Loading...
09-04-19 OSRC MinutesCITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: OTHERS PRESENT: RECORDER: Mann opens the meeting at 7:05 p.m. Open Space and Recreation Committee September 4, 2019 Charlie Mann (Chair), David Brewster (Vice Chair), David Alden -St. Pierre, Elizabeth Dunne, Marilyn McCrory, Wayne Miller, Gregory Sharp Todd Callaghan Darlene Wynne, Assistant Planning Director Jenna Pirrotta, Environmental Planner Jackson Wood Sharlyne Woodbury 2. Members of the public opportunity to address the Committee Eagle Scout Jackson Wood described his proposed project to create new access trails at Beverly Commons. Jackson brought his online presentation for Committee review. Due to technical difficulties with the projector Jackson's laptop was passed around to view the presentation containing before and after photos. Mann inquired about questioning Jackson during his presentation. Jackson agreed. Mann asked how much was cleaned up, Jackson replied, "6 bags, cleaning two separate camps with the help of 12 troop members ". Member asked if it was the same areas discussed before. Mann replied affirmative. Jackson continued describing the clean up as follows: cleaning out trash cans, cutting up dead wood /trees, hauling /raking the brush /overgrowth away, and edging parts of the trail. Member inquired of the exact area. Mann clarified the section up Webster, until you ascend the driveway by the cart path, and near the Greenbelt property not worked. Upon speaking to the developer they felt it was best to leave the area alone until the property changed hands. Jackson worked along the Greenbelt line. Mann asks Jackson if he communicated with the ECGA inquiring of any special permits or permissions to work the area. Jackson replied he reached out yet did not receive a reply. Mann informed Jackson they had permission yet wanted to encourage his own inquiries since this is his project. Mann asked if Jackson called his volunteers "GOATS ", light laughter, Jackson replied no, "I called them scouts ". Member inquired whether Jackson needed approval from the Conservation Commission for the project, Jackson replied no. Member asked about how many man hours were involved, Jackson estimated about 80 hours. Member asked if his project was approved. The project is approved with one final document stating Jackson completed the project. Mann gave the sign -off for project completion. Open Space & Recreation Committee September 4, 2019 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 6 Committee members were pleased with Jackson's project and the results. Member asked about a presentation copy. Jackson will email copy to Mann who will share with the Committee and make public. Committee side bar: McCrory asks if they can walk the trail. Mann describes the boundaries of public access. Mann asked for timing on the land transfer originally thought to have had a summer deadline. Wynne answered she had not been there in some time and currently there is no time frame for the plans for the revised cart path. Pirrotta provided an update from the last Conservation meeting. The members were in touch with Bob Griffin and the project was halted. Project plans expected to resume in October. Mann asked where /why the project stopped. Pirrotta replied the developer was working elsewhere at the time. Member inquired on the status of the cart path. Pirrotta's status update maintains the cart path is still awaiting review with the Conservation Commission. Member asked of time line to fix what was done by the developer. Pirrotta replied Conservation Commission is expecting an update in October. Mann inquired of the stalled Sam Fonzo storage unit. Site currently remains in limbo. Mann and the committee thank Jackson for his work and dismiss him at 7:17 pm. Mann asked if Kyle Gallucci communicated with any members for his Eagle Scout project. Alden replied that communication attempts were not returned at this time. 3. Approval of Minutes Mann motions to accept June 5, 2019 meeting minutes as amended. Alden seconds. All in favor. Motion carries 7 -0. Mann motions to accept July 10, 2019 meeting minutes as amended. Alden seconds. All in favor. Motion carries 7 -0. 4. Principal Items of Business a. Community Preservation Committee — Representative Report Discussion ensues with McCrory. She has two items. First, the schedule for the next phase of applications for round 7. Currently the preliminary schedule resembles 2018. The annual informational public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2019, 7pm, Beverly Public Library, The Barnett Room. Second, November 8, 2019 pre - applications are due at noon. Applications will be reviewed with eligibility announcements around December 6, 2019. Full applications for those eligible are due January 10, 2020 at noon. Mann asks should a meeting be set up with either the Mayor or Aaron Clausen to discuss a parcel of interest. Wynne replies the Mayor inquired of status, yet it's also in his hands stating Mayor Cahill prefers to personally reach out to the property owner. McCrory interjects. Aaron attended Open Space & Recreation Committee September 4, 2019 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 6 the last CPC meeting stating that the City was close to moving forward with a particular open space parcel of interest. Discussion circles around the protocol for advancing projects. Miller adds there are other items to discuss with the Mayor. Mann proposes working out the protocol to advance CPA project in order to avoid future project disruptions. Wynne and McCrory both second an existing protocol. Mann is unsure of the mayor's expectations regarding the current process for project advancement. Wynne suggests inviting the mayor to a meeting to advance the particular parcel of interest. Wynne reiterates there is a written protocol granting the Open Space volunteers to talk to property owners in a casual, non - committal way, in order to gage the owner's interest in selling their property. The protocol has a timeline on which the Committee should specifically focus on during the proposed meeting. Miller clarifies whether other items of interest would fall under the same meeting scope for discussion. McCrory comments that the mayor currently has a list of items of interest and these projects are on his radar. Wynne agrees. Discussion moves onto the two land parcels on Greenwood Avenue. Greenbelt put an offer in at $200k although the appraisal came back at $100k. No response for the offer. The parcel was privately bought. There was misinformation by the realtor regarding the cart path and the ability to use it. Miller returns the discussion back to arranging a meeting with the mayor including specific agenda items. Mann has two specific items for the proposed meeting agenda, 1) a time frame or commitment to move the Green Street parcel forward; and 2) confirm /review that the protocol is acceptable. Alden also suggests discussing the easements behind the North Shore Music Theater while another member suggests an easement through Endicott College. Member asks if anything changed over the summer or any other properties on the market. Miller asks if Endicott has a new president. Wynne confirms, adds the mayor wanted the new president to settle in before meeting about the easement. Miller will arrange the meeting. McCrory presents to the committee a list of parcels from the last meeting. Wynne suggests keeping the group small. Miller inquires who would like to be present at the meeting, Mann volunteers also suggesting Alden should attend. Miller proposes himself, Mann, and Alden. Mann asks for committee consent. Committee consents. b. Planning Board — Representative Report i. Wynne presents the Planning Board (PB) agenda. ii. Items for discussion are: Depot II, The Police Station, Thaxton & Grover, 108 Bridge Street, One Water St., modification for Cummings, two lot subdivisions on Ellingwood Court, and Harwood Street in Centerville. Discussion ensues about Depot II, the Police Station. Wynne directs the committee to browse the Project & Development tab at the City's website. Member inquired about Thaxton and Grover. Wynne confirms the public hearings are closed. There is a Planning Board meeting on Tuesday to vote whether to accept waivers and improve the plan. Mann inquired that's the plan the committee favors, Wynne agrees Open Space and Open Space & Recreation Committee September 4, 2019 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 6 Recreation Committee likes the plan, the Planning Board has some questions regarding the waivers they're looking for. One Water Street is on the agenda and will automatically continue to the next meeting in October since the Planning Board agenda is full. Mann asks about opposition. Wynne confirms there's opposition to parking and scale. Wynne confirms they are still at the Design Review Board phase for the building concept. Other items also discussed were 108 Bridge Street: the Children's Consignment Store, is looking to convert to 4 residential units. Wynne affirms the property is not near any open space and is a small parcel. The two lot subdivisions are discussed. One on Ellingwood Court, the other on Harwood Street in Centerville. The Livingston Avenue subdivision was denied by the Planning Board. Open Space and Recreation Committee did not weigh in significantly for that project as it's beyond its perspective. c. Green Street — Update Mann inquired about the funding as it's about to run out and Wynne suggests applying for an extension. McCrory asks about a copy of the settlement. Wynne clarifies it's not a settlement. They are waiting for the land owner's attorney to file the appeal in order propose the settlement. Wynne clarifies they filed a claim for adverse possession. Currently resides with the City Council to accept the settlement which their next meeting is first week of October. The client and attorney are waiting for affidavits. Wynne affirms the extension. Mann interjects to clarify whether earlier in the year all extensions had been used. McCrory clarified it was more for due cause. The next deadline is due by 9/16/19 and to write a letter of request. 5. Recreational Trails Grant a. Finalize Kiosk signs and layouts /information* b. Final trail numbering plan* ( *note: items a and b are combined in the comments below) Mann said he and Miller met regarding the map. Numbers are needed. Miller says there are minor changes to the numbers on the outer perimeter. Discussion ensues regarding the sign colors. The outer perimeter will be blue and yellow is the fire roads. Member inquired about contrast for the yellow because yellow on yellow is difficult to see. Therefore member suggests a yellow sign with black outline for high contrast. Further colorization is discussed. Colors are to be simple, clean, and minimal. Miller discusses the names for the trails. Essentially there are no names. McCrory asked about the red x's on the signs. Miller responds they denote trail intersections. Discussion ensues regarding the plotted map around the Beverly Commons greenspace. Particular concern toward denoting the coloring indicating private /public land. Mann asserts Roland has the correct file. Sharp will work with Roland on background. Aligning the trails and intersecting numbers on the desired background is a challenge. Miller asserts the trails are accurate. Mann explains Roland has the correct file with different background options. This software allows for layering and contents to match the map. Members agree to the specificity of the background and layering desiring a clear distinction between private parcels and city owned Open Space & Recreation Committee September 4, 2019 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 6 land. Miller asks if Sharp and McCrory should all meet with Roland to review the maps. Miller and Sharp tentatively schedule a meeting for September 11, 2019. Mann said the City changed size of the kiosks. Sharp describes the changes. All signs except for Norwood Pond and JC Phillips are 24 "x 36 ". Mann inquired what the current estimates are, Sharp would like confirmation of the order estimate. The new board size for Norwood Pond and JC Phillips is 51" x 30 ". The JC Phillips size is questioned. Wynne will pull the file for the existing kiosks to confirm their sizes. Wynne states the grant submitted for new kiosk sings are for Greens Hill, Sally Milligan, Norwood Pond, JC Phillips, and Beverly Commons. The estimate contains standard size. Wynne volunteers to get the file to confirm her notes from the previous meeting. McCrory asks about regulation signs. They are not part of the grant. c. Finalize maps Mann asks if all maps are updated. Sharp says Greens Hill is done. Fox Hill does not have an update. Sally Milligan and Norwood Pond need an update. Member asks if JC Phillips needs a new map. Sharp confirmed a new map is needed for JC Phillips. Mann clarifies if there no new numbers then the existing map is acceptable. Miller would like a copy of the size map for Sally Milligan, Norwood, and Phillips. Mann will email the documents. Wynne asked about the agreed upon numbers for Norwood. Member says Phillips did not have a map, merely an existing folder. The commons need a new map. Alden stated he will communicate with Roland regarding the map. Sharp ask Mann which maps require the greenbelt logos. Mann lists Beverly Commons and Norwood. Wynne reminds the Committee that Fox Hill will not change. d. Installation plan for wayfinding /trailhead signs Sharp asked about updated Greens Hill text. Wynne agreed new trails and boardwalk. McCrory asked about giving credit to the Community Preservation Committee. Mann agreed and said that was a good idea. Sharp says there is an acknowledgments section to provide acknowledgement for them. Alden asks Sharp if he has updated the text for Norwood, Sharp confirms. Further discussion ensues about the trail loops. Mann would like an opinion on showing the loop on the Greenbelt trail. Members consent. Sharp provided color print samples. Printing converter software is an issue and insists on printed samples. There are two vendors, United Signs (local) and Permaline, from Brockton. 6. Other Business & Updates a. Master Plan — Update Mann brings up the master plan. Wynne explains the website and updates. Seven different neighborhood meetings are scheduled in the fall. Meetings are made public. Centerville and the Farms hold their own meetings. Social Pinpoint will be an online "pin board" for the public, which is a unique concept for pinning original ideas for areas of public interest. Mann asked about the time frame for Master Plan. Wynne said the time line is for winter with a finalized plan for Spring 2020. Wynne states there is no desire to rush the Master Plan. Mayor Open Space & Recreation Committee September 4, 2019 Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 6 wants to integrate climate change into the master plan. Mayer rolling out climate initiative. Do not want to rush as the property value and Zoning are variable considered factors. Dunne inquired about the annual report; Wynne confirmed it's due in October. Other Business Miller's been appointed to the Cable Commission. Wynne will remind Roland to record hours for the project. Nathan Curry would like to help build a trail and raise money for the soccer fields to connect to Sally Milligan. Miller states the area is dense but doable. Bruce just said take out the sumac Forest. Trails through Sally Milligan are discussed. Wynne proposed extending an invitation to Nathan. Discussion circles back to the trails. Alden asked about the solar farm near the trail. It's private property on old landfill located behind Cycles 128. No access is currently available. Access should be available. Aaron will send the plan to Wynne. 7. Future ALenda Items Wynne asks about potential acquisitions Adjournment Sharp moves to adjourn meeting at 8:44 p.m. Brewster & Alden concurrently second. All in favor. Motion carries 7 -0. Next meeting October 2, 2019.