Oak Hill Study Committee Makes Final Recommendations to BOS
The committee made numerous recommendations including conservation space, more public access, and a ban on hunting in the area.
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Susan Carter, chairperson of the Oak Hill Study Committee, presented her committee’s final recommendations to the Chelmsford Board of Selectmen on Monday night.
“I just want to thank all the committee members,” Carter began. “We were a diverse crowd with different backgrounds and different opinions and everyone managed to work together to form a compromise,” she informed the board and the meeting’s audience.
“Everyone got to see the fruits of their labor,” she gleamed.
Carter was proud to point out that the final recommendations were voted on unanimously, something that Board of Selectmen chairman Jon Kurland thought was worth pointing out.
“I know it was a daunting task, maybe even more challenging by the fact that there were so many people with diverse interests and perspectives,” Kurland said.
“The fact that the committee has come up with a unanimous vote, to be quite frank, I’m pleasantly surprised,” he admitted.
Carter presented six specific recommendations, as follows:
First, Oak Hill should be officially recognized as Open Space Conservation land.
Second, the control over the Oak Hill area should be transferred to the Conservation Commission within three years.
“If one board was coordinating the effort it would be a much more cohesive process and we felt that three years was enough time,” Carter said.
Kurland responded and indicated that this change in control was unlikely.
“I would like to remind people that it’s been under the control of the Board of the Selectmen since the town took control of the property,” Kurland said.
The third recommendation suggested that another committee be put in place to monitor important decisions regarding parking, fencing, a bridge to cross a stream, wildlife signs, and historical granite quarry signs.
Fourth, a Conservation Restriction be drafted under a thirty year term. This thirty year term, Carter explained, would be to allow for future governments to add legislation regarding new types of recreation.
Fifth, the Committee recommended the land for the following uses: historical preservation, public access, recreation, and camping.
During the fifth recommendation, Carter also pointed out that the following activities and items should not be allowed at Oak Hill: residential, commercial and industrial construction, billboards, hunting, and the removal of trees and granite.
Finally, the committee recommended that the Board of Selectmen not infringe on the property of abutters, most of which were warm to the idea of using the land for conservation.
The board filed a motion to accept these recommendations.
In lieu of Roland Van Liew’s accusation of Oak Hill Study Committee member Philip Stanway potentially working to get the town to engage in logging at Oak Hill, Carter explained the difference between logging and forestry management upon the request of board chairman Jon Kurland.
“Forestry management is about keeping your forest healthy,” Carter explained. “It’s not clear cutting, it’s not strip cutting, it’s doing what’s needed to keep the trees healthy.”
The Oak Hill Study Committee will meet once more to finalize its recommendations.
CORRECTION: Van Liew claimed that Stanway was working to get logging for the town, not Stanway's personal benefit.
Phil stanway
7:15 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I will be on Town Talk Weds with Joanne and one of the items I will talk about is this ludicrous idea that I have been working with an unnamed selectman and unnamed logging company to log Oak Hill. Still no answer on the questions 1) who is the selectman? 2) Who is the logging company? 3) Who is the source? 4) what is the evidence?..... the reason is simple its all made up to get votes and does not exist.
Gwen Star
2:27 am on Sunday, February 3, 2013
Roland is a little man with a big ego. He also has a great deal of money so he can be vindictive. He essentially hates the world and himself. He probably need psychological help.
ChelmsfordMom
7:28 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Phil, you shouldn't worry about this. Chelmsford appreciates everything you do for this town.
Ed Turner
7:42 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
So is this done at all town wooded areas where paths and hiking go on? If so, I question why Wright woods area looks so horrid in the aspect of "Healthy Forestry" as defined and charatcered by Mr. Kurkland. Anyone hold a degree on this "Forestry" ? Is that "open space" ? and can we get better up keep of the rotted dead and dying trees? Located at Acton Rd. and Parker Road.
Fran McDougall
12:05 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Mr. Turner, you do realize that the COSS is composed of volunteers who assist the town in keeping these areas as safe as possible by acting on reported problems when they are told about them or spotting a problem and taking care of it within the scope of their ability. My suggestion to all of you who take advantage of our wonderful open spaces either volunteer your services or at least report a perceived problem to one of the many volunteers trying to keep these areas safe and beautiful for your use. I look forward to many more people coming forward and assisting in these matters. I am pleased that you choose to enjoy these assets of our town There's a lot to like about Chelmsford. Pitch in and feel good.
Ed Turner
7:46 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
As for the ban on hunting. That a lone seems like a venue being attacked. Hey lets take away more of natures provisions. Why can we not leave frigging things a lone?
Ed Turner
7:48 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
More puiblic access. You mean more teen drinking areas. You create accesss, you create a habitat unwanted at night.
andrew giannino
8:22 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Mr. Turner,
As all Open Spaces in this town, they are managed by an all VOLUNTEER group of individuals. They get a small stipend from the town and many use their own money for chain saws, blowers, lawn mowers ETC. If you are so distraught with the conditions at Wright Reservation than I am sure there is a spot in the high paying ranks of the stewardship for such a concerned citizen. I guarantee that if you contacted Phil Stanway he would be happy to have you walk the trails as he does almost every weekend morning picking up trash, clearing trails and doing site checks. If you can handle a chainsaw then assist in the clearing of the dead and rotted trees. If you are content at staying home and throwing stones then why not attach a $100.00 bill to one of those stones and then throw it. Or you can head up to Best Fitness and walk on their tread mill.
Ed Turner
8:39 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
My opinion to your blurb Andrew is your comment is of a "JACK A___" rebuttal only sturing arguement. I asked questions. I was not looking for how or whom does the work, nor was I picking on Phil. Phil does a great job, but it is but a few who do the taskings. So keep your baboon comments to yourself if you have no better input. But thank you for showing the Town maybe too much is taken on volunteer basis and Nature should be left a lone to take care of herself. Which was my entire point about taking on more "Oak Hill"
Phil stanway
9:38 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Conservation bans hunting from all conservation land. Oak Hill is a great site and residents should be able to walk it and enjoy it. I think if you ask CPD and CFD you will find that the issue of teens on open space has dropped to almost zero. Chelmsford has the safest and best monitored open spaces in the area. Maintaining the health of the forest rests with ConCom and you should bring your concerns before ConCom. Go any meeting and ask questions ... you can make a difference. COSS only handles trails and any tree that could pose a saftey hazard to the trails. If its not going to fall on a trail we let it drop and it creates habitat. If it falls on the trail 90% of the time we just cut the section that is on the trail. Anything more than that is outside our agreements with Concom. Forest management is a huge project that requires special skills and education... we leave that to the professionals.
Ed Turner
10:13 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Thank you Phil. This answered a lot a questions and helped public awareness. Those that read these. So basically there is no more hunting within Chelmsfords borders except where permitted by private land owners and only if large enough to be hunted safely on? Could Oakhill be made into a reservation instead of conservation? My understanding is that on reservation wildlife preserves hunting in some cases is permitted and it seems we already have in Chelmsford plenty of "Open Spaced lands already available to the public without adding more?
Fran McDougall
12:10 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Mr. Turner, I am sorry you were unable to attend any of our meetings that were open to the public over the last 12 months. It's always seems sad to me that citizens do not take the opportunity to participate in the decision making but are swift to criticize the work in less than 24 hours after the report was given. Sad, sad, indeed.
Sue Carter
12:12 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Ed- Oak Hill is adjacent to the Scotty Hollow condos and during the 3 site walks by the committee, we saw people running and walking their dogs and this is before all the publicity about the site. If hunting were allowed, the public would not be able to use the site during hunting season. Police Chief Murphy and Paul Cohen both said that they felt hunting was not appropriate for this site.
Ed Turner
2:53 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
That's a whatever Fran. Maybe some of us have ailmemnts in our lives preventing such since you do not know me well. Now having a stint I can walk like others now after a year of sufferages. But who knew? Right!
Phil stanway
10:59 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Read this link below to talk about Chelmsford's Preserve
Chelmsford’s first wildlife reserve was dedicated to former Conservation Commission member Robert Greenwood on Jan. 18,
Read more: Land dedicated to former Chelmsford commission member - Chelmsford, Massachusetts - Chelmsford Independent http://www.wickedlocal.com/chelmsford/news/x684393584/Land-dedicated-to-former-Chelmsford-commission-member#ixzz2JNcCgpPm
If town meeting approves the move to Conservation then Conservation rules apply.I think the will of the town will be to move it to Conservation Control. No hunting, No motorized vehicles. I know of no place in town where hunting is allowed or going on. I think its been that way for decades. Sportsman club also does not allow it and they are next to Oak Hill. North Chelmsford does NOT have a large open space and it really deserves one on par with the other parts of town. It has a very different feel to the other large open spaces so its a great addition (If town Meeting and BOS decide to go that way). Town meeting has the final say and can allocate the resources to make this happen. I think they have a great road map to head that way.
Ed Turner
12:13 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Just remember folks, one day will come when the futures of our lands will not be able to wipe there own noses let alone survive chaos because the foods they get are grown and processed for them and they will lose sight to fetch it themselves. There sufferages more not being able to stomache the raw cleaning of there catch to feed themselves and the people. It's one communities definition of progress and conservation that will cause the future to loose the skills and educatiional values through the deprivation of public lands making it impossible to survive and live off the land as God planned, Yes it's happening all over and soon the "conservationist" will kill off the "reservationist" dreams and why? for what purpose? There's no more gain in conservation and I showed how there is loss instead if anything changing from "reservation" which is still protected lands. Again just my opinion though strong and maybe extreme for those that can not see past there own noses. I think we are spawning a future of murder for foods and lands. So continue to sow to the sears of our future the seeds of failure.
Sue Carter
12:21 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Ed- the recommended Conservation Restriction would remain local so that if the future townspeople have a different opinion about hunting, the process for modification would stay within the town. Town land, under the control of the town. The recommended restriction would require votes from the Selectmen, Conservation Commission, town Meeting and Land Trust (if they hold the CR) so any modifications would not be taken lightly and would have multiple layers of review.
Ed Turner
1:32 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I learn something all the time here. I'm grateful for the repsonses. I'm saddened though that lands kept natural and without foot traffic are far and few. I have often wondered why Red Fox and Deer as well as Cayotte and a few other woodland creatures have been seeking south Chelmsford/Westford and soon may need to move on too. I will always stand my ground though when I say we are doing more wrongs than goods because when people take land for improved and private public usage we do crowd out the wild and disturb the habitat we intent to preserve. I see it at Red- Wing Farm. Before it's conversions it was a quiet area. Yes it looks beautified but it is also with much more traffic on bike and foot than ever before. No one real;y into wildlife preservation can tell me different on how WE as humans change the habitiat in bad ways permanently. Birds are not the only creatures of habitat. We live in our homes and not in communes because we do not like sharing our space and habitat. None the different of nature.
John Gault
3:08 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Just so I'm clear Ed, you want the land to be left alone, so that the woodland creatures have a place to live, until you have time to kill them?
:)
Ed Turner
5:26 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Just so I'm clear with you John, don't be insultingly snide with me. There's more to wildlife than killing it for the pleasure or sake of just killing it as your obviously trying to get me to say or imply! "Until I have time to kill them" ,
If I were to hunt, which I do not and can not as I do not have any FID cards or permits and you can check with our PD on that, plus it's seasonal with respect to species both animal, and fowl. It would be to properly harvest from the land and not waste. At this point also it seems it does not matter what I want or think, the plans are set period, the people in town are not interested or the process would have been halted instead of going forth. So, Oh well the town gets what it wants by the few. Now it must live with itself. My questions have been answered and most, respectfully aside from a few unpleasant snotties, the same that probably bring disgrace to Chelmsford.
Ed Turner
6:03 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The same snotties that make any public meeting the last venue they want to experience ever again, it's the real way of Chelmsford and known to surrounding communities as a fact and laughed about. BTW, Not that I did not ever hunt in the past, and yes I taught my children how to hunt as well as farm and fish too. I also taught them survival. Ask yourselves this: How many of you without buying ingredients from a store could make soap, simple but vital to hygiene and deterant of infections. Just something to think about.
Andrew Sylvia
6:27 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
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Sue Carter
8:50 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Ed- There were biweekly meetings for over a year with a public input session and multiple articles in local papers. We did not have any advocates for hunting - the Lowell Sportsmen's Club does not allow hunting on their own property. Many of the regular attendees from the public were hunters themselves and did not advocate hunting on the property. So as far as a few making a decision for all, unless someone attends the meetings and speaks up, we can only assume there is not enough interest in hunting as a recommended use. The overwhelming interest was in keeping the property as open space. (P.S. I am an avid gardener and canner so I do know how to make and preserve my own food. Come down to the community gardens and see how many of your fellow residents grow their own food too.)