance or by-law establishing that a violation of this paragraph shall be punished by a fine not to exceed three hundred dollars.
http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter40/Section15C
100 Years of History at Wellesley Country Club
There is a facinating history of the Wellesley Country Club detailed in this article published in the WestonWellesley magazine. Please, read on to the last pragraph that says "Perhaps also included will be one of the arrowheads that can still be found on occasion on the Club’s land with a recorded history that dates back to 1681 when it was purchased from Chief Magos whose tribe lived on its rolling hills and swales."
http://www.wellesleywestonmagazine.com/fall10/wellesely_countryclub.htm
http://www.wellesleywestonmagazine.com/fall10/wellesely_countryclub.htm
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Wetlands Protection Committee Meetings
Dear Friends of Brookside:
Please, mark your calendars for the Next Wetlands Protection Committee Meetings (time and location to be announced.)
January 27
February 2
The Committee has compressed their meeting schedule due to a lack of quorum in February through the beginning of March and the chairman emphasized that they need to be fair to the applicant. We are not sure what this means and what exactly all the drivers are. We do feel that it is of the utmost importance to attend the next two meetings to ensure that the process is fair to both the interests of the applicant and the residents.
Please, mark your calendars for the Next Wetlands Protection Committee Meetings (time and location to be announced.)
January 27
February 2
The Committee has compressed their meeting schedule due to a lack of quorum in February through the beginning of March and the chairman emphasized that they need to be fair to the applicant. We are not sure what this means and what exactly all the drivers are. We do feel that it is of the utmost importance to attend the next two meetings to ensure that the process is fair to both the interests of the applicant and the residents.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Wellesley Patch: Country Club Makes Changes, Wetlands Protection Requests Alternatives
Neighbors expressed feelings of frustration at the lengthy process.
By Grahame Turner
The Wetlands Protection Committee's latest meeting regarding the proposed facilities on Wellesley Country Club land was described by some neighbors as anywhere from "frustrating" to "inadequate." At least from the perspective of people living near Brookside Road.
"We were presented material that helps us make a decision," said Committee chair Eric Seaborn. "We're moving forward with a timetable."
The purpose of the meeting was largely to discuss findings made by Beals and Thomas (B+T), third party consultants hired by the town to peer review the plans filed by the Club's consultant Coneco Engineering and Scientists. Before B+T representatives were asked to speak, Mike Toohill of Coneco presented updated plans for the maintenance facility and comfort station, the two buildings proposed within wetland areas.
"We've made some fairly major revisions," Toohill explained.
The comfort station, a more pleasant euphemism for restroom facilities, has been shifted entirely out of the contested wetland areas. This 20-foot by 20-foot hut contains men and women's bathrooms and a lightning shelter. Because of the toilets, it will require some construction to connect it to the existing sewer lines running under Brookside road, but any disturbance will be temporary. Also conspicuously absent, the bulk material storage facility which was initially paired with this feature.
As for the maintenance facility, gone is the wash-down facility. The building itself moved further south on the plans, and is now L-shaped instead of the straight building described in the original Notice of Intent (NOI). This moves most of the construction out of the 200-foot buffer zone, from over 29,000 square feet originally, down to 5,926 square feet. Many of these changes were made in response to comments from B+T in a 12-page response letter.
"We have seen some significant steps that the applicant has done in response to our comments," said B+T's John Bensley at the meeting.
In the letter, and at the meeting, Bensley noted that there was some information they still required from the Country Club. This is also information which would be useful to the consultant hired by community group Friends of Brookside, Patrick Garner.
"We need identical information. Otherwise, information that we present has no real weight or validity," said Garner.
One of the provisions to acceptance is that the Club must prove they have looked at alternative sites and building in a wetland area is their only viable option. They have presented a handful of alternatives at their presentations, and the Committee has also extended the opportunity for neighbors to make their own suggestions. However, Garner doesn't feel he is working with adequate information and has not been allowed to visit the Country Club site.
The club's counsel, Art Krieger, explained, "The regulations state that the community has the opportunity to suggest alternatives, but it is also a private property and the club doesn't feel it would be productive to have residents coming and taking measurements."
As the meeting drew to a close, there was a heightened sense of aggravation among many of the neighbor speakers. Many expressed frustration with this meeting in particular, pointing out that there was a lot of time wasted on visuals which weren't clear. One neighbor was interrupted at least four times before having a chance to speak. Most of the meeting was focused on presenting alternatives, many of which have already been discussed at previous meetings.
"The reason we are dwelling on alternatives is that the law states if there is some alternative site, we are bound to deny it [the NOI]," explained Jay Hammerness, a Wetlands Protection Committee member.
There are two more meetings scheduled for this particular battle. January 27 and February 3, the Committee will reconvene to hear more from the Country Club on its alternatives and suggestions.
By Grahame Turner
The Wetlands Protection Committee's latest meeting regarding the proposed facilities on Wellesley Country Club land was described by some neighbors as anywhere from "frustrating" to "inadequate." At least from the perspective of people living near Brookside Road.
"We were presented material that helps us make a decision," said Committee chair Eric Seaborn. "We're moving forward with a timetable."
The purpose of the meeting was largely to discuss findings made by Beals and Thomas (B+T), third party consultants hired by the town to peer review the plans filed by the Club's consultant Coneco Engineering and Scientists. Before B+T representatives were asked to speak, Mike Toohill of Coneco presented updated plans for the maintenance facility and comfort station, the two buildings proposed within wetland areas.
"We've made some fairly major revisions," Toohill explained.
The comfort station, a more pleasant euphemism for restroom facilities, has been shifted entirely out of the contested wetland areas. This 20-foot by 20-foot hut contains men and women's bathrooms and a lightning shelter. Because of the toilets, it will require some construction to connect it to the existing sewer lines running under Brookside road, but any disturbance will be temporary. Also conspicuously absent, the bulk material storage facility which was initially paired with this feature.
As for the maintenance facility, gone is the wash-down facility. The building itself moved further south on the plans, and is now L-shaped instead of the straight building described in the original Notice of Intent (NOI). This moves most of the construction out of the 200-foot buffer zone, from over 29,000 square feet originally, down to 5,926 square feet. Many of these changes were made in response to comments from B+T in a 12-page response letter.
"We have seen some significant steps that the applicant has done in response to our comments," said B+T's John Bensley at the meeting.
In the letter, and at the meeting, Bensley noted that there was some information they still required from the Country Club. This is also information which would be useful to the consultant hired by community group Friends of Brookside, Patrick Garner.
"We need identical information. Otherwise, information that we present has no real weight or validity," said Garner.
One of the provisions to acceptance is that the Club must prove they have looked at alternative sites and building in a wetland area is their only viable option. They have presented a handful of alternatives at their presentations, and the Committee has also extended the opportunity for neighbors to make their own suggestions. However, Garner doesn't feel he is working with adequate information and has not been allowed to visit the Country Club site.
The club's counsel, Art Krieger, explained, "The regulations state that the community has the opportunity to suggest alternatives, but it is also a private property and the club doesn't feel it would be productive to have residents coming and taking measurements."
As the meeting drew to a close, there was a heightened sense of aggravation among many of the neighbor speakers. Many expressed frustration with this meeting in particular, pointing out that there was a lot of time wasted on visuals which weren't clear. One neighbor was interrupted at least four times before having a chance to speak. Most of the meeting was focused on presenting alternatives, many of which have already been discussed at previous meetings.
"The reason we are dwelling on alternatives is that the law states if there is some alternative site, we are bound to deny it [the NOI]," explained Jay Hammerness, a Wetlands Protection Committee member.
There are two more meetings scheduled for this particular battle. January 27 and February 3, the Committee will reconvene to hear more from the Country Club on its alternatives and suggestions.
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