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11-06-19 OSRC MinutesCITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: 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 November 6, 2019 Charlie Mann (Chair), David Brewster (Vice Chair), David Alden -St. Pierre, Elizabeth Dunne, Marilyn McCrory, Gregory Sharp, Todd Callaghan Wayne Miller Jenna Pirrotta, Environmental Planner Nathan Currie, Chris Broyles (53 Lakeshore Ave) Sharlyne Woodbury 2. Members of the public opportunity to address the Committee a. Update on Potential New Trail at Sally Milligan Park (Nathan Currie) Chris Broyles, 53 Lakeshore Ave, is in attendance as he is curious about the trails abutting his property. Nathan Currie is a trail user in the North Shore area who inquired with Bruce Doig in the Recreation department about a potential new trail at Sally Milligan Park. Currie presented his findings to the Committee, based on recommendations the Committee provided at the October 2, 2019 meeting. He spent two Saturdays walking the area and used a satellite image to cover the areas of interest near the soccer field between Lakeshore Avenue, the MBTA train tracks, and Cross Lane. Callaghan inquired if the area shown in the presentation is to scale. Currie affirmed, noting the stream marked on the map is accurate and taking care to further describe the area and surrounding vegetation. The stream is about 5 -6 feet wide. The area near Cross Lane has an earthen berm that's about 6 feet wide by 6 -8 feet high. There is an old drainage ditch about 10 -15 feet from the edge of the road. These combined conditions translate into swampy areas in Sally Milligan Park. The swampy areas have thick undergrowth vegetation. Currie further describes the stone wall where the undergrowth is the thickest. As the wall approaches the stream, the vegetation stops. Committee members and Currie review the photos, discussing the vegetation. Currie admits building a trail in the area near Cross Lane would require maintenance due to the current vegetation and there is a lot of poison ivy and thorny brambles. However, there are also open grassy areas where a potential trail could be located to the north. Currie mapped out three potential trails based on the land options observed. Trail A would connect the two parking lots, and travel adjacent to Cross Lane. This would require a bridge over the stream, to be constructed near the culvert at the road and 1 -2 boardwalks to be built to cross swampy areas. There are some open areas with pine trees and locust trees. This is the shortest, most direct route with the goal of connecting the parking area at the soccer field to the existing trails. Trail B would pass through both open /grassy areas and thicker understory growth areas. This trail would require a 10 -12 foot bridge over the deep banked portion of the stream. Three to four 8 -foot boardwalks would be necessary to pass through this area. There is an existing seasonal type trail through the meadow near this area. Trail B is the longer, more circuitous scenic route that connects the existing trails to the parking lot. Mann asked Currie which trail he prefers. As a trail user, he prefers Trail B as the more scenic route; however, Currie is unsure of the expected trail user demographic. If the idea is to be succinct, Trail A Open Space & Recreation Committee November 6, 2019 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 makes more sense. Alden -St. Pierre asked how long each trail is. Trail A is 3/10 of a mile. Trail B is 3/4 of a mile. Trail C would be an optional route connecting Cross Lane with the parking area next to the soccer field. This trail provides access directly to the end of Boyles Street. It is a closer connection to Fox Hill and residential areas and is relatively short. Callaghan inquired how to move forward, and questioned which city entity has jurisdiction of the area. Pirrotta and Mann note probably Conservation Commission would be the appropriate board to seek approval with. Pirrotta asked how close to the road Trail A is and whether pedestrians could use the road shoulder to cross the stream in the area to avoid building a bridge. Sharp stipulated that the stream crossing would need a guard rail. Mann asked for Committee feedback. The feeling is split between Committee members positive to negative, noting any approval may need certain conditions. McCrory admitted Trail B is the nicer trail, however, it would require a lot of maintenance. Sharp asked Broyles for input. Broyles is curious about the connecting trails for the parking lots and are there any existing sidewalks. Alden -St. Pierre states there is not a sidewalk on Cross Lane. Dunne asked for clarification with the presentation versus the map viewed during the previous meeting. Discussion circles to how much vegetation and open space would be disturbed including any rare species of animals and plants that could be impacted. Brewster, Alden -St. Pierre, and Currie discuss bike trail options. Callaghan encouraged the Committee to present the trail options to the Conservation Commission. Pirrotta offered to discuss the trail options at the next Conservation Commission meeting on November 12, 2019. Mann explained that these trail options should not require a permit. They are simply seeking approval. Mann directed the Committee to consult the maps online and figure out which City entity has care and custody of the parcels. Different parcels could be under different committees. McCrory expressed concern for Trail B that mountain bikes can be hard on trails. She is concerned with the wear and tear of allowing bikes. Alden -St. Pierre respectfully disagrees noting that mountain bike users are no more detrimental to small trails than runners. Mann interjects that the connecting trail areas are small and would not attract a lot of bike riders the way Beverly Commons does. Callaghan counseled the committee to reserve judgement until they hear from Conservation Commission. The Committee will not issue a vote at this time. Mann confirmed with Pirrotta to seek feedback from the Conservation Commission. 3. Approval of Minutes Alden St. Pierre motions to accept October 2, 2019 meeting minutes as amended. Sharp seconded. All in favor. The motion carried 7 -0. 4. Principal Items of Business a. OSRC Annual Report — Review and Updates Mann approved the Annual Report with no new updates added. b. Community Preservation Committee — Representative Report McCrory maintained there are no new updates and reminded the committee of the November 8, 2019 deadline. 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. Open Space & Recreation Committee November 6, 2019 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 c. Planning Board — Representative Report There are no updates. d. Green Street — Update Several parcels were discussed. No new updates per any of the parcels. Committee members suggest inviting the Mayor to a future meeting rather than trying to schedule a meeting with the mayor. e. Open Space and Recreation Plan /OSRP 7 -Year Action Plan Review The Committee may review the Open Space and Recreation Plan for a future meeting to ensure that Committee actions are in line with the plan. 5. Recreational Trails Grant a. Review Final Maps Discussion ensued regarding the status of the maps and signs. Mann asked Sharp whether any assistance is needed. Currently the maps are still being worked on. Mann inquired the status of the signage. Sharp was unsure if the fire roads were to be a different color. He opted to make them gray. Brewster used the projector to magnify the Beverly Commons map in order to discuss trails, colors, and access points. The Committee finds the circuit trails lined in brown confusing and opts to remove them from the map and legend. Next Norwood Pond, Phillips, and Greens Hill Trails are projected for review and discussion. Sharp consolidated the legend for Norwood Pond. The kiosk signs will all be the same size. They are not going with a larger size. Alden -St. Pierre suggested putting in some main road names and possibly landmarks such as an elementary school. Sharp asked if any of the other maps require a parking indication on the map. Most of the maps have street parking. Brewster provided an excel sheet for the wayfinding signs to discuss and review. 6. Other Business & Updates a. Master Plan — Update The Master Plan neighborhood outreach meetings have been completed. There is more information on the web at plan.beverlyma.gov. Pirrotta attended the neighborhood meeting for Ward 3 and described the interactive process for input. There is an interactive online survey which will close soon. The City -wide Master Plan Workshop will be December 5, 2019, and Committee members are encouraged to attend. There will be opportunity for the Committee to react to the information provided so far by the Consultant in the December /January timeframe. Callaghan described the website portal and the interactive tools. b. OSRC 2020 Schedule The 2020 Schedule was approved by the committee. The meetings will be held on the first Wednesdays of the month at 7:00 pm unless there is a conflict with a holiday. There will be no August meeting. c. Other Pirrotta brought forth before the Committee a draft letter from the Planning Board that the Committee could consider submitting in support of a grant. The Planning Department is applying for a grant through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program to complete a Climate Action Plan and Open Space & Recreation Committee November 6, 2019 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 Resiliency Study. The Planning Department would appreciate the Committee's support of the grant application. Callaghan motioned to have Mann sign the letter of approval by the OSRC. Alden -St. Pierre seconded. The motion carried 7 -0. Mann signed the letter in support of the grant. 7. Future Aeenda Items Dunne would like an update on the Waring School Project. Adjournment Brewster motioned to adjourn meeting at 8:58 p.m. Sharp seconded. All in favor. The motion carried 7 -0. Next Meeting: December 4, 2019