Minutes 2006

Royalston Open Space Committee

Meeting Date: October 12, 2006
Members Present: Aaron Ellison, Kim MacPhee, Patty Carrier, Tom Musco,
Christine Beckert Long
Others present : Jack Morse
Chair: Aaron Ellison
Clerk: Christine Beckert Long

The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. at town hall.

Minutes:
The committee unanimously approved the minutes of September 10, 2006.

Town Issues:
(1) Chris attended an August meeting of the North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership on the Community Preservation Act. She gave the community organizing information to Kim for possible use by the Zoning Bylaw Review Committee.

(2) Aaron reported on his August meeting with the Select Board that the OSC is indeed in the notification loop should any Chapter 61 withdrawals come forward.

(3) Aaron reported that Highway Superintendent Keith Newton will be preparing a list of abandoned and discontinued roads in town, Tom noted that the Planning Board is asking town counsel to clarify these terms, and Kim reminded the committee of the brochure she had sent around earlier.

Open Spaces:
(1) The committee by consensus approved a letter to out-of-town owners as a follow-up to our land preservation brochures. Aaron will send that letter to owners of parcels previously identified as priorities. He will add to the list a parcel on Prospect Hill Road, most of which is in Chapter 61. (Current access to that parcel is via a right of way only.)

(2) The committee agreed by consensus to use a parcel near the center of town as a case study during next week's meeting of the NQRLP, when representatives of various conservation organizations will overview preservation methods. (That consensus hinges on whether the landowners are willing to have it discussed; if not, a parcel on Northeast Fitzwilliam with significant wetlands will be used for the case study.)

(3) Aaron reported that The Trustees of Reservations are indeed interested in a parcel that abuts some of their land and will provide them with additional information. Aaron will also try to obtain a copy of TTOR's new master plan for their Tully lands.

(4) The committee agreed by consensus that two parcels with houses on Liberty Lane whose owners had requested information about preservation are probably too small for action. Nevertheless, Aaron will refer them to Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust.

(5) The committee was asked via e-mail for information on Chapter 61 from a Royalston landowner who lives in Littleton. Aaron will refer that owner to Glenn Freden and forward the e-mail to Glenn.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.