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Newsletter #7, October 24, 2021

    

Newsletter #7

October 24, 2021

http://alewife.org

Important Public Hearing about the IQHQ Site – Please consider attending, even if you don’t choose to speak, to let the Conservation Commission know that the community is interested and wants to have the opportunity to comment on the final plans:

Monday October 25, 7:00pm – Conservation Commission Public Hearing – on Zoom

  • This meeting will discuss the state-required “Notice of Intent” (NOI) for development in an area covered by the state’s Wetlands Protection Act.

  • IQHQ’s consultant will present the plans for protecting wetland areas and controlling flooding, stormwater and hazardous soil during and after development.

  • This NOI is for the “development area” of the IQHQ site, where IQHQ proposes 3 new buildings and a parking garage.  They will file a separate NOI for the Jerry’s Pond area, probably in 2022.

Register for the meeting at:

https://cambridgema.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AOl10K1LR3qxpPu2FwYWpA

A good turnout of the community at the meeting is needed to show the Conservation Commission (ComCon) that our community cares about this site, and that ConCom should consider all options, not just those presented by the developer.

  • Strong community turnout at a ComCon hearing about the IQHQ site last spring resulted in more successful community input than with other development projects the ConCom has considered in the recent past.

  • IQHQ’s NOI application includes extensive re-grading of asbestos-contaminated soil in the open space areas next to Russell Field in order to create required flood storage.

  • IQHQ will follow the Cambridge Asbestos Ordinance, and other regulations and best practices, to protect the community during construction.  However, whenever possible, it’s best to disturb the asbestos-containing soil as little as possible to reduce risks if something goes wrong.

  • This extensive regrading in the submitted plan would also result in the loss of many mature trees.

  • Since the time IQHQ filed this NOI, the Alewife Study Group has proposed several ways to reduce the amount of soil disturbance and tree loss.

  • IQHQ has been receptive to this community input, and has already changed some of their plans.

  • However, ASG believes it’s possible to further reduce soil disturbance and tree loss with additional changes in IQHQ’s flood storage design.

  • IQHQ has not yet revised their NOI to show the changes they have made so far

  • Also, IQHQ’s NOI does not meet the City of Cambridge 25:2 stormwater run-off standard for new development, and ASG is awaiting the updated stormwater report to see the effects of the proposed changes.

ASG’s top goal for ConCom the meeting on Monday is to make sure the review of this NOI is continued to at least one more public hearing.

  • We want ConCom to require IQHQ to file the updated plans and review them before approving the NOI, so that our community can have the opportunity to review IQHQ’s actual plans, and then comment on them at a follow-up ConCom public hearing.

  • We don’t want the plans approved at this Monday’s hearing with future changes only being made administratively, without any opportunity for public review and comment.

  • IQHQ has indicated that they expect that there will be a continuance, so extending to another hearing won’t disrupt their schedule.

The ConCom meeting on Monday will include:

  1. IQHQ presents their NOI plans

  2. Members of the Conservation Commission (ConCom) ask questions for clarification

  3. Members of the public can ask questions and share comments

  4. Members of ConCom discuss IQHQ’s NOI application, and then make a decision, which could be:

    1. Approve IQHQ’s plans as is

    2. Approve IQHQ’s plans subject to certain changes and conditions

    3. Continue the process to another public hearing, maybe with requested changes or conditions.  This hearing would likely include an opportunity for public comment.

ASG Newsletter

ASG will try to send email updates about once a month during this busy time in the development of the IQHQ site.

Click here for previous ASG Newsletters

Anyone can sign up for this newsletter by completing the Contact Form at the bottom of the ASG home page: alewife.org  We also welcome your questions, comments, ideas, and offers of help!