Open Space & Recreation Committee

CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: None LOCATION: City Hall Council Chambers DATE: October 6, 2021 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: David Alden-St. Pierre (Chair), David Brewster (Vice Chair), Alison Dudley, Elizabeth Dunne, Charlie Mann, Marilyn McCrory, Wayne Miller, Todd Callaghan BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Chelsea Zakas, Associate Planner OTHERS PRESENT: RECORDER: Sharlyne Woodbury 1. Call to Order Alden-St. Pierre chairs and opens the meeting at 7:00 p.m. Note, this is an in person only meeting regardless of the hybrid meetings allowed by extension (Act effective June 16, 2021 thru April 1, 2022) of state Executive Order signed March 12, 2020 due to COVID-19. 2. Open Space and Recreation Plan Public Forum 7:00 – 7:45 p.m. a. Presentation on the Open Space and Recreation Plan Zakas presents to the public in detail the plan, an overview of the Master Plan with overlapping open spaces goals, as well as a review of information from surveys and data. Zakas provides updates on the accomplishments of the OSRC Plan since 2015. The floor is open to the public for comment. David Carnevale, 208 Dodge Street Carnevale addresses the committee. He opens discussion by introducing the members to the fastest growing sport known as pickleball. Seeking a permanent court within the city. Neighboring communities of Salem, Hamilton, Peabody, Marblehead, etc. have permanent courts and would like to see them in Beverly. Carnevale discusses the preferred open spaces and locales in the city for courts. He would like the city to consider courts at Obear Park. Discusses private funding raised for equipment. Tammy Marciano, 6 ½ Mechanic Street Marciano addresses the committee. Hopes that future investment will be increased as evidenced by the pandemic with a spike in public interest for hikes, trails, beaches and other open spaces. Marciano is also advocating for pickleball. Requesting 8-16 dedicated pickleball courts. Marciano notes that neighboring communities have converted tennis courts to pickle ball courts. Marciano discusses the lost revenue. The city loses out on by not being able to host tournaments and other championship games. Marciano notes most communities include funding for pickleball as opposed to Beverly that needs to request it.  Open Space & Recreation Committee October 6, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 Susan Carnevale, 208 Dodge Street Provides a demonstration of what pickleball is complete with equipment for the board members to view. She is a USA Pickleball Ambassador. Discusses the history of pickleball. Alden-St. Pierre inquires if there’s a specific spot to locate the courts with Carnevale providing suggestions. Obear Park would be a great location, however, there has been some controversy with the tennis players at Obear Park. Beverly Golf and Tennis is another option. Carnevale also discusses the revenue aspect for the community and the game. Dunn inquires about the game set up. Carnevale notes most matches are set in doubles, single players are also an option. Essentially four players per set, with 4 courts, and 16 players per game. Additional public members open voice & advocate strongly for the game. It’s very affordable, easy to play and teach, difficult to master. Keeps the whole family engaged from kindergarten to grandparent. Joanne Miller, 42 Thorndike Would like to see a proper dog park. Compares surrounding communities of Danvers, Peabody and Gloucester and examples to follow. Robert Buchsbaum, 12 Bertram Street Buchsbaum is a former member of OSRC. Discusses the fallen tree and debris cleanup of the open spaces and parks. Would like to see a management team to maintain the parks and take charge of recreating fallen paths. Components consist of management for open spaces, funding for management of trails, and ecological management of spaces. Zakas concludes the public presentation with follow up information. Alden-St. Pierre’s final comments encourage the public to review the city website information about OSRC. Mann concludes by informing the public this is an advisory volunteer committee without a budget or authority; however, as members they are more than happy to facilitate and advocate for the community open space needs and preservation. b. Recorded by BevCam Channel 99 The presentation was broadcast live and recorded by BevCam. 3. Convene for regular meeting 7:45 p.m. 4. Members of the Public Opportunity to Address the Committee There being no further comments or concerns. No action required at this time. 5. Approval of Minutes Mann moves to approve the July 7, 2021 minutes as amended. Callaghan seconds. The motion carries 8-0. Dunne abstains. 6. Principal Items of Business a. Community Preservation Committee – Representative Report  Open Space & Recreation Committee October 6, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 McCrory provides the updates on the annual public hearing held on September 30, 2021. The Trustees participated in a joint meeting. They would like to purchase additional conservation land from Project Adventure. McCrory discusses funding and project timeline updates. Discusses three separate parcels for conservation restriction. Callaghan inquires about the 3 parcels and why they are not contiguous. Mann provides clarification on the parcels detailing reservation information about the trust and land division. Callaghan inquires about the funding and the reserves. Brewster inquires if there were any other pertinent items at the public hearing other than Project Adventure. McCrory notes at the public hearing open space dominated the conversation. Callaghan moves that OSRC submit a letter of support to the CPC, with Zakas to draft the letter, of acquiring Project Adventure property to enrich public access to trails. Brewster seconds. The motion carries 9-0. Sidebar: Members discuss the dog park and how to facilitate creating a better space. Miller suggests more collaboration with the Parks and Recreation Commission. b. Planning Board – Representative Report Miller, no updates at this time. Members briefly discuss the Bass River district and Master Plan proposals. No actions on the subject at this time. Mann discusses the purpose of an overlay district. c. Harbor Management Authority Updates – Representative Report Callaghan provides the updates. Still in the second phase of the signage moving up the Danvers River. Callaghan emailed the Planning Department about the signs looking for a site walk for the six new public access signs. HMA is looking at four sites along Lothrop Street: Washington Street, Abbott Street, Ocean Street, and Atlantic Avenue to address the safety concerns of the steps and seawall in addition to replacing tables, benches, plus other public amenities. Callaghan mentions joint collaboration between HMA and Parks and Recreation too, particularly to improve waterfront access. Zakas offers to perform a site walk and take photographs detailing the waterfront damage. Callaghan moves to draft a letter outlining safety concerns to the mayor’s office. Specific areas include the Lothrop Street waterfront public access for repairs to the stairs, seawall and benches. Discussion on the motion. Miller suggests copies sent to the city Engineer, Michael Collins, and Estelle Rand, Ward 2 Councilor. The motion carries 9-0. Members who were able to attend thought the HarborFest was a great success. Parking was an issue with not enough availability. Members praise the viewing stations (binoculars) at Lynch Park. Sidebar: Mann offers to the members a box of historic documents and deeds for the city. Members are interested in viewing the documents and learning their history. Miller suggests creating a  Open Space & Recreation Committee October 6, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5 subcommittee to review and organize the documents for scanning, preservation and archiving. Members agree. d. Conservation Commission – Representative Report Alden-St. Pierre provides the updates. The connecting trail at Sally Milligan was approved; however, the water crossing was not. ConsCom prefers to file an RDA for the water crossing with the logistics to be determined. Zakas discusses collaborating with Jenna Pirrotta for the NOI. Currently the Salem Evening News fee is under consideration and determination, as well as the abutters list. Members discuss the cumbersome RDA/NOI process and its applicability to future trail projects, bridges and water crossings. e. Parcel Updates – additional details outlined in Zakas’ staff report. i. Green Street update 27 X – No updates at this time. 27A – Members discussed during the CPC update. ii. Project Adventure update Members discussed during the CPC update. iii. Congress Street – “Pocket Park” Per the staff report, OSRC submitted a letter of support for CPC funding. HMA is working on a scaled back proposal without CPA funding to develop the park. No further updates at this time. iv. Gloucester Crossing No updates at this time. a. Simon Street Dudley continues to advocate for the vacant lots owned by BHA as potential open spaces for a small playground or community garden. b. Beckford Street Empty lot assessed as developable. v. Bass Haven update Per the staff report the mayor’s office will follow up with the parcel as previously discussed from the October 2020 meeting. Those in attendance; Mayor Cahill, Mann, Miller and Pirrotta. No further updates at this time. vi. Norwood Pond update a. NSMT Per the staff report, members asked the mayor’s office to reschedule the meeting. No further updates at this time. vii. Congress Street parks There are no updates at this time. viii. Endicott college trail There are no updates at this time.  Open Space & Recreation Committee October 6, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5 ix. Pole Swamp There are no updates at this time. x. Ryal Side Parcels There are no updates at this time. xi. Temi Parcel along Robinson Road There are no updates at this time. xii. Tanzella Hill Members discussed during the CPC update. Sidebar: Mann inquires about the Dunham Road Certificate of Occupancy. Zakas provides the update. Members discuss funding and creating an account to perform tail maintenance. f. Encroachment Updates Zakas details the properties in the staff report. Multiple parcels identified. OSRC letter awaiting City Solicitor opinion for the encroachment regarding the “Public Way” sign at Wood Lane’s end. A notification letter was sent to the abutters of Norwood Pond. 7. Trails & Open Space Discussion a. Trail Safety & Trail Guidance i. Subcommittee discussion The subcommittee has yet to be organized. Dunne will spearhead the initiative for first steps. Dunne will follow up and contact the first responders from the list Alden-St. Pierre provided. Members maintain agreement on forming a subcommittee. ii. New trail at Sally Milligan Discussed under ConsCom updates. 8. Other Business a. Greens Hill/CPC grant b. Future agenda items Miller inquires if members would like Dean Berg, CEO of Green Beverly, to address the committee with an informational presentation. c. Community Outreach There are no updates at this time. d. NOI for trail work – discussion on next steps Discussed under ConsCom updates. 9. Adjournment Callaghan moves to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m. Dunne seconds. The motion carries 9-0. Next Meeting: November 3, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.