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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-28-GCC-minMINUTES Greenways Corridor Committee October 28, 2013, 4:30 -6 pm Bird Room, Cary Hall Members Present Rick Abrams, Alex Dohan, Peggy Enders, Bob Hausslein, Paul Knight, Keith Ohmart, Mike Tabaczinski Other Attendees Stew Kennedy (Conservation Commission liaison), Deb Mauger (Select Board liaison), Howie Vogel (Recreation Committee liaison) 1. Votes: • August 19, 2013, meeting Minutes — approved 2. Current Business Review: • ACROSS Lexington Proj ect — All but three posts have been sunk for Route B. These last three are waiting on DigSafe approval and should go in shortly. The new signage will also go up soon. The new signs are thicker, with room for route letter stickers. They are somewhat more expensive than the original signs, but less vandal - prone. The new signs will also be used to replace damaged Route A signs — Rick and Peggy will do this. • A CLC- sponsored walk was recently led along the new Route B. • Rick is working with Emily on an updated ACROSS map that will include both routes. Funds are available for printing. • Initial thoughts for Route C were put forward, with a general consensus that it would be good to go through the Busa Farm property and the Arlington Great Meadow. Rick commented that at present the route would pass by Busa Farm, not through it. Rick will draft a memo to Deb (as chair of the Board of Selectmen) to review abutter issues on Route C, namely Busa Farm, a new trail entrance on Locke Lane, permission from Lexington Christian Academy to cross that property and same on Arlington Great Meadow. • A log of volunteer hours has been started to keep track of the installation time for the routes. Current Business Updates: • At the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Trails conference, which Rick and Peggy attended, there were many Town of Lexington employees, including Dave Kucharsky and Jeannette Rebecchi. There was good networking and discussion of "mode shift" — getting people out of cars. Nice to see Town so aligned with the work of the GCC. • The South Lexington Transportation Study has created a map with potential trail connections — Eileen will work with John Livsey to keep updated. Once qualified as working toward Active Streets (Complete Streets) an entity (Town and /or GCC) can apply for funding for projects. The Shire property easement could be part of such a project, and Conservation Administrator Karen Mullins is working with Town Counsel to complete a Conservation Restriction agreement with Shire that will include permission to create a trail across that property. • Brookhaven now owns the 990 Waltham Street property and was before the Conservation Commission for permission to remove old greenhouse foundations and construct a walking trail there. This would connect with the Western Greenway and Hayden Woods and might re -open an old wetland trail that is presently closed. • LexFarm Committee held an open hearing on September 5 to present their plan. Alex attended and made a statement that GCC supports trail development on the Busa Farm property. • It would be good to have a trail connection to Cotton Farm at the new Community Center being created at the former Scottish Rite property on Marrett Road. Peggy and Rick both got and responded to a survey regarding Community Center use. • The Appalachian Mountain Club has a Kids Outdoors website that lists activities. The Western Greenway is on there and Peggy has added the Bikeway. Perhaps ACROSS Lexington could be on there. This might be better promoted by the Citizens for Lexington Conservation as it is not a Town entity. • Walk/Bike Week 2014 is not until May, but Rick and Peggy are meeting soon to begin planning. • Keep checking the Conservation Easement database if you have thoughts on that. • An RFP will be out soon for a Consultant to template and create a Land Management Plan for the Wright Farm, Cotton Farm, and the Leary Parcel. Wright Farm will likely be the first completed. 4. New Business: • The December meeting date was changed to December 16, 2013 Action Items: • Rick to draft memo re abutter issues to BoS • Eileen & Rick work on South Lexington trails map • Replace damaged Route A signs — Rick & Peggy • Update Conservation Easement Database • Work with Town Manager to create protocols for working with abutters on new trail development • Field work to develop West Lexington Greenway Next Meeting: November 25, 2013, 4:30 -6 pm, Legion Room, Cary Hall Remaining 2013 Meeting Dates: December 16 Respectfully Submitted, Alexandra Dohan, Secretary