Dear Friends in Ardmore,

I will be sending you some photos of our rare silver maple forest, which might sooon be felled under the swing of J.Brian O'Neill's axe. After many years ( of this regional battle, we are still finding it difficult to maintain stamina. On December 4th, our Conservation Commission will meet for a final decision. Here is a recent article of mine on various methods we have used in Belmont, Cambridge, Arlington to defeat the proposal of a 40B development (20 percent affordable housing).

Alewife Wetlands–Forest Ecosystem Continues Endangered Status
By Ellen Mass - Friends of Alewife Reservation

Town action concerning the fate of our regional silver maple forest has taken place at the Belmont Conservation Commission, where members are consulting the company of Horsley and Witten Inc.on the 300 unit project. We are close to permit stage. Commissioners question: restricted v. unrestricted hydraulic connections, natural flow, ground water levels, quantity and quality of storm water discharge, location, size and functioning of infiltration chambers, soil removal. They cite general inaccuracies, gaps, inadequate information., questions of the stormceptor system, size and location and backup of sewer storage system; and snow storage, to name a few. Construction or building plans to date are absent, yet permission is requested to begin clear cutting the trees.

Environmental issues are completely skirted in Epsilon assessments such as wildlife, lighting, noise and traffic. The Firm denies that bordering land subject to flooding is inescapably a part of a 25 plus acre wetland complex, owned by the Dept. of Conservation and Recreation in Cambridge, and includes the city’s largest wetlands. Five professional outside assessors’ reports have been ignored. www.friendsofalewifereservation.org contains the reports.

Epsilon ignores animal and bird land connectivity over a building footprint arc of 180 degrees. Julie Vondrak, assessor for wildlife, said that only 7 percent of wild and forest would be impacted from the 245 thousand square foot development which would house 800 plus persons in a gigantic 4 story building. Friends of Alewife Reservation has countered with studies of noted N.H. ecologist, Patrick Fairbairn, and assessments from wildlife specialist Dave Brown, who inventoried Middlesex Fells for the DCR producing a book, Biodiversity of the Alewife Reservation Area, which maps Uplands birds, wildlife, plants and insects

The Cambridge Conservation Commission began developing wetlands by-laws for years, but disappeared from consideration when new city appointed commissioners came aboard. Without municipal by-laws, Cambridge’s natural resources remain vulnerable. Forty percent of Ma. towns and cities have by-laws.

Financial and political pressure place on local and state government, and business has played a role in the proceedings. The Firm of nationally renowned developer, J. Brian O’Neill Sr., (Cambridge Partners Ltd.) from Pennsylvania, has lobbied the legislature, town, city and many participants. This Firm is the largest purchaser of Brown Fiends in the United States, developing luxury condos throughout New England and now plans the US east coast’s largest super luxury yacht marina. Rhode Island political scandals have rocked the Firm in recent years.

The Firm plans to fell a 7 acre rare forest (at least a thousand trees) leaving 2 trees from the forest on the building site. Some trees have been assessed at over 100 years.
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Factors working in preservationists’ favor are the following: Coaltion to support the Belmont Uplands and Winn Brook Neighborhood,with support for Cambridge’s Democratic City Committee, has filed a civil action law suit with strong challenges of ecology, hydrology, sewage removal, and neighborhood protection, represented by Thomas Bracken Esq. The group claims the forest uplands is also filled in tidelands covered by Chapter 91 noting that the hydrology of the area continues somewhat as it did 200 years ago and thus conforms to the latest ch 91 legislative changes..

Rep.Will Brownsberger’s legislative initiative (H.B. 21) to purchase the Uplands for 6 million dollars from the Environmental Bond Bill, is now supported by 12 legislators in Middlesex and Suffolk Counties along the Mystic River watershed.

Preserving the Alewife woodlands remains a Conservation Commission matter (soon to reach Cambridge’s Commission), a civil action suit, and a legislative initiative that is directed to the Governor’s office. More advocacy with local decision-makers is needed. Write Councilors and Commissioners to prevent the removal of Belmont-Cambridge woodlands. A region-wide Solstice Service will be held with 3 ministers of 3 towns on the Reservation December 16th at 2:00pm at the Alewife Reservation parking lot on Acorn Park Drive in Discovery Park on the Cambridge-Belmont border.