Royalston Open Space Committee
Minutes
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Meeting Date: June 14, 2007
Members Present: Aaron
Ellison, Jack Morse, Patti Carrier, Christine Beckert Long
Chair:
Aaron Ellison
Clerk: Christine Beckert Long
Others present: Tom Kellner
The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. at town hall.
Minutes:
The committee unanimously approved the minutes of May 10, 2007.
Committee
Matters:
(1) The terms of committee members Aaron Ellison, Tom Musco and Glenn Freden
expire this year; Aaron will recommend that the Selectboard reappoint all
three.
Recreation:
(1) The committee voted unanimously to support an article at special town
meeting appropriating funds for 12 Royalston children to participate in the
Athol recreation program.
The committee heard a proposal for a riverside park in South Royalston from
Tom Kellner.
Background Information: The South Royalston Improvement Corporation (SRIC) already owns three lots near Pete & Henry's Restaurant, and the acquisition of three additional unbuildable lots (two with out-of-town owners and one with an out-of-state owner) plus an easement or conservation restriction over one side of another lot (the owner lives in a house on this lot) would allow the creation of a riverside park and a trail along the Millers River and Blossom Lane connecting to the longer West River Trail that continues through state land. Other ideas the SRIC is pursuing are the construction of staircases to allow access from the road to riverside near the bridge; the repair of a tunnel under the bridge; the improvement of that bridge as an attraction, perhaps a bridge of flowers; and the preservation of cultural history, the foundations of former factories.
Acquisition Options: If the owners donate the land or a conservation restriction to the town by the end of 2007, they could earn a significant tax deduction. If they choose the sell the land, the town could seek a state self-help grant through which the town would seek voter approval of the full amount at a special town meeting, spend that money (if approved), and be reimbursed for 70 percent of the total. The process involves three phases: acquisition, design, and construction. (Most self-help grants go to urban projects, but up to $50,000 can be awarded for smaller projects, especially those with regional importance. Since this project would connect with other protected land and tie in with Athol's Urban Rivers Vision, the committee believes it might qualify.)
Next Steps: Aaron explained that to proceed, we would need an indication of willingness on the part of the owners to sell or donate the parcels, the completion of formal appraisals, and a brownfields assessment on one of the parcels which lies across from a former body shop. The latter could possibly be paid for by a grant from the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission. Tom will approach the landowners; since the self-help application is due on July 30, the committee expressed a willingness to hold a special meeting if necessary.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.