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Home My WebLink AboutDraft Minutes - 102025 October 20, 2025 Planning & Development Department 367 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 – Phone: 508-862-4678 Open Space Committee Minutes October 20, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS Chair Lev Malakhoff calls the meeting to order at 5:30 PM with an introduction of members: Also present is Kyle Pedicini, Assistant Director – Planning & Development; Alice Marcus-Krieg, Grants Coordinator; Kris Clark, Town Council Liaison; and Genna Ziino, Administrative Assistant. NOTICE OF RECORDING This meeting of the Open Space Committee is being recorded and broadcast on the Town of Barnstable’s Government Access Channel. In accordance with MGL Chapter 30A §20, I must inquire whether anyone else is recording this meeting and, if so, to please make their presence known. APPROVAL OF MINUTES • None TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION New Business • Open Space & Recreation Plan Kyle Pedicini says staff have gone through Sections 1-5 of the draft and made notes for the consultant. Tomorrow he will send this committee the last two sections, 6 & 7, to be discussed at the next meeting. Cate Gulliver didn’t agree with what had been removed in the third part of edit 16 of Section 3. Mr. Pedicini will add it back. Chair Malakhoff says there’s not as much emphasis on other parts of recreation that are important for open space (bike paths, sidewalks, rail trail), which could be shown in maps as well. He would like to see an existing trail network, a rail trail map, and a sidewalk layer on the townwide map. He thinks for major construction, there needs to be a policy to include sidewalks as an action item. Doug Payson says in the 2018 plan, when surveys were done, 80% indicated development of multi-use trails was a primary goal. 32.4% of respondents said they use sidewalks—since COVID he thinks that’s doubled. Doug Payson shares a remark he heard from the owner of a bike store that many people who visit and rent a bike don’t know where to bike. Getting people from the transportation center to the Rail Trail needs to be a priority. The group discusses that there is hunting in the area near the Rail Trail. Cate Gulliver asks on Page 2, who are the stakeholders? Mr. Pedicini will add that in. Page 17 – Chair Malakhoff requests the codes be defined in a table. Doug Payson would like to reflect the usage today: hunting, mountain biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing should be included. Anne Rowland arrives at this point. Member Present Absent Lev Malakhoff – Chair X Farley Lewis – Vice Chair X Elizabeth Lewis X Douglas Payson X Elissa Crowley X Anne Rowland X X Tracy Pratt X Cate Gulliver X Dave Gorrill X Page 26 – Table 4-1 typo says “wid” instead of wild. Doug Payson thinks the “rare and threatened” sentence is awkward, not complete. He also thinks snakes, box turtles, and northern diamondbacks should be included in the beginning of that paragraph. Page 28 – Cate Gulliver says there are no beavers on Cape Cod so can remove. Doug Payson thinks something should be added to Section 4 on endangered animals and restoring habitats. Page 34 – Chair Malakhoff would like to list scenic vistas (walker point viewing deck and highest point in town , both in West Barnstable Conservation Area) included. The highest point could use a plaque or a bench to let people know they’ve arrived. Doug Payson says open space acreage needs to be updated in the same format as the 2018 plan. The group discusses whether this is a map required by the state. Councilor Clark says they may want to add “ACEC established x date” because it’s an official designation. Page 39 – Mr. Pedicini says he will work with Alice Marcus-Krieg to add to the importance of protecting open space section. Page 40 – Mr. Pedicini says Active Recreation definition will be updated to “active recreation is defined as leisure activities of a more structured nature often requiring a permit and taking place at a prescribed time and place.” The group discusses the difference between passive and active recreation. The Chairman thinks a third term is necessary—maybe programmed recreation. The group discusses the definitions and ultimately decides to leave the original definition. Mr. Pedicini will take language from the LCPC about Chapter 61. Page 41 – Ms. Gulliver would like to add that the town spent $522,000 for changing the tennis court to pickleball courts in Marstons Mills. Doug Payson would like to add that the town removed the baseball field at the hollow. Mr. Payson says there is a lack of park land in Hyannis. He would like to look at expanding the park at Kalmus Beach as an action item. Chair Malakhoff says there is a patch of woods with neglected trails by the park that could be cleared out and made inviting in Hyannis. Councilor Clark says it’s called the West Barnstable Community Building, not Center. The group discusses the need for green space in Hyannis and the loss of the park by the West End rotary that has become the p ump station. There is a need for sidewalks and flashing lights at crosswalks especially if Main Street/South Street become two -way; a pedestrian recently was struck by a car and killed on Main Street. Page 49 – Chair Malakhoff says there is recreational potential at Hathaways Pond. A youth trail bike riding area could be added, and a rehab of the existing volleyball court. Page 50 – Chair Malakhoff says the land adjacent to Joshua’s Pond is 57 acres of municipal land but not protected. They could consider recommending that become protected as conservation/recreation as an action item. Page 53 – Mr. Pedicini says the thought here was to break it up by village. The group thinks street address and/or parcel numbers would be helpful. The Chairman recommends adding a link to the Article 97 viewer. He says Falcon Road has a trail that goes out to the powerlines that may become part of Cape Cod Pathways as Barnstable Land Trust acquires that parcel. Doug Payson thinks the data on these pages needs to be user-friendly for the public. Chair Malakhoff thinks a searchable database of CRs would be helpful to have, could be an action item. Page 68 – There is a typo: sentence ending in “a.” Page 69 – Chair Malakhoff says for the inventory of open space, embellishing the color coding of the legend would be helpful. Mr. Pedicini will talk to the consultant about cleaning up the legends and adding a map that shows trails. Doug Payson thinks the town should have an inventory of sidewalks, multi-use paths, woodland trails, etc. all together so missed connections could be seen. The group discusses a need for open space accessible by housing. Ms. Gulliver thinks the overlay zoning map is unclear. Page 71 – Mr. Pedicini says this is a state-required map using parkserv data. He will ask the consultants to explain the context of where the data is coming from. The group discusses concerns and recommends adding a disclaimer or preamble that the data is following state guidelines. Water resources map – Ms. Gulliver says the color distinctions are confusing. Wetlands designations are difficult to see. Floodplain map is not clear either. • Walking Weekend Chair Malakhoff asks walk leaders to send photos to Genna Ziino labeled. Doug Payson requests to set a date for Spring Walking Weekend so he can coordinate a dedication to the multi-use path at Kalmus Beach. Staff needs 90-day notice and would need a permit. The Chairman will have Walking Weekend as an agenda item to discuss. Mr. Pedicini says they released the request for quotes on the Pathways title research project. There is a deadline of this Friday. They have allocated $10,000 for the project. Alice Marcus-Krieg will be presenting to CPC to request funding for trail signs. The Chairman requests one on Falcon Road. Chair Malakhoff says geocachers are doing a cache in trash out event at Hathaways Pond on Sunday from 9-11 AM. Councilor Clark reports that Farley Lewis presented before Town Council about what the committee has accomplished. Old Business • None MATTERS NOT REASONABLY ANTICIPATED BY THE CHAIR PUBLIC COMMENT ADJOURNMENT Cate Gulliver moves to adjourn. Doug Payson seconds. Vote: Aye: Lev Malakhoff, Doug Payson, Elissa Crowley, Anne Rowland, Cate Gulliver, Dave Gorrill Nay: None Meeting adjourned 6:39 PM. DOCUMENTS USED AT THIS MEETING • Document entitled “OSRP Staff Comments (Sections 3 & 4) • Document entitled “OSRP Staff Comments (Sections 1, 2, 5) Respectfully submitted, Genna Ziino, Administrative Assistant Further detail may be obtained by viewing the video via Barnstable Government Access Channel on demand at www.town.barnstable.ma.us