HomeMy WebLinkAbout20190820 Correspondence/WSP - Correspondence - 177 SALEM STREET 8/15/2019 RIDGEWOOD CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
P.O.BOX 22
NORTH ANDOVE R,MA 01845
(978)682-5786
tidgewood.ceme tety@verizon.ne t
7nistees
James R.1-afond,President .Superintendent
Scott J.Polumbo
Bradford B.Wakeman, Treasurer Salem Street Grounds
Dr.Robert Atwood,Clerk (978)685-5027
Benjamin G.Famum
Joseph M.Mich Secmtary
David C.Rand Nancy L.eonardi
John'1'.Smolak,Esq. Cemetery Gatehouse
177 Salem Street
(978)682-5786
August 15,2019
Eitan Goldberg,Chairman
Planning Board
Town of North Andover
120 Main Street
North Andover, Massachusetts 01845
RE: Request for Waiver of Watershed Protection District Special Permit
Project: Ridgewood Cemetery Community Preservation Act Projects
Property: 177 Salem Street
Dear Chairman Goldberg and Other Board Members:
On behalf of the Ridgewood Cemetery Association Board of Trustees, I am submitting this letter
in connection with the Association's request for a waiver of the requirements to file a Watershed
Protection District Special Permit. As you may know, Ridgewood Cemetery Association has obtained
Town Meeting approval of the funding of several projects throughout the Cemetery. It has recently come
to our attention that certain activities at the Cemetery which are also located within the Lake
Cochichewick Watershed Protection District may require Board approval or waiver.
At the 2018 Annual Town Meeting,the Cemetery Association was awarded funding to undertake
the following projects:
l. Farm Pond Overlook Restoration—includes the removal of invasive vegetation,and the
restoration of this area with loaming,seeding and dense native plantings and related landscapes designed
to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in this area of the Cemetery.
2. Former Maintenance Yard Area Perimeter Restoration Plan—involves the enhancement of
historic landscapes extending from the former maintenance area, southerly and easterly along the
Cemetery's perimeter to a point where the perimeter meets with the pond area referenced above. These
historic landscape enhancements would serve to restore and enhance a neglected area in terms of
landscaping and screening with new trees and other native plantings; selected stone wall features; and
related landscape supported by irrigation improvements to ensure the integrity and long term viability of
the landscape plan.
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3. Restoration and Conservation of Historic Landscape and Pathways in the Grove Section of the
Cemetery—includes selective thinning of canopy,and the installation of lower canopy landscapes
and trees.
4. Marbleridge Road Historic Landscape Enhancements-- includes selective thinning of canopy,
and the installation of lower canopy landscape features.
5. Historic Grave Marker Conservation-- noninvasive conservation of grave markers.
In addition,the Cemetery Association received funding to enable the restoration of the Historic
Hearse House at the 2017 Annual Town Meeting. The work involved includes the lifting of the existing
historic structure to enable the installation of a new foundation, but involves no expansion of the existing
footprint of the structure,will not disturb existing topography, and proper erosion control has been
established. A copy of a site plan identifying all of these areas is attached to this letter.
We are also requesting confirmation that certain activities,which the Cemetery has been
undertaking for over 150 years,such as normal cemetery burial operations,grounds maintenance,the
loaming and seeding of cemetery grounds,the maintenance of landscaping, and selective cutting of dead
trees and invasive landscaping, do not require a waiver or other action by the Board under the Zoning
Bylaw in the future.
We look forward to discussing these matters with the Board in the near future. Thank you.
Sincerely,
9 amen R. Lafond
President
JL/
cc: Ridgewood Cemetery Association Trustees
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