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September 18, 2018
Open Space Committee Minutes                                                                            September 18, 2018
Present: Rick Gardner, Deb Cary, Karen Rossow, Kim Houde, Kelton Burbank

Meeting began at 7:05 p.m.
  • Minutes from July were approved as written.
  • Landowner Education:
  • We are in good shape for this meeting. There are three dates in late October and early November that we will shoot for. 11/18 is the preferred date. Karen will canvas all key parties (Tom Sullivan, John Mirick, Mike Downey, and Larry Greene) to negotiate a date.
  • Larry Greene has agreed to talk to his experience with CRs
  • Laurie Kramer has asked to be included and has indicated that her Real Estate Company would like to help out. Rick will keep her in the loop.
  • We reviewed Karen’s draft for a mailing and made a few minor changes. Karen will turn this into a half-page postcard and work with her printing company to get copies made. We will send it out, hand-addressed to the 300 or so Princeton Landowners who own >10 acres. We will add to this list from people who we might want to encourage to allow trail access (Rick). We agreed to purchase the cards and postage.
  • Others will be notified via publications or a notice sign on the town common (Deb will get permission from the town).
  • We will also get a notice in the PLT newsletter, which goes out in early November.
  • We will work on meeting details at our October meeting.

  • Trail Around Princeton (TAP) update:
  • LSF to East Princeton leg. Rick met with Phil O’Brien and he is willing to permit trail access through his property. That means that between DCR and Phil’s lane we can get from LSF through to Leominster Road.
  • Rick has checked out options to get from Keyes brook up to the AT+T Line on the northwest side of Gleason Road. This is DCR and Mosher land. There is no clear trail and the egress out to Gleason Road on the North end is unclear…we will need to look into getting permission to go out through a private landowner. For the short term it is still practical to walk up Gleason Road.
  • Rick has explored the AT+T Line off Gleason Road (DCR land) and it will work fine to connect through DCR roads to Town Farm Road (near Esty Road, on Rte 62). He will schedule a walk-through of this route (2.5 miles or so!!)
  • Kelton has figured out how we can get approval to go over Clearings Land on the Johnnie G trail (from PLT Peabody land). However the trail will need to cross Goodnow property and the Goodnows have expressed concern over this. Rick is trying to open up this conversation but it will help to nail down the trail through the Clearings. Kelton is trying to close the loop with the Clearings.
  • Rick is still planning to mark the trail around the perimeter of the Cary property, and to lead a hike around these trails in the fall.
  • Goodnow Park: Need to schedule a walk through.
  • Trails mapping project update: No further discussion regarding a book to assist with fund raising. Save for next meeting.
  • Princeton Hikes! Program: No change in status. Hikes are still going well and are well attended. Will continue through the winter. Rick is trying to expand the leadership for the program. Chris Newell, a hiking regular, has indicated an interest in sharing the hike planning and leadership. We hope to both develop a second leader AND expand the number and scope of the hikes.
  • Fieldstone Farm Update:
  • Deb indicated that the APR will be signed in early November. Once signed, the fields will be sold to the Hubbards and the project will be closed. We agreed that a party is in order!
  • Cindy Dunn has started work to connect Wachusett Meadow to Route 62 (near Calamint Hill Rd). Deb indicated that they discussed it recently and work should be picking up in the next few weeks.
  • ConCom has completed the wetland maps, and Rick and Brian walked the lines and flagged a rough route. There is an open question about horse access and Brian is chasing that down. Then we will get a team of people to fine-tune the route and present to ConCom. We are almost ready to build trails. First trail will be a loop on the Calamint Hill side of the property.
  • Brian has asked: who will own and drive the trail. Rick suggested OSC. Committee agrees that this is OK.
  • Recap of next steps:
  • Karen: Negotiate Date for Landowner Meeting and Complete Draft of mailing
  • Deb: Arrange for printing of postcard invitations and for signs on common
  • Rick: Arrange a walk-through to scout out possible trails at Goodnow park and also to walk thr DCR trail from Gleason Road to Town Farm Road.
  • Kelton: Procure permission to use the Jonnie G trail through Clearing property
  • Next meeting:  Tuesday October 16th.
  • Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rick Gardner