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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-03-17 TOWN AND COUNTY OF NANTUCKET ROADS AND RIGHTS OF WAY COMMITTEE DRAFT MINfBES March 17, 2009 =-~ '-'7 .:J CALL TO ORDER --J Chairman Allen Reinhard called the meeting to order at 3:59 on Tuesday, March 17 in the~ Garage Meeting Room at 2 Fairgrounds Roads, with a quorum present. In addition to Mr. :,'. Reinhard, the following Committee members were in attendance: D. Anne Atherton, Nat Lowell, Sylvie O'Donnell, Lee Saperstein, John Stackpole and Harvey Young. Planning Director Andrew Vorce was also present for the first portion of the session. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Lowell moved approval of the DRAFT Minutes from the February 17, 2009 meeting. Ms. O'Donnell seconded the motion. Mr. Vorce requested that the DRAFT Minutes be amended as follows: page 1, line 5, should read flat about $1.00 per parcel;" bottom of page 1, should read "One example of this is the whole network of Madaket-area roads." The DRAFT Minutes were unanimously approved as amended by Mr. Vorce. By way of follow up to the previous meeting, Chairman Reinhard passed out information regarding the Miller Lane easement as an example of how the taking process works in actuality. In this particular case, utilizing a 6-acre piece of land the Town owns in the Miller Lane area, the process has taken about five years. A copy of the handout is attached to the Minutes as an Attachment. UPDATE: WASHINGTON STREET EXTENSION/MULTI-USE PATH TO ORANGE STREET Chairman Reinhard has been reviewing past ROW Minutes and identified some ongoing projects that he thought the Committee should be updated on, hence an invitation to Mr. Vorce to brief the Committee. In regard to the Washington Street Extension/Multi-Use Path to Orange Street, Mr. Vorce reported that the right of way is complete and the project will move into the design phase this year. There is still some environmental permitting to be completed, some damages have been awarded, and the timeframe for appeals has ended. When completed, this project will be a public way from Washington Street Extension to Orange Street through Goose Pond Lane, with a dedicated bike lane on Orange Street. The funding will come from about $70,000 in escrow from the GHYC MCD, as well as some State grant money. The bike path will necessitate the widening of Orange Street: The bike path will come out at Goose Pond. There is one more wire to bury, and then all of the poles will have been removed. DRAFT ROW Committee Minutes, March 17, 2009 2 Mr. Saperstein noted that the path link is overgrown from the pond to the right of way, causing a partial encroachment. Mr. Saperstein also mentioned that, overall, we should be thinking of the railroad right of way. There is a model of the railroad at the NHA. Most of the original route is now on Conservation Foundation and Land Bank property. It would be fun, and informative, to mark the railroad bed. Ms. O'Donnell suggested that the ROW Committee could sponsor a walk once the way was marked. In conclusion, Mr. Vorce reported that the multi-use path may be built in phases, all of which are part of a bigger plan. It will be necessary to inform the community of the entire project, as the phases are being developed. UPDA TE: NEXT STEPS FOR FIRST WAY / BACKUS LANE AREA Mr. Vorce said that last year some residents offered property to the Town in this area off of Hooper Farm that leads to the skate park. The Town was not interested in pursuing the offer. A connection could be created linking these areas, or at the least, improvements could be made to First Way, such as installing a sidewalk. There is a portion of First Way that is paved, near the school-staff, affordable-housing complex. To improve this area, in terms of roads, Backus Lane would have to go through the taking process. The layout is owned by Nantucket Ice. Perhaps now that the road improvements have been made, the road should be under public control. At the end of Backus Lane there are three lots owned by the Backus family. There is an existing Planning Board condition that these lots cannot be subdivided without revisiting the issue (opening the road). At the moment, there is no activity. TEMPLATE FOR PRIORITY ROAD TAKINGS LIST: APPLICATION OF ANNIE BISSINGER- POOR'S TEMPLATE TO BOULEV ARDE, LOVERS LANE, OKORW A W, MONAHASSET AND CLIFFORD STREET IN SURFSIDE, AND WOODBURY AND BARNABUS LANES OFF UPPER MAIN STREET Since Ms. Bissinger-Poor was unable to attend the meeting, discussion of the template in regard to the above-captioned roads was postponed. However, the problem of the Boulevarde was discussed briefly. Selectman Chadwick had wanted to designate proceeds of certain lots in Surfside (paper roads in the Woodbine area) for the taking and improvement of these roads, but Town Counsel advised that funds cannot be appropriated before the Town has them in hand. The comment was made that, since the runoff from the airport has contributed significantly to the deterioration of the roads in the Boulevarde area, the Airport Commission should make funds available for the taking and improvement of the Boulevarde and feeder roads. UPDA TE: PLAN FOR PUBLICATION OF DR. FRANCES RULEY KARTTUNEN'S "A HISTORY OF ROADS AND WAYS." The publication and distribution of" A History of Roads and Ways" was considered. The goal of publishing this document is to inform the public and provide a historic note to the development of Nantucket's roads and rights of way. One idea is to publish about 500 copies and make them available at key locations in the community. Perhaps the Egan Institute might contribute in- kind, pre-publication services (editing, layout, graphic design, etc.), which, we have been told, are usually equal in cost to the actual printing expense. Another possibility is to "self-publish" the work. Apparently Ken Blackshaw has had recent experience with this method of publishing. DRAFT ROW Committee Minutes, March 17, 2009 3 ACTION ITEM -7 Mr. Reinhard and Ms. Atherton will follow up and contact Mr. Blackshaw to get more information about this option. FURTHER PROGRESS: PUBLIC WAY MARKING PROJECT Mr. Saperstein and Ms. O'Donnell updated the Committee on the information gathered to date. The bid from Acme is $9000 for 50 poured-concrete markers. PULBLIC WAY would be engraved in the mold, which is what is preferred. Alternatives were discussed. Perhaps Neil Patterson could assist by having some wheel stops (trapezoidal) engraved. The cost would be about $205/210 per wheel stop. The most expeditious course of action seems to be to purchase a couple of wheel stops, pay Neil Patterson to have them engraved, and get two or three installed. A third alternative would be to have a sample granite monument made by Neil, who has volunteered to do this at no cost, so that we have a sample. Neil strongly recommends going with granite, as it will last forever. The granite will be rough and unpolished, NOT shiny. The consensus of the Committee was to have TWO samples fabricated: one wheel stop (natural with black lettering) and one granite monument. It was noted that the Committee will have to get the final monument approved by the HOC. The goal is to have at least "one in the ground" by the middle of July. Possible locations were discussed, as well as funding. Perhaps the County might have some funds available. MOTION: Mr. Lowell moved that two samples be fabricated, one in granite and one in concrete. Mr. Stackpole seconded. The motion was adopted unanimously. MOTION: Mr. Stackpole moved that the Committee approve the use of the 2-inch sample letters provided and recommended by the engraver. Mr. Lowell seconded the motion. The motion was adopted unanimously. FOUNDERS BURIAL GROUND REDEDICATION Mr. Reinhard briefed the Committee about the upcoming 350th Anniversary of the founding of the first English settlement on Nantucket. There will be about 115 members of the Macy family here to mark the celebration on the weekend of July 11. A rededication of the Founders Burial Ground is being planned for Sunday, July 12 at noon. Mr. Reinhard feels that this is good opportunity to publicize public access. The ceremony will be similar to the one held for the rededication of the Colored Cemetery. It is hoped that Ted Anderson will officiate. One suggestion is to place a marker recognizing the founding women who are buried in the cemetery, but whose gravesites are undocumented. Dr. Karttunen has made a list of probable women, but there is no official record. One thought was to mark the perimeter of the ten acres with a gravel strip, or to outline the original church. Mr. Reinhard will check with Dr. Karttunen as to the original siting of the church. Another idea was to plant a tree, or strew wildflower seeds. UPDA TED LIST OF OUTSTANDING ITEMS AND PROJECTS Due to the press of time, the Committee quickly reviewed this list, compiled by Chairman Reinhard from previous ROW Minutes, but did not discuss it in any detail. DRAFT ROW Committee Minutes, March 17, 2009 4 R&ROW COMMITTEE OUTSTANDING PROJECTS AND ISSUES: March 3, 2009 [NOTE: In random order.] Founders Burial ground rededication (Ideas needed) Public Way marking project (Underway, Phase 1 June 2009) Publication of" A History of Roads and Ways" (Underway) Update Priority Takings List and process used to evaluate taking priority ROW Improvement Plan follow-up and implementation (Underway) Nantucket Greenway plan (Under development) Miller Lane footpath (Near completion, A TM Warrant Art.) Surfside paper road/abutters way takings (Underway) First Way /Backus Lane area plan needed Pedestrian/bike path from Washington Street Ext. to Orange Street Pedestrian/bike path linking Prospect Street path to Madaket Bike route via Mill Hill Mill Hill project Sconset Bluff footpath access Squam Road parking spaces near beach access East Creek Road layout Coal Alley encroachment (Letter sent, no action, follow-up needed) Spruce Street follow-up Committee review of area plans to seek public way opportunities Public cemetery access and maintenance plan Oversight of maintenance West Chester St. Ext., Crooked Lane and Cathcart Road Railroad right of way ADJOURNMENT The next meeting of the Committee will be on Tuesday, April 21, at 4:00 at 2 Fairgrounds. As the agenda had been completed, Chairman Reinhard adjourned the meeting at 5:35. Respectfully submitted, D. Anne Atherton Secretary 416_09 ATTACHMENT: "Recreational Path and Landscaping Easement," Millers Lane. " \J'-l t L). '1- " \ f) , ,) "'I .. "j ) \ Easement Area by foot and by vehicle, including without limitation, with construction vehicles, equipment and materials in connection with the Town's exercising of this Utilities Easement. II. Recreational Path and Landscaping Easement -r The Town reserves a no~ive, ermanent ri t and easement within the Easement Area for the purposes of recreational ;td access for the Town an general public, including but not limited to: (1) a pathway andlD sidewalk used for all purposes for which pathways and sidewalks are commonly used in the Town of Nantucket or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including, by way of illustration and without limitation, pedestrian uses, such as walking and jogging, and recreational bicycle use (except however, there shall be no use of motorized vehicles within the Easement Area other than (a) emergency vehicles, (b) motorized vehicles for the handicapped, or (c) motorized vehicles of the Town used in connection with any of the easements reserved by the Town in this instrument); and (2) excavating, clearing, grading and re-grading, sloping, paving and otherwise maintaining the Easement Area for maintaining such pathway, by foot and by vehicle, including without limitation construction vehicles and equipment; and (3) planting, maintaining, installing and removing vegetation and other improvements, within the Easement Area, including but not limited to planting grass, bushes, trees, and other plantings, paving, and installing structures consistent with the recreational use of the Easement area, including without limitation benches, fences, fountains, kiosks, and appropriate signs. All of the above-described easements reserved by the Town (hereinafter, the "Easements") shall be deemed both easements in gross held by the Town and easements appurtenant to Lot 793 and Lot 794 shown on the Plan. No modification or waiver of the Easements and no relocation of the Easement Area for any purpose shall occur or be permitted except by a written instrument duly executed by the Town and the Grantee, or their respective successors and assigns, and accepted by the Land Court for filing. By accepting this quitclaim deed, the Grantee agrees that in the event the Town and Grantee agree to relocate the Easement Area, the Grantee shall be solely responsible for all costs arising from such relocations, including but not limited to paying for the relocation of any sewer mains, utility lines, landscaping or other improvements located within Lots 793, 794, 795 and 796 shown on the Plan, any connections in, with or to Old South Road and Airport Road, and the restoration of any improvements and landscaping damaged or disturbed by, or otherwise arising from, such relocation. The conveyance hereby made has been completed in full compliance with the requirements of Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44, section 63A. For the Town's title, see Certificate of Title No. 3279. 2