HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-08-31-GCC-min
Greenways Corridor Committee
August 31, 2015
Training Room, Hadley DPW Building
Lexington, Massachusetts
Members Present: Alex Dohan, Peggy Enders, Eileen Entin, Don Grant, Bob
Hausslein, Keith Ohmart
Other Attendees: Laurel Carpenter, Conservation Steward; Oakes Plimpton
Votes
: Minutes approved: 6/29/2015 with minor changes
Reports/Updates
:
• Kevin Breunig will be resigning his seat on the GCC. Please think about candi-
dates for his replacement.
• The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission will be visiting us on October 8 to
take a look at ACROSS Lexington. Aaron Henry will coordinate this morning event.
There will be a presentation and a walk, probably through Chiesa Farm and Parker
Meadow.
Current Business Review
:
•None - this meeting was scheduled specifically to discuss our route development
philosophy
New Business:
• ACROSS Lexington routes have been created for use by any and all non-motor-
ized users, primarily walkers and cyclists. Some routes are not particularly wel-
coming for road bikes. In thinking forward, how do we want to be welcoming to
road bikes without losing the off-road aspects of our route system? Keith put for-
ward three options for discussion: 1) keep going as we have been, 2) add alterna-
tive bike signage on standard routes (to direct road bikes on a “friendlier bypass
route”), 3) create a new set of additional bike routes.
• This came up because of the stretch of Route E near/through the Freemont Street
Playground that is not bike-friendly. It might make sense to have a diversion on
Martingale Road with one path for bikes and one for walking. To date we have
made some compromises between efficiency and aesthetics on existing routes, in
an effort to get users to scenic parts of town.
• After some discussion it was agreed that we will split the route on Freemont, di-
recting cyclists along the road and walkers into the play area. Option 3 was
deemed too complex, and option 1 didn’t seem to offer enough, so we will try op-
tion 2 in this instance and see how it works out.
• There was also some discussion about loops and “one-way”connectors as we
continue to grow throughout town.
• Laurel announced the Open Space Open House, to be held at Cary Library on Oc-
tober 24, 1-3pm, hosted by the Conservation Stewards. GCC and CLC will also be
represented.
• Oakes Plimpton came in to make his case for changing the logo. He doesn’t like
the tricorn/bike seat because the colonists were not environmentalists. He would
prefer a green hiker silhouette. He also thinks we should avoid streets, preferring
only green space routes. We explained the theory behind the ACROSS Lexington
concept, i.e. connecting open space to all parts of the town, and confirmed that the
tricorn logo is to honor Lexington's historical heritage.
Next Meeting
: September 28, 2015, 4:30-6:00pm, DPW Training Room
Future meeting dates: October 26, November 23, December 14
Pending Matters:
- Conservation Restriction Data Base
Respectfully Submitted by
Alexandra Dohan, Secretary