2000-03-06City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
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Open Space and Recreation Committee
March 6, 2000
Beverly City Hall
David Gardner (Chairman), Anthony Patn77i,
Charles Raymond, Guido Lauranzano, Claire
Thompson, Kathern Tracey, Robert Buchshaum,
Ellen Flannery, Richard Baker, Bill Squibb
State Representative Michael Cahill and
Assistant Moira Coyle
Jeannine Dion
Gardner calls the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.
Approval of Meetinl~ Minutes
Lauranzano:
Motion to approve the meeting minutes dated February 7, 2000,
seconded by Paluzzi. All members in favor. Motion carries.
Status of Computer MapDim-,
Gardner asks Richard Baker to discuss the status of computer mapping.
Baker states that he received most of the information from Committee members. He
passes out copies of the color coded map and describes the areas which have been color
coded. Among the categories are public schools, cemeteries, city owned property, parks.
Essex County Greenbelt, Conservation Conunission and undevelopable land. Baker states
he will add the "private school" category.
Gardner asks if Baker would talk about the map at the March 20Ih meeting with the City
Council. Baker responds that he will.
Gardner asks Cassidy if the Assessor's Office would be able to run off information by
map/lot #. Cassidy responds that she was told that the disk provided by the Assessor's
office could be manipulated many different ways and if there are any questions, the
Assessor cotlid provide direction.
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March 6, 2000 Meeting
Pa~e 2
Buchsbaum asks if there is a budget for color copies. Cassidy responds that there is no
budget for color copies. Stella Mae Seamans from Groundswell states. that her
organization would provide the monies to the Committee, in the mount of $ 1 00.00.
Preparinl~ for Council Presentation
Cassidy states that the Open Space and Recreation Committee (OSRC) should provide a
recap of its evaluation of the Dallas property.
Thompson states the OSRC should inform the City Council that several members will be
attending the Land Trust Conference and will be gathering information about obtaining
monies for land conservation.
Joan Johnson from Groundswell states that several members from her organization
attended a previous conference and it was great.
Cassidy recommends discussing what future activities the OSRC may pursue.
Gardner recaps the items to be included in the presentation:
· Inventor3,
· Recap on the Dallas property
· Attending the Land Trust Conference
· Open Space Plan
· Evaluation of public property
Future OSRC activities
Tracey asks how the city is going to purchase property (i.e. via grant monies, city monies,
etc.) and what is done to ensure the land is open space land?
Laurmmano asks if there is a way to prepare a list ofdevelopable properties with specific
information (i.e. amount of acreage, ecology, who owns the property, etc.). Gardner
states that is a lot of work and the comprehensive assessors' list will have a lot of the
aforementioned information. He states that the Assessor's office has a lot of that
information.
Cassidy states that she spoke with State Representative Michael Cahill, regarding his
conversation with Joel Lemer from the Department of Environmental Management
regarding urban self-help grant. Cassidy states that there will be urban self-help grant
money and maybe self-help grant money available this year. The maximum amount
available is $500.000. Lerner informed Cahill that the 1995 Open Space Plan will be good
liar this )ear's grant and he would rather have a well thought out plan rather than a
"rushed" platL Cassidy stales that she was encouraged by that. She adds that ],erner
Open Space and Recniation Committee Minutes
March 6, 2000 Meeting
Page 3
states that if the OSRC needs more time to prepare the plan, it could do so at no peril to
the grant application. Cassidy states that the city will apply for self-help grant money,
which is geared toward passive recreation, as soon as it is available. The second choice
would be urban self-help grant money.
Draft Open Space Plan
Gardner states there is a need to solicit input from the other local hoards. He states that at
the last meeting the OSRC talked about drafting a letter to the boards asking for input in
the Open Space 5 Year Plan. Gardner reconunends asking the Cecil Group to help draft
the letter. He states the OSRC and local hoards could perhaps meet on a Saturday to
work on a draft that could he presented to the public. Gardner says he will send a letter
out this week.
-Gardner asks for comments from the committee members.
Flannery states that it is a great idea and very ambitious. She notes that the Planning
Board doesn't meet in August and that other hoards may do the same.
Handouts from Cecil Group
The members share comments regarding Sections 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 of the draft version
Open Space and Recreation Plan prepared by the Cecil Group.
Future Committee Activities
Gardner suggests the OSRC could get ideas at the upcoming conference regarding
lhnding possibilities and financing alternatives.
Buchsbaum states the OSRC needs to reexamine its priorities. He states the committee
needs to look at the list in the previous Open Space Plan and come up with a new set of
priorities.
Flaanery adds she would like some direction from Cassidy regarding the classification of
"private developable land." She states some people do not want their land put in that
category.
Garnder agrees that tile committee should look into this.
Stale Representative Michael Cahill suggests tile classification should be "unprotected
land." lle states that the heirs might have a different intention.
stales that either statement xvould be a true and accurate one.
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March 6, 2000 Meeting
Page 4
Cahill says the work the OSRC has done thus far is fantastic. He states he has a concern,
however, that the conm~ttee runs the risk of losing time doing other things, specifically
looking at alternatives to acquisitions. Cahill states he would recommend looking at
zoning ordinances and what other communities have done. He also says he would
recommend reaching out to other property owners and bringing in some land conservation
committees to do a presentation (i.e. Essex County Greenbelt).
Buchshaum agrees with Cahill.
Gardner also agrees with Cahill's sentiments but adds that the first order of business is to
get the Open Space Plan together. He states he is looking to the Cecil Group to provide
information regarding zoning ordinances, cluster zoning, Great Estates by-law, etc. He
states it is up to Cassidy and the Cecil Group to get some information together.
Buchsbaum envisions the OSRC's role to be:
· Financial
· Prioritize Open Space
· Innovative Zoning (non-purchasing) - options for creating open space.
Cahill states that the Open Space Plan is important but he hopes there is time to work on
some other tracks.
Lauranzano comments that most cluster developments depend on the type of parcel of
land available.
Formation of Subcommittees
Gardner asks what the members think about subcommittees. Squibb asks if the Cecil
Group could provide information about successful cluster developments in local
communities.
There is discussion about the formation of subcommittees to work on the following topics:
1. Financial Alternatives
2. Prioritizing Open Space
3. Innovative Zoning (Non-purchasing)
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March 6, 2000 Meeting
Page 5
Other Business
Pam Kamtyersal from the Norwood Pond Association introduces herself. She states that
she is a member of a neighborhood group which is trying to protect Norwood Pond and
its surrounding land. Kampersal passed out information for the members to review and
asks if she could be on the agenda for the next OSRC meeting.
Gardner thanks Ms. Kampersal for coming and invites her to attend the next meeting.
Ron Johnson states that them is a large portion of land south of Norwood Pond that
would be a great connection/linkage to other open space parcels.
SteLla Mae Seamam (a member of Groundswell) states that the coast is what made
Beverly. The historical society gets grants for space. She says if we could link with other
entities in the city it would be great. Seamarts states the more linkages you have and the
more groups you have working on a cause, the better.
Renee Mary, 274 Hale Street states there is a tremendous potential for an open space link
at Witch Lane/Tall Tree Drive.
Katie Busey from Coastal Zone Management states that Robert Buchsbaum asked her to
come to the meeting. She sys she is working to develop mapping for land protection
strategies and would like to offer her services to the OSRC. Busey states she has three
maps:
1. Map 1 - identifies significant natural resources.
2. Map 2 - overlay resources to highlight overlap.
3. Map 3 - look at natural resources outlining the areas that are protected and
unprotected.
Busey explains that the information on the maps am taken li'om the Mass. GIS data base.
She states she could make maps and see if the information is useful to the OSRC.
The OSRC members thank Ms. Busey.
Cassidy states she would provide OSRC comments to the Cecil Group, and says the
OSRC has a lot of work to do. She believes the OSRC should work toward completing
the Open Space Plan before the summer and focus on other efforts in the fall.
Gardner notes tlmt the Cecil Group needs to come back with specific recommendations.
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March 6, 2000 Meeting
Page 6
Cassidy says she anticipates information about cluster subdivisions that work best for the
City of Beverly. She states it may require revision of the city's existing cluster zoning
ordinance.
Buckshum recommends inviting members of an OSRC from another community (perhaps
lpswich) to attend a future meeting and talk about what they have been doing.
Gardner asks if there are other comments. There are none.
Flannery:
Motion to adjou.~ seconded by PalnTzl All members in favor, no one
opposed. Motion carries.
The meeting adjourns at 9:30 p.m.