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2012-01-04CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT: RECORDER: Open Space and Recreation Committee January 4, 2012 Elizabeth Dunne (Chairperson), David Brewster, Nancy Coffey, David Gardner, Pam Kampersal, Charlie Mann, Marilyn McCrory, James Matz, and Sylvan Menezes Bill Squibb Amy Maxner, Environmental Planner Gabe Buchsbaum and his father, Robert, and his Scoutmaster Josh Moody, Matt Akerman and his mother, Susan, from two Boy Scout troops in Beverly Jane Dooley Chairperson Dunne calls the meeting to order. Acceptance of Previous Minutes — November 2, 2011 Members review draft November 2, 2011 meeting open session minutes. Members discuss amendments with Maxner. Brewster makes a motion to accept November 11, 2011 minutes as amended. Seconded by Gardner. Motion carries 7 -0 -2. Kampersal abstained since she did not attend. Mann abstained since he was not a Committee member when meeting was held. New Business Possible Proiects for Boy Scout Troops — Discussion/Recommendations Committee discusses project ideas with Akerman so he could develop an action plan for his Eagle Scout project. The project requirement is to organize and complete 100 hours of work that includes assembling a work team (i.e., family and friends). Kampersal mentions that Boy Scout A.J. Chalifour may be willing to assist since he did a similar project. The Committee suggests establishing an entrance path/trail leading to Beverly Commons' woods within right of way area off Standley Street near Sweeney's greenhouse property. Dunne suggests that Ed Becker of ECGA and Conservation Commission should respond to the proposal, and thinks that blazing the trail is a big project. Coffey suggests that the Committee approve the final layout. Akerman is in favor of project and expresses interest in linkage trails. Gardner shows Akerman location of trail on City map and notes it would be an ambitious project to layout a route. Open Space & Recreation Committee January 4, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 6 Maxner states that Roland Adams could provide assistance with GPS and in creating a map. Akerman states he needs project approval by spring. Mann suggests if Committee agrees with proposal, Akerman could outline plan and walk trail to flag it and the Committee could then review plan and walk trail to stay within Akerman's late July completion timeframe. Mann suggests one of the biking groups could assist in this project. McCrory expresses her hesitation in promoting every single trail as a bikers trail. Discussion ensues as to potential user groups and how best to assist Akerman in this project. Coffey suggests alerting the abutters (Sweeney and Waring School) that Akerman will be out there by sending a letter from the Committee informing of its support of the project. Coffey offers to draft the letter and work with Maxner to finalize and send it out. Menezes motions to authorize Coffery to write said letter. Seconded by Matz. The motion carries 9 -0. Akerman agrees to check out area and prepare plan for proposed trail including need for bridges or walkways beyond scope of project. Mann suggests Akerman view trail with plans to bushwhack interesting characteristics and create route to flag. He provides Akerman with map and recommends he visit the Beverly GIS website. Gardner suggests that Akerman consult the AMC guide on trailblazing. Committee asks Akerman to meet again in February bringing project plan for Committee approval. Akerman thanks the Committee for its time and he will be in touch. Boy Scout Gabe Buchsbaum discusses with Committee a possible Eagle Scout project involving bushwhacking a 6 -foot handicapped accessible trail off of Cross Lane at the soccer field as another way to enter Sally Milligan. Gardner recommends using National Park Service standard design for any wetland bridge crossing for handicap access. Discussion ensues about possibility of building suspension bridge over small stream west of soccer field to encourage users to access trails that lead into Sally Milligan Park, noting that Conservation Commission approval may be needed. McCrory suggests another project idea involving marking the overgrown trail off of Essex Street across from Cole Street where there is a right of way that had a previous problem with an abutting property owner blocking trail with a stonewall. Coffey recommends marking trials with natural history stations, similar to what is done in Boothbay area in Maine. She notes that research would be involved to determine number of stations marked with numbers or letters, decide theme and topic of each station and seasonal use, and a guide would have to be written for posting on the website. Buchsbaum expresses interest in research and physical /intellectual work to be completed in July next year. He would like to use this project as part of college application process. Open Space & Recreation Committee January 4, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 6 Mann shows Buchsbaum on map where bramble cutting is needed on City —owned land off of Bathing Beach Lane /Folger Avenue. Gardner mentions that steps may be needed on Bass River trail and at Sally Milligan off of Lake Shore. Buchsbaum will run these project ideas by scoutmaster and think about which one appeals to him most. He will update the Committee as he makes progress and thanks the Committee for its time. Other... (Other City Board 's /Commission's/Department's agenda items, proiects or business related to open space and recreation — discussion and /or recommendations, if an ... Wellington Heights Subdivision Modification — Planning Board Public Hearing Matz provides a detailed update on the Wellington Heights subdivision modification, which is proposed to serve as sole access to the new development in Wenham. He notes that the Planning Board opened the public hearing at its meeting last evening (January 3 and voted to close the hearing that same evening. He notes that the Board will take this matter up for final discussion and decision at its January 17 meeting. Updates Bathing Beach Lane — Right of Way Access Maxner refers to email from Gardner that was forwarded to B. Munroe. Discussion ensues as to access to the City -owned open space off the end of Folger Avenue and Bathing Beach Lane. Mann suggests the Committee should establish the opportunity to build trail on the property and he would like to lead that project. Maxner notes that trailblazing for this will occur within Riverfront Area and should be approved and permitted by the Conservation Commission. She notes that she is happy to prepare the application to submit to the Commission for its January 31 meeting, and asks that Mann or Dunne attend the Commission's meeting to provide presentation of the project. Mann states he is happy to make the presentation. Tall Tree Drive Easement Maxner states that City Council has approved easement and she will have Mayor sign it and she will take it to the Registry to be recorded. Mann notes that he participated in locating the trail by GPS and flagging the trail in the field with Maxner and Roland Adams a couple weeks ago. Discussion ensues as to timing of trail blazing work and its inclusion as a location for an Earth Day walk. Discussion ensues as to specifications for the trail entrance off of Tall Tree Drive per the easement agreement. Mann suggests that the preparations for laying a brick walkway will be the most time consuming part of the project, he offers to help lead the volunteer effort. Greens Hill — Parcel 27X Open Space & Recreation Committee January 4, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 6 Maxner plans to schedule a meeting with Gardner, Mayor, and Tina Cassidy to discuss status of 27X and 27A options. Gardner and Maxner will update the Committee as to the progress on this matter after that meeting. Open Space Encroachment off Standley Street — Warin2 School Maxner states that she brought this to the Conservation Commission's attention during its November 29 meeting. The Commission declined scheduling a site walk as members did not feel it necessary, instead the Commission voted to issue a letter ordering Waring to remove it's playing field from conservation land. Discussion about the importance of taking stewardship of donated land seriously. Committee reviews aerial photograph of field and notes that the playing field could be moved off of the City's land and reconfigured to still be viable for Waring. Maxner notes that she has placed this matter on the January 31 Conservation agenda and will contact Waring if she does not hear from anyone relative to the Commission's letter. Discussion about how OSRC could assist ConCom to inspect City land regularly. Coffey offers to write letter describing OSRC's interest in helping organize volunteers to inspect properties, noting that Greenbelt uses volunteers for this purpose. Wood Lane — Right of Way Encroachment Maxner reports that she conducted an inspection today and met up with Suzanne Ewer, resident of 47 Wood Lane. She notes that all of the encroachment items, with exception of planted hemlocks, have been removed from the right of way and Conservation land. She notes that she had a very good conversation with Ms. Ewer and they placed the fencing in the lane to prohibit a neighbor from allowing his dog to poop on the lawn area, which he never picks up. She notes that Ms. Ewer did not mean to cause a problem or block rightful access and complied immediately with the Committee's letter. Maxner offers to speak to City solicitor about the hemlock trees if OSRC is interested. Discussion ensues as to how much of a problem the planted hemlock tree /shrubs pose to access along the right of way. Members agree that these hemlocks do not significantly block access at the current time and the City can always reserve the right to remove the shrubs /trees should they pose a problem in the future. Maxner will communicate with B. Munroe regarding this issue and write a follow up letter to the Ewer's as to its final resolution. Chapman's Corner/Manor Homes at Whitehall — Access Pathway to Open Space Parcel Discussion ensues regarding the walking trail to be built which will be located 5' from the new house on Lot 5, and along retention pond to provide access to open space behind housing development. Dunne suggests OSRC keep up the pressure to have trail built and offers to write a letter to Planning Board providing OSRC input. Coffey moves to authorize Dunne to write letter reminding the Planning Board of this issue. Matz seconds motion. The motion passes 9 -0. Open Space & Recreation Committee January 4, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 6 Norwood Pond — Discussion /Action Items Kampersal suggests revisiting the establishment of a conservation restriction for Norwood Pond as the City Council could overturn overlay zoning at any time and she is concerned about the protection of this land as the overpass at Brimbal Avenue planning continues to move forward. Maxner agrees to place this item on an upcoming OSRC's agenda. Possible Update/Revisions to Open Space & Recreation Plan — Environmental Inventory & Analysis Section: Aquifer Resources — Discussion Kampersal notes that she emailed the Committee before the last meeting and would like for this matter to be discussed in more detail, as she believes the language in the Open Space Plan (OS & R Plan) relative to the aquifer resource is incorrect. Discussion ensues as to correct language and information needed to make a final decision on this matter. Maxner notes that the ad -hoc committee with Tina Cassidy, Councilor Martin, Kampersal and Matz, which was formed to review the proposed WPOD amendments, is meeting tomorrow and this committee may provide additional items to consider relative to any amendments to the OS & R Plan. She agrees to put this discussion on next month's OSRC agenda early in meeting. Matz states that the ad -hoc committee will move quickly through its review and he hopes to get their recommendations to the City Council in time for a final vote in May. Community Preservation Act — Campaign Strategy — Discussion /Action Items Coffey reports that she has had a discussion with Mary Grant regarding the possibility of leading the CPA campaign. She notes that Grant expressed support for CPA but was unable to commit anytime as she has just started anew job, which will demand much of her time. Coffey also spoke to realtor Fay Salt who was interested and Salt offered to introduce this topic at an upcoming meeting of realtors, she asked for informational material to bring her up to speed. Discussion ensues on changing the strategy for placing this on and upcoming ballot, members agree that citizen's petition is possible but City Council vote may be easier. Beverly Bicycle Committee — First Meeting Mann notes that Beverly Bicycle Committee has formed and is holding it's first meeting this evening. Gardner notes that it is not an official committee but has a similar mission with the OSRC in creating safe biking links throughout the City but is more focused on roadway biking as opposed to trail and off road biking. Gravelly Brook Parcel c/o Cambridge Trust — Land Owned by Alfred Donovan Estate Maxner explains that the City Solicitor has received correspondence from Cambridge Trust Company, the trust administering the estate of the late Alfred Donovan who passed away in August. The letter referred to 1.6 acres in the Boulder Lane area next to Route 128 known as Gravelly Brook parcel. She notes that the parcel is assessed at $44,900 and it abuts Con Com Open Space & Recreation Committee January 4, 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 6 land. The Trust is inquiring as to whether the City is interested in purchasing the property for open space purposes. Maxner asks if the OSRC supports the purchase and if it would like to make a recommendation to the City Solicitor. Discussion ensues as to the parcel's actual worth and whether the estate would consider donating the land for tax right -off purposes. Matz notes that there is open space value in gaining that parcel, but believes that it is rather overvalued and suggests that possibly Greenbelt would be interested in acquisition. Maxner agrees to communicate these thoughts and suggestions to the Solicitor. Next meeting agenda items and scheduling The Committee's next meeting is scheduled for February 1, 2012. Matz suggests that the discussion for the Open Space Plan amendments be placed first on the agenda to make sure this receives thoughtful attention. He recommends that Norwood Pond CR and CPA discussions be placed on the top of the March agenda. He notes that time management is an issue and suggests that each agenda topic be assigned starting and ending times to better handle discussion time. Brewster motions to adjourn, seconded by Gardner. The motion passes 9 -0. Meeting adjourns at 9:20 p.m.