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Home My WebLink About2020-01-16-GCC-min Greenways Corridor Committee January 16, 2020 Hudson Room, Cary Hall Lexington, Massachusetts Members Present: Mal Crawford, Alex Dohan, Bob Hausslein, Susan Kenyon, Keith Ohmart, Mike Tabaczynski Other Attendees: none Votes: Meeting minutes of December 16, 2019: Approved Letter to Planning Board re access to Arlington's Great Meadow(attached): Approved Reports/Updates: • 1050 Waltham St redevelopment project - contiguous to Brookhaven. Carol Kowalski had asked Keith, Mike & Jordan McCarron to talk with the developer regarding non-motorized access. A site visit was held at which the developer mentioned contributing to a Town trail fund as well as ongoing discussions regarding access to Brookhaven's trail system . Keith reported back to Carol, and that is where it is now. Keith and Mike meet next week with the Brookhaven Nature Path Committee. • The PIR (program improvement request) has made it to the "white book". Assuming it makes it through Town Meeting, we will have $4000 available July 1 for the 2021 brochure. • For the 2020 brochure, Susan, Eileen, and Ruth are working on it, with new designer Erica. Will be adding Routes J, L, M, and maybe K, Route K finalizing still waiting on possible response to Town Manager's certified letter re 41 & 43 Peacock Farm Rd. Karen Mullins has some concerns about the route through West Farm, but those can be resolved. • GCC will work with Recreation Dept regarding upcoming work on Sutherland Park that might affect Route K. • Keith met with Recreation Committee, spoke about liaison. They will appoint someone to read GCC agendas and minutes, and attend meetings as necessary. Current Business: • Discussion of the Beaver Brook North loop trail from Brookhaven, presented at last week's joint Conservation Commission - Stewards meeting. Next step on that project will be a meeting with Town Conservation staff to look at possibilities. One new trail needs to cut through wetland, but the overall project could include moving one existing segment out of a vernal pool. Nimby comments were also discussed. • Community Connector - also presented at joint ConCom-Stewards meeting. Next step will be ConCom site visit. New Business: • Alex would like to step down as Secretary of the GCC. Anyone want to take over? • Bike Walk Bus Week - May 9-17. Commuter Breakfast May 15. Gil Benghiat is designing an ACROSS Lexington Challenge -walk all the Routes, get a certificate of completion. Keith proposed adding a t-shirt or baseball hat with the ACROSS Lexington logo as an additional prize. Will Michelson's Shoe Store sponsor? Jackrabbit running store? Can info go home to school kids through Safe Routes to School? • Trustees of the Rick Abrams ACROSS Lexington Fund will meet February 1. Would consider working with Friends of the Bikeway to push building of "bike node" info kiosk. Peggy Enders has details on who to talk with from Town • Conversation about installing "you are here" maps at strategic locations along Routes. Pending Items: • Route M trail marker installation • Bridge School boardwalk completion • Wright Farm/Landlocked Forest trail connection • Re-establish trail access on Cambridge Watershed land, Lincoln St to Cranberry Hill Next Meeting: February 20, 2020, 4:30-6:OOpm, Hudson Room, Cary Hall Future meeting dates: March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18 Respectfully Submitted by Alexandra Dohan, Secretary eas t�OR`vIm" Town of Lexington, Massachusetts *� Greenways Corridor Committee A�91A.4q" KEITH DHMAR'T,CHAIR MALCOLM CRAWFORU TEL 781-698-4580 ALEXANDRA DOHAN FAX:(781)863-9468 MARGARET ENDERS EILEEN EW IN DONALD GRANT ROBERT HAUSSLEIN SUSAN KENYON MICHAEL TABACZVNSKI December 16,2019 To:Lexington Planning Board Re:840 Emerson Gardens Balanced Housing Development The Greenways Corridor Committee is pleased that Seaver Construction proposes to retain public access and parking to Arlington's Great Meadows per the revised Utilities Plan dated 12/09/19,and supports these efforts with the following additional recommendations: 1. Said public access and parking should be conveyed in the form of a permanent deeded easement. 2. The proposed 4 public parking spaces should be increased to a total of 12 parking spaces. 3. Public access and parking should be provided during the construction phase of this project. The present entrance to Arlington's Great Meadows behind the former Excel Nursing Home is the only entrance providing parking immediately adjacent to a trail entrance.Arlington's Great Meadows and its extensive trail system are actively maintained for the public's benefit by The Friends of Arlington's Great Meadows(FoAGM), a local member organization of residents from Arlington and Lexington which in addition to maintaining the property's trails through the efforts of citizen volunteers,regularly sponsors interpretive walks and other events. Providing adequate public parking at this location is critical to the ongoing work of the FOAGM organization in its stewardship of what is the largest single tract natural undeveloped open space in the communities of both Lexington and Arlington. The Greenways Corridor Committee also has a direct interest in the preservation of adequate public access to Arlington's Great Meadows beyond its importance as a public open space resource.ACROSS Lexington routes C and D traverse the Arlington's Great Meadows property providing trail connections to the adjacent and nearby Lexington Conservation properties including Joyce Millers Meadow,the Cataldo Reservation and Whipple Hill. (Signed) Keith Ohmart,Chair 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02420 greenwaycc@lexingtonma.gov