Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee

RECEIVED By City Clerk at 2:48 pm, 4/14/22 Amesbury Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee January 26, 7:00 p.m. MEETING MINUTES Attending: J. Sherwood, Chair, Councilor P. Frey, S. Thiel, R. Hucksam, V. Johnson-Hall, Councilor R. Deschenes, J. Lopez - Conservation Agent 1. Call to Order 7:05pm 2. 2022-23 Organization: Introductions of new committee members. Jonathan Sherwood to remain Chair; V Johnson-Hall to remain secretary w/ Councilor Frey filling in for minutes when Johnson-Hall is away. 3. Minutes from November 4, 2021 meeting: Moved: S. Thiel, 2nd R. Hucksam. 4 Yes, 2 Abstain. 4. Chair's Report • February 2, 6:30p.m. MA DEP Wetlands Protection Act overview training for OSNRTC and Lakes/Waterways – Virtual information in email invite • MA Land Open Space Conference, every Thursday in February – registration info sent by email • OCED Disposition Committee is hosting public meeting next week to discuss Trader Allen Truckstop site. • 1/24 Planning Board Meeting Agenda, Meadowbrook Road #RR Parcel 45-4, 100 acres solar facility proposal. Exploratory meeting; no application. • 92 Powwow St (Batchelder Park) -1.6 acres - City / public safety exploring as potential site for a new public safety communications tower. Sherwood and Thiel (as vice-chair of Con Comm) participated in 1/14/22 informational meeting arranged by Mayor Gove, with Fire and Police Chiefs, as well as OCED staff (inc Lopez). Sherwood provided copy of 1926 deed, specifying parcel as donation to City as a ‘park.’ Parcel is under care/custody of Conservation Commission. No action at present; City consulting with counsel regarding protection status. May come back to us for consultation if City considers proceeding with this site. • V. Johnson-Hall briefed committee on Greenbelt’s 52 S. Hampton Road site visit. Property priced too high to acquire; landowner not willing to consider lower price. • Gorman Farm Chapter 61 notice of change of use has not come back to the City. • Eagle Scout ideas: trail mapping and kiosks at Town Forest, Woodsom Farm; also boardwalks over wet areas. • Get to Know an Open Space material on OSNRTC’s Facebook Page. 1/22 feature: Margaret Rice Conservation Area. Seeking volunteers to do more posts! 5. Ongoing Projects • Con Comm / OSNRTC / Lakes & Waterways / City staff Working Group. Concerns are maintenance & planning of our open spaces. Working group would assemble manageable ideas for management planning framework for these sites. J. Sherwood contacted Mass Audubon for general sense of cost for creating management plans for Amesbury conservation areas. This is a priority action item from the Amesbury 2019 Open Space and Recreation Plan. Committee members discussed importance of public participation in management planning of popular, actively-used open spaces. Also the advantage of hiring someone first to oversee creation and then implementation of management plans. Another idea - board of trustees of open space along the lines of the library board of trustees, which hires a director. • Carriagetown Riverwalk Trail Connector – City re-application for DCR Mass Trails grant – OSNRTC Letter of Support. Trail currently ends behind Stop & Shop. This proposal would improve 1/3-1/2 mile gap between S&S and Elm Street; no clear way to connect trail and safely cross Elm Street to Ghost Trail. This proposal is for design/engineering/permitting work to accomplish this connection. Proposal is to have a user-activated crosswalk across Elm St at point of highest visibility by vet / hotel. Proposal was denied last year; application  this year is scaled back. Motion to approve letter of support: R. Deschenes, 2nd S. Thiel. Unanimously approved. 11. Motion to adjourn 8:39 - R. Deschenes; 2nd S. Thiel.