Back to Weir River Estuary Park Committee Meeting Minutes
May 5, 2010 at Estuary Center
Present: Dick Avery, Charlie Higginson (Cohasset)
Faith Burbank, Jim Rodgers (Hingham)
Judeth Van Hamm (Hull)
Amy May (Hull) - scribe
Absent: Scott Plympton (Hull)
1. Meeting began at 7:15
2. Minutes of April 7, 2010 approved with the following corrections.
3E . strike this line "Put into LPP as an amendment the bike and pedestrian routes
4F. change May to April
5b. change need to deal with on a case by case basis
5c. add non-motorized boat between Hingham and access
5 E& f should be a separate entry as Hingham Update
3. Clarify ownership around Foundry Pond
A. Faith updated us that Parcel 15 on p 31 of LPP is part of the Cushing property. She will confirm at the next meeting what the acreage of Cushing was transferred to the town.
B. The committee agreed it is not ready to vote on the suitability of the map as an amendment to the LPP and Hingham OSP until further information is obtained.
4. Faith updated the committee on the impact of the Hingham Town meeting.
A. The summary document she gave to the committee is attached as an addendum to these minutes.
B. Dredging of Foundry Pond – passed contingent on funding with the following discussion
A resident spoke strongly about maintaining it as a pond
The CPC asked pointed questions about returning it to a river versus maintaining it as a pond.
The engineer explained that is would need to be dredged either way as if the dam was removed the silt would end up in the harbor.
5. Foundry Pond fish survey
A. There was also an update on fish – four 12 inch herring came up the ladder before the trap was removed for better access. They also saw many smelt and eggs at the base of the dam. There has been discussion of retrofitting the dam to help downstream migration.
B. Dick expressed that habitat restoration is a subject of interest to WREP. Faith said we all need to be better educated on dam removal facts.
6. Definition of Park boundaries
Each member had been asked at the last meeting to think about how they would define the park boundaries. A discussion of this was held.
A. Dick Said World's End and Straits Pond already have their own identity and could be left out of the park, but could be added in later.
B. Judeth said there are 50 years of protection in the estuary.
Started with World's End, then ACEC designation, now the park. She sees the estuary as a triangle with Sunset Point, Straits Pond and Foundry Dam as its corners.
C. There was as brief discussion of the Hingham Parklands Map and how the Estuary is portrayed on it. Only part of it is shown since the map is for Hingham.
D. Amy felt one of the problems may be that of semantics and that what is trying to be accomplished is more of a Park District or group of Park Lands. She has experience with a park district model from a past job.
7. Make the Match Update
A. Another piece was paid down this week, just the grant match will be left.
B. There will be a "tree thermometer" to mark progress by the medical center and an article in the Hull times issue that goes out to everyone.
8. Meeting adjourned at 9PM
Next meeting June 2 at Estuary Center.
Summary Hingham Warrant articles PASSED 2010 that relate to Weir River Estuary
1.Harbor By-law amendments
SECTION 4 - Wake Restrictions
No vessel shall exceed the speed of six (6) nautical miles per hour or be operated at speed which shall cause a visible wake within the confines of Hingham Harbor, except while engaged in water skiing or the use of personal watercraft in areas as defined on charts issued for such use by the Board of Selectmen.
SECTION 6 - Water Skiing
No person shall operate a vessel in Hingham Harbor or in the Hingham Waterways of the Back River or Weir River (which are Areas of Critical Environmental Concern) while towing water skiers, aquaplanes or other similar devices except in areas defined on charts issued by the Board of Selectmen, and in no event shall any such vessel be operated within one hundred fifty (150) feet of any beach or swimming float.
SECTION 10 – Violation
Whoever violates any section or provision of this Article shall be liable for a penalty of fifty (50) dollars per day for each violation.
SECTION 11 – Effective Date
This Article shall become effective upon approval of the Director of Environmental Police and the expiration of five (5) days after a legal posting in a newspaper of general distribution in the Town of Hingham.
2. THE NAMING OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC LANDS, or sub-areas within a public building, or areas or sub-areas associated with any public lands, -definitions, policy, procedures.
3. A new Hingham Harbor Overlay District (HHDOD) encompassing all of the land on the north side of Route 3A along Hingham Harbor, from the Bathing Beach to Steamboat Wharf.
The proposed Harbor Overlay District consists of three privately-owned parcels with an underlying zoning designation of Waterfront Business District, and eight Town-owned parcels zoned Official and Open Space.
Changes to permitted uses within the Overlay District are intended to provide a variety of appropriate recreational uses aimed at drawing residents to the waterfront and enhancing opportunities for public enjoyment.
4. Dredging Foundry Pond