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HomeMy Public PortalAbout141 Port Road-2020-10-08141 Portanimicut Road Task Force Meeting, via Zoom, October 8th, 2020 _ e Present: Chairwoman Ginny Farber; Vice -Chair Jack Kadzik; Member Suzanne Phillips; Member Kayleen Rosato; Member Russell Holden; Conservation Administrator John Jannell Link to joinWebinar: https.J sQ2v vELb- zc:osn.^asll /3J7145578 8 By Phone: (646) 558 -8656 Webinar ID: 817 1465 7868 3:58 p.m. Call to Order New Business Review Allowed and Prohibited uses rankings Mr. Jannell reviewed the ranking spreadsheet for recommended uses on the conservation property. He said this exercise can be used to make firm recommendations in the Land Management Plan (LMP) for and against certain uses. Activities that are building dependent are the lowest ranked uses, they fell into the yellow and red in the ranking scale. Ms. Rosato described her rationale against fishing on the beach at 141 Portanimicut Road. She also argued against the need for a viewing deck citing liability and maintenance issues as her main concerns. Ms. Phillips commented on swimming: Although people may swim anyway, she is concerned it could turn into a bathing beach which burdens the town with the task of regular testing for bacteria and also there are not any lifeguards. If we want a property that does not have to be closely monitored, that should be kept into account for some of these activities. She said she rated kayak racks poorly because, unless monitored and supervised, it tends to get unwieldy which is evidenced by the current dinghy storage on site. She was worried that too many people will start storing kayaks and it will become unsightly. In response to this Ms. Farber brought up the Recreation Advisory Committee's plan to install and monitor kayak racks which was discussed at the past week's Conservation Commission Hearing. Mr. Jannell suggested the task force may want to recommend the area not be advertised as a bathing beach. Parking and circulation issues and water quality testing might be adding a lot of demand in an area that is already over capacity because of the landing and conservation property. Mr. Kadzik asked Mr. Jannell if there is a difference in liability for town if they allow swimming and bathing or they prohibit it? Mr. Jannell answered no, there are additional requirements that come along with it but not additional liability. Mr. Holden wondered if it would make sense to remove the items that fell in the red category and re -rank the remaining items to narrow it down even further. The task force concurred, yes, they can make additions, subtractions, and clarifications and then redo the ranking. Mr. Holden asked if there needs to be signage for beaching /bathing? Mr. Jannell responded, yes, there would likely be additional signage to deal with water quality results, dog prohibitions, no lifeguards, etc. Ms. Farber does not want to encourage bathing and beaching. Ms. Philips would like two activities to be on the new ranking list despite being in the red category: educational classes and boating instruction classes, as these do not have to be building dependent. Review Article 51, May 2018 Annual Town Meeting Mr. Jannell discussed the item. This will probably be branded as Smith Beach to honor the result of the meeting. Discuss Historical Timeline (deed /file research) Mr. Jannell described how the property history will fit into the LMP for 141 Portanimicut. Ms. Farber said she talked to the Orleans Conservation Trust to see if they could use some of their material. Mr. Jannell would like to bring draft recommendations to the Conservation Commission and would like the task force and the Conservation Commission to meet together. Ms. Farber suggested the Conservation Commission meeting on November 17tH Mr. Jannell reviewed the timeline & responsibilities for the task force. Other Business Ms. Farber brought up the CZM grant request for the area of low salt marsh, it was not funded. Mr. Jannell is still going to leave Coastal resiliency in the ranking chart even though it was in there mostly to support the grant. Mr. Jannell asked the Task Force if there is anything members think we have not covered in the 141 Portanimicut Task Force charge? Ms. Farber asked about an engineered site plan. Mr. Jannell responded that a conceptual level site plan from the task force would be good. The ranking will start to drive recommendations which will drive the things that need to be done on the property. Review minutes of meeting held on 9124120 MOTION: A motion to approve the minutes of 9/24/20 was made by Russell Holden and seconded by Jack Kadzik. VOTE: 5 -0 -0 MOTION: A motion to adjourn the hearing was made by Kayleen Rosato and seconded by Suzanne Phillips. VOTE: 5 -0 -0