committee reports: water, materials, landuse, energy
Jim Snyder-Grant
Land Use Committee Report
The Green Acton Land Use Committee (LUC) met on May 29, 2024.
Our main goal continues to be to advocate for strong new bylaws aimed at significantly limiting land clearing and tree clearing in Acton. Since our advocacy began, the town has begun considering two zoning changes which will likely be voted on at 2025 Town Meeting. They are:
1) A Tree preservation bylaw that might include protection of trees of a certain size, land clearing limits within residential zoning setbacks, land clearing delays for commercial development, and landing clearing limits for new residential development.
2)
Habitat for All (HFA) - a zoning proposal that the town states
will, "pair zoning with sustainability, provide approaches to achieve
housing affordability and accessibility, address land protection, and support households of all incomes."
At
our May 29th meeting, LUC finalized informational questions in five
areas which we will submit to the Green Advisory Board and the Planning
Department (cc: Town Sustainability Director, and the Selectboard Rep.
to HFA Working Group, Alissa Nicol) later this month to gain
clarification regarding the scope of the town's preliminary plans, based
on materials submitted to and presented to by the Planning Board to the
Select Board earlier this year. Our questions ask:
1) Whether HFA's scope
will limited to to-be-built subdivisions, and if so, why the town sees
that as preferable to a scope that would include curbing land clearing on all private and public property including existing subdivisions.
2)
Whether per the presentation, the tree preservation bylaw will only
focus on trees in the perimeter of a property, rather than a property's
core, and if so, why the town believes this is preferable.
3) Whether the town believes it can require any new land
clearing limits to go into effect without retroactivity, and what town
counsel views as the legal theory to prevent retroactivity if the town,
per its presentation, chooses to propose a zoning bylaw instead of a
town bylaw
4) Whether the town feels that it is necessary to preserve trees in areas where a property owner wants to clearcut land, plans no building, is not adjacent to a wetland, is not creating new stormwater runoff, and not subject to a prior permit.
5) Whether a goal of HFA is to have more clustered smaller
houses built, and if so whether the town is considering wording that
would require that rather than incentivize it, and whether all
incentives to developers being considered are environmentally
sustainable.
LUC
will submit questions on these topics later this month to the
above-referenced town entities. LUC will share the town's responses with
the directors. If LUC proposes that GA take a position on any of these
matters, the matter will be brought to the directors.
Other topics that we discussed at our meeting included LUC's continuing plans to try to obtain a student intern for land use
research purposes, the timeline of public comment sessions regarding
the town Open Space and Recreation Plan, the towns plan to perform
mitigation regarding a vernal pond near where there are preliminary
plans to install a traffic light at Hayward & Main Streets, whether
the town will be creating a Hazardous Tree Removal Policy, and learning
about the Acton Conservation
Committee Beaver Removal policy. In some of these areas LUC will be
making information requests to the town to learn more. If in the future
if LUC proposes that GA take a position on any of these matters, LUC
will bring the matter to the directors.
LUC will next meet on
Wed. June 26, 2024, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. All are welcome at the
meeting, especially newcomers. We have a resident concerns portion of
the agenda where residents can bring up new land use
concerns to the committee. If you would like the link to the meeting or
would like to communicate with us for any other purpose, email us at landuse@greenacton.org
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Energy
A. Gas Leaf Blower Phase-Out - What’s next?
1. Select Board process - Jim said the Select Board is already 3-2 for it and could get to 4-1 if David Martin approves the revised bylaw. If there’s a fall town meeting, it could be voted on then, otherwise next May.
2. Lexington & Bedford landscapers - Paul and Alan spoke about a market force approach to getting more BLBs in Acton by promoting a list of landscapers willing to work in Acton and are already subject to GLB restrictions in Lexington and Belmont. Alan has a list and will contact landscapers. Carolyn will contact them too. The plan is to ask GA for permission to post a list of BLB landscapers willing to work in Acton on GA website, then promote the names to Acton residents. We may also communicate to landscapers in Acton that we have Acton clients interested in electric lawn care. Jim will add the request to admin agenda and prepare brief case statement to board. Debra expressed concerns about posting business names on website, however Green Newton does it.
3. Energize Acton - Carolyn sent draft to Karen Root Watkins to include electric lawn care section on site.
4. For education, Paul will create a flyer for the 6/8 Climate Festival. The 6/23 GA table at ABFM is cancelled due to lack of personnel but the Sept ABFM table is still a possibility.
B. Solar project update
1.Carolyn, Richard & Henny met with David Kleinschmidt to discuss Idylwilde and other solar issues/opportunities, including Auto Auction and Audubon Hill. Richard will go to Idylwilde and AA in person as he could not contact them by phone. He has seen a huge solar canopy at Alessi in Framingham, installed by Kiit, although it has some leaks.
2.David Shoemaker spoke about the Historical District Commission policy about installing solar, which has to balance preserving historic heritage with Commonwealth desire to encourage solar. In general, if solar panels are not visible from the street they are allowed. They’ve had 6 applications, and 5 were approved. There are 200 houses in historic district vs 8500 in town, so ample room to install solar on non-historic houses. Jim said there’s state legislation to increase solar in historic districts.
C. MA electric grid investigation
1. Richard attending GMAC webinar on June 13th
2. We need a driver. We will revisit after Richard reports on meeting next month.
D. Anti-idling
1. Carolyn sent message to school facilities asking if any old signs still available. No response
2. Debra’s visual for social media and ABFM was approved with suggestions to cut ½ the words and add QR code
3. Paul found an Illegal Idling Tip Form to report buses, trucks, & other commercial vehicles to state AG office
4. We need a driver. Paul was interested but feels he has burned bridges with town employees and would not be effective. Debra might be interested.
5. Jim is waiting for an answer from the town manager about enforcement. His reply may determine next steps.
E. Hanscom expansion
1. Select Board sent letter of opposition to governor; Fran working on using info for comment to MEPA
2. Developers & Massport in-person public meeting on Thurs, 5/30 at 6pm at John Glenn Middle School, 99 McMahon Rd, Bedford. Demonstration planned to start 4:45/5:00pm
3. Debra suggested bringing issue to Jamie Eldridge Energy meeting on June 15th at 9am
F. School Battery issue - Peter Light withdrew project. He will negotiate directly with Anita re: her concerns
G. APC - No decision on flyers in stores. The project has a consultant advising on promotion strategy.
Jim Snyder-Grant
