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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSiasconset Bluff Walk Public Access Meeting Notes - July 27, 2010_201402041425323389 SCONSET BLUFF WALK PUBLIC ACCESS SUBCOMMITTEE Draft Minutes Tuesday July 27, 2010 / 4:15 PM @ 2 Fairgrounds Road Conference Room Members Present: Co-Chairs D. Anne Atherton, Harvey Young, Joan Porter, Bob Felch, Jeri Hicks, Rob Benchley, Frank Holdgate, Bert Ryder Members of the Public Present: Lee Saperstein, Linda Holland, Whitey Willauer I. Call to Order: Co-Chair Atherton called the meeting to order at 4:20 PM A quorum was present II. Approval of Minutes Bob Felch moved approval of the minutes of July 13, 2010, as distributed and Frank Holdgate seconded. The vote was unanimous. III. Announcement Mary Wawro was introduced as our Con-Com liaison. Ms. Atherton stated that she and Bert Ryder would attend the monthly meeting of the Traffic Safety Committee on August 10, 2010 at 10:00 AM to address any issues related to public safety or the Sconset Bluff Walk. Note was made of the publicity aspect of the New York Times article espousing the beauty of the Bluff Walk. Funding was discussed and the CPC was indicated as a potential source. According to Director Vorce there is approximately $78,000 still available from the past Town Warrant article. IV. Update: Management Plan Discussion began with the meeting involving the Sconset Civic Association, the Sconset Trust and concerned Sconset residents. Messers Felch and Benchley and Ms. Porter attended the meeting held on July 22, 2010. It was advertised by phone and flyer. Mr. Felch reported there were about twenty to thirty attendees on the lawn at Wade Cottages. Ms. Porter commented Mr. Flagg’s intentions for the path as a promenade was mentioned. The subjects discussed concerned times of use, commercial activity, bikes, joggers, strollers, maintenance and enforcement. Times of use mentioned as a consensus were from 8:30AM to 6:00PM. Residents were concerned about early morning and late evening disruption. Committee members were concerned these times may be too restrictive. Commercial Use. Residents were concerned about commercial activity and it’s resultant intensity of use and hoped it would be restricted or prohibited. It was mentioned there is already an operator who holds one or two walking tours currently per day. Action Item: Committee feedback was to seek advice on the issue. Bikes. Residents were in favor of prohibiting the use of bikes on the path. This in turn brought about discussion of turnstiles which had existed at some point in time. Bike racks were suggested to be placed at Nosegay Lane. Committee members interjected at this point that Conservation Foundation, or the Beach Management Rules could be instrumental in forming a similar management plan for the Bluff Walk. Action Item: Ms. Atherton would contact Jim Lentowski, of the Conservation Foundation, and Jeff Carlson and his chair from Beach Management and Eric Savetsky from the Land Bank and invite them to attend one of our subcommittee meetings. Maintenance was a concern as the path is overgrown. Mr. Chadwick was in attendance at the Sconset meeting and believed the DPW could mow the path. Committee Comment: It was noted that the path has already been mowed. Residents mentioned joggers would be something they would like to see discouraged. However, Mr. Chadwick mentioned it could not be prohibited. Signage was discussed and there was concern about how much signage and of what type. Enforcement discussion concerned the possibility of producing cards that residents could show offenders to let them know a management plan was in place and rules exist. Placement of pamphlets was discussed and committee feedback mirrored some resident comments that lesser publicity was to be desired. It was also mentioned that Traffic Safety might help address the issue of enforcement. Mr. Felch stated the attendees were invited to a further meeting to be held August 12, 2010 from 3:00PM to 4:00PM. V. Information Gathering An update was given on the progress with graphic presentation of each property. Mr. Young noted he had been able to produce an inventory of properties through the use of the Town GIS Map of individual properties. He reported special note could be taken of abutters to the ways that may be taken, as well as enumeration of stairways. Frank Holdgate added that this compendium could be further complemented with more data through the use of technology. Rob Benchley has photographed the existing stairs. Ms. Hicks has contacted Nathan Porter and reports that Mr. Porter can produce a series of maps according to the committees’ direction and at our request. Ms. Wawro stated the Con Com permits activity; but she will also seek further information of the approval of these existing stairways. It was mentioned there should be included in the database the current owners names as the GIS and tax rolls are usually not current and up-to-date. Mr. Willauer asked about Chapter 91 Licenses. It was mentioned that possibly Chapter 91 covers wetlands not beaches and the Bluff. Action Item: Ms. Atherton will send a request for such information from the Beach Managers office and the Harbormaster VI. Review of Revised Work Plan Our new Con Com representative was enlisted to inventory steps. Survey. Mr. Holdgate discussed with Andrew Vorce about surveying the ways, which would consequently have to be done when proceeding with any taking and any such funding would at that point come from the Planning Office. Discussion concerned the extent of such survey work, being the lateral ways only, or to include up to fifty to one hundred feet either way at the easternmost termination of said ways. Motion: Ms. Hicks made a motion that we take the ways which was subsequently amended to read: That the Sconset Bluff Walk Public Access Subcommittee recommend to the Roads and Right of Way Committee that the Board of Selectman initiate the taking of all the ways contained in Article 74 of the Town Warrant of April 2010. It was seconded by Mr. Holdgate. The vote was unanimous. Discussion concerned resident’s questions of whether the path would remain where it is. Funding was mentioned again. A question was posed if we were not recommending any be offered in so-called yard sale, which was decided was not necessarily the case. Concern was given to including or excluding the Anne’s Lane portion, being decided that was out of the committee’s purview since it was removed from Article 74. It was noted that the Anne’s Lane paper road could be acted upon at an upcoming Town meeting if the negotiations currently underway are not positive for the Town. A consensus was reached that in fairness to all, with exception to none all ways should be taken. Chief Pittman will be contacted during the month of August for input concerning enforcement. Ms. Atherton and Mr. Ryder will attend Traffic Safety meeting. Mr. Felch, Mr. Benchley, and Ms. Porter will seek to develop their Draft Management Plan for the Bluff Walk by September. Mr. Felch will continue to communicate with property owners about the possibility of gift easements for public access to the Town. Ms. Wawro will consult with Dirk Roggeveen of the Con Com about landscaping and maintenance issues. Continue to discuss estimated budget with RROW Committee for available CPC monies. Invite RROW Chair Allen Reinhard to discuss his proposal for the Town-owned parcel near Wade Cottages for a pocket park, and related issues. VII. Next Steps Ms. Atherton stated Erika Mooney has posted meeting times and dates for the second and fourth Tuesdays in August. The committee decided to use the next posted date for a meeting. Therefore the next meeting is scheduled for August 10, 2010 / 4:15 PM @ 2 Fairgrounds Road VII. Adjournment: Co-Chair Atherton adjourned the meeting a 6:00 PM Respectfully submitted, Bert Ryder Secretary Pro Tem Documents: Agenda Work Plan Draft Minutes of July 13, 2010