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APPROVED
Chilmark Planning Board Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, May 9, 2016
Present: Janet Weidner, Chair, Joan Malkin, Peter Cook, John Eisner
Not Present:
Public:
Staff: Jennifer L. Christy
Meeting called to order at 3:05PM:
- Menemsha Planning Letter to Stakeholder:
- The subcommittee reviewed the updated organization/progress chart that was originally submitted by Ms. Weidner.
- Discussion occurred about the approach the Planning Board should take in gathering input from stakeholders.
- Mr. Eisner stated the overwhelming issue that needs to be addressed regards traffic and cars in Menemsha. Ms. Malkin and Mr. Cook advocated for an approach that may elicit input that is wide-ranging and broadly focused. Ms. Weidner agreed that the approach should be broad and one that will attract ideas for Menemsha that address as many of the areas of concern as possible.
- Ms. Malkin suggested sending a letter to six or seven committees/boards that have a direct interest and then send a similar letter to other committees/boards that are not as directly affected by changes in Menemsha, but may be interested in the outcome. Mr. Eisner suggested the Planning Board develop ideas for how Menemsha should be altered/updated before gathering input from outside noting that townspeople would appreciate knowing the direction the Board would like to take. Ms. Malkin and Ms. Weidner stated they would find it more useful to bring in input at the very beginning stage rather than after the Planning Board has stated a position on the planning for Menemsha. Mr. Cook stated that the stakeholders should be asked for 2 or 3 things that are successful and 2 or 3 things that do not work in Menemsha noting
that this approach will allow for a broad focus without settling only on the problematic areas of Menemsha.
- Mr. Eisner, in reviewing the draft of a letter provided by Ms. Malkin, stated there needs to be a reason for the initiative stated in the letter. Ms. Malkin stated her approach relied on not communicating a position to the stakeholders. Mr. Cook stated that the strategy of asking people for ideas of things that work and do not work in Menemsha will funnel the input into information that is useful for the Board in determining what is important to the townspeople. Mr. Eisner suggested that the Board include in the letter a list of various issues the Board thinks are issues in Menemsha. Ms. Malkin stated the large issues in Menemsha are well-known and that she is concerned that a mention of these issues may hinder the process of gathering a wide-range of thoughts about Menemsha. Ms. Malkin noted the letter should have
a clear purpose and is concerned that the inclusion of key issues in Menemsha in the letter may draw readers away from their own input to focus on the issues mentioned. Ms. Malkin suggested a trouble-shooting session on traffic in Menemsha to address that one area so that the long-term planning for Menemsha is not dominated by the issue of traffic. She suggested that the MVC has staff that are skilled in traffic planning. Ms. Weidner stated the update of the Master Plan is needed and that this work that is commencing now is phase one. Mr. Cook, Ms. Weidner and Mr. Eisner all agreed a separate session to address traffic is preferable to including the issue as one area of the current Master Plan work.
- Ms. Weidner agreed to redraft the letter to stakeholders:
- The subcommittee members will attend the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on May 17th to update them on the progress and share a draft letter to stakeholders.
- The subcommittee will draft a letter for the Board to send after the Board meeting on May 23rd to:
- BOH
- ConComm
- Historical Comm.
- Harbormaster
- Park & Rec
- Police
- Shellfish Adv. Comm.
- Shellfish Constable
- Beach Committee
- The subcommittee will draft a letter for the Board to send next to:
- Business owners
- Emergency services
- Homeowners
- Associations
- Other Boards/Committees
- Townspeople
- Coast Guard (send a copy of the Master Plan?)
- Discussion occurred regarding the definition of Menemsha. Ms Malkin suggested that Menemsha was everything west of the intersection of Menemsha Crossroads and North Road, including people whose viewshed is of Menemsha. Further discussion occurred about how to reduce traffic in Menemsha. Ms. Malkin noted that the letter must have a context within which the letter should be considered. This could be an attachment to the email that contains the letter. Ms. Weidner agreed to compose a succinct report on the intentions, plans and goals of the Planning Board for this Menemsha planning process.
- Minutes of April 25, 2016 were reviewed. Ms. Malkin made a motion to approve the minutes as written. The motion was seconded. All ayes.
- Meeting adjourned at 4:35PM.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Jennifer L. Christy
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