HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-12-18-GCC-min Greenways Corridor Committee
December 18, 2017
Ellen Stone Room, Cary Hall
Lexington, Massachusetts
Members Present: Mal Crawford, Alex Dohan, Peggy Enders, Eileen Entin, Don Grant, Bob
Hausslein, Susan Kenyon, Keith Ohmart, Mike Tabaczynski
Other Attendees: none
Votes: Minutes of November 27, 2017, meeting: Approved
Motion to send letter of support for Hayden Woods Parking Area to
Planning Board: Approved
Reports/Updates:
• Keith attended a meeting about the Arlington Reservoir Master Plan. Various improvements
are planned, including to the trails on the Lexington side of the Reservoir. Mike will draft a
letter requesting that the ACROSS Lexington signs be left as is.
• The 25th Anniversary celebration of the Minuteman Bikeway is scheduled for September 29.
Peggy is involved, would like more help. Melisa Tintocalis from the Town is also involved.
Peggy envisions a reprise of the 2008 Rail Trail Hall of Fame induction celebration, with an
emphasis on alternative transportation. It would be great to have activities at the Visitor Cen-
ter, Emery Park, and the Depot. Perhaps ACROSS walks on the Bikeway routes. Meetings
will begin in January.
• Charlotte Rogers, the Town Human Services Director, is working on a $35,000 grant through
UMass Amherst to work on making Lexington an Age Friendly Community. It would be good
to get ACROSS included in her project.
• Keith & Susan confirm that Carol Kowalski has promised $2500 for planning, drafting, and
printing the next brochure, and they have asked for an additional $1000. It would be good if
we had some funds to compensate David Neal for his app work as well. And we should have
a new photo for the brochure, to distinguish it from the old one. In addition, Carol confirmed
that the Recreational Use Statute covers use of unaccepted streets, protecting homeowners
of those streets.
Current Business:
• Route J was discussed at length. Regarding connecting from the Bikeway to Pleasant Street,
the options are through the Waldorf School or Ellen Dana Court. Mike believes we can keep
the trail entirely on public land, even on the Ellen Dana easement. Carol K. will check with
Planning Dept on the easement. There was some back-and-forth on the recently scouted
segment through Arlington, and whether that is necessary or desirable. Another possible
route through Wilson Farm was proposed. Susan will see if she can find out if that is feasible.
This Route might have two "lollipops", but all agreed that a dead-end trail is a bad idea.
New Business:
• The Hartwell Ave Zoning Initiative is a Planning Board project that will likely involve GCC if it
comes to fruition as trail connections are part of the plan. The project will need to go before
Town Meeting before anything actually happens. A curious note - nobody on the project
seems to have seen the West Lexington Greenway Master Plan from 2011, which has spe-
cific trail opportunities laid out.
• GCC &ACROSS Lexington were given a shout-out by Mark Sandeen in the Colonial Times
column on Sustainable Lexington, noted for pushing alternative transportation. Keith was
specifically named - kudos to him!
Pending Items:
• Pelham Rd connection
• PR - social media, trail signage
Next Meeting: January 25, 2018, 4:30-6:OOpm, Ellen Stone Room
Future meeting dates: Feb 22, Mar 22, Apr 26, May 17*, Jun 28, Sep 27, Oct 25, Nov 22, Dec
27. Note that we voted to meet on the fourth Thursday of each month (except when we
change that) beginning January 2018. May will be the 3rd Thursday, and July & August will be
null, as per usual.
Respectfully Submitted by
Alexandra Dohan, Secretary