The McLean Land Management Committee (LMC) was created by Memorandum of Agreement between the Town of Belmont and the McLean Hospital Corporation. The Committee is comprised of eight members equally divided between the two organizations.
The Committee
Ms. Ellen O’Brien Cushman was re-elected to serve as Chairman and Ms. Lauren Meier serves as Vice-Chairman. Additional members of the Committee are: Mr. Michael Flamang and Mr. Richard Pichette representing the Town and Ms. Michele Gougeon, Mr. Stephen Kidder, Mr. Andrew Healy, Mr. Frank Keefe from McLean. The Committee enjoys the expert staff support of Mr. Tim Higgins, Senior Planner for the Town. In addition, the cooperation and assistance of The Trustees of Reservations continues to be invaluable. The Committee is charged with administering the 119 acres of public open space resulting from the McLean redevelopment. We continue to benefit from the contributions and attention of many devoted Belmont residents who participate at our meetings.
Influencing Factors
In February, the State Appeals Court upheld the Land Court decision to permit the entire redevelopment effort between the Town and McLean. No further appeals to this decision were filed. However, at year’s end two legal milestones remain: 1. Appeal to Land Court by American Retirement Corporation of the affordable housing components of the Planning Board’s Site Plan Approval, and 2. Appeal to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection of the sewer permit granted to Northland Development. Efforts on behalf of the Town to resolve these issues are continuing, not part of the Land Management Committee body of work, but influencing the timeframe for turnover of land ownership.
Committee Work Completed 2003
A final set of Goals & Objectives was voted by the Committee to guide its work.
The Conservation Restrictions, tools to help preserve the open space, were finally accepted and signed by the Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental Affairs after years of editing, re-writing and negotiation. These documents, labeled B1 and B2, will run with the land in perpetuity.
A new water line to serve the entire McLean property was installed across the open space through the cooperative efforts of the Water Department, Police, Land Management Committee, Cemetery, Community Development, Conservation Commission and McLean’s representatives. The installation occurred without incident.
The Committee examined the five sub-environments of the site, specifically the open fields, pitch pine woodland, pine allee, wetlands and mixed hardwood forest. For each environment, the Committee analyzed and articulated the attributes to preserve, perceived threats and a prepared a detailed action plan. The resultant document forms the Land Management Plan on which the Committee will rely for future actions.
The committee reviewed, commented and approved the design plan for the buffer plantings between Zone 1A and the open space provided by Northland. A member of the Committee will also participate in the installation phase by performing on-site judgment modifications.
The Committee was delighted to receive the Department of Environmental Management Recreational Trails Grant we applied for last year. The grant, totaling $8,822 was matched by cash funds from the Judith K. Record Memorial Fund and was used to repair and restore the trail through the pine allee. That portion of the trail had suffered significant erosion and compaction. Work was substantially complete at year’s end.
Committee Actions Planned for 2004
The Committee expects to review the re-siting of the public safety/telecommunications tower. The Conservation Restrictions require approval of the Land Management Committee on specific attributes prior to permits and construction. The Town has entered a lease agreement with TV Ventures II.
Significant work has already been performed to analyze and work with McLean to remove the debris piles on the site per the Memorandum of Agreement. The Committee looks forward to concluding this activity in 2004.
The Committee has begun analysis of the trails around the site, their conditions, users and impacts. Decisions regarding the uses of the trails will continue to require significant public input. Enforcement of regulations and restrictions continues to be a major focus of the discussion.
The Committee will continue preparations for the transfer of land, including developing policies and regulations, day to day management, neighbor relations and impacts, hours of access, orientation and signage, parking access and enforcement practices among others.
Respectfully submitted,
Ellen O’Brien Cushman, Chairman
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