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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-10-30 ad Hoc Birch Meadow Planning Committee Minutes1) P t -CEIVED Tt?V i IN CL' 3tK f-I Town of Reading R"rY;;D~N G,Ass. 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867-260 PAY 29 P 2:51 FAX: (781) 942 - 5441 RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942 - 9075 Ad Hoc Birch Meadow Planning Committee October 30, 2007 - Town Hall - Berger Room Meeting Minutes Attendance: Roger Frechette, Mary Ann Kozlowski, Gary Gresh, Jamie Maughan, Chris Caruso Gary Gresh called the meeting to order at 7:15PM. The minutes from the October 4, 2007 site visit to the Birch Meadow area were reviewed. Roger and Mary Ann noted that they were listed as present in the minutes but were not at the site visit. Jamie motioned to accept the minutes as amended. Chris seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-0-0. Conservation Update Jamie gave an update on the Castine and Higgins wetlands issues we have discussed. He confirmed that any part of Castine that is filled will need to be offset 2-1 by the creation of new wetlands. He also confirmed that Higgins could be used for the purpose of an offset. However, aerial photos of Higgins suggest that there is very little land that is not already wetland in Higgins to be used for this purpose. Chris noted that we are not the first and will likely not be the last group to look into the possibility of making Castine a more user friendly field. He suggested writing up our discussion and the research that has gone into the issue for the future use of others. Engineers Report John F. informed Gary that the town engineer has not completed an assessment of the fields to determine if three or even four full softball fields could be fit in the softball filed area. It should take 1-2 weeks more weeks for this assessment to be complete. Recommendations The Committee discussed several recommendations listed in the meeting agenda that were previously proposed with general consent. After making several amendments, the recommendations read as follows: • Place an open air pavilion and a restroom facility in the area where the batting cage currently sits. • Place walking paths in the Higgins Conservation area that connect to neighborhoods. • Re-grade the filed behind Coolidge with loam from Parker when the new turf field goes in • Put a splash park between the tot lot and the basketball court • Put two or three new multi-use courts where the current basketball court and volley ball area. Jamie motioned to accept the above recommendations for the Birch Meadow Master Plan as amended. Mary Ann seconded. Motion passed 5-0-0. Later in the meeting Gary brought up the previous discussion of a walking path around the Birch Meadow area. Jamie motioned that the Birch Meadow Master Plan should include a walking path that connects with the new proposed paths in the Higgins Conservation area and encircles most of the Birch Meadow area, but does not bisect the recreation fields. Chris seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-0-0. THE HILL The committee discussed the Hill and the possibility of removing the hill entirely, a portion of the hill or letting it remain. The general consensus was to first clean up the hill of underbrush, the low rope course, trailers and debris to see how much room is created and the general aesthetics, before making future decisions on the need to remove all or part of the hill. Mary Ann also suggested that the committee contact a landscape architect to do drawings and present proposals for possible uses in the envisioned common area. Batting Cage The batting cage needs a new location. The committee looked at several possibilities including behind the football stadium, along the tennis courts, and behind the hill. The consensus was to have it on the third base line of the baseball field. Further discussion needed. Imagination Station The committee discussed the whether or not a new "older child" or Imagination Station type playground should be located in the Birch Meadow area. The consensus, based on the results of the town survey, was that it should be re-built in the Birch Meadow area, and should be located in the area of the new open air pavilion. The committee also discussed locating a modest skate board park in the former Imagination Station area. The idea of a wiffle ball stadium in the IS location is losing steam. Misc. .The parking area that was created behind the High School near the new softball field and tennis courts has drawn the scorn of some of the committee members. Chris C. is going to look into the need for that parking area, and see if it can potentially be removed. Chris C. reminded the committee about the idea of having Bancroft Street near the tennis courts be for Reading residents only and require a parking sticker. Jamie and Mary Ann discussed the potential of having the tennis backboard area removed and placing a backboard in one or two of the tennis courts. All seemed to think this was a reasonable idea that would be well received by Friends of Reading Tennis. Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 passed 5-0-0. Submitted by Gary Gresh