Town of Sharon

Sacred Heart Reuse Committee

Meeting Minutes of 5/23/13

Amended and Approved on 6/6/13

Sharon Community Center

 

Committee Attendees

Karen Friedman, Chair   - absent

Larry Seggelin

Carl Gladstone

David Straus

Mitch Blaustein

 

 

Other Attendees

Alice Cheyer – 1 Glenview Road

Corey Snow 95 S. Main

Peter O’Cain

Eric Hooper

Anne Bingham - 78A Cedar

Ben Puritz

Robert Weidknecht Beals and Thomas

Todd Arnold 70 Cedar

Steve Fusco Beals and Thomas

Richard  Mandell 580 Mountain Street

Rob Maidman 52 Wilshire

Sara Barbera 26 Tolman

Paul Driscoll 3 Canoe River

Hannah Jenner Quincy Street

Joe Roche

Steve Ross 4 Cattail Lane

Lisa Kritz 162 South Main Street

Gordon and Doris Gladstone 2 Bruce Ave

Kelli Fallon 48 E. Foxboro

Ira Miller 6 Horizons

Rick Schantz 28 Falcon

JJ McGrath 11 Roberta Road

Christine Hack 5 Marie Avenue

Ted Philips 3 Garden Street

Adam Ellis 32 Gunhouse

Amy Cournevr 2 Linda Road

Margaret Marder 3 Cheshire

Steve Lesco 25 Elliot St

Gary Bluestein 19 Pioneer Circle

Richard Kramer 27 Beach

John Davis Edgehill Road

Brie McLevey Avalon Drive

Joan Sahl 82 Cedar Street

 

 

Chair Report

Carl Gladstone called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM. He stated that the Sacred Heart Reuse Committee serves as Advisors to the Selectmen. He welcomed everyone to the meeting and turned it over to Mr. Weidknecht of Beals and Thomas. Mr. Weidknecht said that his firm is a consulting firm that is performing a land study of Parcel F. They are hired as part of the planning exercise. They are here to understand the site conditions and identify wetlands. This is the first of 4 public hearings. They want input, they want to understand the needs and then develop a concept, and they will then determine impacts and costs to work toward a consensus. The goal is to determine informal uses, recreational uses and also consider the impact to the abutters. So far, he said that abutter notices were sent to those that live within 1,000 feet of the property. People were also notified through the Sharon Advocate, Sharon Patch, targeted emails and word of mouth.

 

A study was done to look at the ground water and they identified impacts on the water supply. There is a limitation on the size of the field.  A full size field cannot fit.

 

The major goal he said is to get input, determine a vision for the property, what they do not want to see, traffic and lighting. From here they determine what meets the consensus needs.

Sara Barbera of 26 Tolman Street asked what is involved in determining the size of the area that can be used. Mr. Weidknecht explained the process.

 

Rob Maidman of 52 Wilshire Drive said he would like to see an open field with no specific purpose. He does not want lights either. He suggested that since the area is heavily utilized thought should be given to the pond. He suggested it be aerated at peak summer times. He also said there is significant erosion and it is treacherous in heavy rains. He wants the soil prepared for good drainage.

 

Anne Bingham of 78A Cedar Street said the demolition is going well. She said the cross country team runs within the buffer zone and wants the trail maintained. She suggested that the value of Deborah Sampson Park should be kept in mind as a whole. It’s a wild space near the center of town with dense uses on the other side of East Foxboro Street. She wants the space to be left as open space.

 

Rich Mandell of 580 Mountain Street said he wants the space left open as a piece of Sharon for all.

 

Paul Driscoll of 3 Canoe River representing the Sharon Soccer Association would prefer a soccer or athletic field on the property. He said the last fields were built in the 1990’s. Safety is important and organized sports need dedicated sports fields. He said 44% of land mass in Sharon is dedicated to pristine land which he respects. He said however that space for kids to play is small.

 

Hannah Jenner of Quincy Street said he wants the property to be available for kids to explore.

 

Selectmen Joe Roche said some fields are fenced and the general public doesn’t feel comfortable on the fields and is sometimes asked to leave. He would like to see this property used as a practice field. It needs a fence in front. He suggested some sort of sprinkler system and wants it to be a place for games like Frisbee. He suggested recreation for all.

 

Steve Ross 4 Cattail Lane said he would like to see a family park and a place to explore nature. He suggested a fountain in the center.

 

Lisa Kritz of South Main Street wants to lease green space. She wants to develop a nature inspired area and connect children to nature.

 

Mr. Weidknecht replied that the demolition of the building was funded by CPC funds and therefore a center cannot be put on the property.

 

Gordon Gladstone of 2 Bruce Avenue representing the Finance Committee said whatever you do a part of the population will be upset. He suggested it be made into a passive place for people to go, not just children.

 

JJ McGrath of 11 Roberta Road suggested that the area be left natural. It should be a place that does not require reservations or permission to use.

 

Christine Hack of 5 Marie Avenue, a member of the Sharon Soccer Association said she wants an additional soccer field.

 

Alice Cheyer of 1 Glenview Road suggested a multipurpose use – open for informal gatherings with benches and bike racks. She suggested minimal non continuing fencing that does not enclose the space.

 

Richard Kramer of Beach Street said this is a high use area already under a lot of pressure. He thinks that lighting is incompatible. He wants to be sensitive to the neighbors and does not want to burden the site. He suggested raised gardens for handicap use. He suggested field development be done behind the Middle School.

 

Kelli Fallon of 48 East Foxboro Street said Cedar Street is a beautiful street and said parking is difficult when there are games being played in this area. She wants the land used for recreation not organized sports.

 

Steven Rabb of Dry Pond Road representing the Sharon Lacrosse Program said the teams struggle to find space to play and wants more field availability.

 

Larry Seggelin of the SHRC said the pond needs to be aerated; the whole area is beautiful and should remain open.

 

Anne Bingham of 78A Cedar Street said regarding field availability there is Camp Everwoods and Camp Gannett.

 

Sara Barbera of the Soccer Association said more athletic space is needed.

 

Carl Gladstone of the SHRC said that the CPC monies funded the demolition of the building. The second phase is with the Selectmen’s approval an application is presented to the CPC to ask for funds for the property.

 

Gary Bluestein with the Recreation Advisory Board said he looked at the site and wants it used for multi purposes. It is a major passage area to the dog park.

 

Rick Schantz of 28 Falcon Road and the Recreation Advisory Committee said the need for fields is real. He suggested it be used for open space and ad hoc field use.

 

John Davis of 76 Edgehill Road and former Chair of the SHRC said he has heard good comments. He wants the best use for most people. He wants flexibility, ad hoc practice field and a passive recreation use as well.

 

Todd Arnold of Cedar Street said another field would be an intrusion to the neighborhood and does not want any access on Cedar Street. He does not want a lighted field.

 

Mr. Weidknecht of Beals and Thomas said they can come up with a design of an open park feel but can accommodate recreational needs. He said changing the tennis courts is a costly process. If you create an athletic field you have to consider parking. The project has just started. They will look to maintain the trails. He said no one mentioned a skate park.

 

Joan Sahl of 82 Cedar Street is against the skate park.

 

Alice Cheyer wants to see shared open space.

 

Todd Arnold said parking for ice skating has not been addressed.

 

Richard Kramer of Beach Street said he is against expanding parking and wants passive use for the land.

 

Mr. Weidknecht of Beals and Thomas said it’s good to get the feel from the entire community. He will take all of the “wants” into consideration. He will synthesize the information to see what is appropriate and come up with different options. The next meeting is June 6, 2013.

 

Minutes

Mr. Straus moved to approve the minutes of 5/9/13 and Mr. Blaustein seconded the motion.  The Committee voted 4-0-0 in favor of approval.

 

Adjournment

Mr. Straus moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 PM and Mr. Blaustein seconded the motion. The Committee voted 4-0-0 in favor of adjournment.

 

Next Meeting

6/6

 

Attachment

None