1. Fresh Pond: Related Initiatives.
A. Introduction.
B. Neighborhood zoning problems.
C. The logging down the street.
D. The Cambridge city manager moves in exactly the wrong direction on zoning, as usual.
2. The Villains Brag.
A. Introduction.
B. Introductory / General.
C. Area being logged.
(1) Past destruction.
(2) Destruction to come.
D. Links.
1. Fresh Pond: Related Initiatives.
A. Introduction.
I sent the following letter to the Cambridge (MA, USA) Chronicle yesterday. The property in question is one short block off the Fresh Pond Reservation and from the eastern edge of the Cambridge, MA city manager’s proposed upzoning. The environmental destruction starts perhaps another block to the west.
I am subdividing it to fit this format:
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Editor
Cambridge Chronicle
RE: Letter: Tobin-Danehy Zoning Petition in Context
B. Neighborhood zoning problems.
Neighbors of the Cambridge Self Storage facility near the Sozio’s rotary on Concord Avenue have good reason to be concerned about development on the Cambridge Self-Storage site since a brief review of the zoning or the site (Residence C1A) indicates it allows construction 2½ times the allowed density in the neighborhood (Residence B).
There is more going on in their neighborhood than that, however, and the other problems include problems much worse than the problem at Cambridge Self-Storage.
The enemy, as in too many such problems, is the Cambridge City Manager.
C. The logging down the street.
On the Concord Avenue side of Fresh Pond, the Cambridge City Manager wants to plant 1000 saplings. This would run from the rotaries to the Burger King or further.
Trouble is that the existing trees are in the way of the City Manager’s saplings, so the City Manager is taking action. The City Manager is destroying large numbers of trees.
A guess based on the City Manager’s usual planting densities and the existing tree density would be destruction of 2000, 3000 or more trees. The logging has already commenced.
Death or forced eviction of valuable small resident animals is obvious. Destruction of bird nests during mating season is obvious. Looking at the starvation being inflicted on Charles River animals for more than a year and a half, this is business as usual.
Stirring up of resident rats is obvious. Where they will go is anybody’s guess, but the last thing that bothers the City Manager is behavior of animals affected by his projects. Clearly, they will be moved closer to people’s homes than they are now. The existing rat problem in various parts of the city can easily come from irresponsible developers.
D. The Cambridge city manager moves in exactly the wrong direction on zoning, as usual.
The City Manager has filed for the third time an incredibly massive upzoning in this area.
This upzoning affects construction on the north side of Concord Avenue running from Sozio’s Circle at least through both shopping centers. It also, at minimum, also threatens the north side of the railroad tracks at Alewife.
On the Cambridge Self-Storage site, the density allowed by zoning is 2.5 times that of the neighborhood. The City Manager’s pending upzoning could allow buildings 12 times the size of the neighborhood or worse. The City Manager’s proposal could allow buildings more than 50% denser than Harvard Square.
The neighborhood’s downzoning proposed for the Cambridge Self-Storage site, to Residence C-1 (50% denser than the neighborhood zoning) is clearly moderate.
The big threat is from the City Manager. I hope the neighbors are able to fight three fights at once. They are being attacked from three sides.
2. The Villains Brag.
A. Introduction.
Following is an email I got from the Cambridge city manager’s people concerning their logging initiatives.
Talk about “reviews” should be taken with a very major grain of salt. The people doing the reviews are appointed by the Cambridge city manager.
The entity which passes as a “Conservation Commission” in Cambridge, MA is so bad that they had maps of the outrage on Magazine Beach posted on their walls.
I will not insult you by translating “tree management.”
As with my letter to the editor, I have added subdivisions.
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B. Introductory / General.
Greetings from Fresh Pond Reservation!
Welcome to the Fresh Pond reservation Weekly email update.
At Little Fresh Pond, the first row of coir fascines is being staked into place along the perimeter of Little Fresh Pond. An erosion control fabric is being placed underneath the fascines, and will be spread out after the second row of fascines is put into place.
The new design for the southern wetland of Little Fresh Pond will be presented to the Cambridge Conservation Commission on Monday, March 27th.
The new design for the beach in the southeast corner of the Pond will also be presented to the Conservation Commission on March 27th.
Next week's forecast:
The coir fascines will continue to be placed along the shoreline of Little Fresh Pond.
Upon approval from the Conservation Commission, work on both the southwestern wetland and the southeastern beach area will move forward.
C. Area being logged.
(1) Past destruction.
Much work has taken place in the Northeast Sector. The slope behind Neville Place extending to Black's Nook has had extensive work done to it. Many of the invasive species have been cleared out, allowing Perimeter Path users visual access to the beautiful beeches on the slope.
Over the past two weeks, the organic matter on the slope was taken out, and erosion control log bars were placed into the soil. The soil was covered with a seeded mulch, and the mulch covered with a woody fiber matrix that will protect the new soil and the seeds it holds. A brush barrier is being erected along the perimeter of the slope area using the trimmings from native tree species on the Reservation.
[Ed: If you want to understand, what vegetation the City of Cambridge calls “native species,” check out the bizarre designer bushes which have been planted on the Charles River where wetlands and native vegetation has been destroyed. The most certain thing about the designer bushes is that they are “native” somewhere. They just are not native on the Charles River. “Invasive species” should be translated as “native species” if you are concerned about reality.]
Eventually the brush barrier, currently acting as protection for the slope area, will be removed, and the brush will be spread throughout the slope as plant protection and temporary erosion control.
Fencing of several of the trees along Concord Avenue has taken place, with more tree protection fencing to be placed throughout the site in the coming weeks.
(2) Destruction to come.
Next week's forecast:
Tree management will continue on site, with the trimming and felling of trees, as well as placement of tree protection fencing.
Starting with the regrading of the area behind Neville Place and moving up towards Concord Avenue, soils will be taken out and brought to Lusitania Field for storage and eventual cleaning and processing. Much of the soil--after being sorted and cleaned--will be used again on site.
Northeast Sector Project Walk-Abouts will begin April 3rd. Chip Norton, Watershed Manager, will be hosting the weekly information walks on Monday evenings through the summer. Anyone interested in learning more about the project should meet Chip Norton at 6 pm at the Walter J. Sullivan Water Treatment Facility at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway.
D. Links.
For more information:
See the attached Northeast Sector Project Guide created by a landscape architect who assisted with the project design.
Please stop be either of the projects websites for more information:
and be sure to check out the Little Fresh Pond Shoreline Restoration and Drainage Improvement Project Photo Album
Feel free to email with questions or concerns, or stop by the Ranger Station located at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway to talk with a watershed staff member.
Look for our next update on Friday, March 31st! Please forward this on to anyone who is interested in the work going on at Fresh Pond Reservation. Please let me know if you would like to be taken off the distribution list.
Hannah D Wilbur
Office of Watershed Management
Cambridge Water Department
