HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-30 ad Hoc - Symonds Way Exploratory Committee Minutes0� OPR
� � Town of Reading
3 �..�y' Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Date: 2023-05-30
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
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Symonds Way Exploratory Committee
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Conference Room
Session: Open Session
Version: Final
Chair Carlo Bacci, Vice Chair Chuck Robinson, Angela Binda, Heather Clish,
Andrew Dribin, Karen Janowski, Nancy Twomey
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Town Manager Fidel Maltez, Business Administrator Jayne Wellman,
Conservation Administrator Chuck Tirone, Jack (remote 7:05-7:15)
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held In the Conference Room at Town Hall and remotely via Zoom.
Chair Carlo Bacci called the meeting to order at 6:31 pm.
Discussion on Final survey Results:
Business Administrator Jayne Wellman reviewed the final survey results for the Committee.
The top priority by far was recreation, followed by open space, then "other" with priorities
specified in the comments. The top responses in the comments Included 87 mentions of
ice, and 73 mentions of pickleball. In households with children, 78% wanted recreation,
followed by 32% who wanted open space. In households without children, 48.9% of
respondents wanted recreation, 35% wanted a Senior/Community Center.
Question #2 ranked the priority of proposed projects. In households with children, the top
priority was a recreation center with 6 points, followed by outdoor athletic fields with 5.96
points, with conservation land, parks, and public aquatic complex tied for V with 4.89
points, then skate park/outdoor fitness course with 4.25 points. In households without
children, conservation land ranked highest with 5.9 points, followed by outdoor athletic
fields with 5.45 points, community center 5.24 points, and recreation center with 4.59
points.
Recreation was chosen highly with both categories with and without children. Of the
respondents, 1,061 were households with children, 591 without children. Recreation center
and outdoor athletic fields were ranked highly among both categories. Ms. Wellman stated
that she would find out the number of households in town with children versus without, and
report back to the Committee.
Working Session on Potential Uses on Symonds Way Expanded Property:
Pane 1
Conservation Administrator Chuck Tirone presented a map that exhibits the updated charge
of the Committee, and includes an outline of what is developable, and what is
Conservation's jurisdiction. He advised which areas to avoid, as that space is protected
conservation land consisting of vernal pools, endangered species, and unique habitats.
There Is a small area under 5,000 square feet that could be filled, but double the square
feet would need to be re-created/mitigated elsewhere. There is an access roadway that
could be reclaimed to give more of a buffer to the vernal pools, and more open space.
There are approximately 6.3 buildable acres that include a current baseball field/soccer
field, and parking area that is leased by the ice arena, on the north side of the Symonds
Way right of way/Range Road. Any disturbance to wetlands would need to be mitigated.
The Committee discussed at length the different features of the site, current conditions, and
possible ideas to develop it.
Discussion on Criteria for Evaluation of Options:
The Committee discussed at length criteria to consider when developing the land and listed
the following:
• Generate Revenue
• Break Even
• Highly Rated per Survey
• Meets Demonstrated Need
• No Parking Loss
• Fit with Town Goals & Master Plan
• Minimal Taxpayer Expense
• Provides a Wide Range of Public Use
• Compatible with Surrounding Uses
• Multi -Generational Use
• Maintaining Town Ownership of Property
• Coordinating with other Town Projects
Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes:
On a motion by Karen Janowski, seconded by Chuck Robinson, the Symonds Way
Exploratory Committee voted 7-0-0 to accept the meeting minutes of March 9,
2023 as presented.
On a motion by Karen Janowski, seconded by Angela Binda, the Symonds Way
Exploratory Committee voted 7-0-0 to accept the meeting minutes of May 2, 2023
as amended.
Future Meeting Dates and Agenda Items:
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 13th at 6:30 pm. A subsequent meeting
was penciled in for Monday, July 24e.
Heather Cllsh left the meeting at 9:06 pm.
At the next meeting, the Committee will discuss ranking the criteria, and issuing a Request
for Information (RFI).
On a motion by Nancy Twomey, seconded by Karen Janowski, the Symonds Way
Exploratory Committee voted 6-0-0 to adjourn at 8:16 pm.
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