Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee

By City Clerk at 9:22 am, May 30, 2023 Amesbury Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee MEETING MINUTES October 26, 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, V. Johnson-Hall, Councilor M. Hogg, R. Hucksam, Councilor P. Frey, P. Rettig, A. Cleveland, Amesbury Director of Economic Development, J. Babbin, Cons. Comm R. Desmarais, Guest (Director of Amesbury DPW) 1. Call to Order: 7:02pm 2. Minutes from September 24, 2022 meeting: Motion to approve: P. Rettig, 2nd R. Hucksam. Approved unanimously with date change to 9/28 and correct P. Rettig name. 3. Public Comment – N/A 4. Communications – Covered by other agenda items. 5. Chair's Report – Covered by other agenda items. 6. Referrals • [City Council] 2022-125 Order to authorize the Mayor to expend a FY22 ARPA Spending Bill earmark in the amount of $75,000 to hire a consultant to inventory and prepare an operation and maintenance plan for Amesbury’s open space and natural resources. o Passed unanimously by City Council. A. Cleveland – next step is to release RFP to get proposals to get consultant for 12 or 18 month consultancy to work on the scope. P. Rettig and member of Lakes & Waterways Committee will sit on Committee. V. Johnson-Hall to provide feedback on language for RFP to clarify deliverables that City is seeking. • [City Council] 2022-126 An Order to authorize the Mayor to accept and expend a grant in the amount of $15,000 from the Amesbury Health Care Charitable Trust (AHCCT) for the Amesbury Carriagetown Connector project o Passed unanimously by City Council. • [Conservation Commission] Quinn Farm – Draft Operational Plan to restore and maintain meadow. Proposal includes removing invasive plants that have matured. There is also a large field next to British Colonial Apartments which is also vastly overgrown with invasive species. Cons Comm wants feedback on whether proposal is consistent with reason that property was protected. V. Johnson-Hall stated that the proposal is entirely consistent with the property’s permanent protection: Article 97 requires that the land remain protected for natural habitat and passive recreation; removing invasive species does this by slowing the spread of these invasives to nearby properties, allowing native flora to flourish that are otherwise outcompeted by invasive species, and creating habitat that better supports native wildlife. Further, meadows and naturally-vegetated open fields have declined dramatically in the last 100 years since New England agricultural lands have reforested. Protecting this property as a meadow  and open field serves to maintain critically important habitat for the wildlife that depends upon open fields and meadows. Finally, protecting the scenic view from the top of the hill over Lake Gardner is also an important goal of conserving this land that is achieved by maintaining this as an open meadow. Intent is to mow on the same schedule as Woodsom Farm grassland bird habitat. J. Babbin suggested that OSNRT send letter to Cons Comm. for Nov. 7 meeting with information on why this proposal accomplishes the goals of preserving this property for wildlife habitat, scenic views, and passive public recreation. • [Conservation Commission] Powow Hill Trail Proposal. Andy Scott (1 Brownfield Ct, Newburyport) and Michael Demers (45.5 S. Elm Street, Haverhill) participated in meeting. Cons Comm would like to know if it’s consistent with goals for property. Mike’s been instrumental in developing Winnikinni Trails for multi-use (walking, mountain-biking). Andy lived in Amesbury by a number of years. Goal is to create a trail that hugs the hillside facing Lake Gardner. Goal is to create a trail that doesn’t go straight up the hill. V. Johnson-Hall commented that it would be helpful to see a more detailed proposal that considers the new trail in the context of the trail system for the park looked as a whole, considering the condition of existing trails, the use of existing trails, and potential abandonment of trails that are prone to erosion and channeling water. Proposal should include proposed use of trails, design parameters (minimizing slope, proposed water bars, trail width, e.g.). It would be helpful for applicants to reference DCR’s Trail Guidelines. Bruce (from Lake Gardner Association) mentioned that trail should try to parallel contour lines to minimize slopes. Batchelder Trail erosion was instigated by dirt bike use in the 90s. J. Babbin recommends that proposal be presented to OSNRT before coming back to Cons Comm. J. Babbin would like to see the proposed trail in the field. OSNRT members concurred. Would be a good idea for City to adopt a set of standards for building trails (e.g., adopt DCR guidelines) and have an established process for approving trails. Andy and Mike will flag trail and then reach out to Jonathan to schedule group site visit for interested members of OSNRT to see. It would make most sense for new trail to begin at beginning of Batchelder Trail. Jonathan will connect Andy and Mike with Bruce so that they can go out to scope trail together. P. Frey to follow up on addressing homeless encampment. 7. Ongoing Projects • Land Management and Planning – Update - NEW City Resources – Work Group. See above agenda item City Council Order 2022-125) • 2020-27 OSR Plan – EOEEA Conditional Approval – Review of Updates: BSC should be able to show drinking water wells and Zones of influence on the water resources maps (Map 5). Map 6 is done. Aquifer recharge areas – addressed in text in document on page 33. Public shade trees are not inventoried but there is new BSC text on page 33 which addresses this. Question for City on whether Tree Board still exists. Wildlife corridors – text on page 36 (there is a typo). Has not been mapped. Scenic resources and unique environments: list of historic areas added. Others reviewed status of various sections that needed updating. OS Inventory – Largely completed / updated by J. Sherwood. V. Johnson-Hall and J. Sherwood to finish, particularly lands of interest. 8. Other Business: November & December meeting dates: Meeting set for December 7. November meeting is canceled. 9. Adjourn: Meeting adjourned 9pm P. Frey move to adjourn. R. Hucksam 2nd. Approved unanimously. Minutes unanimously approved December 7, 2022 by OSNRTC. Minutes compiled by Vanessa Johnson-Hall, OSNRTC Secretary