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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-10 Master Plan Implementation Committee Minutes Master Plan Implementation Committee Meeting Minutes November 10, 2025 Attending: (in person): Meredith Barnes-Cook(Chair), Jon Strauss (Vice Chair), Brian Roache, Stan Limpert, Peter Koesterherm, Hollie Williams, and Amy Mabley Absent: John Simons and Al Manzi Staff: Andrew Shapiro (Assistant Town Manager/Director of Community and Economic Development) Zach Melcher(Staff Planner) Call To Order Chair Meredith Barnes-Cook called the meeting to order and noted those who were present for the meeting, consisting of a quorum. Public Comment No public comments were offered and no emails had been received by Mr. Shapiro. Vote on approval of June 9, 2025 minutes and October 6 2025 minutes Amy Mabley motioned to approve both sets of minutes. Jon Strauss seconded the motion. The vote was 5-0 in favor; Hollie Williams and Meredith Barnes-Cook abstained. The motion passed. Old Business: Continued discussion of updates on Master Plan strategies that have been made on the MPIC Implementation Web Page. Mr. Shapiro covered the following updates to Master Plan strategies: • Economic Development, Strategy 30: In partnership with the City of Lawrence, evaluate the economic impacts of the Lawrence Municipal Airport to determine options for maximizing economic benefits to both communities. 0 In 2025, Greater Lawrence Technical School launched a J2 million aviation RLqgram, providing students with a pathway to careers as mechanics and pilots and offering Federal Aviation Administration certifications upon graduation. The program is utilizing a hangar the school purchased at Lawrence Municipal Airport. • Transportation, Strategy 37: Work with FONAT to evaluate and prioritize off-street trail development, connections, and trail crossings to and through open spaces and recreation areas. 0 In November of 2025, the North Andover Select Board approved the expInsion of a REblic easement between The New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Town of North Andover, which allows for a smoother transition from the Historic Carriage Drive to a wooded trail located on the Rolling Ridge Conference Center property. Hollie Williams noted that a transportation related update is that the Youth Center is working with MeVa; they now have a bus that transports Middle School Students from school to the Old Center on a daily basis. Ms. Williams added that another Youth Center related update is that the Masonic Lodge, as part of an agreement between it and the Town for the use of CPA funding to fix its roof, is providing access to the Youth Center to hold educational programming there. • Open Space and Recreation Strategy 68: Continue to support the work of the Friends of North Andover Trails, Essex County Greenbelt, Bay Circuit Alliance, Trustees of Reservations, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, and others to create trail connections throughout North Andover and connecting to neighboring communities. 0 In November of 2025,the North Andover Select Board approved lh.Qx inmf� Rablic easement between The New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Town of North Andover,which allows for a smoother transition from the Historic Carriage Drive to a wooded trail located on the Rolling Ridge Conference Center property. • Historical, Cultural, and Natural Resources Strategy 73: Create a local Historic Preservation Master Plan to identify resources for stronger protection of historic resources, improvements to strengthen effectiveness of existing historic and neighborhood conservation districts, and protection of historic town records. 0 On October 6, 20251 aster Plan were presented to the Select Board. • Public Facilities and Services, Strategy 86: Support and/or expand resources to address the needs of residents of all ages suffering from substance abuse and mental health challenges. o In October of 2025, the Town launched town-wide access to.Care Solace, a platform that provides 24/7/365 mental health and social service care coordination services. Care Solace can help residents who are in need of food, housing, or affordable medical and dental care by connecting them to resources and providing eligibility information. Meredith Barnes-Cook inquired as to whether this program had been advertised in the newspaper. Mr. Shapiro responded noting that it had not, but that the Town issued a release via email and social media. Information is also on the Town's website and the schools utilize this program as well. • Public Facilities and Services, Strategy 90: Continue to upgrade and replace aging pipes for sewer and water systems, including evaluating possible expansion capabilities to residents that are not currently served by sewer and water infrastructure with a specific focus on protecting the drinking water supply. o In July of 2023, the Select Board approvedthe use of$750,000 in American Rescuec (ARPA) funding to clean an existingi Street at Frontage Road, and install a structural lining f 11 in an existing Cast iron water main under the railroad tracks. The cast iron pipe was installed in 1898 and in needoft is repair. Cast iron pipe is suseptableto fracture which could have devastating effects due to its location under the railroad tracks. Cleaning the pipe ill improve water qualityin the area. The project funding is $250,000 for engineering and $500,000for construction. CliC ere to learn more about this roj ect. ■ This project was completed in O2025.ctober New Business • Discussion and vote: Select Board and Planniggor Board Mr. Shapiro shared the draft report. Brian Roache suggested deleting the update for Strategy 72 under Historic, Cultural and Natural Resources. Mr. Shapiro agreed. Stan Limpert suggested noting towards the beginning of the report to explain how many of the total strategies had been addressed. Brian Roache made a motion to approve bi-annual update, pending final approval of the Committee Chair and the incorporation of edits noted during discussion. Jon Strauss seconded the motion. The vote was 7-0; motion carried. Discussion: Timing on consideration of a new comprehensive master plan Meredith Barnes-Cook was interested to understand the timing for consideration of a new Master Plan, given that the current Plan was published in 2018. Mr. Shapiro explained that 10 years was a logical point in time at which to develop a new plan. By the same token, it wouldn't necessary be wrong to wait longer if Town staff, management, boards/committees, and the general public agreed. Stan Limpert suggested that the next Master Plan could be more streamlined than the current Master Plan - less strategies. The strategies could be more overarching and refer back to more focused planning efforts in specific areas - such as historic preservation, climate change adaptation, transportation, etc. Mr. Shapiro noted that he would have a conversation with the Town Manager about next steps in terms of budgeting for the plan and moving forward with its implementation. Discussion of additional project updates as time allows Historic Preservation Master Plan Mr. Shapiro explained that there is a webpage for this plan on the Town's website, which contains the final plan and all information about how it was developed. He then shared the slide deck that was presented to the Select Board. Zach Melcher began going through the slide deck. He noted that it took about a year and a half to complete. Historic Preservation consulting firm, Heritage Strategies, was brought on to work with the Town on developing the Plan. Many stakeholders were consulted during development of the Plan, including the Historic Commission, both Historic District Commissions, and the Historical Society. Current conditions were covered, including the existing historic inventory and historic preservation efforts to date. Mr. Melcher noted that the most recent Annual Town Meeting already approved the use of CPC funding to support implementation of some of the Plan's strategies, including performing additional historic property inventories, as well as development of historic preservation design guidelines. Mr. Shapiro added that another strategy that the Plan outlines is the idea of creating more awareness around historic preservation. One way to do this, which many other communities have done, is to install a series of interpretive panels in locations of historic significance, which would provide information about a property or area. Mr. Limpert said that the Historical Society has been thinking about efforts like this, such as a walking tour around the Old Center, which would have QR codes that participants could access about historic homes. Mr. Limpert noted that the Plan calls for all of the disparate historic preservation organizations in Town (the three historic boards and the Historical Society in particular) to meet on an annual basis to coordinate with one another and discuss what each other is working on. Discuss and agree to next meeting date The Committee agreed to meet next on Monday, January 11, 2026 at 6pm. Adjournment: Amy Mabley moved to adjourn, and Stan Limpert seconded. The vote was 7-0 in favor.