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Lakeville open space committee sets outreach, research tasks; approves prior minutes
Summary
At its Oct. 3 meeting the Town of Lakeville Open Space Committee approved the Sept. 5 minutes and discussed updating its open-space plan, researching funding and protection tools used by nearby towns, and outreach tied to the town master plan and website.
The Town of Lakeville Open Space Committee on Oct. 3 approved the Sept. 5 meeting minutes and discussed next steps for open-space planning, including researching how nearby towns fund and protect land, coordinating with the town master-plan update and public workshops, and improving committee outreach via the new town website.
Committee members said the group should compile an updated “list of lands of interest” to guide future preservation opportunities and study funding mechanisms used in neighboring communities. “I think each of us knows a town that we like or are familiar with,” a committee member said while proposing that members each examine one nearby town’s programs and funding. Members named Middleborough, Rochester, Freetown, North Attleboro and other towns as possible candidates for that research.
The committee discussed Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds and a reference to Chapter 61 as examples of existing tools used elsewhere to protect land. A member said CPA funding is subject to reauthorization at the state level in the early 2020s and encouraged the committee to learn whether CPA or other mechanisms could help the town act quickly when parcels become available.
Committee members also reviewed the town master-plan timetable. The committee’s previously submitted open-space material will be incorporated into the master plan, and SRPEDD (srpedd.org) is guiding the update. A public workshop on Oct. 16 at the Lakeville Library at 6:30 p.m. will cover land use, housing and economic development; the committee was told the open-space portion of the master plan will be scheduled in January or February and public input then will be solicited.
Members discussed outreach and the new town website as a way to share photos, maps and links about open-space parcels and programs. One member suggested the committee maintain a page with materials such as recorded walks or tree-identification guides and noted each committee will have a point person able to post content.
Other business included logistics and training: the committee discussed the need for a permanent minute taker and confirmed a harassment-awareness workshop being offered to boards and committees; times were listed as options including an evening session the following day. The committee set a tentative next meeting for Nov. 7 and agreed to report back with findings on assigned towns at the next meeting.
Votes at a glance - Approval of Sept. 5 meeting minutes — Motion made and seconded; committee chair called for all in favor and the minutes were approved.
The meeting adjourned at about 7:27 p.m.
