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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - OS - 03/29/2017 r B E A L S + T H O M A S MEETING SUMMARY BEALS AND THOMAS,INC. T 508.366.0560 " Reservoir Corporate Center F 508.366.4391 144 Turnpike Road www.bealsandthomas.com MA 01777-2104 Regional Office: Plymouth,MA MEETING DATE: March 29, 2017 ISSUE DATE: March 31, 2017 REFERENCE: Kick-off Meeting Open Space and Recreation Plan Update Cohasset Massachusetts BTI Project No. 2155.01 PRESENT: Brian Frazier, Open Space Committee Member Patrice Vogelman, Open Space Committee Member Peter Pescatore, Open Space Committee Member Lisey Good, Open Space Committee Member Katie Holden, Open Space Committee Member Chris Senior, Town Manager Clark Brewer, Planning Board Ted Carroll, Recreation Director Brendan Mullaney, Beals and Thomas, Inc. Stacy Minihane, Beals and Thomas, Inc. PREPARED BY: Brendan Mullaney, Beals and Thomas, Inc. COPIES TO: Meeting Attendees PURPOSE: To discuss the town of Cohasset's Open Space and Recreation Plan(OSRP) update. Town Manager Chris Senior opened the meeting and explained that the Open Space Committee (OSC) had been reestablished after a period of inactivity. He stated that the town is un the process of preparing both a master plan and a harbor plan and that this was an ideal time for the OSRP update and that it could be rolled directly into the master plan. He explained the group's charge and that key tasks are the update and implementation of the OSRP and adoption of the plan by appropriate committees/boards in town. OSC members introduced themselves and explained they are involved in a variety of town boards, commissions, and other groups. Meeting Summary Project No. 2155.01 Meeting Date: March 29, 2017 Issue Date: March 30, 2017 Page 2 DISCUSSION ITEMS: I. Introduction of Beals and Thomas, Inc. (B+T) Stacy Minihane introduced the firm and explained that B+T had performed that last update to the OSRP plan. B+T has assisted a number of municipalities with OSRP plans and updates and looks forward to working with the Committee on the update. 2. Overview of Requirements for Plan Update Brendan Mullaney explained the OSRP is a tool for protecting and preserving land and providing an inventory of existing open space and recreational facilities. The main goal of the OSRP plan is that it meets the requirements of the Massachusetts Division of Conservation Services (DCS) and that the town remains eligible for grant opportunities. The current plan expires May 31, 2017 and it appears the plan will expire before the new update is completed and adopted. The plan should also meet the goals and desires of local officials and residents and we are here tonight to gather input and begin the process. B+T was planning to perform ADA inspection of parcels under control of Conservation Commission or Recreation Department. Chris Senior stated all parcels are under the ownership of Selectmen and certain parcels are managed by others. B+T will contact DCS to determine if ADA inspection is necessary. 3_ Annotated Draft OSRP-Determine responsibilities and tasks for B+T and OSC B+ T has prepared an annotated draft of the existing plan that highlights specific areas that will require updating and notes who would be responsible for information (B+T vs. town). In many cases, we will simply need confirmation from the town that nothing has changed since last update. The first task of the Committee should be to review the annotated plan and confirm the required updates or suggest revisions as necessary. 4. B+T Progress on OSRP Update B+T has begun the process of updating the plan with information that can be gathered through desktop sources. This includes updates to demographic information in first three sections using census data and updates to GIS Exhibits utilizing 2017 MassGIS data. B+T has identified town/other GIS datalayers that will need to be confirmed with town from previous OSRP, including Cohasset Village Center, Cohasset Zoning Districts (most recent zoning map is dated May 2015; we have a request for these shapefiles into Brian Joyce), views, special sites, Heritage Trail House Properties, Watershed Resource Area, Conservation Restrictions from Norfolk RAM, and Non-Taxable Parcels from W ,� BEALS + TB0MAS Meeting Summary Project No. 2155.01 Meeting Date: March 29,2017 Issue Date: March 30, 2017 Page 3 Cohasset Assessors. B+T will solicit guidance as needed regarding who to contact in town for each of these items. B+T has also begun the Open Space Inventory by Land Use Code and obtained a list from assessors to identify potential parcels to add to the open space inventory and begun to compile inventory spreadsheet utilizing the new data. S. Public and Stakeholder Outreach A number of outreach options were discussed. The general consensus among Committee members is that an electronic survey would be the most expeditious approach for initial outreach, as well as the most likely strategy to garner feedback. Committee members will review the previous survey and suggest revisions as necessary. B+T will utilize Survey Monkey or a similar survey application and the Committee will place links on the town website, recreation department Facebook, and other websites where appropriate. Town meeting is May 1$' and a kiosk will be created advertising the survey and providing detail on the OSRP update. A public outreach meeting will also be scheduled following completion of the survey, potentially in June. 6. Project Schedule and Priority for tasks The first priority is to review the annotated draft. After this, the Committee should focus on the Action Plan and Goals, which is a large section of the report and sometimes left to languish until the end of the process. Members will review the previous Action Plan and determine which goals and items have been met and which can remain on the list. Committee members noted that the update needs to progress expeditiously. 7. Contact Ted Carroll will serve as the staff contact for the town and Brendan Mullaney is the contact for B+T. A sheet was passed around for Committee Members' email information. Chris Senior advised members who do not have a town email address to call his office and request one. 8. Organization of Committee A motion was made and seconded to elect Peter Pescatore as Chairman of the Committee. Motion passed unanimously. WBEALS + TNOMAS Meeting Summary Project No. 2155.01 Meeting Date: March 29, 2017 Issue Date: March 30, 2017 Page 4 A motion was made and seconded to elect Brian Frazier as Vice-Chairman of the Committee. Motion passed unanimously. It was determined the Secretary position would rotate as necessary. 9. Meeting Schedule Chairman Pescatore stated the Committee needed to keep momentum and suggested the next meeting will be April 5". The following meeting was scheduled for April 191. B+T will attend meetings as necessary within the authorized scope. All meetings will take place in the Recreation Department Building, 100 Sohier Street_ ACTION ITEMS: l. B+T will send the following items to the Committee for review: • Annotated OSRP identifying information needs • Complete existing OSRP • Meeting notes • Proposal outlining B+T's scope of work 2. B+T will contact DCS to determine status of ADA inspection for parcels. 3. B+T will check the project contract to determine if there is an end date and coordinate with Chris Senior if necessary to extend. 4. Committee members will review the annotated draft OSRP and survey from last update and bring suggestions and comments to April 5' meeting. Subsequently, they will advise/coordinate with B+T so that the survey can be initiated. 5. Lisey Good will draft a newspaper article regarding the reconvening of the Open Space Committee and the OSRP update for review at April 5'meeting. These minutes are accepted as accurate and complete unless corrections and/or additions are received within one week of issue. BCM/shml21 550]MT001 W'dBE A L S + T H O M A S