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:
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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.
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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
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April 23, 2001
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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.
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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.