Rye Conservation Commission debates trail closures after expert assessment; residents urge alternatives

The Rye Conservation Commission on April 16 reviewed a consultant ssessment of town conservation trails and heard more than an hour of public comment weighing protection of wildlife against long-standing public access. Chair Shawn Joyce said the report—mphasized mapping vernal pools and recommended seeking bids from ecologists to clarify next steps; commissioners voted to schedule a follow-up public meeting for April 30 to consider the findings and recommendations.

Commissioners framed the debate around balance and procedure. Secretary/Clerk Hugh Lee told the panel the Commission should consider specific factors for each trail, including when a trail was built, whether it crosses wetlands or bog bridges, historical routes such as farm or logging roads, current public use, legal public access, and what —4closing—5 a trail would mean (signage versus physical blockage). Member Glenn Suchocki and Member Michael Bean emphasized scientific findings in the report that apply a "zone of influence" around sensitive habitat; Suchocki said the assessment found wildlife impacts on a high share of properties surveyed and urged course correction to restore balance.

Residents and letter writers told the Commission to proceed cautiously. Multiple public commenters and emailed letters argued the report lacks on-the-ground population counts and human-use data, urged consideration of alternatives such as year-round leash rules, seasonal closures during breeding seasons, targeted reroutes, improved signage, and volunteer-maintained bog-bridge repairs. "Rachel Stevens said many times during her presentation that she did the work that was asked of her and it

is now up to the Town to determine the next steps," Cynde Lingamfelter wrote in a letter read into the record. Don Cavallaro warned that removing access could undermine public rights-of-way and fuel concerns that land could be subdivided in the future.

Other commenters highlighted tradeoffs the Commission must weigh: the 2001 Town Forest conservation easement expressly permits public recreation across the Town Forest and, several residents said, the Commission should obtain a legal opinion before permanently decommissioning trails on land the easement describes as available for walking, biking and dog-walking. Several residents also offered to help rebuild deteriorated bog bridges on the yellow trail and asked the Commission for trail-use data before making permanent changes.

Commissioners stressed that no final action was taken. Chair Joyce and others noted that three properties were already removed from consideration in the report and that the objective remains striking a balance that lets wildlife thrive while maintaining public benefits. Glenn Suchocki said the Commission has budget authority to commission mapping and that he would draft an RFP for vernal-pool mapping. The panel voted unanimously to schedule a public meeting on Thursday, April 30, at 6:30 p.m. to continue discussion.

The meeting closed without votes on trail closures. The Commission encouraged residents to submit comments, volunteer for trail work, and attend the April 30 meeting, where commissioners said they will outline a process for considering the report

recommendations and any legal, scientific or maintenance follow-ups.