By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Several abutters raised concerns about the Lynnfield Rail Trail’s impact on residential properties and the environment during a recent Conservation Commission meeting.
The Conservation Commission’s discussion of the 1.84-mile rail trail involved work that would occur in the 100-foot buffer zone to bordering vegetated wetlands and the 200-foot riverfront area by Bates Brook and an intermediate stream. The meeting occurred two weeks before Spring Town Meeting voted on three warrant articles related to the Lynnfield Rail Trail on Tuesday, April 29, taking place after deadline.
The Boston Area Metropolitan Planning Organization has fully funded construction for Phase 1 of the Lynnfield Rail Trail for fiscal year 2026. Phase 1 of the rail trail entails constructing a 1.84-mile recreational trail on the abandoned MBTA rail bed from Ford Avenue by Lynnfield Middle School to Nichols Lane in Peabody. Ford Avenue is located at the end of Perry Avenue.
Stantec Project Engineer Joe Rubino said the engineering firm has identified which trees will be removed and which trees will remain for the construction of the rail trail that will occur by Ford Avenue and the Lynnfield Middle School Track and Field complex.
“We estimate that 16 trees in this area can be protected and retained through construction,” said Rubino. “We are proposing to plant 32 arborvitaes along the entrance to Ford Avenue.”
Rubino said Stantec’s goal is to “maintain as much vegetation” as possible during construction of the rail trail.
“The intent is to really maintain this as much of a natural path as possible,” said Rubino. “Any trees that require removal get marked prior to their removal and need to be approved by the MassDOT engineer who is on site. That is a check that they have to rein in some of the tree clearing that occurs during construction.”
Rubino said the rail trail would be paved and would not have a stone dust path.
“The trail surface has to be accessible, needs to be slip resistant and needs to be firm,” said Rubino.
In response to a question from Planning and Conservation Director Emilie Cademartori, Rubino said between a third to half of the rail trail’s work involves areas that are in the Conservation Commission’s jurisdiction.
LEC Environmental wetland scientist Daniel Wells said the Lynnfield Rail Trail is classified as a “Limited Project” under the Wetlands Protection Act because it is a footpath/bike path.
“That is just for shared use paths like this,” said Wells.
While Rubino said most of the rail trail will be 12-feet-wide, he said there will be sections that will be narrowed to 10-feet-wide.
“That is MassDOT’s standard as far as trail width,” said Rubino about the 12-foot width.
Abutters air concerns
Former Planning Board/Conservation Commission member Alan Dresios, who lives on Bourque Road and is an abutter to the project, said the ConCom has “limited jurisdiction over the rail trail.”
“The areas not in the buffer zone or resource areas is beyond their review,” said Dresios. “Given that restriction, the town should be holding a public hearing on the entire project, which they have not even suggested despite citizens asking for such.”
Dresios said the abandoned railbed that would be paved over as part of the Lynnfield Rail Trail project has “not been maintained” for many years. He said the town will be responsible for maintaining the rail trail once it opens.
“We all know how the town does with maintenance,” said Dresios.
Dresios also raised concerns about the rectangular rapid flashing beacons that will be installed at the rail trail’s intersections and children’s safety at the intersections. He also expressed concerns about the cost of the town purchasing environmental insurance, motorized vehicle usage, stormwater management and potential “zoning violations.” He also expressed concerns about people parking in different areas in order to access the rail trail, especially on Ford Avenue.
“Nobody pays attention to ‘No Parking’ signs,” said Dresios.
Rubino said the town will be charge of maintaining the rail trail after the project is completed.
In response to a question from Conservation Commission Chair Don Gentile, Rubino said Stantec has provided the commission with a “summary of how we intended to meet each standard of the stormwater checklist to the maximum extent practical.”
“We didn’t necessarily do a more detailed approach because it is country drainage,” said Rubino. “We are tying into the existing drainage facilities that were established by the railroad.”
Rubino said motor vehicles will not be allowed on the rail trail “unless it is emergency and maintenance vehicles.”
“We don’t anticipate this will be a pollutant generating surface in terms of what you see on a roadway with sanding, salting, oil and things like that,” said Rubino.
Former Conservation Commission Chair Denise Young, 81 Perry Ave., expressed concerns about people parking on Perry Avenue and Ford Avenue in order to access the rail trail. She suggested that the Conservation Commission conduct a site visit to the rail trail in order to examine the project’s impact on vegetation and the wetlands.
Perry Avenue resident Debbie LaConte said she opposed the Lynnfield Rail Trail project because of flooding issues in the area, including her property.
“I walk every single day at least three or four miles,” said LaConte. “I would love a rail trail, but I don’t want one in my backyard. I don’t want it going through anyone’s backyard. I don’t want it going through the wetlands. I don’t want it going through the skunk cabbage. When there are events or parties on our street or at the middle school, people can’t get down our street. I have called the police millions of times. Perry Ave. is very small.”
LaConte said she wanted the Conservation Commission to conduct a peer review and hold a site visit to the rail trail before Spring Town Meeting.
“This town is pushing full steam ahead to build a trail connecting the middle and high school,” said LaConte.
Former School Committee member Phil McQueen, 1 Ford Ave., said he is a “double abutter” because Phase 1 of the Lynnfield Rail Trail will go in front of his house.
“The second phase of the rail trail will go behind my house as well,” said McQueen. “My biggest concern to you all is the environmental impact of moving these nasty chemicals around between the middle school and the high school. I don’t think that is very good for the kids. The project seems to have changed dramatically from when it was voted on at Town Meeting. Phase 1 seems to be what is proposed now, and I am not even sure if Phase 2 is happening anymore. I just feel that is not much information out there and, as Alan said, the town is not really having a public hearing on this. We have to do things like coming to the Conservation Commission or a Select Board hearing about a small piece of road to air our concerns. I think that lack of transparency from the town is alarming, and it does seem like they are trying to steamroll this through because there is a timeframe for which the funds have to be spent.”
Gentile said Phase 2 of the rail trail, which would go from Ford Avenue, through Reedy Meadow and into Wakefield, is “not included in this proposal.”
Rubino said Stantec created a design for the Lynnfield Rail Trail that follows the “the Department of Environmental Protection’s best management practices for developing a rail trail, which outlines how to control the potential contaminants in the soil during construction.”
“It outlines how to keep them on site and how to appropriately handle them,” said Rubino.
Rubino said any materials containing “potential contaminants” will be “taken off site as part of the construction and will be disposed of at a licensed facility.”
“Construction will also include an environmental health and safety plan,” said Rubino. “That plan is developed by the contractor and needs to be approved by MassDOT. The four-inches of pavement over the trail surface acts as a cap for any contaminants that were not excavated during construction.”
Gentile asked Rubino if there have been “any changes in regards to conservation and wetlands.”
“No not to my knowledge,” said Rubino. “We have presented to the Select Board a couple of times on a semi-periodic basis just to bring updates to them.”
Tree Committee Chair Jane Bandini expressed concerns about the trees and vegetation that will be removed as part of the rail trail project.
“Over the length of the trail, you are close to clear-cutting four acres,” said Bandini. “There is too much being removed. It looks like only a skinny path, but it adds up to acres and acres.”
Bandini said all of the trees that would be removed as part of the rail trail project “deserve some form of mitigation.”
Giugliano Terrace resident Jill Giugliano said she was disappointed that MassDOT has removed funding for fencing, barriers and screening from the rail trail project.
“I have lived in Lynnfield for about 50 years, 49 to be exact,” said Giugliano. “What is happening to these abutters on Ford Ave. and Perry Ave. to me is disturbing. Since when did Lynnfield become so cruel to do all of this for a rail-to-trail? We should be putting this money and this effort to our streets that are in desperate need of repairs.”
Gentile thanked all of the abutters for raising their concerns to the ConCom.
After the discussion, the Conservation Commission voted to schedule a site visit to the rail trail that took place on Thursday, April 24. The Conservation Commission also voted to continue the public hearing to Tuesday, May 20.