BHMA Minutes Feb 10 2016Harbor Management Authority
Minutes of February 10, 2016 Meeting
CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
Board: Harbor Management Authority
Date: February 10, 2016
Location: Beverly Public Library -Fogg Room
Members Present: Vice Chair Rinus Oosthoek, David Suminsby, George
Simon, Pat McAleer, Scott Houseman, Emily Flaherty, Don
Neuman, Estelle Rand, Paul Miedzionoski
Members Absent: Chris D'Alfonso, Chair Paul Earl
Others Present: Beverly Director of Planning Aaron Clausen, City Solicitor
Stephanie Williams, Facilities Manager Rob Dever, Chip
Nylen
Recorder: Aileen O'Rourke
Vice Chair Oosthoek called the meeting to order at 6:07pm.
Public input
No members of the public were present.
ADUroval of Minutes
Simon motions to approve the January 20, 2016 meeting minutes with minor edits. Seconded by
McAleer. All approved, motion passes.
Executive Session
Simon makes a motion to enter into an Executive Session pursuant to MGL Chapter 30A Section
21 -3 to discuss the pending litigation strategy with Beverly Port Marina (BPM). Seconded by
Neuman. A roll call is taken - present are Neuman, Miedzionoski, Suminsby, Simon, Flaherty,
Rand, Houseman, McAleer, and Oosthoek. All approved, motion passes unanimously (9 -0).
Simon makes a motion to go out of Executive Session. Seconded by McAleer. All approved,
motion passes unanimously (9 -0).
Open session resumes
Bass River Rezoning
Aaron Clausen, the City Planning Director briefs the Committee on the Bass River Rezoning
project. MAPC conducted a study to provide land use analysis and recommendations for the
Bass River District. The focus area is a half mile radius around the Beverly depot station and the
target area is delineated by a green line. The study was funded by a local technical assistance
program and the Barr Foundation. Currently, it is zoned IG which is general industrial to include
allowable uses such as manufacturing, storing of liquids, and other heavy industrial.
Harbor Management Authority
Minutes of February 10, 2016 Meeting
The Bass River Plan is consistent with the goals and vision laid out in the Master Plan of 2002,
the Open Space plan from 2005, the harbor management plan, and the downtown strategic plan
which include:
• providing better linkages to downtown and surrounding neighborhoods
• taking advantage of the transit station which has easy access into Boston by utilizing
transit orientated development (TOD)
• redeveloping the waterfront for commercial and residential uses
• improving public access along the waterfront
• improving connections around Cabot and Rantoul Street
The Bass River plan promotes an active mixed used neighborhood and Clausen goes into the
benefit of this: improved transportation choices, increase in transit ridership, less reliance on
cars, less air pollution due to reduced vehicle miles traveled, bolsters local economy, increases
available housing types. The plan not only looks at existing conditions but shows a changing
demographic: 40% of people walk to the station, it is one of the heaviest used commuter rail
stations. Some specific recommendations include strengthen the street networks for all modes of
transit, improve Odell park, provide a continuous and connected waterfront walkway, consider
parking maximums to reduce parking lots, create view sheds, and maintain Park Street as an
industrial area. So far, the City has held one public meeting, and has scheduled a stakeholder
meeting for business and property owners. Low impact design can be included in the Design
review guidelines. Houseman suggests including Ryal side residents to be a part of the process.
Clausen's goal is to have a draft ordinance completed by March and submitted by April.
Grant Opportunities
Flaherty put together a spreadsheet displaying all the possible grant opportunities that HMA
members brainstormed from the last meeting. Houseman would like to estimate costs for each of
the projects in order to determine priorities. If the HMA wants to go for low lying fruit perhaps
try for the life jacket loaner program but then members wonder about possible locations and
users. The discussion is tabled for now and Flaherty will check into any liability issues.
Houseman recommends signage around the public walkway at the Ventron site. Windover may
be able to provide this. Members decide they need to rank the projects in terms of high, medium,
and low priorities and try to go for high priority low cost projects first.
Possibilities include Green Hill and any projects that improve public access, and signage; CPA
funds could be utilized as well. $10 -15K for signage is a relatively low cost. Oosthoek would
like members to go through the projects and look for more city wide collaboration. Rand
recommends looking at where signage is in place, but the walkway may not be very inviting and
find a way to make an inviting gateway. Bass Haven is a good example. Oosthoek recommends
creating a subcommittee to start working on this.
Financials
There is $108K in revenue as of Jan 31 and $26,797 in expenses, a very positive balance. No
major expenditures. Recreational boaters have pre -paid which has bolstered revenues.
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Harbor Management Authority
Minutes of February 10, 2016 Meeting
Gruppe
The Gruppe Mural was briefly discussed at the CPA meeting which Flaherty and Rand attended.
Suzie LaMont spoke about relocating the Gruppe Mural to the GAR hall though Oosthoek
doesn't think there is a wall big enough in there for it. HMA needs to know what the City wants
to do with the mural - it is not a matter of funding as HMA has funds to move it, the City just
needs to find an appropriate space for it.
Facilities Report
Dever is working on licensing for piles with Cheryl. He provides an update on the Brown
Building -they are incorporating solar panels and furnace heating, it is ready for flooring. The
Harbormaster's office sent out the letter to commercial customers stating that rates won't change
for the year.
Adjournment
There being no further business before the Harbor Management Authority this evening, Simon
makes a motion to adjourn. Rand seconds. Motion to adjourn approved unanimously (9 -0).
The HMA Meeting was adjourned at 8:51pm.
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