Approved 1/15/2010
TOWN OF WELLESLEY
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
January 8, 2010, 9 AM
NRC Office, Lower Level, Town Hall
Attending: Neal Seaborn, Chair, Heidi Gross, Secretary, Joan Gaughan, Janet Hartke Bowser, NRC Director.
Absent: Paul Cramer, Vice Chair, Richard Bashian.
Guests: Barbara Searle, Board of Selectmen Chair, Terri Tsagaris, Board of Selectmen Member.
Public Voice
There were no citizens present who wished to speak at Public Voice.
Discussion with Board of Selectmen Reps. Re: Potential Exchange or Release of NRC Land on Morton Park/ Potential Acquisition of Real Property for Senior Center Parking
Ms. Searle and Ms. Tsagaris of the Board of Selectmen reviewed with the NRC three site plans showing three different variations or options for Senior Center overflow parking at Morton Park. At the NRC’s last meeting with Ms. Searle and Ms. Tsagaris on December 18, 2009 the NRC requested more detailed site plans for the proposed project. The three options presented showed the parking lot situated on Washington Street, rather than adjacent to the existing parking on Wellesley Housing Authority land. Ms. Searle stated that based on conversations with the Police, that the Police Department has requested an additional 7 spaces of parking, which would be added to the Senior Center overflow parking needed. Each of the three options showed approximately 2/3 of the parking lot on Wellesley Housing Authority land,
and 1/3 of the lot, or approximately 8,000 sq. ft., of the proposed parking space on NRC land, which is parkland. The total existing land area at Morton Park is 89,737 sq. ft., Police Station land is 30,628 sq. ft. and the Wellesley Housing Authority land is 123,570 sq. ft.
Ms. Searle stated that after evaluating an option to place the parking further back in Morton Park and away from Washington Street, it was determined that this would not work, since this would impact a specimen tree and would require seniors to walk too far to the new Senior Center. Ms. Searle stated that by moving the parking closer to Washington Street, this allowed for a more feasible overflow parking situation for the Senior Center.
Ms. Searle stated that currently the proposed Senior Center has 33 on-site parking spaces. She said that the Board of Selectmen’s parking consultant said that this number, in addition to on-street parking in this area, appears to be adequate. Ms. Searle stated that, however, at Town Meeting the major concern was safety for seniors with on-street parking and the Board of Selectmen believe that there is a need to expand off-street parking, as well as provide more parking for the Police Department. Ms. Gaughan questioned the basis for the Selectmen’s conclusion that additional off-street parking is needed. Ms. Searle replied that last year’s Town Meeting voiced the concern for additional off-street parking. Ms. Gaughan stated that she is not convinced that additional parking is
needed, and suggested that the Senior Center be built and then evaluate whether or not additional parking is needed. Ms. Searle replied that this is not an approach that they can take since they need to get the entire Senior Center package passed at Town Meeting in one vote, or it will be too risky to proceed. Ms. Gaughan stated that she has a problem in giving up open space without a demonstrated need for parking and stated that the Center may not be used as much as anticipated. Ms. Tsagaris replied that the benchmarking studies done by the Board of Selectmen show a need for off-site parking. Ms. Gross voiced concern that there is not enough of a constituency to build a Senior Center and that the Board of Selectmen need to show the demand for additional parking and additional municipal parking on this site. Ms. Searle stated that the off-street lot will be built as a municipal lot to be used by seniors and those visiting the Police Station.
It was the general sense of the NRC that they would like to see the footprint of the parking lot on parkland reduced by approximately 1/3 and this could be a workable compromise. Mr. Seaborn stated that while he is generally supportive of the overall project that the NRC needs to receive as much open space along the Cochituate Aqueduct as possible and that this would be a large component of further negotiations. Ms. Gross stated that she would prefer to have all of the Cochituate Aqueduct Land given to the NRC in exchange for the area on Morton Field, and this would include the Aqueduct Land behind Town Hall as well as in the Town Hall Bowl. Ms. Searle stated that the Selectmen would not be willing to give up Aqueduct Land behind Town Hall because they need to retain this for possible additional parking,
but she felt that they could present at least a 2-1 land exchange in favor of open space. It was the general sense of the NRC that they are not looking to acquire the Aqueduct Land on Morton Field, but would like to have jurisdiction and be able to protect the Aqueduct Land in the Town Hall area and behind the Town Bowl. Ms. Searle stated that she will continue to work to revise the plans to reflect the NRC’s concerns and will draft a memo to the NRC outlining the Selectmen’s rationale for off-site parking for the Senior Center. She also stated that she will have copies of the three plans discussed today sent to all NRC Members. Mr. Seaborn thanked Ms. Searle for attending the meeting.
Update on Lower Falls /Charles River Park Project and CPA Funding Application
Ms. Searle stated that she does not have the time at this meeting to update the NRC on the status of this project and she will follow-up with Mr. Seaborn to update him on the status. After Ms. Searle departed, the NRC voiced concern that there has been no progress or information on this project, which is a Selectmen sponsored CPA application with support from the NRC for funding at the 2010 Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Seaborn stated that he will submit a letter to Ms. Searle expressing the NRC’s concern about the status of this project, which is a priority project for the NRC, indicating that the NRC is willing to take on the responsibility for following up on this project and supporting the current CPC Application, if the Selectmen don’t have the resources to do so.
Update on Fuller Brook Park Preservation Master Plan Public Hearing and CPA Application
Ms. Bowser stated that she had read a Legal Ad placed in the Wellesley Townsman for the Community Preservation Committee’s Public Hearing planned for January 19th, 2010. She stated that she was surprised to find that the Lower Falls /Charles River Park Project was not on the list of the proposals that the CPC plans to bring to Town Meeting, nor was the Fuller Brook Plan on the list for Town Meeting this year. She voiced concern that there has not been communication from the Community Preservation Committee to the NRC regarding the fact that the CPC did not intend to bring these proposals to Town Meeting. Furthermore, Ms. Bowser stated that a paragraph in the CPC’s Public Hearing Legal Ad stated that “the CPC believes that Fuller Brook Park is an important Town
asset that needs substantial work, however, the Committee is not comfortable with the level of detail in the plan and the Committee believes that greater involvement from other Town Boards is required.” The NRC and Ms. Bowser voiced concern that the CPC had reached these conclusions without giving the NRC the opportunity to come to a meeting, explain the project, and address the CPC concerns before this conclusion was reached. There was further discussion about the course of action that the NRC needs to take on this project.
There was a detailed discussion that new information from Ms. Gaughan indicated that the CPC would like to see the Fuller Brook Project broken out into phases and the NRC discussed the possible elements that could be included in the first phase. After extensive discussion, the NRC concluded that the Design and Construction Phase, Survey Work, Project Manager, and Arborist and Treatment Plan would be the top priorities for a Phase I Plan. After further discussion, a motion was made and seconded, and the NRC voted 3-0 to recommend that the Phase I of the Fuller Brook Park Preservation Master Plan include the following elements:
· Design and Construction $178,000
· Boundary Topo & Utility Survey Work $ 75,000
· Project Manager $ 50,000 per year
· Arborist Treatment Plan $ 30,000
· Total $330,000
· Contingency 15% $ 49,950
· Total Phase I $389,950.
There was further discussion regarding preparation for the Fuller Brook Coordinating Committee Meeting scheduled for January 15, 2010 at 9 AM. The NRC discussed a possible agenda for this meeting and discussed the Committee’s goals.
Ms. Bowser stated that in regards to preparation for the NRC’s Public Hearing on the Fuller Brook Preservation Master Plan scheduled for January 12th at 7:30 PM, that she sent out approximately 120 notices to all individuals directly abutting the park, as well as an email notice to all Town Meeting Members and Town Officials and she placed an Op-Ed notification in the Wellesley Townsman. She stated that approximately 3 individual, all abutters, came into the NRC Office for more information on the Plan.
Director’s Report
Preparation for FY11 Operating Budget Meeting with Advisory Committee
Ms. Bowser stated that she and Mr. Seaborn are preparing for this meeting with the Advisory Committee, and she will keep the NRC updated on the status of this meeting.
Update on Status of Meeting with National Development to Discuss 27 Washington Street Project Changes
Ms. Bowser stated that on December 18th she, Mr. Seaborn, Ms. Gross, and Ms. Gaughan met with the developer of 27 Washington Street, who outlined the changes that will be made to the project and indicated that they will be working with the NRC on the Conservation Restriction on the project which will be granted to the NRC.
Update on Status of Open Space and Recreation Master Plan Public Hearing January 12th
Ms. Bowser stated that this public hearing will be piggy-backed with the Fuller Brook Public Hearing and will be scheduled for January 12th at 7:30 PM. Ms. Bowser stated that she will present the PowerPoint Presentation on the Open Space and Recreation Master Plan and that Ms. Gross will present the PowerPoint Presentation on the Fuller Brook section.
Director’s Election to the Mass. Society of Municipal Conservation Professionals Executive Board
Ms. Bowser stated that she was recently elected by the Massachusetts Society of Municipal Conservation Professionals to the organization’s Executive Board. She stated that this is an honor to be elected to this important State-wide Conservation Board and the benefits include being updated on state-wide and local issues affecting municipal conservation and natural resource protection.
Next Scheduled NRC Meeting
The next NRC meeting was scheduled for January 12th, which will be a public hearing on the Open Space and Recreation Master Plan and the Fuller Brook Park Preservation Master Plan at 7:30 PM in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room in Town Hall.
Adjournment
After a motion was made and seconded, the NRC voted 4-0 to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 12:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted:
Janet Hartke Bowser
NRC Director
| 
