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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOpen Space & Rec. Comm. 03/14/2022Open Space and Recreation Committee RECEIVED March 14, 2022 1 TOWN CLERKS OFFICE Present: Rebecca Foster, Chair; Sharon Friedman; Sally Fehervari; Katelyn Gort10,®$VirPgmt'11p Conservation Planner. MANSFIELD 1. The Chair opened the meeting at 6:00 pm. MASSACHUSETTS Ms. Gonyer explained the DLTA grant is a small technical assistance grant that is given out every spring. She has reached out to Grant King, a grant writer at SRPEDD, and a portion of the 2023 funding can be allocated now. She will also reach out to the Environmental Program Manager to help in the interim with the 2023 Open Space Plan. Ms. Friedman made the motion to pursue the DLTA grant from SRPEDD for the development of the updated Open Space and Recreation Plan for 2023. Ms. Fehervari seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0-0. Ms. Gonyer said part of the update would include the maps and Chris Slinko, MIS, will be using a more updated format for these maps, which will be done in house. Sections 6 and 7 (pages 78 and 79), the historical, demographics, goals and objectives as well as the implementation plan, will be updated. Ms. Gonyer said the table of content page will be done last. She said the cover will be redone and suggested a photo contest for the cover be done in the fall. Ms. Fehervari suggested the cover for the 2023 plan be dedicated to Lou Andrews, Natural Resources Trust. Ms. Gonyer asked the committee to look at the Open Space Plans for other towns for ideas to update Mansfield's Open Space Plan. She said the accomplishments since 2008 of the Open Space Plan will have to be updated. Ms. Gonyer said the text for Section 1 — Plan Summary, Section 2 — Introduction and Section 3 — Community Setting can stay the same but the figures will go from 2015 to 2022. Ms. Foster said the committee should prioritize the sections they need to work on and then go back to review. Ms. Friedman asked if there is a list of accomplishments for the past years; she suggested the committee review the list and look at what the Conservation Commission has been able to achieve over the last years and then take a look at the strategies and goals of the Master Plan for the next period of time. Ms. Gonyer said she would get a list of accomplishments for the next meeting. Ms. Gonyer said Section 8 — Goals and Objectives will change. The history part can stay the same but the formatting will change. She said climate resiliency planning and PFAS will be a part of the update and suggested maybe adding solar. Ms. Gonyer said she received a letter from SRPEDD. SRPEDD will be developing a two-year project, a regional resiliency plan, and have asked Ms. Gonyer to be a part of the steering committee for the project. Ms. Fehervari asked about including night sky writing as part of the Open Space Plan, especially in consideration of the billboard initiatives that have come before the town and the transit development. She said other towns have lighting policies. Ms. Gonyer said they can always go back after they have done the critical things and maybe add new goals. She said Priority Protection areas might need to be updated and the inventory may change depending on what has been acquired, bought or sold (Page 61). Ms. Gonyer said in Section 5 — Inventory of Lands of Conservation and Recreation Inventory (Page 59), each conservation parcel will have its own page with a GIS map of the property. Ms. Foster agreed but said maps and updates of improvements that have been made on these parcels should also be included on each page. Ms. Gonyer said the maps should also show all open spaces. She said all the scout projects would need to be outline in the updated plan. Ms. Fehervari asked that the Canoe River Heritage Trail be added. Ms. Gonyer will look at the formatting but the language part will need to be rewritten. The Acquire and Zoning part is fine but the description part should be expanded and pictures added throughout the entire plan. Ms. Gonyer said the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) would be the Park and Recreation Department. Ms. Friedman asked if this would be updated. Ms. Gonyer said she will reach out to SRPEDD and Sherri Gurnon, Mansfield's Park & Recreation Director. Section 7—Analysis of Needs: Ms. Gonyer said this section is about how you will implement things. Section 8 — Goals and Objectives expands on the five goals so the Committee will redo the goals and then do the objectives to get the goals. Ms. Friedman asked who would facilitate the survey for this section. Ms. Gonyer said she would do this and we would have to provide a public forum for comments. She said the survey should be done in the spring of 2023. Ms. Gonyer said after Section 8 will be Section 9-Seven Year Action Plan but this section cannot be done until we know the objectives. She said once this is done the objectives will be put into a chart to show the objectives and the actions. As the ADA Coordinator, Shaun Burke, Director of Planning and Development, will update all the ADA information. Ms. Gonyer said the committee will start with the five goals and incorporate the Master Plan information; she said this work will be done internally. Ms. Foster asked if each member could work on the goals individually and then email the edits and changes to Ms. Gonyer, and merge all the information and review. Ms. Friedman suggested the committee look at what the goal priority is in the Master Plan and look to see if the goals in the Open Space Plan merge with the Master Plan. Ms. Gonyer said Goal 1 is to acquire more open space and promote and better manage existing open space areas for passive recreation; Goal 2 is to acquire land to link smaller portions of conservation land to provide longer hiking trails; Goal 3 is to improve and further protect the water quality of Mansfield's water resources, including lands within the Canoe River Aquifer; Goal 4 is to establish an Open Space and Recreation Committee to implement the Open Space and Recreation Plan; Goal 5 is to update existing and create new recreational areas and facilities. The Master Plan goals and objectives in Section 2: 2A: publicize and expand access through parking, multi - modal connections and wayfinding, to Mansfield's conservation areas, parks, playgrounds and athletic fields as well as green spaces; 28: Expand and diversify existing open space and recreation facilities and 2C: Preserve Mansfield's natural resources, wildlife habitats and agricultural lands. Ms. Foster said they would have to merge the Open Space and Master Plans and then add or subtract the information. Ms. Fehervari asked if there is a goal to enhance or improve the connectivity and public transportation and intermodal to our green spaces. Ms. Gonyer said this is one of the Master Plan's goals and we could acquire more land to link smaller portions of conservation land to provide new and longer hiking trails. She said this would provide frontage with parking. The Environmental Justice Section could be expanded (this is goal 2A in the Master Plan). Ms. Gonyer said she will put all the information from the Open Space and Master Plans into a document for review by the committee; they can write their comments and review the document at the next meeting. Trail Stewardship: Ms. Gonyer said basically this is to help with evaluations of the trails. She said there is an application and waiver form forvolunteers to walk the trails and report back any issues on the trails. She said town counsel will review the forms and the program. She said Chris Slinko has created an app survey 123. Nancy Griffin will be helping to execute the program. She said we now have all GPS data for the trails and the maps will be done in house. Ms. Fehervari mentioned the town of Hopkinton has a walking and trail management organization for residents; she said they meet one Saturday every month and get together to walk and do trail maintenance. Ms. Foster asked if anyone can do the trail assessment. Ms. Gonyer said anyone can do this and do minor maintenance but they must sign the waiver form. Ms. Friedman asked if the high school has an environmental group and if the scouts would be involved with this program. Ms. Gonyer will asked the school and also the Council on Aging (COA). Approval of minutes: Ms. Friedman motioned to approve the June 14, 2021 minutes as presented. Ms. Foster seconded the motion Motion passed 2-0-1. Ms. Friedman motioned to accept the October 18, 2021 minutes as printed. Ms. Fehervari seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0-0. Ms. Friedman motioned to accept the minutes of January 13, 2022 as presented. Ms. Fehervari seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0-0. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn at 7:15 pm (Friedman/Fehervari). Motion passed 3-0-0. 0- �i - L-L Date