Memorandum / Posting
To: Kittery Open Space Advisory Committee
From: Jonathan Carter, Town Manager
Re: Friday June 13, 2008 Meeting Notice & Agenda
Date: 6/9/08
Meeting Date: Friday June 13, 2008
Meeting Time: 9:00AM
Meeting Place: Town Hall Conference A
AGENDA
1. Welcome & Introduction of Members
2. Review and acceptance of the May 9, 2008 Meeting Minutes
3. Updates: a) Spruce Creek Association presentation on removing Invasive Species from Town Property on Spruce Creek; b) Rice Avenue application to the KPA for a float system; c) Old Ferry Landing project; d) Property & ROW signage; e) Balloting results on FY’09 Budget Warrant Open Space Article; f) Land behind Art Association; Dana Kimball’s proposal to School Department and g) Van Tour?
4. 2008 Workplan and strategy to implement it
.
5. Other issues, updates and determining next meeting and its expectations.
OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING OF MAY 9, 2008
MINUTES
1. WELCOME & INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS
Jon Carter called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. and everyone introduced themselves.
Present were members: Jon Carter, Megan Kline, Dana Kimball, Don Moore, Earldean Wells, Craig Wilson, Ken Lemont and Ernie Evancic. Also present was Town Attorney Duncan McEachern. Others present were Milton Hall, Chairman, Port Authority, Joe Anderson, Consultant, York County Soil & Water Conservation, for Invasive Species, Phyllis Ford, from the Spruce Creek Association and MJ Blanchette from the Parks Commission.
2. REVIEW & ACCEPTANCE OF THE MARCH 14th MINUTES
The Committee accepted the minutes of March 14 by consensus, as amended. The Committee noted that in page 1, there was a sentence structural issue and requested to omit the word “to” in the second line.
3. SPRUCE CREEK ASSOC. PRESENTATION ON REMOVING INVASIVE
SPECIES FROM TOWN PROPERTY ON SPRUCE CREEK
Phyllis Ford introduced Joe Anderson, who spoke about his role with York County Soil & Water Conservation. He said he is a consultant and spoke briefly about his background as an arborist and a landscaper and what he has done with the removal of the invasive species from Spruce Creek.
Mr. Anderson spoke about how the program works, education and sponsoring, along with SCA, a two-session workshop at Shepard’s Cove on Tuesday, May 13th. He said he was interested in working with the Open Space Committee to develop a program to work to remove the invasive species located on Tilton Ave. and Eagle Point and a third location on a town right-of-way on Bond Road.
Mr. Anderson said that his work is funded by the {National} Wildlife Foundation and he looks forward to setting up a Management Plan for these three areas of concern with the Committee. The Committee discussed this issue at length and thought highly of the program and decided to work with Joe Anderson and the Spruce Creek Association to address these areas of concern.
Jon Carter introduced Joe Anderson to MJ Blanchette, who is interested in talking about Fort Foster. Mr. Anderson indicated that would be glad to work with the Parks Commission on it.
4. RICE AVENUE APPLICATION TO KPA FOR A FLOAT SYSTEM – FEEDBACK
& COMMENTS
Jon introduced Duncan McEachern, who reviewed the issue with Mr. Cynewski, 30 Rice Avenue, who had applied to the Port Authority for a ramp and a float, located off the end of Rice Avenue, which abuts the town’s right-of-way at the end by the stone jetty. The Port Authority heard his application at their meeting last night and is requesting that Council determine if the town will waive the 25 ft. setback requirement from the town’s right-of-way for the installation of the float and ramp. The Committee members discussed this issue at great length. Earldean moved that KOSAC recommend to Council that the town not waive the 25 ft. setback, and this would go to the Town Council at their May 28th meeting, which was seconded by Megan Kline. Vote was taken and motion passed 5-1 (with Ken
Lemont voting in opposition).
The reasoning behind the motion was that the members were not comfortable with its understanding of the impacts that Council’s waiver of the 25 ft. setback would ultimately have on the use of the right of way and the members were concerned that the stone jetty has not been researched to determine the exact owner and whether or not Mr. Cynewski actually owns the jetty. The Town Manager indicated he would move the recommendation forward to Council.
5. UPDATE ON ISSUES AND PROJECTS:
· Old Ferry Landing Project – Jon indicated the park bench would be installed within the next week by the Public Works Dept.
· Land behind Art Association – Jon reported that Glenn Shwaery has asked Kate Johnson to proceed with the appraisal on the land behind the Art Association, which the Council would possibly auction off.
Craig spoke up and indicated that because there was interest with the Art Association, it may be in the best interest to try to work with them in leasing the land. Jon said he hoped that for the June meeting, Kate would have the opportunity to conduct the appraisal.
· Fairchild Conservation Easement } Jon said these 2 items were mistakenly
· Lands for Maine Future Application} put on the agenda
· Spring Van Tour – May 10th Jon said since tomorrow is the 10th, and not everyone is ready, this item will be postponed and set up for a later date
· FY’09 Budget Request – Jon reported that the Council’s vote was split (3-3) to recommend that the item be placed on the ballot, to raise $50,000 from surplus fund reserve and said that those members who feel strongly about this issue should start campaigning for it.
· Dana Kimball’s land proposal – Dana explained his proposal referred to the ½ acre land in back of his property that had originally been deeded to Traip Academy. He had bought it and he was also hoping that KOSAC could recommend to Council that this ½ acre be sold at auction so he could develop an urban park which he would also be able to use the density of this ½ acre to build a large house on his property.
The Committee looked at the map which he provided and determined the best thing he should do was to speak with the School Committee to see what he could do to give up that ½ acre than if they did consider the request to recommend to Council to place on the November ballot as a referendum question.
· 2008 Workplan and strategy to implement it – did not get to this item. May be on the next agenda.
· Badger Island Coastal walk areas – Duncan brought up the coastal walkway areas that were required of the Badgers Island Condo Association to advise and designate for the public to use. This was a condition of approval by the Planning Board, to have the open space walkways around the buildings identified so the general public would have the ability to view the water. Duncan said this was the reason that the Condominium developers were given permission to build closer to the water. He said however it would appear that they have not provided walkway accessibility to the public and the Open Space Committee asked the Town Manager to write a Memo to the Planner and the
CEO to look into the situation.
6. OTHER ISSUES, UPDATES AND DETERMINING NEXT MEETING AND ITS
EXPECTATIONS
Topics for discussion for the June 13th meeting: signage update, Spruce Creek, Van Tour, Art Association land, Kimball proposal and outcome of ramp and float off end of Rice Avenue.
The meeting adjourned at 10:35 a.m.
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