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11-4-20 OSRC minutes - FINALCITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: November 4, 2020 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Charlie Mann (Chair), David Brewster (Vice Chair), David Alden-St. Pierre, Todd Callaghan, Alison Dudley, Elizabeth Dunne, Marilyn McCrory, Wayne Miller, Gregory Sharp BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Jenna Pirrotta, Environmental Planner OTHERS PRESENT: Mayor Michael Cahill, Erina Keefe, Sustainability Director RECORDER: Sharlyne Woodbury 1.Call to Order Mann chairs and opens the meeting at 7:02 p.m., noting that it is a virtual meeting as allowed during the State of Emergency declared due to the national crisis of COVID-19. Alison Dudley, new Committee member representing Ward 3, introduces herself and provides background on her interest in serving on the Committee. 2.Members of the Public Opportunity to Address the Committee, if any There are no members of the public present to meet with the Committee. Mayor Cahill is in attendance at follow up on discussion from the October 7, 2020 meeting. a.Endicott trail update Mayor Cahill recaps the possible permanent easement opportunities behind Endicott College, including low, middle, and high. Cahill notes he spoke to Dr. DiSalvo and will schedule a site walk with him. Alden-St. Pierre asks about the status of an existing easement and Mann clarifies one does not currently exist but that it was recommended in the 2015 Open Space Plan. b.Green Street update Cahill notes that staff in his office have reached out to the property owner and are awaiting a response. A pre-application was submitted to the Community Preservation Committee requesting funds to purchase the property. c.North Shore Music Theater Pirrotta will coordinate with Mayors Office staff to set up a meeting with North Shore Music Theater representatives. Cahill agrees it is a good idea to discuss options for a potential easement in the area to connect existing open space. d.Potential Parcel donation The Committee discusses a parcel that was offered for City purchase during the Community -application round. The CPC will need to follow up with the property owner regarding the correct process for acquisition. e.Congress Street Open Space & Recreation Committee November 4, 2020 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4  Members comment on the project progress and open spaces at the newly constructed Sedna Apartments. Members commend the walkway and public parking spots as an attractive public amenity, fitting to the area. Callaghan notes that it would be a good kayak access point. f.Pole Swamp Lane No new updates to report at this time. The Mayor will work on meeting with area property owners regarding a potential easement for alternative access to City open space. g.s Point update Callaghan recaps the discussion including description of the area next to Bass Haven Yacht Club and that representatives had previously asked about the process for the City to acquire it. Mann further describes the parcel and how it could connect the public access area through Bass Haven Yacht Club to the City parcel to the south. Cahill inquires if this parcel acquisition is a clear area connector for an existing trail. Mann confirms there is enough land for a walkway and picnic tables, but that some tree removal would be required. Denise Deschamps was previously in contact with the yacht club. Further discussion focuses on the property value. Cahill is unclear how much the property is worth and whether it is appropriate for the City to pursue as a donation or if CPC funds would be necessary to aid in purchasing the property. h.Cabot Street parcel/JC Phillips any future possibilities of the property as well as any potential access points. Member discuss possible need to relocate the kiosk to a better location at the JC Phillips entrance. i.Waring School encroachment Mayor Cahill expresses concern with affecting school operations and will work to prioritize obtaining a favorable a compromise. His office will work to set up a meeting with the heir of the estate and members of the Conservation Commission. j.Discussion: draft encroachment protocol guidance The Committee discusses the draft encroachment protocol that was developed in coordination with the Solicitors Office, as a standard protocol when encroachment issues are identified. Mann describes the context of the draft guidance and notes it is modeled after other communities and would like to see a response timetable included. The Committee has not yet received approval . McCrory offered that the Solicitors Office may have concerns with the timetables due to workload, but that timetables are important to identify and establish what type of encroachment exists and to enforce encroachment laws. Mayor feedback. k.Other updates and conclusion Mayor Cahill provides an update on the environmental plans for the City with particular attention to the solar advancements and the Climate Action Plan. Mayor Cahill introduces Erina Keefe, the new Sustainability Director for the City of Beverly. Keefe provides a brief description of her background and reviews the Cof its partnership with the City of Salem. Keefe provides a hyperlink to the survey at resilient-together.org and encourages members to add feedback through the survey. Cahill provides a quick update on the Master Plan which is back in effect after being on hold due to the national pandemic. Per Cahill, the consultants have provided a finished draft and will present it to the Planning Board for approval before the end of the year. Mann asks about the Bass River rezoning efforts as part of the plan. Cahill describes the zoning overlay to include mixed use in the area. Open Space & Recreation Committee November 4, 2020 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4  Approval of Minutes 3. There are no meeting minutes available for review. 4.Principal Items of Business a.Community Preservation Committee Representative Report McCrory provides updates on Community Preservation Committee activities. 13 pre-applications were submitted for CPC review. The next step will be to determine which applications proceed forward. b.Planning Board Representative Report Miller provides the updates with nothing to report at this time. Master Plan updates reviewed earlier with the mayor. c.Conservation Commission Representative Report Pirrotta provides an update on Conservation Commission activities of potential interest. The City repair work on the seawalls at Lynch Park is still under review. d.Parcel Updates Discussion on parcel updates were addressed in the conservation earlier with Mayor Cahill. e.Harbor Management Authority Updates Callaghan provides an update on Harbor Management Authority (HMA) activities. There was a setback to the public access sign installation between Lothrop Street and Water Street. The signs are anticipated to be installed within the next two weeks. Callaghan notes that an abutter on Washington Street asked for a sign to be relocated, which the HMA found appropriate. Callaghan also mentions the HMA asked Councilor Rotondo to look into the private kayaks stored on Lynch Park property, next to City-owned racks. The private rack will need to be removed or the City will enforce a fee for the kayak structures. 5.Trail Discussion a.Outreach, etc. Mann presents a notice for illicit building for the Committee to review. The language is specific to not building new trails since they are already overbuilt in many areas, and in response to recent destruction of trail markers and vegetation. Cahill suggests putting the notice at the beginning and end at Greenwood entrances. Members discuss posting the notice at local bike shops and on social media. Members discuss the potential trail at Sally Milligan Park. Sharp recaps that the flagging needs to be re-established, as most had been removed. Open Space & Recreation Committee November 4, 2020 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4  Private private property or on the public way. Members will follow up on this item. Pirrotta notes there is a MassTrails grant available which the Committee could consider putting something forth for funding. Applications are due February 1. concerns at the end of Wood Lane at the entrance to Bald Hill where there is a public easement. past. Brewster recalls past encroachment in this location including vehicles, and bushes planted in the public way. The Committee would like to notify the property Sharp moves to issue a letter to the City Solicitor requesting their office enforce removal of the encroachment. McCrory seconds. The motion carries 9-0. Mann seeks an update on the Jewett Street/Bonad Road area encroachment. Pirrotta confirms a 6.Other Business & Updates Mann inquires about the construction at 50 Dunham Road and funding for a trail bridge. Pirrotta notes that funding tied to a Conservation Commission permit was related to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for building #51. Alden- St.Pierre inquires about another proposed pedestrian bridge on the property. Pirrotta notes that an application to the Conservation Commission including the trail bridge was withdrawn and an updated filing will be expected. Members further discuss the materials storage area under construction. Future Agenda Items 7. a.Folly Hill development Callaghan discusses potential project development with the Mayor. The Committee reviews past zoning ordinances for the area. Callaghan expresses the area would be great for a mountain bike park. Per Cahill, the owners would like to develop the area, however, local area traffic cannot sustain the type of the development proposed and that large scale buildings next to highways are antithetical to planning and development. There is a commitment to not have any throughways from Raymond Farms, or through Ryal side on Route 62. Adjournment McCrory moves to adjourn the meeting at 8:49 pm. Sharp seconds. The motion carries 9-0. Next Meeting: December 2, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.