City Council Office

Policy Order Resolution

O-10
AMENDED ORDER
IN CITY COUNCIL

March 18, 2013

COUNCILLOR VANBEUZEKOM COUNCILLOR KELLEY

WHEREAS: The Cambridge City Council has passed numerous orders over the past thirteen years noting the natural resource value of the Belmont Uplands located in the Alewife SubWatershed; and

WHEREAS: The Cambridge City Council has made numerous requests to the City Manager to protect these watershed/woodlands located in Cambridge and Belmont; and

WHEREAS: The Belmont Conservation Commission in an effort to protect this wetland and habitat, in accordance with the state's Wetlands Protection Act (WPA), has denied a developer-applicant's request for a permit to develop in this area and has appealed the Department of Environmental Protection's decision to override their denial; and

WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge will very likely be impacted by all large development projects constructed within this sensitive floodplain (which is located in adjacent Belmont) based on the hydrology of the Alewife SubWatershed; and

WHEREAS: The Cambridge City Council applauds the heroic efforts of the Belmont Conservation Commission to protect its residents, and those of Cambridge and Arlington, from anticipated regional flooding due to the impacts of increased climate change; and

WHEREAS: Presently, the City of Cambridge is reviewing, together with a panel of experts, the cities' Climate Change Vulnerabilities with an expected report to be released in 18 months time; and

WHEREAS: This Climate Change Vulnerabilities Report will likely include provisions to protect vulnerable open space near wetlands and floodplains with suggestions to work regionally; and

WHEREAS: The Belmont Uplands which is essentially a "storm water sponge" for the Alewife SubWatershed and is a vulnerable open space near wetlands and floodplains; and

WHEREAS: The Belmont Conservation Commission and the Board of Selectmen deserve our thanks for their legal action to protect our mutual resources and to uphold the WPA; now therefore be it

ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Chairperson Mark A Paolillo, Belmont Board of Selectman and James Roth, Chair Belmont Conservation Commission on behalf of the entire Cambridge City Council.

In City Council March 18, 2013
Adopted as amended by the affirmative vote of eight members.
Attest:- Donna P. Lopez, Interim City Clerk

A true copy;

ATTEST:-
Donna P. Lopez, Interim City Clerk

ADOPTED AS AMENDED BY SUBSTITUTION