Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee

By City Clerk at 9:23 am, May 30, 2023 Amesbury Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee MEETING MINUTES December 7, 2022 - 7 p.m. Present: M. Hogg, R. Hucksam, J. Babbin, J. Sherwood, Chair, P. Rettig, V. Johnson-Hall 1. Call to Order: 7:03pm 2. Minutes from October 26, 2022 meeting: Motion made by Jim, 2nd by R. Hucksam. Unanimously approved. 3. Public Comment: N/A 4. Communications: N/A 5. Referrals - Gorman Farm, 28 Haverhill Road – Right of First Refusal. Cons Comm voted on Monday. There was a motion to acquire it. Perennial stream, wetlands. Cons Comm recommended approving. Planning Board discussion was that development would be consistent with 110 corridors. There are walking trails on it, but it’s surrounded by highway. In Greenbelt priority maps shows up as a parcel that would combat urban heat island due to proliferation of paved surfaces in the area. There is a proposal to put housing there. Members made comments about the property not being quality place for homes – too much highway noise. But from an acreage perspective, it’s probably one of the few places where a dense house development can go in Amesbury. Motion to recommend that City not exercise its option to purchase 28 Haverhill Road primarily due to the cost of the property relative to its public benefits and other open space needs in the City, but that the City work to ensure the following: 1) development is clustered to reduce impermeable surfaces; 2) a minimum of a 200-foot buffer around the stream remain native vegetation to enhance habitat and floodwater retention; 3) undeveloped portions of the property be revegetated with native vegetation to enhance air quality, maintain cooler air temperatures, and reduce highway noise for residents; and 4) mixed commercial and residential use be encouraged as is consistent with surrounding development on Route 110 corridor. Moved: V. Johnson-Hall, 2nd P. Rettig. Five approved. One opposed. Motion passes by majority. 6. Ongoing Projects / Chair’s Report • Land Management and Planning – Update (Sherwood): City-repurposed ARPA funds to hire consultant to do management planning for Amesbury protected open space. J. Sherwood and V. Johnson-Hall working with A. Cleveland to work on RFP. City needs to  collate parcel-level information relevant to open space parcels (deeds, any restrictions, municipal votes, etc.). City has hired MVPC to collect and add this data to MIMAP. MVPC also offers mobile version of MIMAP that can be used by authorized persons to gather data on open space properties relevant to their management over time. City contract with MVPC includes the mobile app. Data collection to give to MVPC would likely be done by OSNRT. • Po Hill Trail – Update and Discuss Public Feedback Process. Two men who proposed trail have flagged and raked trail. The idea is to observe the trail over the seasons to see if any erosion issues present themselves. J. Sherwood walked the trail. The trail incorporates design feedback from last OSNRT meeting. Is there an opportunity to close the steeper trail (Silver Mine Trail)? Next step is that J. Sherwood will set up site walk for Conservation Commission, OSNRT, and Lake Gardner for early January. 7. Other Business: N/A 8. Adjourn: 8:41 - Motion to adjourn P. Rettig; 2nd J. Babbin Unanimously approved. Minutes unanimously approved January 22, 2023 by OSNRTC. Minutes compiled by Vanessa Johnson-Hall, OSNRTC Secretary