Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee

RECEIVED By City Clerk at 2:32 pm, 9/29/21 Amesbury Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee MEETING MINUTES July 28, 2021, 7:00 p.m. This meeting will be conducted under the "Executive Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law' G.L. c. 30A, Section 20, signed on March 12, 2020. +1 (872) 240-3212 Access Code: 707-219-045 Attending: J. Lopez, S. Thiel, J. Sherwood, R. Hucksam, N. Wheeler, P. Rettig, V. Johnson-Hall 1. Call to Order: 7:02pm 2. Minutes from May 26, 2021 meeting: Move to approve N. Wheeler; 2nd S. Thiel All approved by roll call vote. 3. Chair's Report  Recap of Conservation Options Presentation by V. Johnson-Hall. Session was recorded and posted on the City’s website. J. Sherwood will have presentation link directly from OSNRT page.  Coastal Trails Coalition – MassDOT grant for final rail trail connector behind Stop & Shop not awarded. Jerry Klima said not unusual to not be successful the first time; recommendation was for City to reach out to MassDOT contact re how to improve application. J. Sherwood to follow up with Mayor’s office and DPW. 4. Referrals: 2021-102 An Ordinance to Create a Town Forest Conservation Area  Assessor’s Map 40-14 is listed in error; should be 48-14.  Assessor’s Map 61-5 has a home on it, although house is assessed on 62-5. Recommend that City have counsel review deed into City and confirm where boundary lines are on the ground, confirm that house is not on City-owned land, and correct assessors maps. Deed reference to City is Salem Registry of Deeds Book 9963 Page 317; the deed references recorded plans, Plan Book 251 Plan 38 and Plan Book 251 Plan 34. Counsel should be consulted to confirm boundaries based upon this deed into the City.  What does “Lot 17” refer to?  Draft replacement Whereas to remove reference to acreage of protected land and focus on quality of protected land.  N. Wheeler has two other small corrections: 2nd Whereas – North side and South Side 2 separate words; end of 3rd and 5th Whereas - delete commas.  Recommend striking reference to re-naming conservation area (make this a separate order) and have this order just focus on designating parcels to Article 97 status. Renaming conservation areas is example of what came out of summit - high level planning is needed for Amesbury’s open spaces.  Comment was made regarding lack of resources for management, and making sure that lack of resources doesn’t preclude action to permanently preserve parcels. Clarifying ownership and conservation status is first step to management planning.  Idea discussed of creating revolving fund from Cons Comm fees for land management / planning.  Move to recommend supporting order 2021-102, subject to recommended revisions / refinement as noted in minutes above; also recommend that City send list of parcels protected under Article 97 by all recent orders to MassGIS so that Open Space Data Layer can be updated. N. Wheeler; 2nd S. Thiel. Approved via roll call vote. 5. Ongoing Projects  Amesbury 2030 Open Space and Recreation Summit update (Sherwood, Hucksam, Thiel) - Suggestion for annual Open Space Day to highlight Amesbury’s Open Spaces. Lakes and Waterways group - wayfinding signage, update signage to indicate recreation opportunities. Climate resilience planning with regards to bodies of water and open spaces. Amesbury 2030 Group gave them schedule as to what going to focus on my topic. Recreation July & August. Focus groups on mobility Jan & Feb; infrastructure Mar - May; economic development June & July.  Criteria and Methods for Permanently Protected Land Required as Part of a Development Permit: No update. 6. Other Business: OSR 2021-22 Priorities – New discussion - J. Sherwood mentioned that there is a training available on Wetlands Protection Act – 1 hour class available to Conservation Commission, Lakes and Waterways Committee, and OSNRT. OSNRT members expressed interest. J. Sherwood to follow up w/J. Lopez.  - Revisit goals and action steps from OSNRT at September meeting. At summit groups expressed advantages of collaboration between groups. How can we foster more collaboration with other boards also working to preserve Amesbury’s natural resources. - Next meeting Sept. 22nd. - N. wheeler worked with Sen. DiZoglio’s office to secure $100,000 to re-do parking lot at Lake Gardner Beach to improve accessibility. - Woodsom order map that Jonathan created: Quinn Farm - N. Wheeler and Mayor subumitting Quinn parcel to Article 97. Will see referral in September. 7. Move to Adjourn: 8:44 N. Wheeler, 2nd S. Thiel. Approved by roll call.