HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-11-GCC-min.docx
Minutes of Greenways Corridor Committee Meeting 11 September 2025
Present in person: Keith Ohmart (chair), Eileen Entin, David Frohman, Bob Hausslein, Bobak
Moshiri, Stephen Perkins, Mike Tabaczynski (nonvoting), Millie Webster (nonvoting),
Present virtually: Susan Kenyon (nonvoting), Joe Pato
1. Votes: 5 June 2025 minutes approved unanimously.
2. Reports/Updates
a. Takeda fire road is now open. Thanks to Daisy for removing the temporary
signage.
b. Quock Walker Walk: ABCL used Rte M in July to celebrate Quock Walker Day
(Emancipation Day/freed enslaved man)
c. Newton ACROSS system: Newton is starting an ACROSS effort. Offering help
was brought up, but it was thought too early.
d. Oct 5 - LexFarm table. Bob H, Bobak, David staffing the table which will be
shared with Friends of Bikeway.
e. Annual group photo: photo was taken during the meeting
f. Minuteman Bikeway closure: unknown start and duration, but thought to be
through the winter. It will impact several routes (L, C, J) and there was concern
expressed that if the signs were only at the ends, routes entering in the middle of
the closed section might be confused. The conclusion was to wait until we saw
what was in place in order to better understand the best path forward and also
contact Engineering to get more information.
Safe Routes to School: GCC was contacted by a resident in the Valleyfield area
about the muddy conditions of the off-road path to Waltham St that is preventing
use of the path by kids wanting to bike to Clarke Middle School, given the
ACROSS signs on it. Keith contacted Susan Barrett and Karen (conservation) to
learn that the town is aware of the condition but waiting for funding. GCC will
have a rep at the next BikePed stakeholders meeting in the near future which will
be discussing this matter.
On a separate note Keith was contacted by Susan Barrett on behalf of the Safe
Routes to School committee regarding the Dunback Meadow trail from Marrett
Road to 4 Corners and the need to keep it well mowed to reduce tick risk. Keith
contacted Walt Emann, the Conservation summer trail crew supervisor
requesting that it be included for a final late season mowing by the summer trail
crew. However, now goldenrod overhangs the path. Keith suggested recruiting
GCC volunteers to trim the path in the next week if possible and will circulate a
Doodle poll.
g. VO250 - Keith will input the meeting time for the committee as a whole and
encouraged the rest of the committee to log their own individual time spent on
GCC matters to log their own hours.
3. Ongoing Business
a. Review of current routes in development:
i. Rte Q is complete with the help of many including Mike, Bob, Stephen for
the path and putting up the rte Q signs. Questions have already come up
from residents about it and a temporary map is now posted to the GCC
website. A few small signs are still needed which Mike will arrange. It will
be part of the next map printing (around 800 maps currently remain)
ii. Discussion of the horrible accident that befell Erica Herrera, Karen’s
Conservation assistant and her difficult recovery. Also discussed was the
challenge that Karen and conservation would have with the reduced staff
again
iii. Proposed Rte 22/Arlington’s Great Meadows/Lower Vine Brook
Connector: Waiting on scheduling a site visit with Karen regarding
potential wetlands as the next step.
iv. Proposed Route 8/Concord Avenue East Loop – next step: Conservation
Dept regarding the required boundary surveying. Idea raised for GCC to
volunteer planning/project mgmt support to conservation to help move
things forward. Waterstone money is likely still available for this.
v. 114 Wood St proposed development: Mike T has been engaged with field
work preparing a map showing possible trail connections which has been
forwarded to the developer (Seaver). Creating a path is complex due to
wetlands, a large vernal pool, neighbors and national park and utility at
the south side. Several potential paths have been drafted, but the
developer is at an early stage of planning. Weaving through nature and
buildings will lead to challenges of national park or the utility. The issue of
GCC having to maintain and support this on its own was raised given it’s
not conservation land. The contrasting point of not pursuing it was raised
and considered, but continuing to explore it was deemed worthwhile to
pursue the goal of getting people closer to nature and further from
buildings and streets.
4. New Business
a. New trail proposal via Waterstone at Lexington/Belmont CC property to Concord
Ave from two abutters to Bowman Park, now part of Route Q, who have pursued
this with a site exploration on their own was reviewed. Many complexities exist
including steep terrain and significant wetland issues, lack of sidewalk on
Concord Ave, access to Waterstone and BCC property via easements, and legal
concerns. This new business idea was deemed not worth pursuing.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 5:40 pm.
Next Meeting: 16 October, 4-6 pm in the Parker Room