Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
170119 WBHC Minutes
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Source page 1
Minutes for Canton MA Walk, Bike, and Hike Committee Thursday, January 19, 2017, 7:30 pm meeting Attending: Debby Stein Sharpe (chair), Rich Allen, David Biggers, Tim Calabrese, Josh Cohen, John Mahoney, Mike Mitcheroney, & Laura Smead (Town Planner) Attachment: Town Planner Laura Smead’s Memorandum to Walk, Bike, and Hike Committee: “Update on Projects” dated January 19, 2017 Approved Minutes of November 17, 2016 meeting. CPA Grant Application Update & Discussion On December 20, 2016, the Canton Community Preservation Committee (CCPC) approved three applications consolidated into one with combined allocation of $150,000 pending Annual Town Meeting approval in May. The three applications were as follows: Comprehensive plan for town walking trails ($75,000) Updating the town’s 20-year-old Open Space and Recreation Plan ($22,000); and, Earl Newhouse Waterfront at Reservation Pond design & implementation plan ($73,000). Laura has done a cost savings analysis, and projects a $10,000 (or more) savings in overhead, by combining work on the trails & open space/recreation plans. Debby and Laura discussed the anticipated rollout from now to June, suggesting that it would make sense to create a sub-committee to pursue the Request for Proposals (RFP) process… the sub-committee to include several members from the WB&H Committee and Cynthia O’Connell (Conservation Agent). Complete Streets Update Laura described the application process. Laura and two Town Engineer staff have completed training. Laura will request that Complete Streets be added as an agenda item to the Board of Selectmen February 14, 2017 meeting, and that the BOS adopt, as the authorizing entity, either a Complete Streets policy or a commitment letter. Laura invites members of the WB&H Committee to attend, and will let the committee know further details shortly. WBH had previously provided Laura with a letter of support, as had the Canton Planning Board. If the Board of Selectmen adopts Complete Streets, Canton could then qualify for up to $50,000 of technical assistance for developing a Complete Streets Prioritization Plan to be submitted by Sept 1st, 2017. The town would then go for project approval & notice to proceed (Tier 3) by October 1, 2017 for the town to receive up to $400,000 for construction of prioritized projects (e.g., sidewalks along Washington Street from Hagen Court to Cobb Corner; traffic calming at dangerous intersections; sharrows along busy town roads; and/or other prioritized projects).
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Fee in Lieu of Construction Laura informed us that the Planning Board is exploring a possible source of funds for new sidewalks: fees collected upon sidewalk waivers granted for 2nd side of road sidewalks for future low-density subdivisions. Green Community Update Laura presented an update on the work she has been doing…. documenting how Canton meets five criteria. She will apply for designation in the Fall of 2017. Canton will then be eligible to apply for energy efficiency type grants starting next winter. MassBike Advocacy Workshop Review Debby and Dave, who attended a full-day training in December, gave brief presentations about the workshop covering topics such as effective advocacy, engaging the community, Federal & State funding sources for biking infrastructure, use of local Strava Metro rider app data (may soon be available thru MassDOT), and rail trails across New England. Other Topics John Mahoney asked that the Committee or a member of the Committee contact newly elected State Senator Walter Timilty to request that he ask DCR to create a web page for the Farnham Connolly State Park (fka Canton Airport). Debby requested that John send her info as to the DCR contact he’s been working with regarding GIS data. (done – Nathanael Lloyd, nathanael.lloyd@state.ma. us ) Note that MassDCR has provided GPS walking trail data for its locations in Canton (Blue Hills Reservation; Farnham Connolly State Park); that data will facilitate completion of the comprehensive plan for town walking trails. The Committee unanimously approved a motion to send a letter of support to the Friends of the Blue Hills for its petition to Help Protect Skyline Trail Hikers to consider implementing measures for safer pedestrian crossings of Route 138 (in Canton) and Route 28 (in Milton). The Committee unanimously approved a motion to send a letter of support to Mass Audubon as it applies for a MassDCR grant to construct an accessible trail at the Audubon Museum of Bird Art in Canton. Tim Calabrese, of Mass Audubon, brought this request to our committee.