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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes - 102725 October 27, 2025 Planning & Development Department 367 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 – Phone: 508-862-4678 Open Space Committee Minutes October 27, 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 The Committee has no comments on the Section 6 draft. Regarding Section 7, Kyle Pedicini says staff wanted to make it more readable and easier to digest because the goal of this document is to be concise and actionable. It is broken into different categories, and there are 15 goals and 62 objectives. Short (1-3 years)/medium (4-7 years)/long (8-10 years) timeframes were more practical for goals. They will be spelling out any acronyms. This draft doesn’t have the goals and objectives in order of prioritization but they will be. Doug Payson says in Goal 1 of the “Ten Year Action Plan- Staff Suggested Format & Text” document, the top bullet should be, “protects drinking water recharge areas…” The group discusses whether any of the bullets are redundant but decides to keep them all. Chair Malakhoff thinks the other documents all looked good and he noticed the catchphrase of “natural surveillance,” whi ch is by providing access to responsible users to keep an eye on resources. He requests to add a bullet: “Provides connection for long- distance trail networks such as Cape Cod Pathways” to this list. The Chairman says regarding 1.5.1 page 89 of the document entitled “10-17-2025_TownofBarnstable_OSRPDraft,” the second bullet he thinks should be included in that replaced text. The group thinks it should be changed to high priority. The Chairman requests to add a Section 1.4.3: Create a publicly accessible database of protected properties (for example CRs) with a link to the Article 97 viewer. Mr. Pedicini says that is the second point under Goal 1 but he will add that it’s publicly facing. Goal 2 - Cate Gulliver suggests it should be a requirement for any new development to leave some open space. Kyle Pedicini says that is regulatory, so the best thing this committee can do would be improving and promoting the cluster ordinance goal. Member Present Absent Lev Malakhoff – Chair X Farley Lewis – Vice Chair X Elizabeth Lewis X Douglas Payson X Elissa Crowley X Anne Rowland X Tracy Pratt X Cate Gulliver X Dave Gorrill X Doug Payson says the second item under Goal 2, he wants to stress the importance of native trees and shrubs. Alice Marcus-Krieg says regarding the nature guidelines, the goal is to extend them as part of the town’s design guidelines. They are working on the program in-house now and hope to bring it back to the committee and eventually the public for review. Farley Lewis asks if there are guidelines for “undevelopment”? Ms. Marcus-Krieg says it could be in the nature guidelines. Page 93 of the plan: Chair Malakhoff wants to add an objective of, “create sustainably developed pathways on watersheds to increase natural surveillance by responsible public users” to the water resources section. Goal 3: Doug Payson would like to engage the schools on this topic as an action item. Goal 4: Kyle Pedicini says stakeholders brought up controlled burns, so this is part of that issue. Doug Payson thinks it should reference habitat restoration and could include mowing and using goats/grazing animals. He suggests an action item of “explore alternative environmentally friendly options.” Dave Gorrill asks about ancient ways that get lost in the shuffle, if there is some way of maintaining them under stewardship. Chair Malakhoff adds that there are many ways like that where it’s unclear if the town maintains them. Kyle Pedicini says a practical action could be “maintain existing ancient ways that have public access.” Goal 5: Doug Payson would like a goal of planting trees along streets and multi-use paths in environmental justice communities. Cate Gulliver thinks trees should be prioritized in Hyannis. Alice Marcus-Krieg says that’s what Greening the Gateway is, but it is still important to keep that idea in this plan as a model. Goal 6: Councilor Clark asks if the Recreation Committee has seen this. Mr. Pedicini says they got comments from the Vice Chair of Recreation. Chair Malakhoff would like to add pickleball to the first item. The Chairman would like to add specifically a forest walking loop trail to the objective about improving Kalmus Beach. 3.3.2: Chair Malakhoff suggests adding language that sidewalks and bikeways should be installed during road construction. Kyle Pedicini will add that under connectivity and accessibility. Cate Gulliver asks if there is a priority list of playgrounds. Kyle Pedicini says one action item is to develop a playground plan. Doug Payson says there is a playground at the Barnstable Hollow that no one uses because there is no parking or signage about parking. Kyle Pedicini says under goal 15 they could add an action item to add signage for parking amenities for recreation assets, including Barnstable Hollow. Goal 7: Cate Gulliver says even small pocket spaces could be converted to community gardens. The existing action item works for this. Goal 8: Chair Malakhoff says the Joshua’s and Micah’s Pond parcel has a trail network that could be supported and enhanced to make it inviting. Mr. Pedicini will add something. The group discusses that there are certain water usage prohibitions, but no enforcement. Kyle Pedicini says they could add an item: explore stricter regulations for violators of water restrictions. Councilor Clark says there were suggestions from Natural Resources staff to consider a targeted acquisition of property within herring runs or any endangered species habitat. Kyle Pedicini says it will be one of the criteria they add in terms of looking at potential parcels for acquisition. Goal 9: No changes. Goal 10: Dave Gorrill suggests an action item to add kayak racks nearby. Mr. Pedicini will add the installation of storage or kayak racks. Goal 11: Kyle Pedicini will add prioritizing sidewalks during new construction. The group discusses that more people are using ebikes and there is danger associated. Kyle Pedicini says regulations would have to come from the state, but they could add “develop educational materials for safe operation of ebikes and motorized scooters” to communication and marketing. Goal 12: Doug Payson would like to add “identify opportunities for possible adaptive mountain bike trails.” Goal 13: Kyle Pedicini says a better objective than the third one might be, “OSC conducts regular annual reviews of the OSRP to monitor progress.” Maybe one meeting per year this committee can look at the OSRP. Goal 14: Cate Gulliver would like an annual or biannual townwide mailing that lists everything available in open space (beaches, trails, parks) or events that are happening. Kyle Pedicini says an action item could be “create regular mailings with information on town’s open space and recreation resources to be disseminated. Councilor Clerk says the Town Clerk sends out something annually so could add it in with that. Doug Payson thinks there should be something on the town website that ties everything together: “Click here to access the town’s open spaces, ways to water, recreation.” Mr. Pedicini suggests an action item of: “Compile and organize open space and recreational resources on town website in a user-friendly manner.” Chair Malakhoff thinks the committee needs to revisit the Walking Library. He will make it an agenda item. Kyle Pedicini says he can add in the Walking Library-related goal from the last plan. Kyle Pedicini will be meeting with the consultants on Thursday to discuss maps. He is expecting a draft from them by the end of next week. Then there will be the public meeting November 19 with an updated draft plan to present to the public. The goal is to get it on the website a week before, with a 3-week public comment period after. Then, staff will compile any public comments and figure out sequencing from there. Councilor Clark asks Mr. Pedicini if he wants to bring the draft to the Disability Commission so they know staff is listening. Mr. Pedicini will make sure they see it. Chair Malakhoff asks walk leaders to label Walking Weekend pictures and send to Genna Ziino. The Committee will be picking a date for the Spring Walking Weekend and discussing a media plan at the next meeting. Old Business • None MATTERS NOT REASONABLY ANTICIPATED BY THE CHAIR PUBLIC COMMENT ADJOURNMENT Farley Lewis moves to adjourn. Doug Payson seconds. All in favor. Vote: Aye: Lev Malakhoff, Farley Lewis, Liz Lewis, Doug Payson, Anne Rowland, Cate Gulliver, Dave Gorrill Nay: None Meeting adjourned 6:39 PM. DOCUMENTS USED AT THIS MEETING • Document entitled “Ten Year Action Plan- Staff Suggested Format & Text” • Document entitled “10-17-2025_TownofBarnstable_OSRPDraft” 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