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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-19_BarnstableOSRP_MeetingNotes Barnstable Open Space & Recreation Plan Update Community Meeting Notes Date: November 19, 2025 Time and Location: 6:0O PM, Public Hearing Room, 367 Main Street Attendees: Kyle Pedicini and Kate Maldonado (Town of Barnstable), Aqsa Butt and Adam Duchesneau (BSC Group), and approximately 45 members of the public. Open Space and Wildlife Habitat Slide • There is a cranberry bog in Centerville that did not go through the Chapter 61 right of first refusal process. Mr. Pedicini noted this situation prompted the objective on this slide: “develop a policy for the Town to exercise right of first refusal for acquisition of land under Chapter 61, 61A, or 61B that is intended to be converted to a non-chapter use.” • The real purpose of the Open Space and Recreation Plan is to guide the Open Space Committee, Community Preservation Committee, and Town Council in identifying and prioritizing the most important needs for conservation and recreation within the Town. Please work this statement into the purpose of the plan. Recreation Facilities & Amenities Slide • In Hyannis, there is a perception school playgrounds are sufficient, but this is not the case. The community needs additional activities for children beyond what the school provides, particularly in Hyannis and along Main Street. • Are walkways intended to be accessible for all users? I have concerns regarding Veterans Park, where curb cuts are needed, along with improvements at other locations. • Please consider more pro-recreation opportunities in Hyannis. We need more playgrounds in the Environmental Justice communities, that are more densely populated and have lower incomes, particularly those that are not already connected to schools. One location of need is the Pleasant Hill Lane area. • Open space acquisition is needed in Hyannis, for community use and to support the working waterfront. • How does the implementation and prioritization process work once the Open Space and Recreation Plan is accepted/approved by the state? Mr. Pedicini noted it is ultimately up to the Town Council. • We hear from public officials that many projects are being proposed for Hyannis. We are supportive of this, but we are also sensitive to the amount of development occurring there. Water Resources Slide • What is the idea behind creating new pathways on watershed lands? o Mr. Pedicini explained it would promote more responsible use. Lev Malakhoff, Chair of the Open Space Committee, noted that there are a number of old camp sites and dump sites on watershed lands. Increased use of trails on these lands would help to discourage such activities. • A resident around Micah Pond indicated she was concerned about one of the objectives being a “low” priority. There is a path above her property and one across the street, and she would like the former connection between the two to be restored. • Please include estuaries as part of the watershed lands. If development impacts water resources, we may need to consider acquiring land to protect them. We need to focus on making changes now, before it is too late. Connectivity & Accessibility Slide • There was discussion about the assigned priorities and timelines for various objectives. • Regarding Objective 12.1, which calls for evaluating the Town’s ADA Self Evaluation and Transition Plan, this will cost $250,000. We need to act in a timely manner or additional funding will be needed to update this plan. • There needs to be a reconfiguration of South, North, and Main Streets. Improving the connection to Bearses Way multi-use path would advance accessibility. Communication & Marketing Slide • No comments General Comments • On page 22, regarding the first paragraph which starts with “Looking ahead…” I am asking the Open Space Committee if they identify properties with potential for open space or housing, they take a deeper look into the specific details of each area. All of Cape Cod is a sensitive environmental area, and protecting our water supply must remain a priority. • Our elected officials hold significant authority in advancing the initiatives in both the Local Comprehensive Plan and Open Space and Recreation Plan. • There is concern aspirational statements may not lead to action. “Money talks and nobody walks.” • Please reexamine the introduction to the Plan and look at what the latest Local Comprehensive Plan indicates. Our Zoning Bylaw will go through a complete overhaul. The Plan reads that all this initiative is about is obtaining grants, but this Plan is much more than that. • Places such as the airport, cemeteries, and schools should have asterisks associated with them because these locations are not true open space. • Words have power. There are concerns about the priority terminology, as the word “low” carries a negative connotation when used as a priority designation. • I would like to see the comments people are submitting and have the opportunity to comment on those comments. • The Open Space and Recreation Plan does a good job of highlighting land protection being essential to protecting natural resources. The Plan notes how natural resources form the foundation of our tourism economy. • The Barnstable Land Trust has more comments which will be submitted. It is important this Plan guides how we steward our open space. It is important to plan how to protect open spaces that are under pressure of development. The Barnstable community has demonstrated open space is a need, not a want. The Barnstable Land Trust is here ready to partner with the Town in any way. Our future is only as secure as we make it. • The format of the Plan is good, and it is digestible, but please use more photographs, especially where there is only text on a page. • In Table 5-3, please present the properties alphabetically or by category. • In Table 5-5, please adjust the first column into two columns (property name and property address). • On page 79, regarding Park & Open Space Equity, access should be open to all, but playgrounds at beaches are “pay to play” in the summer. • Regarding Objective 5.2, the text states “upgrade golf course facilities” but this is too general and needs to be expanded upon. • Under each Goal in the Action Plan, public access items should be moved to the top. • There are many groups listed in the Action Plan, perhaps an annual summit or workshop should be held to discuss progress, goals, and next steps. • In the Responsible Party column of the Action Plan, perhaps identify a leader. • Some of the objectives relate to inventorying parcels and identifying priorities, but these tasks were completed as part of the Open Space and Recreation Plan update. Why are they still included as objectives? Ms. Butt explained the inventory will continue to be updated over the next ten years as new properties are acquired or new playgrounds are constructed. • We need to rethink open space as smaller-scale areas. Hyannis would benefit from pocket parks and other small public spaces.