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Home My Public Portal About99 Coolidge Letter to Commission 04212021www.vhb.com April 21, 2021 Ref: 14844.00 Chairman Leo Martin Watertown Conservation Commission 149 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472 Email via Ischwab@watertown-ma.gov Aist ___.:0\fh Re: Supplemental Information Request related to the Notice of Intent for 57 Coolidge Avenue (aka. 99 Coolidge Avenue) Dear Chairman Martin, On behalf of National Development and Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., VHB is providing the enclosed information in response to questions and information requests made at the Watertown Conservation Commission 57 Coolidge Avenue Notice of Intent Public Hearing on April 7, 2021. In addition to the responses below, please note the following supplemental attachments attached herein: • Revised Long Term Pollution Prevention Plan (i.e. Operations & Maintenance Plan); • Stage I/11 MCP Environmental Risk Characterization (originally submitted to Conservation Commission on April 5, 2021. Included here for ease in reference). • Supplemental Groundwater and Soil Data including: o Summary of Groundwater Analytical Results o Summary of Soil Analytical Results o Summary of Groundwater Elevation Data o Exploration Location Plan o Preliminary Disposal Site Boundary Plan o Groundwater Contour Plan o Subsurface Exploration/Boring Logs • A copy of the presentation from the April 7, 2021 hearing (originally submitted to Conservation Commission on April 9, 2021. Included here for ease in reference). Engineers Scientists 1 Planners 1 Designers \\vhb.com\gbl\prof\Wat-LD\14544.00\Reports\NOI\Commission Response letter \99 Coolidge Letter to Commission 04212021.docx 101 Walnut Street PO Box 9151 Watertown, Massachusetts 02471 P 617.924.1770 F 617.924.2286 Leo Martin, Chair, Watertown Conservation Commission April 21, 2021 Page 2 Planting and Landscaping Inquiries: • 4.7.21 Comment: Why was shadbush (Amelanchier) chosen for the eastern side of the garage? Response: Shadblow (Amelanchier canadensis) and other understory tree species proposed are intended to provide multilevel landscaping and allow understory to be more fully realized than would occur with single evergreen screening species. This provides a more complex visual and ecological outcome for the property. The view to the garage is filtered through multilayers of vegetation • 4.7.21 Comment: Have you considered effects of herbivory by rabbits in particular? Response: Review of the species on site VHB is continuing to develop the planting plan and determine plant selections. Recognizing that plant susceptibility to rabbit browsing crosses a spectrum from very attractive, to occasionally susceptible (e.g. when rabbits are especially hungry following end of winter), to repelling, VHB has identified a number of especially susceptible perennials on the preliminary plant list (e.g. aster and liatris) these will be substituted with less susceptible materials. Additional strategies, such as locating occasionally susceptible plants in proximity of more repelling plants, will be considered as the design is refined. • 4.7.21 Comment: Have you considered using White Pine on the site (Pinus strobus) as more typical of the region and most likely to self -propagate? Response: White pine was not selected due to the propensity of this species to lose its lower branches as the tree grows. Norway spruce was chosen for its effectiveness in screening due to form and maintenance of lower branches over time, resilience and hardiness as shown in other applications in the state. • 4.7.21 Comment: Have on site trees been examined by an arborist? Response: An arborist has not examined the trees on site, however they have been reviewed for tree type (species). Tree health will be determined during site enabling work and mature trees that are healthy and can be maintained will be protected and retained. Stormwater Inquiries: • 4.7.21 Comment: The Operations and Maintenance Plan needs additional details. Response: Additional updates have been included to the Long -Term Pollution Prevention Plan (i.e. The Operations & Maintenance Plan). Please refer to the attached. • 4.7.21 Comment: Snow Storage noted in the Operations & Maintenance Plan needs to be moved out of the recently enhanced landscape buffer zone: \\vhb.com\gbl\prof\Wat-LD\14844.00\Reports\NOI\Commission Response letter \99 Coolidge Letter to Commission 04212021.docx Leo Martin, Chair, Watertown Conservation Commission April 21, 2021 Page 3 Response: The revised Long -Term Pollution Prevention Plan includes a revised Figure 5 Snow Storage Location Plan. The site offers limited areas for snow storage, so most snow will need to be removed from the site. • 4.7.21 comment: What type of deicing materials will be utilized on site: Response: Following the 4.7.21 meeting, Watertown's de-icing protocols were circulated to the applicant and deicing protocols were updated in the attached Long -Term Pollution Prevention Plan to show conformance to Watertown's requirements. • 4.7.21 Comment: Has the stormwater systems been specified to contemplate the shadow parking? Response: Yes, the current stormwater design has been sized to accommodate the future shadow parking spaces. In order to construct the future shadow parking spaces the applicant may need to come back for a new Order of Conditions, with the understanding that a future NOI will not require any additional stormwater upgrades to accommodate the future parking spaces, since these are already included in the design. Lighting Inquiry: • 4.7.21 Comment: Will pathway lighting conform to Dark Skies requirements? Response: All fixtures will be sharp cut off and dark sky compliant. Lighting has been designed to be directional and pathway lighting along the stream has been designed to be focused on the path and minimize lighting of the stream channel, to protect the ecological integrity of the wildlife corridor. We hope this information completely satisfies the requests made at the hearing and we look forward to meeting with you again on May 5th. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. Sincerely, Vanasse Ha Meredith Avery Environmental Scien st MAVERY@VHB.com rustliri nc. \\vhb.com\gbl\prof\Wat-LD\14844.00\Reports\NOI \Commission Response letter \99 Coolidge Letter to Commission 04212021.docx Leo Martin, Chair, Watertown Conservation Commission April 21, 2021 Page 4 CC: Horizon East Condominium — Community Development Group via email horizoneastcdc@gmail.com Crossroad on the Charles — Concerned Owners Group via email climatedoc@gmail.com Matt Schuman, mschuman@watertwon-ma.gov, DPW Steve McGoon, smagoon@watertown-ma.gov Assistance Town Manager Gideon Schreiber, gschreiber@watertown-ma.gov , Senior Planner \\vhb.com\gbl\prof\Wat-LD\14844.00\Reports\NOI\Commission Response letter \99 Coolidge Letter to Commission 04212021.docx