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2001-04-23draft City of Beverly, Massachusetts Public Meeting Minutes BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: April 23, 2001 PLACE: Beverly Public Library COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: David Gardner (Chairman), Katherine Tracey, Cindy Modugno, Bill Squibb, Tina Cassidy, Robert Buchsbaum, Ellen Flannery ABSENT: Richard Baker, Kathleen Skrabut, Anthony Paluzzi, Charles Raymond, Guido Lauranzano OTHERS PRESENT: RECORDER: Jeannine Dion Gardner calls the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. and introduces the members of the Open Space and Recreation Committee and Tina Cassidy, the Planning Director. Cassidy states the public hearing for the Open Space and Recreation Plan will be presented to the state for approval and is necessary for future state grants. She distributes handouts of some of the sections to members of the public and advises everyone that a copy of the entire document is available for review in the Planning Department and the Beverly Public Library. It will also be on- line within a couple of weeks. Cassidy states the Open Space and Recreation Plan is a five year plan and once it is accepted by the state, will make the City eligible for certain kinds of grants for five years. The state guidelines recommend that on an ongoing basis they will be looking at the plan. There is no reason why the City can’t modify or add recommendations or action items into the plan after it has been approved by the state. It is an ongoing process. Cassidy reviews, in summary format, the Open Space and Recreation Plan. The plan is designed to follow a set of guidelines that were promulgated by the State for Open Space Plans. They prescribe what a City/Town must have and the kinds of things you ought to look at, research and include by way of information and by way of Goals and Objectives and an Action Plan. Cassidy provides a summary, which underscores why the City created the plan. The current Open Space Plan was developed in 1995 and expired in 2000. Although the City remained eligible for grants through the year 2000, the City wanted to get an updated plan on file because there are benefits. There are some grants for which you are not eligible, unless you have an Open Space and Recreation completed and approved by the State. The introduction includes a Mission Statement of the Open Space and Recreation Committee: Open Space and Recreation Committee Minutes April 23, 2001 Page 2 The Mission of the City of Beverly’s Open Space and Recreation Committee is to preserve, maintain and enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Beverly by developing and maintaining an Open Space Plan. The Plan will identify and recommend open space acquisitions and will identify other creative strategies to preserve open space based on public input and in consideration of the City’s policies and actions and its Master Plan. Cassidy states the three reasons why there is an Open Space Plan: 1. Grant eligibility? 2. Provide an up-to-date and comprehensive inventory of the vacant land that exists in the community that can help determine which one of the open space parcels the City would like to protect, either through direct ownership by the City or through negotiated conservation easements or in some cases, providing access to the public through a piece of land. 3. Establish the Goals and Objectives for the development of open space and its preservation to meet future demand in the City. Cassidy states Section 3 of the Plan is entitled “Community Setting.” The section describes the regional context, the history of the City, a summary of some of the population characteristics, a brief discussion of the City’s infrastructure and growth and development trends. Section 4 describes “Environmental Inventory and Analysis,” which includes the geography, soils and topography that are present in the City of Beverly, character of the landscape and water resources, the vegetation and wildlife and fisheries. The information was compiled from information that the State has about what endangered species or critical species are present in Beverly, scenic resources and unique environments and environmental problems overview. Section 5 is entitled “Conservation and Recreation Interests,” which provides an analysis of each of the cities’ parks and playgrounds, public land known to be protected (i.e. Conservation Commission control), land owned by the City that is not protected and demand for fields. Section 6 describes “Community Goals,” which was developed by the Open Space and Recreation Committee. The goals are as follows: · Improve and enhance recreational opportunities for all Beverly residents including an annual review and maintenance program. · Improve access to the waterfront. · Preserve, restore and enhance the existing natural resources in the City, especially historic sites and scenic vistas. · Preserve and acquire open space parcels to meet watershed protection and conservation needs. Open Space and Recreation Committee Minutes April 23, 2001 Page 3 · Establish a link system of open space areas so that the connection of existing open spaces and potential open space elements, either through property purchases or conservation easements. · Associate recreational facilities with areas of the greatest demand (the most dense and underserved neighborhoods). · Use institutional facilities as centers for an improved and expanded and recreation system (i.e. school facilities on school grounds). · Locate large-scale facilities and uses and the parking that must go with them, in least sensitive areas to minimize the environmental impacts. Section 7 analyzes “Resource Protection Needs,” which include: · Protect the ground and surface water from overuse and pollution. · Preserve and protect the City’s critical and sensitive natural resources (water supply, significant visual resources, wetlands, salt marshes and flood plains). · Increase and enhance recreational opportunities for Beverly’s residents, including access to the City’s fresh and saltwater resources. · Preserve and enhance Beverly’s open space to create a contiguous greenbelt system throughout the City. · Maintain and enhance the opportunity for public use of the waterfront, including recreation and tourism. Section 8 provides the Open Space and Recreation Committee’s Goals and Objectives: · Preserve and enhance Beverly’s existing open space and to acquire more parcels in the future to create a designated greenbelt. · Increase public access to the waterfront. · Increase awareness of open space park and recreation needs within the community. · Increase and enhance recreational opportunities for Beverly residents. · Increase environmental awareness within the community. · Preserve and enhance Beverly’s historical resources. · Integrate the open space planning into the City’s planning and budgeting process. Cassidy states the 5 Year Action Plan reflects the entire document, which includes an objective with specific actions and a schedule for completion. The Action Plan is meant as a guideline but it can be flexible. Cassidy states the Open Space and Recreation Committee elected to hold the public hearing to gather comments from the public. The Plan has been sent to the Mayor, Regional Planning Agency and Conservation Commission for review and comment. It was also sent to the Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board and City Council to make sure everybody was aware of the ability to make comments. The Committee hopes to officially approve the draft Open Space Plan Open Space and Recreation Committee Minutes April 23, 2001 Page 4 for submission to the state at the next meeting. Written public comment may be submitted to the Planning Department by May 4, 2001. Cassidy asks if members of the public have any questions or comments. Pam Kampersal states she has a neighbor who illegally dumps at the Norwood Pond site and asks what the committee suggests doing about illegal dumping in the community. Cassidy responds that the Norwood Pond site caused the committee to address this issue. Shortly after the City acquired ownership, the City discovered there was a lot of trash, etc. Some suggestions discussed – installation of a gate and public education. Kampersal suggests that the City send out a flyer to educate of the proper way dispose of leaves, trash, etc. Renee Mary, 274 Hale Street suggests putting large boulders to block access and perhaps a sign warning of a fine if illegal dumping occurs. Kampersal asks if the Open Space and Recreation Committee can support better bylaws for wetland protection and drinking water supply. Cassidy responds that it is appropriate, however, it cannot be done before May 7, 2001. Buchsbaum reminds the public that the Open Space and Recreation Committee can support and make recommendations for bylaws, however it is still up to the City Council to pass a bylaw. Kampersal suggests changing language in the Plan Summary. Her comments are noted. Gardner states he is on the Parks Commission and one of the concerns the Parks Committee has is playing fields. There are not enough playing fields to accommodate the number of people that play sports and there is a tremendous demand for active recreation fields. There is discussion regarding possible locations for fields. Mary Roderick states there are a number of recreational facilities throughout the City that are totally useless. She uses the example of a baseball field that is not utilized. Kevin ______ disagrees with Roderick. He states Bessie Baker has been done over by the Parks Department and DPW and is probably one of the nicest fields in the City. It is used heavily Monday through Friday. Cassidy responds that particular field is designed for little league and is not regulation size for women’s softball or men’s leagues. That is why the Parks and Recreation Department is looking at the size of the regulation size fields that could be used by the adult leagues or the older kids. Renee Mary asks if there is consideration for recreational bicycling and rollerblading. Cassidy responds that bike paths have come up very often in discussions with the Master Plan Committee. Open Space and Recreation Committee Minutes April 23, 2001 Page 5 Gardner informs the public that the Open Space and Recreation Committee will be hosting a workshop on May 17, 2001, which will discuss issues in more detail. The group will discuss the problems around the City and possible solutions. Mary Roderick states the committee has an objective to analyze the provisions of the Community Preservation Act (CPA). She states the act is very time sensitive and should be done as soon as possible and asks if it can be implemented earlier rather than later. Cassidy responds that there is already a subcommittee working on that. They have reviewed the CPA and are talking with other segments of the community. There is discussion about how to develop a grass routes effort to get it on the ballot and get it passed on the ballot this fall. Don Preston informs the group that there is a meeting this Thursday at 8:00 a.m. at the Baptist Church to discuss the CPA. There will be several speakers coming from the state to provide more information. Cassidy states it is advisable to adopt the CPA the first year. If a city or town does not have enough of a grass route effort to ensure its passage the first year and it fails, it becomes a tainted topic and it is difficult and harder to recover from that and try a second year. The hope is to find a way to do it well this year in time for the November ballot. Mary Roderick states the League of Women’s Voters endorses the CPA and will support the effort to pass it. Cassidy asks if there are more questions from the public. There are none. Cassidy states the committee is accepting written comments before May 4, 2001. Comments should be sent to the Planning Department, 191 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA. The next Open Space and Recreation meeting is scheduled to take place on May 7, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting adjourns at 7:55 p.m.