2024-11-6 Open Space & Recreation Committee meeting minutes FINAL City of Beverly Open Space &Recreation Committee
November 6,2024
Meeting Minutes
1 CITY OF BEVERLY
2 PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
3
4 BOARD OR COMMISSION: City of Beverly Open Space& Recreation Committee
5 DATE: November 6, 2024
6 LOCATION: Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot Street, 3rd Floor, Council
7 Chambers
8 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair David Alden-St. Pierre; Wayne Miller; Grace
9 Charles; Jamie Jamieson; Mario Tricomi; Todd Callaghan;
10 Charlie Mann
11 MEMBERS ABSENT: Alie Dudley; James Passanisi; Gregory Sharp; Elizabeth
12 Dunne; David Brewster
13 STAFF PRESENT: Kenneth Clawson, Assistant Director of Planning &
14 Development
15 RECORDER: Kristan Patenaude
16
17 1. Call to Order
18
19 Chair Alden-St. Pierre called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
20
21 2. Public Outreach
22
23 None at this time.
24
25 3. Updates from Boards and Commissions
26 a. Planning Board
27
28 Clawson stated that the Folly Hill meetings with the Planning Board begin on the 19tn
29
30 b. Conservation Commission
31
32 None at this time.
33
34 c. Community Preservation Committee
35
36 Jamieson stated that the submission for the pocket park on Lothrop Street is still ongoing.
37
38 d. Harbor Management Authority
39
40 Callaghan stated that new benches may be installed at the pier areas. There is discussion
41 regarding a very large pier proposed to be built and if it will impede others in the community.
42 The City is investigating how long a pier can be and how many there can be. The person
43 interested in building the pier has stated that he will make it 6' over the water for passage
44 underneath.
45
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City of Beverly Open Space &Recreation Committee
November 6,2024
Meeting Minutes
46 e. Parks &Recreation Commission
47
48 Tricomi stated that the Commission has a meeting tomorrow night. He will send along a copy of
49 the Director's Report.
50
51 4. Open Space Conditions/Issues
52 a. Ward 1
53
54 No updates at this time.
55
56 b. Ward 2
57
58 No updates at this time.
59
60 c. Ward 3
61
62 Charles stated that the Holcroft Park renovation is in process. It was noted that a splash pad as
63 part of this project was addressed with CPC.
64
65 d. Ward 4
66
67 No updates at this time.
68
69 e. Ward 5
70 i. Discussion about next steps in constructing a bridge at Norwood Pond
71
72 It was noted that the prefab bridge idea was discussed. A traditional post bridge could be
73 considered but will be a difficult construction job. A test pile could be driven to see how suitable
74 the land is. There is approximately $50,000 set aside for this project. A grant from Mass Trails
75 could be applied for if additional funding is needed.
76
77 The Community Garden went well this year. Trees were planted for an orchard.
78
79 f. Ward 6
80
81 No updates at this time.
82
83 5. Staff Updates
84 a. Update about Folly Hill/Trask Lane future development
85
86 This was discussed earlier in the meeting.
87
88 b. Review and comment about OSRD Application #12-14 — 184 & 186 Hart Street
89 i. Review the three Concept Plans and provide comments/recommendations
90 to the Planning Board
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Meeting Minutes
91
92 The Committee reviewed the three concept plans for the 184 & 186 Hart Street OSRD proposal.
93 The Planning Board has approved a Yield Plan for this project. An OSRD has to present a
94 traditional subdivision without any waivers or variances to see how many lots could be built.
95 Their plan showed a 500' subdivision road, three lots over 45,000 s.f., and 15,000 s.f. lots along
96 Hart Street. The Planning Board approved a seven lot Yield Plan. Three concept plans were then
97 submitted. OSRD reduces the lot sizes so that open space is preserved. The Planning Board
98 preferred Concept plan A which shows three small lots along Hart Street, preserves an existing
99 house, and creates pork-shop lots with reduced frontage and a common driveway. Concept B
100 shows a subdivision road, removes the existing house, and creates the lots. The open space
101 becomes chopped up. Concept C allows for more contiguous open space with less frontage along
102 Hart Street and a common drive with three curb cuts. All plans will be connected to a nearby
103 sewer line. The Planning Board will hold a site walk on November 13, 2024, at noon.
104
105 The Committee discussed that it would like to see the open space remain contiguous and would
106 like for public access to it. There was concern expressed regarding chemicals used on the future
107 lawns flowing into the nearby ponds. There was a suggestion regarding grading or vegetated
108 plantings to intercept any chemicals, or simply restricting their use. There was interest in
109 encouraging native plantings. The Committee expressed an overall preference for Concept A.
110
ill c. Letter of support for Office of Sustainability's CPC application for Lynch Park
112 Climate Resiliency Design and Permitting Phase II project
113
114 Clawson explained that the Office of Sustainability is seeking a letter of support from the
115 Committee for a CPC application for Lynch Park Climate Resiliency Design and Permitting
116 Phase 11 project. The Committee noted that the letter should reference both the Climate Action
117 Plan and the Master Plan.
118
119 Mann: Motion to issue a letter of support as discussed. Charles seconds. Motion carries (9-0).
120
121 6. Update on open space plant study group
122
123 Jamieson stated that Robert Buchsbaum is interested in working with the study group along with
124 Councilor Spang.
125
126 7.Approval of Minutes
127 a.July 10,2024
128 b. September 4,2024
129 c. October 2,2024
130
131 None at this time.
132
133 8.Adjourn
134
135 Tricomi: Motion to adjourn. Charles seconds. Motion carries (9-0).
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136
137 Meeting adjourns at 8:57 p.m.
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