Real Estate and Open Space Committee Meeting

Meeting date: 
Friday, April 21, 2017

 

Town of Harwich

Real Estate & Open Space (REOS) Committee

Regular Meeting Minutes - April 21, 2017

 

Members Present: Kathy Green (Chair), John Preston, David Callaghan, Carol Porter and Elaine Shovlin. Absent: Robert Thomas, Marcia Thorngate-Smith

 

Approval of Minutes: The REOS meeting minutes of March 17, 2017 were voted upon and approved by the Committee.

 

93/97 Route 28: The Committee had walked the property at the request of an abutter. After a discussion and evaluation of the property we sought additional info. The Recreation dept. indicated they had no need for rec. type fields in this location. And it is not located in a NHESP Bio Map for protection. We concluded that it is a good site for affordable housing as proposed by Habitat.

 

Old Road Property: Members of the Committee visited the property with the surveyor, Thad Eldredge and the Conservation Agent, Amy Usowski. This 1 acre lot backs up to a cranberry bog and private neighborhood walking trails. Future ownership and access to the bog area is an unknown issue. Our consensus is that the property is not a high priority.

 

Bank Street Fire Station: Article #34 on the Town Warrant proposes that the town sell the property and that the funds be used to offset the costs of the new Harbormaster’s maintenance building. Appraisal of the property is still not complete.

 

Discussion regarding sand pit off of JZ Rd; property off of Little Shaver: Both these properties have been discussed on and off for years. In 2012, the BOS discussed them but no action was taken. The sand pit came to our attention because it is located within an area designated as ‘Owner’s Unknown’. The REOS sent a letter to the Town Administrator in February urging investigation of the property with regards to mining within the Six Ponds District. There has been continued expansion of the mining area in

recent years. The Committee discussed future strategies including publicizing our concerns. We will review recent BOS minutes and get back on their agenda after Town Meeting.

 

Next meeting is scheduled for May 19, 2017 at 8:30 AM.

 

Respectfully Submitted, John Preston, REOS Clerk