Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee

Amesbury Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee By City Clerk at 11:40 am, Oct 21, 2022 MEETING MINUTES August 31, 7:00 p.m. This meeting was conducted under the "Executive Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law G.L. c. 30A, Section 20, signed on March 12, 2020. Present: J. Sherwood, Chair, R. Hucksam, P. Frey, M. Hogg, P. Rettig, J. Lopez, Amesbury Conservation Agent 1. Call to Order 7:02pm 2. Minutes from July 27, 2022 meeting: Move to approve: P. Frey 2nd R. Hucksam. Approved 3 yes, 1 abstain 3. Public Comment: N/A 4. Communications: N/A 5. Chair's Report: N/A 6. Referrals: • 2022-087 An Order to authorize the Mayor to surplus, procure a development proposal, and sell the properties 58 Cynthia Road and 63 Cynthia Lane J. Sherwood moved without objection to take this item up first. J. Sherwood read emails sent from abutters and neighbors to the parcels in the Order into the record, including from: • Christina McMahon, 27 Mason Court • Judith Sullivan, 42 Pamela Lane • Steve Valliere, address not provided • Connie MacLeod, 24 Pamela Lane • Jim Cocozella, Unicorn Circle • Mason Donavel, Pearl Street • Rebecca Nazzaro, 30 Unicorn Circle • Barbara Worsley, Whitehall Lake Condo • Michelle Dugan, 22 Mason Court • Helen Wheeler, 4 Adams Court • Bernadette Lucas, address not provided • Gail McElhinney, 67 Cynthia Lane • Peter and Pamela Ahl, 62 Cynthia Lane • Carmen Weisensee, 7 Powerderhouse Ct • Shawn Flaherty, 42 Pamela Lane • Christopher Husgen, 21 Powderhouse Road • Bradford Matthews, 40 Pamela Lane The Committee also heard call in testimony from the following, during the meeting: • Bradford Matthews, 40 Pamela Lane • Nancy Collier, 72 Cynthia Lane • Jane Smith, 56 Pamela Lane • Christopher Husgen, 21 Powderhouse Lane • Nick Wheeler, 161 Whitehall Road • Ken Faulkner, 20 Unicorn Circle  Testimony summary: All of the persons who submitted written or verbal testimony to the Committee encouraged us to give 2022-087 a negative recommendation back to the Council. The preponderance of testimony noted the shading, wildlife habitat, and aesthetic value of the parcels to the neighborhood. No one was present to speak in favor of making a positive recommendation back to the City Council. Discussion: J. Sherwood reviewed the two parcels in relation to the various land conservation prioritization maps produced for the 2020-2027 Open Space and Recreation Plan; the parcels in question do not appear as parcels prioritized to protect for conservation purposes (such as habitat quality, drinking water protection, natural resilience value). R. Hucksam inquired regarding goal of surplusing these properties, in terms of proposed development or uses. No information provided with the Order by the City, though P. Rettig understood from Planning Board discussion that the proposed use will be affordable residential development. P. Rettig noted that the lots, under current zoning, are non-conforming for any residential development, so would presumably be a 40-B. R. Hucksam and M. Hogg both noted the high value that the surrounding neighbors put on these two parcels. P. Frey noted that perhaps the parcels could be considered separately. P. Rettig and J. Sherwood both noted that the request to surplus came to Committee with unknown intentions or goals, as to scale or purpose. Motion to return to the City Council with a negative recommendation was made by R. Hucksam, 2nd by M. Hogg. Unanimous. • 2022-085 An Order to approve the acceptance of the Conservation Commission of a Quitclaim Deed for Open Space at the Locke Hill Lane Subdivision P. Rettig reported on Planning Board review of this request, noting that the Planning Board had received this Order positively but had sent back recommendation to the City Council that included encouraging the Council to amend the Order to designate the manner of permanent protection and noted that the road would need to be accepted in order for the City to have access to the culverts on the Locke Hill Lane open space land. J. Sherwood noted that the Committee had previously and unanimously recommended to the Conservation Commission that the City accept this open space parcel, noting its high prioritization in the 2020-2027 OSR Plan. Motion to return to the City Council with a positive recommendation: P. Frey, 2nd M. Hogg. Unanimous. • 2022-086 An Ordinance to amend the Amesbury Zoning Ordinance to allow restaurant use at marina facilities in the City of Amesbury Discussion was brief as the Committee saw this Ordinance as out of scope for this Committee. Motion to return to the City Council with no recommendation: P. Rettig, 2nd P. Frey. Unanimous 7. Ongoing Projects • Required Protected Land Criteria (Rettig + Johnson-Hall) – P. Rettig reviewed the context for this memo, intended to be used to help guide the Planning Board, Conservation Commission and the City when considering open space to conserve or accept. Motion made to approve with the following amendment – replace the first criteria with: “When possible, adjacency to existing permanently-protected land is maximized (see below for conservation options).” Motion to approve as amended: P. Rettig, 2nd R. Hucksam. 3 yes (Sherwood, Rettig, Frey, Hucksam), 1 abstain (Hogg) • Land Management and Planning – Documentation (Sherwood): J. Sherwood updated regarding emerging opportunity from City to use grant monies from MA OEE for purposes of implementing land and resource management recommendations from the  Land and Resource Management Working Group earlier in 2022, including compilation of baseline documentation for the City’s natural assets and the development of long-range management plans for the City’s natural assets. The City is planning to bring this to the City Council in September and will likely reconstitute the Working Group again, to help advise the procurement and management of consultant services (the Working Group had members from OSNRTC, Con Comm, and Lakes & Waterways). P. Rettig indicated interest in helping with this effort. • 2020-27 OSR Plan – NEW EOEEA Conditional Approval – J. Sherwood provided update that BSC had been able to respond to almost all of the Commonwealth’s feedback regarding our 2020-2027 OSR. City has requested that this Committee assist with responding to comments on Section 5: Inventory of Open Space and Recreational Land. Sherwood will take lead with City work on enhancements in response to Commonwealth’s feedback. 8. Motion to Adjourn 8:55: P. Frey; 2nd M. Hogg. Unanimously approved.