Planning board unanimously backs sending updated Open Space and Recreation Plan to town council

The Wakefield Planning Board voted unanimously on June 9 to send a letter of support for the town’s updated Open Space and Recreation Plan, a step conservation agent Ethan Fleming said is needed before the plan goes to the town council and then to the state for final approval.

Fleming told the board the plan began work in 2023, was presented to the council in 2024 with a conditional state approval returned the same year, and is set to expire in 2031. He summarized the recent edits: corrections to the inventory (clarifying who owns versus who manages parcels), adding a few parcels to the conservation interest map (including a lakeshore parcel and recent development at 94 Butler A), updates to the MBTA/community timeline to reflect town meeting action, and an updated list of endangered and threatened species for Wakefield.

Fleming said the edits were largely informational or corrections rather than substantive policy changes; the conservation commission and MAPC already provided support letters, and Fleming asked for new letters of support from the planning board, the conservation commission, MAPC and the recreation commission. Bill Spalding moved the board authorize a letter on behalf of the planning board; Jim Hogan seconded. The board voted yes on a roll call (Kristen Weekley, Theo, Jim Hogan, Bill Spalding and the chair recorded as yes).

Board members noted the plan’s usefulness as a reference tied to the master plan and recommended the planning board help shepherd the document toward final council action. Fleming said he expects to begin the council process after securing the remaining letters of support and that the planning board’s letter in the next few weeks would help his scheduling.

The motion directs the chair to reissue or sign a new letter of support consistent with the board’s prior endorsement; the board did not change the plan’s goals or assign new departmental duties during the vote.