September 20, 2000
Planning Board, 25 High Road Newbury
Elizabeth Bear Collins, Co-Chair
Robert Dash, Co-Chair
Martha Leahy, Clerk
David C. Mountain
Martha L. Taylor
Open Space and Recreation Committee
Donald Blair
Laura Colby
Elizabeth Bear Collins
Martha Leahy
John Matthews
Dan Streeter
Martha Taylor
Jerrard Whitten
Joe Tevald (ex officio)
Acknowledgements
Sarah Hammond Creighton
Geoffrey Walker
Bruce Saunders
Interested residents who attended meetings and gave input.
Table of Contents
Section 1 – Summary 1
Section 2 – Introduction 2
A. Statement of Purpose 2
Planning Process and Public Participation 2
Section 3 - Community Setting 3
Regional Context 3
History of Newbury 3
Population Characteristics 4
D. Employment and Income 5
Growth and Development Patterns 6
Organized Recreation Teams 7
Section 4 - Environmental Inventory and Analysis 8
Geology, Soils, and Topography 8
Landscape Character 10
Water Resources 11
Vegetation, Fisheries and Wildlife 14
Scenic Resources and Unique Environments 17
Environmental Problems 17
Section 5 - Inventory of Lands of Conservation and Recreation Interest 21
Protected Conservation and Recreation Lands 22
Unprotected Open Space Properties 29
Recreation Resources 34
Section 6 - Community Goals 38
Description of Process 38
Statement of Open Space and Recreation Goals 38
Criteria for Selection of Open Space and Recreation Properties 38
Section 7 - Analysis of Needs 40
Summary of Resource Protection Needs 40
Summary of Community’s Needs 41
Summary of Management Needs, Potential Change of Use 44
Section 8 - Goals and Objectives 45
Section 9 – Action Plan 47
Section 10 – Public Comment 56
Section 11 – References 57
Appendices 58
Survey
Survey results
Survey comments
List of Tables
Table 3-1: Newbury Population Growth Projections
Table 3-2: Newbury Population Age Group Projections
Table 3-3: Newbury and State Income Levels (1990)
Table 4-1: Soil Characteristics
Table 4-2: Land Use Classification
Table 4-3: Tidal Wetland Acreage Summary
Table 4-4: Major Types of Habitat
Table 4-5: Vegetation: Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species
Table 4-6: Vertebrates and Invertebrates: Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species
Table 4-7: Summary of Newbury's Zoning Regulations
Table 5-1, Permanently Protected Properties Over 100 Acres
Table 5-2, Essex County Greenbelt Association Conservation and Recreation Properties
Table 5-3, Miscellaneous Protected Properties
Table 5-4, Town of Newbury Owned Conservation and Recreation Properties
Table 5-5, Agricultural Preservation Restrictions, Conservation Restrictions
Table 5-6, Town Owned parcels of Unknown Open Space Attributes
Table 5-7, Chapter 61 Properties
Table 5-8, Privately owned and Unprotected Parcels of Open Space Interest
Table 5-9: Existing Fields for Active Recreation
Table 5-10: Primary Areas for Passive Recreation
Table 6-1: Criteria for Selection of Open Space and Recreation Properties
Table 7-1: Current Demand for Athletic Fields as Determined by Coaches
Table 7-2: Dimensional Requirements for Playing Fields
Table 7-3: Comparison of Newbury Facilities with Surrounding Towns
List of Maps
Water Resources
Open Space
Soil Limitations
Zoning
Special Landscape Features
Newbury Trails Map
Section 1 – Summary
This Open Space and Recreation Plan represents a year-long planning effort. The plan details Newbury’s natural resources, recreation facilities, and unique aspects. It also identifies many opportunities to preserve the Town’s rural character, scenic views, and environmental quality that are overwhelmingly valued by Town residents.
The plan details and builds on the results of a survey of over 500 Town residents, 50% of whom have lived in Town more than ten years, who clearly indicated that as a group they:
Value the rural character and open space of the Town;
Feel that there is a great need for increasing spaces for both active and passive recreation;
Are willing to appropriate funds, accept state funds, and change zoning to accomplish the above;
Are overwhelmingly concerned about growth pressures in Town.
This plan identifies five broad goals that resulted from the planning process and represent an achievable vision for the coming five years. These goals are:
Protect the Town’s rural character;
Protect natural resources rivers, coastal areas, wetlands, marshland, and wildlife;
Meet the demand for active recreation;
Enhance passive recreation opportunities;
Establish ongoing responsibility for open space and recreation concerns.;
Achieving these goals will require a commitment by a large number of entities including Town boards and commissions, schools, non-profit organizations, and volunteers. The implementation of the Plan must be ongoing and evolving. To build on the existing momentum and ensure that this implementation process continues, the plan recommends the establishment of an Open Space and Recreation Committee reporting to the Planning Board. Other major objectives include:
Address growth and growth management strategies;
Encourage new and continued agricultural uses in Town;
Identify and preserve scenic views and historic sites;
Protect water supplies and watersheds;
Protect the river and marshlands;
Protect coastal areas and wetlands;
Provide 10 additional athletic fields;
Identify suitable properties available for purchase, lease or gift;
Provide information to Town residents about available existing resources.
The creation of this plan represents a beginning, not an end. The Committee preparing it welcomes input and ideas as well as participation in making the vision within a reality for Newbury.
Section 2 - Introduction
Statement of Purpose:
This plan was undertaken in response to a strong sentiment that the character and health of natural resources in Newbury are being increasingly strained by rapid development. Planning such as this is needed to ensure that the inevitable growth does not decimate the Town’s natural and historic environment. It is the Townspeople’s concern that Newbury is losing its rural character.
The planning process that has resulted in this Plan has been instructive and thoughtful. Its purposes have been to:
Understand the Town’s existing built and natural resources;
Understand and anticipate the Town’s needs for open space and recreation space;
Improve the Town’s maps and associated tools;
Garner broad input about priorities for the Town;
Identify priority areas for protection and recreation;
Complete the State’s open space planning requirement.
The plan provides a comprehensive inventory of the Town’s open space and natural resources. It also includes a series of action steps that can help the Town preserve its resources for future generations, keep the Parker River clean, and develop recreation fields for the populace. The plan will provide a vehicle to guide future planning processes and actions.
Planning Process and Public Participation
The Planning Board, in response to the obvious pressures to develop marginal land and the demonstrated and long-standing need for active recreation space, spearheaded the planning process that resulted in this plan. In the Spring of 1998 it asked two graduate students from the Tufts University department of Urban and Environmental Policy to assist in preparing the inventory of lands and background information that makes up the Environmental Inventory and Analysis section. In January of 1999 the Planning Board formed an Open Space and Recreation Subcommittee of interested residents. This Subcommittee met semi-monthly for nearly one year and undertook a Town-wide survey conducted in March of 1999, a detailed mapping effort, site walks, and a public hearing and presentation to Town boards.
This effort represents an important commitment of planning and time by volunteers from within the Town.
Section 3 - Community Setting
Regional Context
Newbury is a coastal community located in Northeastern Massachusetts. The Town has significant water resources including tidal rivers, saltwater marshes and wetlands. The Parker River, where the first settlers arrived, provided the lifeline for a fishing and agrarian economy and for limited colonial milling. However, the flows were insufficient to power the larger mills which developed in the neighboring Merrimack Valley in the nineteenth century.
Newbury remains a semi-rural Town with strong ties to shellfishing and agriculture. It has become a desirable residential community in the twentieth century, initially as the population of Newburyport spread out and more recently as a part of metropolitan Boston.
Newbury is an attractive community to live in for a number of natural and locational reasons. The ocean and tidal rivers provide superior opportunities for swimming and boating. The broad reaches of wetlands, tidal marsh and river valley contribute to the livability of homes and neighborhoods and separate clusters of developed areas with wide natural buffers. Transportation links via interstate highway to employment centers in greater Boston and the Merrimack Valley, and relatively easy access to Logan International Airport, have contributed to residential growth. Rail service was recently restored and commuters can arrive in Boston in about one hour.
Commerce and industry place few burdens on the Town’s natural resources and no significant commercial development is likely to occur because established commercial centers exist in neighboring Towns and a super-regional center is established in nearby Peabody and Danvers.
History of Newbury
In 1634 the ship "Mary and John" left the Thames River in England carrying John Parker, James Noyes, and other men, women and children bound for a better life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. They wintered in Agawam (today Ipswich) and in the Spring of 1635 they moved up the Quascacunquen (today the Parker River) and landed east of the present day Parker River Bridge. At the end of present day Cottage Road is a Memorial Boulder commemorating the landing spot and marking Newbury's beginnings. The people were farmers dependent upon the land and themselves for survival.
The colonists built their settlement and prospered. As the population increased, Newbury's boundaries extended from the Parker River outward to the Merrimack River and the Artichoke. In 1654 the first navigable bridge, called Thurlow's Bridge, was built over the Parker River by Richard Thurlow. Thurlow's Bridge opened the road for travel from Boston, Ipswich, and Salem. Richard Thurlow charged a toll, not for humans but for animals. Today Thurlow's Bridge is still in existence.
On the upper Parker River, near the falls, industry was started -- the Byfield Woolen
Mills on the Falls, Old Tappan Grist Mill on Main Street, Sawmill on River Street and the
Larkin-Moffill Mill which later became Pearson's Snuff Mill, on Larkin Road. By
1932 the only industrial business remaining was Pearson's Snuff Mill; that closed
in the 1990s.
In 1807 the first Female Seminary in America was founded in Byfield. Today the building is privately owned after a few years of serving as a Military School. Governor Dummer Academy, the oldest boarding school in America, was founded in 1763, and is still an integral part of Newbury.
In 1878 silver was discovered in a large field off Scotland Road. This discovery made money for those who sold their land and those who became involved in what was known as the Chipman Silver Mine. The mine produced $500,000.00 worth of silver and $100,000.00 in dividends. The mine closed in 1925.
The "Waterside" group built their homes, churches, businesses and municipal buildings along the Merrimack River. This "Waterside" group, having acquired the title of merchant, shipbuilder, or sea captain, decided that they had nothing in common with the farmers of "Old Town.” These "Waterside people petitioned the General Court to become a separate community. In 1764 the Town of Newburyport became incorporated. In 1819 the residents of the West Parish petitioned the General Court to become a separate community and they became the Town of West Newbury.
Newbury is presently divided into three villages, Old Town, Byfield, and Plum Island. Each village functions individually under the umbrella of the local government. Yet each village extends to one another a unique dependency, such as that of the government center and schools located in Old Town, the library in Byfield and ocean recreation on Plum Island.
Today Newbury is considered a residential community with some farming. Clamming and salt marsh haying continue to provide income for local residents. Some local commercial activities exist in Town, but the tax base is largely residential.
Population Characteristics
In order to plan properly for the Town’s present and future open space needs, the size, density, age, and composition of the population must be considered.
During the 30-year period between 1960 and 1990, Newbury’s year-round population increased dramatically, more than doubling from 2,519 to 5,623. Projections through the year 2020 by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council Data Center predict continued substantial growth as follows:
Table 3-1: Newbury Population Growth Projections
|
1960 |
1970 |
1980 |
1990 |
2000 |
2010 |
2020 |
Population |
2,519 |
3,804 |
4,529 |
5,623 |
6,501 |
7,389 |
8,490 |
10-Yr Increase |
----- |
1,285 |
725 |
1,094 |
878 |
888 |
1,101 |
% Change |
----- |
51.0% |
19.1% |
24.2% |
15.6% |
13.7% |
14.9% |
If the above projections hold true, Newbury will need to plan for the outdoor recreational needs by the year 2020 of a population 51% higher than that of 1990, the date of the last published census. Although the growth in the population under the age of 19 will grow about 14%, slower than the population as a whole, active recreation facilities will need to be added since existing facilities have been overcrowded and inadequate to meet demand for many years.
The density of the population also has increased. Dividing the 1980 population of 4,529 by the Town’s 24-square mile area yields an average density Town-wide of 189 persons per square mile. In 1990, the Town-wide density had increased to 234 persons/sq. mile.; by 2020 the Town-wide density is projected to increase to 354 persons/sq. mile. In reality, the density is and will be actually be much higher, given that over 7,000 acres of land (consisting principally of salt marsh and state/federal lands) are non-inhabitable. When only the areas that are actually “livable” are factored into the equation, the projected year-2010 population density increases to 685 persons/sq. mile.
The age distribution is changing as well, as the large “baby boom” generation grows older. As the figures in the following table indicate, in 1980 nearly one-third (31.4%) of the population was under 20 years of age. In 1990, this under 20 age group had declined to 27.8% of the population. By the year 2020, only about one-fifth (20.9%) of the population is projected to be under 20 years of age. Over this same period, the 60 years-and-older age group is expected to increase significantly, from less than 16% in 1980 to over 32 % in 2020.
Table 3-2: Newbury Population Age Group Projections
Age Group |
1980 |
% |
1990 |
% |
2000 |
% |
2010 |
% |
2020 |
% |
0 – 19 |
1,424 |
31.4 |
1,562 |
27.8 |
1,654 |
25.4 |
1,593 |
21.6 |
1,774 |
20.9 |
20 – 39 |
1,450 |
32.0 |
1,394 |
24.8 |
1,437 |
22.1 |
1,524 |
20.6 |
1,740 |
20.5 |
40 – 59 |
956 |
21.1 |
1,485 |
26.4 |
2,284 |
35.1 |
2,473 |
33.5 |
2,245 |
26.4 |
60+ |
699 |
15.4 |
892 |
15.9 |
1,127 |
17.3 |
1,798 |
24.3 |
2,730 |
32.2 |
Total |
4,529 |
|
5,623 |
|
6,501 |
|
7,389 |
|
8,490 |
|
D. Employment and Income
Newbury is primarily a commuter or “bedroom” community, as its residents are for the most part employed outside of the Town in the larger employment centers surrounding Greater Boston. According to the 1990 census, the largest proportion of the Newbury work force is employed in the service industry (38%), followed in turn by wholesale and retail trade (20%), manufacturing (18%), finance/insurance/real estate (7%), construction (6%), and public administration/government (5%).
Newbury’s median family, household, and per capita income levels, as indicated below, are higher than those for Massachusetts as a whole.
Table 3-3: Newbury and State Income Levels (1990)
|
Median Family |
Median Household |
Per Capita |
Newbury |
$47,711 |
$44,068 |
$19,917 |
Massachusetts |
$44,367 |
$36,952 |
$17,224 |
E. Growth and Development Patterns
Patterns and trends
Newbury's three villages have seen significant growth in population and development in the twentieth century, particularly in the post World War II period. This has occurred almost exclusively in the residential sector. The following summarizes the pattern and forces spurring growth in the three villages.
Old Town. Throughout the twentieth century there has been a steady development of new housing in Old Town. Initially this development occurred as a natural extension of the neighborhoods of Newburyport’s South End, resulting in a relatively dense neighborhood extending from Marlboro Street to Rolfe's Lane. Development then spread along the frontage of Old Town's established roads, notably High Road to the Lower Green, and Parker, Hanover, Green and Hay Streets. In the 1960s the first significant subdivisions occurred, including Riverview Drive and side streets off of Hanover and later Seaview Lane and Old Farm Way. In the 1980s and 1990s new housing has spread along Scotland Road, and Orchard and Middle Streets, resulting in a connection of Old Town and Byfield neighborhoods.
Plum Island. Early in the century Plum Island was divided into hundreds of house lots. Thereafter there was a steady development of summer cottages and camps, with a handful of year-round homes. The past twenty-five years have seen a significant increase in the number of year-round residents. Summer cottages have been converted and expanded into year-round homes.
Byfield. The substantial growth of housing and neighborhoods occurred later in the century largely as a result of the construction of Interstate Highway 95. With the highway, Byfield became an attractive rural suburban address for metropolitan commuters. This growth initially occurred along established streets and then in subdivisions beginning with Academy Park and Pearson Drive. In the 1980s new subdivisions included Knobb Hill and Courser Brook. The trend continues in the 1990s with the addition of Austin Fields and Fatherland Farms.
Community Facilities. This steady growth has placed significant additional demands on Town services. The two village schools, Byfield and Woodbridge, were retired in 1997 when the "Round School,” which had been built in the 1950s, was expanded and totally renovated to accommodate all elementary school children in Newbury. Triton Regional Junior/Senior High School was constructed in Byfield in 1970 and serves Newbury, Rowley and Salisbury. In 1998 the Town voted to construct a new library in Byfield to serve the Town's growing population.
Infrastructure
Newbury is easy to get to and is quite well served by transit. Route 95 provides easy interstate access to Newbury. MBTA train service was recently restored between nearby Newburyport and Boston. Bus service for commuters offers regular service to Boston and Logan Airport.
Potable water is provided by the Byfield Water District to much, but not all of Byfield. Some of Old Town is served by the Newburyport Water District. However, much of the Town, including residents of Plum Island, is served by private wells. Throughout the Town wastewater is handled by on-site septic systems.
Long-term development patterns
Development patterns in the Town are difficult to predict, but current trends are showing steady pressure for single family homes of above average size. Most of these home are currently built on lots of minimum or near minimum size (40,000 square feet). While a number of large parcels of land remain undeveloped, poor soils, ledge, wetlands, and other topographic features restrict full development of many of these. Increasingly the Town is seeing strong pressure toward very small subdivisions (one to four lots) on lands previously considered (and assessed) as single family lots.
A build out analysis of the Town is expected to be undertaken by the regional planning agency in early 2000. Attention to the development of “back land”, through subdivision control or with the use of recently passed zoning allowing larger lots with reduced frontage, will be important to determining an accurate build out.
F. Organized Recreation Teams
The Town has a number of active organized recreation teams. These are summarized below:
Triton Youth Soccer: 2 sessions - Spring and Fall
Total participants per session approximately 600. 48% of the players are from Byfield/Old Town, 47% from Rowley and 5% from Salisbury.
Games currently played Saturdays at Triton Regional High School (TRHS) on 2 fields in the Fall and 1 available field in the Spring and Newbury Elementary School (NES) for small sided games - 1 field available. Older age groups play on Sundays (U-16)
Practice is wherever the coach can squeeze. Nets are available at TRHS for use on a first come first serve basis if no high school teams are playing or practicing. Other fields for practice are in Newbury on the Upper Green or the elementary school when available.
Pop Warner Football: 1 session (Fall) beginning in August ending in early November.
Total Participants: football players approx. 170 and Cheerleaders: 120. Program includes 33% from Byfield/Old Town; 33% from Rowley and the balance from Georgetown and Salisbury.
Games held on Sundays on the TRHS varsity football field;
Practices are held at TRHS for football 10 hours/week before school starts and 6 hrs/wk after school starts. Cheerleaders are also held at TRHS and can be the same amount of hours before competition and less after.
Pop Warner director, Blaise Crotty does not want to jeopardize his access to TRHS in any way since it has taken a few years to get this practice and game space. He does recognize that the program is growing at a rapid rate and will need additional space in the future.
Newbury Participants (projected/2020)
Football (106) or 9.1% increase
Soccer (302) or 5% increase
Baseball/Softball (355) or 8% increase
Section 4 - Environmental Inventory and Analysis
Note: This Section is based on Section 1 of the “Natural Systems and Land Use Inventory and Analysis: Newbury, Massachusetts,” prepared for the Town of Newbury Planning Board by Todd D. Ford and Darcy L. Jameson, Spring 1998.
Geology, Soils, and Topography
Note: The information in this section is based on the MASSGIS Base Map of Newbury and the USGS Soil Survey of Essex County, Massachusetts, Northern Part. It should be noted that while the Soil Survey broadly characterizes the soil types in Newbury as poorly draining and generally incapable of supporting on-site septic systems, empirical evidence has shown that there are many localized pockets of soil in the Town suitable for supporting building structures and septic systems.
Newbury is a low-lying coastal Town located on Massachusetts’ northeastern shore. The gently rolling terrain ranges from sea level to 120 feet above sea level. It is bordered on its eastern shore by the Atlantic Ocean and extensive tidal marshes.
Although Newbury is a small Town, its surficial geology is quite varied. The northern and western parts of the Town are comprised primarily of till or bedrock (mixtures of gravel, sand and particles in differing proportions). The northernmost part of the Town and areas in the southwest are soils comprised of fine-grained deposits (particles range in size from .5 mm to less than .004 mm in diameter). The soils adjacent to the Parker River and Plum Island are largely Floodplain Alluvium. The remaining portions of Newbury, Plum Island and a large area north of the Parker River are comprised of sand and gravel.
Specifically, Newbury is made up of five soil associations. Soil associations are comprised of a mixture of soil types that have a distinct pattern of soils, relief and drainage. The U.S. Geologic Survey “general soil map” of the associations provides a broad perspective for assessing land uses and limitations. The five major associations, their characteristics, and suitability for septic systems, recreation, and other uses are outlined below.
Table 4-1: Soil Characteristics
Soil Association Name |
Characteristics |
Suitability for Septic Systems |
Suitability for Recreational Uses |
Other Comments |
Ipswich-Westbrook-Udipsamments Association |
Deep, nearly level, very poorly drained, mucky soils formed in organic deposits; gently sloping to very steep, excessively drained, sand soils formed in windblown sand |
Poorly suited for septic systems due to high water tables. |
Considered suitable for limited recreation uses and for the development of wildlife habitat. Wetness of soils may be a limitation. |
The wetness, tidal flooding and high organic matter content of the Ipswich and Westbrook soils and the droughtiness, susceptibility to erosion, and low fertility of Udipsamments make the association poorly suited to most other uses. |
Hinkley-Windsor-Merrimack Association |
Deep, nearly level to steep, excessively drained and somewhat excessively drained, sandy and loamy soils formed in outwash deposits. |
Poorly suited for septic systems due to high water tables. |
Soils are suitable for some forms of recreation although the wetness of the soils may be a limitation |
Some parts of the association are droughty and steep, and most of the soils have seasonal high water tables. Soils are generally suitable for farming and residential development. |
Canton-Charlton-Sutton Association |
Deep, nearly level to steep, well drained and moderately well drained, loamy soils formed in friable glacial till. |
Poorly suited for septic systems due to high water tables. |
Soils are suitable for some forms of recreation although the wetness of the soils may be a limitation. |
These soils are suitable for dairy farming, orchards, truck crops, and most for residential development. However, like most of the other associations in this area, they are plagued by high seasonal water tables that limit their use for septic systems and recreation. |
Scantic-Maybrid-Buxton Association |
Deep, nearly level to moderately sloping, very poorly drained and moderately well-drained, loamy soils formed in lacustrine to marine sediments. |
Poorly suited for septic systems due to wetness and high water tables. |
Soils are suitable for some forms of recreation, although the wetness of the soils may be a limitation. |
These soils are poorly suited for residential development. They are characterized by high seasonal water tables and flooding. Wetness is the main limitation for most uses of these soils. |
Charlton-rock outcrop-Medisaprist Association |
Deep, nearly level to steep, well drained, loamy solid formed in glacial till, rock outcrop; and deep, nearly level, very poorly drained, mucky soils formed in organic deposits. |
Poorly suited for septic systems due to wetness and high water tables. |
Soils are suitable for some forms of recreation, although the wetness of the soils may be a limitation. |
These soils are best suited for woodland and for woodland wildlife. They also have good potential for wetland wildlife. Some of these soils are suitable for residential development, but are also subject to wetness and high organic matter content. |
USGS Topographic Quadrangles and the USGS Soil Survey of Essex County, Massachusetts, Northern Part, 1981
Implications for Sanitary Facilities and Water Resources: Based on an analysis of the information in the above table, the majority of Newbury's soils are considered unsuitable for septic systems due to the high water tables and rapid permeability of the soils. This does not mean that it is illegal to construct septic systems in these soils, however the Town runs a greater risk of contamination of both private and public water supplies by permitting their use. The soils are poor septic system absorption fields and fail to provide a good buffer between the septic systems and water table. This is problematic for Newbury because the Town has no public sewer system and must therefore rely on septic systems for handling sanitary waste.
Implications for Recreational Land Uses: All of the associations are rated as highly unsuitable (severe) for most forms of recreational uses. The USGS Soil Survey rates each soil type for its suitability to support various types of recreation, including camp areas, picnic areas, playgrounds, paths and trails, and golf fairways. Ratings range from slight (limitations are easily overcome), to moderate (limitations can be overcome with planning, design and maintenance), and severe (soil properties are unfavorable and redemption is likely to be costly).
This does not mean that soils suitable for recreation uses such as baseball and soccer fields do not exist, but rather the general characteristics of Newbury's soils are not considered suitable for these recreational uses. Lands that are suitable for recreation in Newbury are a valuable resource for the Town. However, it should be noted that these soils are also prime lands for development.
B. Landscape Character
Newbury’s large and numerous tracts of open space, including protected areas and private parcels, and its modest population density of approximately 232 people per square mile, provide the Town with a strong rural character. Conservation lands comprise nearly half of the Town's total acreage; however, a large percentage of this is wetland area.
Newbury’s prominent landscape characteristics include Plum Island, Plum Island Sound, and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge; however none of these areas falls completely within the borders of Newbury. The Refuge includes much of the Parker River, its tributaries and tidal marshes, and the southern two-thirds of Plum Island.
The Refuge, established in 1942 and managed in accordance with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service policy, is open year round and is considered one of the top ten bird-watching sanctuaries in the United States. The Refuge is 4,662 acres and is comprised of tidal marches, freshwater impoundments, bogs, and sandy dunes. It is one of the few natural barrier beach-dune-salt marsh complexes remaining on the Northeast. It is home to over 800 species of plants and animals. The Refuge and over three miles of public beaches on Plum Island are a unique landscape and provide local residents and tourists with opportunities for cross-country skiing, hiking, nature observing, picnicking, bicycling, surf fishing, hunting, and swimming.
Another noteworthy landscape feature is the series of three major roadways that fragment Newbury: Interstate 95, Route 1 and Route 1A. These roads run north-south and cut the Town into thirds. The rest of the roadways in Town are, for the most part, smaller winding rural roads with many scenic qualities.
Land Use: The following table provides additional information about the current utilization of land in Newbury
Table 4-2: Land Use Classification
Classification |
Acres |
Percentage of Total Land Area |
Residential 9.4% |
1,475 |
9.4% |
Commercial 0.3% |
43 |
0.3% |
Industrial 0.1% |
10 |
0.1% |
Transportation 1.2% |
187 |
1.2% |
Agriculture 11.9% |
1,860 |
11.9% |
Urban Open Space 0.7% |
107 |
0.7% |
Recreation |
187 |
1.2% |
Water |
182 |
1.2% |
Other* |
11,584 |
74.1% |
Source: Community Profiles, Newbury. DHCD. Original data source is the Office of Environmental Affairs, 1985.
* “Other” was not defined in the Community Profiles; it is assumed that this includes wetlands and other open space.
Water Resources
Surface Water
The Parker River and its tributaries comprise the majority of Newbury’s surface water resources. There are no major lakes, ponds, or reservoirs in Newbury, with the exception of the freshwater impoundments on Plum Island and vernal pools throughout the Town. The Parker River flows through the southern portion of Newbury into the Plum Island Sound. Its head-waters are located further west in Georgetown. The Mill River, Newbury’s southern boundary with Rowley, is one of the Parker River’s tributaries. The Little River, the Parker River’s largest tributary, enters the Parker River from the northwest. A host of other small tributaries flow into the Parker River and into the Sound. The Lotel River is the most significant of these. This network of waterways
serves as a valuable wildlife corridor, connecting the Town’s conservation lands and other open space.
According to a recent study of the Refuge, Plum Island comprises a beach zone and dune area of approximately 820 acres. It is also home to a 3,000 acre tidal marsh and several fresh water impoundments – a rich habitat for hundreds of year-round and migratory species.
Flood Hazard Areas
Given the massive network of the Parker River and its tributaries, as well as Plum Island and the Sound, Newbury has extensive flood hazard areas. Most of these areas fall in low-lying undeveloped conservation lands around the Parker River and Plum Island and do not cause an obvious threat to human development. However, the floodplains also stretch into Newbury's interior and there do create chronic flooding problems.
Wetlands
Wetlands are prevalent throughout Newbury, especially along the banks of the Parker River and on Plum Island. Many, but not all, are protected. The twenty Towns that make up the north shore region contain approximately 30,000 acres of tidal wetlands, over half of which are salt marshes (the remainder are tidal freshwater wetlands). Newbury has over 5,000 acres of tidal wetlands, the second largest holding in the region.
“Tidal wetlands serve as vital nursery and spawning ground for many commercial and recreationally important fish and shellfish species. Coastal wetlands also buffer the land against erosive storm-generated waves and temporally store flood waters on a frequent basis.” (Atlas of Tidally Restricted Wetlands, Mass. Wetlands Restoration and Banking Program, EOEA, p.5.) Tidal marshes are invaluable because of their role in supporting unique flora, fauna, coastal fisheries, and for their ability to absorb flood waters. Because many of Newbury’s tidal marshes are in the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, they have been largely protected, but the risk of environmental degradation remains a possibility if land use practices and water resource management of the waters that feed the area are not
appropriately monitored.
Section 4-D, “Vegetation, Fisheries, and Wildlife”, includes information about some of the species which are commonly found in the wetland areas.
The following table provides additional detail about Newbury’s tidal wetlands.
Table 4-3: Tidal Wetland Acreage Summary
Ditched salt marshes (acres) |
Other salt marshes |
Fresh water tidal marshes |
Tidal aquatic beds (acres) |
Non-vegetated tidal wetlands (acres) |
Total wetlands (acres) |
3,100 |
1,420 |
162 |
0 |
568 |
5,250 |
Source: Atlas of Tidally Restricted Marshes, North Shore of Massachusetts, December, 1996.
Newbury contains approximately 100 acres of tidally restricted wetlands. Tidally restricted salt marshes are usually the result of human construction that restricts the free flow of tidal waters. For example, posts that support bridges are frequently rooted in concrete that was poured into wetlands. The concrete fill and posts restrict tidal water from flowing upstream. “These hydrologic changes significantly alter the chemical integrity of the upstream salt marshes. The once strongly saline environment changes to a brackish or fresh water condition.” (Atlas of Tidally Restricted Marshes, p.6.) These variations in the natural environment cause changes in the vegetation, such as the infiltration of the Common Reed (Phragmites) which leads to lower plant diversity and changes
in the vegetative structure.
Phragmites is an invasive, non-native species that is causing damage throughout the state's wetland areas. One Phragmites site has been identified in Newbury (although others may exist); however, this site is not located in a tidally restricted area. Some surrounding Towns have as many as six Phragmites sites. Newbury has twenty potential restricted wetlands totaling approximately 140 acres that are at higher risk of being invaded by Phragmites.
Water Supply and Wellhead Protection Areas
Byfield District: Currently Byfield has two community-supply wells, one located on
Larkin Road near Interstate 95, the other on Forest Street. The first is an eight-inch gravel pack well with a pumping capacity of 149 gpm. The second is a new rock well with a capacity of 264 gpm, brought on line in May 1998 to replace a twelve-inch rock well which was closed under order from the DEP due to chronically high levels of bacteria from the Parker River. Water pumped from these wells is treated with chlorine.
Byfield is generally able to meet the District's water demand including the fire department with the exception of peak use during the summer months - the District continually researches new water sources. It is worth noting that the Byfield Water District does not supply water to the rest of Newbury. The third well can be brought back on line in case of an emergency with permission from DEP.
Byfield monitors its water quality to ensure that it is meeting state and federal standards. All three wells have a state approved wellhead protection area (zones 1-3). The Forest Street well’s zone 3 extends into the neighboring Town of Georgetown. Byfield has a cooperative agreement with Georgetown to help ensure the integrity of the Forest Street well. The Byfield Water District monitors wells on a bimonthly basis for bacteria and other contaminants in accordance with the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) schedule. One noteworthy threat to the wells’ water quality is run off from Interstate 95. When the Interstate is heavily salted during the winter months, high levels of sodium have been observed in the water supply in the spring.
Newbury: A large part of the Old Town section of Newbury purchases its water from the Newburyport Water District. Newburyport water is treated with chlorine and fluoride. Newburyport has been supplying water to Newbury since approximately 1930 and has approximately 650 customers. Currently, Newbury and Newburyport are researching their options for connecting water lines to the residential part of Plum Island as well as areas of the southern portion of High Road. In order for Newbury to put in any new large developments that require water from Newburyport, the Newburyport Water Commission must review the plans and assess whether or not they are capable of meeting the demand. To date, Newburyport has been able to meet demand, including the Old Town Fire Department that pays a hydrant fee
for its twenty-seven hydrants. Newburyport recently developed a new reservoir in West Newbury and installed a new filtration plant with a daily capacity of 4.5 million gallons, thereby substantially increasing its water capacity.
Over the last several years, Newbury has drilled several test wells throughout the Town in an effort to develop its own water supply. However, due to various types of contaminants found in the wells (i.e., high levels of nitrates) and limits in pumping capacity, no wells have been brought on line. One well, Bashaw's well on Parker Street, does have significant capacity, but water pollution threats from pre-existing industrial activities in the area have prevented development of this resource.
Residents that are not in the Byfield District or in an area of the Old Town serviced by Newburyport have on-site wells. The primary threats to private wells are their close proximity to septic systems that have been constructed in soils poorly suited for them and the fact that many of the systems are old and failing.
Vegetation, Fisheries and Wildlife
Overview
There are seven Natural Heritage Priority Areas in, or partially in, Newbury that are home to many common and rare species. Newbury’s coastal ecosystems are a designated Area of Critical Environmental Concern. Two inland areas located in the Northwest comer of the Town are also priority areas. “These areas contain composites of uplands and non-tidal wetlands, providing habitat for species that need wet conditions for part of their lives, such as breeding, and upland forested areas for the rest of their lives” (from Massachusetts Heritage and Endangered Species Program).
Newbury also contains several certified vernal pools. Vernal pools are temporary, isolated bodies of freshwater that provide critical habitat for many vertebrate and invertebrate wildlife species. In Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program certifies pools that meet certain biological and physical criteria. These pools qualify for some regulatory protection.
Vegetation
Because Newbury boasts such a diverse community of ecosystems, a wide range of vegetative species can be found throughout the Town.
Coastal Areas: Species commonly found in the tidal wetlands are the Salt Marsh Aster (Aster tenuifolius), Common Reed (Phragmites australis), Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), Three-squares (Scirpus pungens and americanus), Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), Broad-leaved Cattail (Typha latifolia), and Wild Rice (Zizania aquatica).
Forested Lands: As noted earlier, Newbury has extensive conservation lands, some of which are densely populated with rich coniferous forests. Forested areas include several Wildlife Management Areas, Fish and Game Lands, the Old Town Hill Reserve, the William/Henry Gray Reserve as well as other privately held tracts of land.
Several of the most common types of habitat found in Newbury include Woodland, Brush Boarders, and Open Fields. These areas are generally defined by the type of vegetation and often include local wildlife. The following chart briefly outlines the three areas noted above.
Table 4-4: Major Types of Habitat
Type of Habitat |
Dominant Plant Species |
Commonly found Wildlife |
Woodland |
Oak Stands |
Chickadees, Chipmunks |
Brush Boarders |
Sumac |
Song Sparrows, Field Mice |
Open Fields |
Thistles |
Golden Finch, Groundhogs |
Source: Trustees of Reservations, 1998.
Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species: The Massachusetts Heritage and Endangered Species Program (MHESP) is the agency responsible for identifying, monitoring, and helping communities protect their unique environments and species. The following table identifies many of Newbury’s threatened or endangered species, and their status, based on MHESP’s most recent data.
Table 4-5: Vegetation: Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species
Latin Name |
Common Name |
Federal Status/Year of Last Observation |
Aristida Tuberculosa |
Seabeach Needlegrass |
SC/1995 |
Bidens Hyperborea Var |
Estuary Beggar Ticks |
E/1981 |
Elymus Villosus |
Hairy Wild Rye |
T/1997 |
Equisetum Scirpoides |
Dwarf Scouring-Rush |
SC/1900 |
Eriocaulon Parkeri |
Estuary Pipewart |
E/1924 |
Gentiana Andrewsii |
Andrews' Bottle Gentian |
E/1954 |
Ranuncalus Ambugens |
Spearwort |
Unavailable/1902 |
Rumex Verticillatus |
Swamp Dock |
T/1951 |
Sagittaria Calycina Var |
Estuary Arrowhead |
E/1981 |
Spongiosa |
Same |
Info not available |
Sanicula Odorata |
Long-Styled Sanicle |
T/1902 |
Selaginella Rupestris |
Rock Spikemoss |
WL/1952 |
Key (DFW Rank): E=Endangered; T= Threatened; SC=Special Concern; WL=Unofficial Watchlist
Source: Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, 1998.
Fisheries and Wildlife
Newbury’s rich mosaic of rivers, inland and coastal wetlands, and forested conservation lands provides abundant habitat for many species.
Marine and Estuary Fish and Shellfish: There is an abundance of fish and shellfish in and around the Newbury coast. Several species that are dependent on tidal wetlands are: Striped Bass, Bluefish, Winter Flounder, Scup, Tautog, Black Sea Bass, Menhaden, Summer Flounder, Wealfish, Eel, White Perch, River Hearing, Shad, Smelt, Blue Crab, Jonah Crab, Lobster, Quahog, Soft Shell Clam, Bay Scallop, Oyster, and Conch.
Clam beds provide an important source of revenue for Town residents, as do other forms of commercial fishing. An oyster bed in the Parker River has been totally lost as a result of bacteria levels. The Division of marine Fisheries monitors the safety of the local waters for shellfishing by taking monthly water samples to test for fecal coliforrn bacteria. Clam flats are automatically closed for five days when more than .5 inches of rain falls within 24 hours between April 1 and December 14, and for eight days when more than one inch falls in a 24-hour period. During the winter months the flats are closed when more than an inch is received within 25 hours. In general, the Town’s clam flats are closed approximately one third of the year due to high levels of fecal coliform bacteria, both in the Sound
and further up the Parker River.
The Department of Marine Fisheries has identified the following pollution sources: agricultural runoff (especially from the cow farm on Parker Road), failing septic systems, wildlife waste, and effluent from Governor Dummer Academy's waste water treatment plant which is discharged directly into the Mill River. Governor Dummer is working in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Environmental Protection on the plant's inflow and infiltration problems in an effort to mediate chronically high bacteria counts. In addition to these significant and easily identifiable sources of pollution, many smaller sources such as lawn fertilizers, household cleaners, and pet waste are also major pollutants.
Wildlife: Newbury is home to a rich variety of wildlife. Many species continue to thrive; however, a significant number of species are now threatened or endangered.
Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species: The following table identifies many of Newbury’s threatened or endangered fish and wildlife species, and their status, based on MHESP’s most recent data.
Table 4-6: Vertebrates and Invertebrates: Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species
Latin Name |
Common Name |
Federal Status |
Accipiter Cooperii |
Cooper’s Hawk |
SC/1955 |
Ambystoma Laterale |
Blue-Spotted Salamander |
SC/1990 |
Bartramia Longicauda |
Upland Sandpiper |
E/1994 |
Botaurus Lentiginsos |
American Bittern |
E/1953 |
Calidris Canutus |
Red Knot |
WL/1978 |
Charadrius Melodus |
Piping Plover |
T/1996 |
Cirus Cyaneus |
Northern Harrier |
T/1958 |
Cistothorus Platensis |
Sedge Wren |
E/1985 |
Clemmys Guttata |
Spotted Turtle |
SC/1996 |
Clemmys Insculpta |
Wood Turtle |
SC/1994 |
Emydoidea Blandingii |
Blanding's Turtle |
T/1985 |
Hemidactylium Scutatum |
Four-Toed Salamander |
SC/1986 |
Lanius Ludovicianus |
Loggerhead Shrike |
E/1976 |
Podilymbus Podiceps |
Pied-Billed Grebe |
E/1973 |
Pooecetes Gramineus |
Vesper Sparrow |
T/1982 |
Rallus Elegans |
King Rail |
T/1956 |
Scaphiopus Holbrookii |
Eastern Spadefoot |
T/1983 |
Sterna Antillarum |
Least Tern |
SC/1996 |
Sterna Dougallii |
Roseate Tern |
E/1980 |
Sterna Hirundo |
Common Tern |
SC/1996 |
Tyto Alba |
Barn Owl |
SC/1970 |
Cincinnatia Winkleyi |
New England Siltsnail |
SC/1986 |
Littoridinops Tenuipes |
Coastal Marsh Snail |
SC/1986 |
Key (DFW Rank): E=Endangered; T=Threatened; SC=Special Concern; WL=Unofficial Watchlist
Source: Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, 1998.
Corridors: As noted earlier, almost half of Newbury’s total acreage is conservation land. The Town also has large undeveloped tracts of privately held land and miles of rivers and streams. These open spaces provide wildlife – both resident and migratory species – with abundant habitat and safe avenues in which to travel. However, other than the corridors created by the waterways, Newbury does not have any preserved wildlife corridors that connect the largest tracts of land, especially between the coastal and inland conservation lands. Wildlife’s ability to move between areas will be significantly restricted when the privately held open space areas are developed. Currently, the Town is fragmented by Interstate 95 and Routes 1 and 1A.
E. Scenic Resources and Unique Environments
Plum Island and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge are Newbury’s most scenic and unique environments. Extensive tidal wetlands are home to hundreds of species and provide both recreational and commercial value for the Town.
In addition to the Refuge area and the Island, Newbury has large tracts of rich forested lands that add to its rural character. The Martin Burns and William Forward Wildlife Management Area, each approximately 1,500 acres and other tracts of forested lands are ideal for cross-country skiing, hiking, hunting, and nature walks. Several other smaller areas such as the North Shore Salt Marshes, Old Town Hill Reservation, F. William/Henry Gray Reserve also provide opportunities for hunting, boating, walking, skiing and hiking (see Section 5).
The Town is also rich in scenic and historic sites, including open vistas across the marshes along Routes 1 and 1A and numerous homesteads dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
F. Environmental Problems
Hazardous Waste Sites
While Newbury is a small residential community with no heavy industry, it nevertheless faces environmental problems from hazardous waste sites. There is a Department of Environmental Protection State "Superfund" Site (21E Site) near Rt. 1 on the Newburyport border, where a fire at a metal finishing company caused soil, ground and surface water contamination. The water used to douse the fire carried contaminants into nearby wetlands and percolated into the ground. Remediation efforts are still underway at the site. Currently, Newbury and Newburyport are negotiating the relocation of a Newburyport gas station to the contaminated area.
The largest problem facing Newbury, although not hazardous in the common use of the word, is the abundance of septic systems. Because all residents and businesses in Newbury must rely on septic systems, even though the majority of the Town’s soils are not suitable for them, they pose a potential serious threat to the Town’s ground and surface water resources.
Also of concern is a storm drain located in the Byfield area of the Town which drains runoff from Interstate 95 near the Larkin Street well into the Parker River. Although this pipe has not been officially identified as a hazardous waste source per se, it would carry hazardous runoff directly into the river if a major accident, such as an oil spill, were to occur on Interstate 95.
No complete record of underground gasoline storage tanks is available for Newbury. However, based on the Fire Department's assessment, the majority of underground storage tanks at the Town’s fueling stations and most other private businesses have either been removed or replaced. Over the last ten to twenty years many tanks which were originally located on farms were also removed when the farms were sold and developed.
Landfills
There is one active landfill in Newbury located off Boston Road. In the early 1990’s, Newbury began to “mine” the landfill. Mining a landfill involves removing all recyclable materials and reclaiming fill, “dirt,” that was used for cover to reduce the volume and increase capacity. This will help Newbury meet the Town’s demand for landfill space for many more years to come. In addition to mining the landfill, the Town is also removing all of the waste, section by section and lining the landfill. Once a section has been lined, all unrecyclable waste is returned to the landfill. The mining and lining processes are well underway and the Town anticipates completing the project within the next few years.
Based on the State's Solid Waste Regulation (310 CMR 19), the Newbury landfill does not accept recyclable materials, hazardous materials, or other banned matter such as yard waste. The landfill has a recycling center for residents and the Town also has a disposal program for batteries, waste oils, and brush to reduce illegal dumping and disposal. Town residents can also contract with one of several local private companies for curbside removal of trash and recyclables.
Erosion
Given the maze of rivers, streams, and wetlands throughout the Town, there are many areas subject to problems with erosion. Plum Island in particular, as a barrier island situated between the Plum Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean, is subject to the wind and water pressures that generally cause erosion. The general characteristics of Newbury's soils also make them susceptible to erosion.
Chronic Flooding
Because Newbury is a low-lying coastal Town, significant portions of it lie in flood plain zones, making the area highly susceptible to flooding. When tides run high (approximately twelve feet) and/or the region receives storms of eighteen inches or more, many areas in Newbury are subject to chronic flooding. The Highway Department has identified most of the “problem” areas and is working to upgrade the culvert pipes to accommodate the increased flow. However, Newbury experiences “100-year storms” about every five years and given Newbury’s topography, the Town will continue to face chronic flooding problems.
Several areas that flood on a regular basis are Middle Road near Governor Dummer Academy, Newman Road near Hay Street, and Pine Island Road off of High Road. Culverts on Boston Road near the railroad tracks were recently upgraded to reduce public road and driveway flooding in that area. As a result of flooding, Newbury faces problems with washouts on roads and Plum Island beaches are more severely eroded on years with especially high tides.
Sedimentation
See “The Plum Island Sound Mini-Bay Project” study by the Massachusetts Audubon Society for information about sedimentation, erosion, and other water-related issues.
Development Impact
Approximately half of Newbury’s lands are protected. Nonetheless, Newbury is beginning to feel the impact of families moving further from the Boston area in search of smaller rural communities rich in natural resources, recreation areas, and good schools. The extension of the commuter train line to Newburyport has facilitated transportation to Boston and its suburbs and is a prime source of increased development pressure on Newbury. Until now residents have relied on private transportation and buses in order to commute to the city. Based on observations of trends in surrounding Towns that have train access, the efficiency of the train service will likely entice people to move into the Town, increasing the demand for residential development.
Two aspects of the Town's zoning bylaws are particularly worth noting here. First, Newbury's residential districts are not fully developed (built out). If Newbury were fully developed, its population density and impact on the Town’s natural resources would increase substantially. Second, the Town is now seeing increasing development of “backlots” (the land area behind homes that are situated on the main road). By putting in a cul-de-sac off the main road, developers can meet minimum frontage requirements to construct more new homes. This has the potential to significantly increase the level of expected development in the Town, further stressing the area's water resources and soil capacity to absorb septic system effluent.
The Town's rural, winding roads are also feeling the pressures of increased development. As an example, several of the narrower roads, such as Orchard Street, can barely accommodate two school buses passing one another, nor do they provide enough room to store snow when it is plowed from the roads after winter storms. While residents often object to widening roads because trees are removed and the character of the roads is substantially altered, pressures are at the same time mounting to widen many of the roadways for the sake of convenience and safety.
Table 4-7: Summary of Newbury's Zoning Regulations
|
Single Family, Limited Business District |
Single Family, Agricultural, residential |
Single Family, Ag./Res. Reduced Frontage Lot |
Two Family, Ag./Res. On-Site Water Supply |
Two Family, Ag./Res. Public Water |
Minimum Lot Size (sq.ft.) |
80,000 ft |
40,000 ft |
4.5 acres |
80,000 ft |
60,000 ft |
Minimum Lot Width or Frontage (ft.) |
125 ft |
125 ft |
50 ft |
125 ft |
125 ft |
Source: Zoning Bylaws, Town of Newbuy, MA. Revised April 1999
Ground and Surface Water Pollution
Groundwater: As noted previously, Newbury has several water quality issues that cause regular problems for the Town, including bacteria infiltrating the ground water from the Parker River and its tributaries, salt from the highway, septic system effluent, and other non-point sources of pollution. One well in the Byfield Water District is being taken off line because of high levels of bacteria originating from the nearby Parker River.
Exploratory test wells have been drilled in several locations throughout Newbury for potential new water sources. However, no new wells have been developed due to either their pumping capacity or the possibility that the aquifer is at risk of contamination from pre-existing industries that leached contaminants in the wellhead area. High levels of bacteria and nitrates also threaten Town and private wells due to the high water table and poorly suited soils for septic tank absorption fields.
Surface water: Based on several studies of the Parker River and its tributaries, which comprise the majority of Newbury’s surface water, the water quality is generally quite good. However, there are several threats that need to be addressed: development along the Parker River is still permitted, septic system setbacks are minimal (approximately 100 feet), septic systems leach in to surface waters, untreated runoff from Interstate 95 is diverted directly into the Parker River, and other non-point sources of pollution enter surface waters (e.g., pet waste, household chemicals, and lawn fertilizers).
Section 5 - Inventory of Lands of Conservation
and Recreation Interest
Introduction
Along with an inventory of the Town's natural resources, an Open Space Plan is required to contain an inventory of the Town's conservation, recreation, and undeveloped land.
Conservation land is land that has been protected against development for the purpose of conserving the land and the natural resources that are supported by the land. The Parker River Wildlife Refuge is an example of conservation land. Recreation land can be divided into two sub categories, active recreation land, and passive recreation land. Active recreation land is land that is primarily used for intensive recreation such as baseball, soccer, and playgrounds. Schools are an example of active recreation land. Passive recreation land on the other hand is primarily used for less intense purposes such as hiking, bird watching, and canoeing. The Amelia Little Salt Marsh is an example of land used for passive recreation.
The level of protection afforded to recreation land varies - they are not all protected. Conservation and recreation land is summarized in Section 5-B in Tables 5-1 through 5-8. Unprotected Parcels of Open Space Interest are lands that are currently "open space", but are at risk for development because it is held in private hands and has no restrictions placed upon it. Governor Dummer Academy property is an example of undeveloped, private open space that could be developed. These parcels are summarized in Section 5-B in Table 5-8. Chapter 61 Properties are land that is under temporary protection for the purpose of agriculture, forestry or recreation.
These tables serve several purposes. First, they provide information regarding a Town's existing conservation and recreation lands in one database for easy reference. This information is useful when a Town is examining its resources regarding passive and active recreation space. Second, the tables provide information regarding open, yet unprotected, privately owned parcels. This information can be used to examine opportunities for acquiring new conservation and recreation space. These tables are a very specific tool in the open space planning process. From them, Newbury can examine their current resources regarding conservation and recreation lands, while looking at potential resources that could be acquired or otherwise utilized in the future. This process is of particular
importance for Newbury, as the Town has identified a need for future, active recreation space. As Table 5-4 summarizes, the Town has limited active recreation facilities and the properties that the Town does own are limited in size and use. Newbury can use Tables 5-7 and 5-8 to examine potential recreation space and then use a more in-depth analysis to prioritize and pursue the chosen properties.
Several criteria that the Town might want to consider when selecting properties to acquire for recreation are the parcel's drainage capacity, proximity to other recreation facilities and population centers, and ability to negotiate a price for the land within the Town's budget. Given an ideal situation, the optimal parcels will also serve a secondary role such as protecting a wellhead area, connecting two larger tracts of conservation land to create a corridor, or protecting an endangered species or vernal pool. Maps with information about each of these secondary concerns can be overlaid onto a map with properties in Section 5-B to easily facilitate the identification of properties that meet the criteria.
A. Protected Conservation and Recreation Lands
The following tables (5-1 through 5-6) contain information on the properties within Newbury that are considered protected conservation and/or recreation land. 'Protected' means that for any variety of reasons a property cannot currently be developed. Some properties are more protected than others. For instance, a property protected in perpetuity or forever, has a higher degree of protection then a property that has a school on it. The Town could always decide to further develop the school, thus developing seemingly protected open space.
Table 5-6 is based upon information from the Town Assessors’ office and is included to provide a base for further assessment of their suitability for conservation or recreational use.
Methodology
The majority of this information was compiled from the MASSGIS Open Space Report and the Town Assessor's maps and database. The information from the two sources was combined into this one database. In the other databases, each parcel has its own row in a table. In the following table some of these parcels were combined into one row. For instance, all contiguous properties designated by the USFWS as the Parker River Wildlife Refuge shared the same public access, primary purpose and protection level and were therefore combined into one row of the table. This will allow future researchers to see the information regarding one set of commonly held properties in a single table.
To make the tables more user-friendly, they have been divided in the following manner:
Table 5-1, Permanently Protected Properties Over 100 Acres
Table 5-2, Essex County Greenbelt Association Conservation and Recreation Properties
Table 5-3, Miscellaneous Protected Properties
Table 5-4, Town of Newbury Owned Conservation and Recreation Properties
Table 5-5, Agricultural Preservation Restrictions, Conservation Restrictions
Table 5-6, Town Owned parcels of Unknown Open Space Attributes
The source databases did not organize the properties in any logical manner, and made finding a specific property quite a time consuming process. By dividing the properties into five separate tables, individual properties will be easier to find and information can be compared and examined at a glance instead of flipping through pages of numbers and symbols.
Key to Tables 5-1 through 5-8:
Map-Lot: Assessor's Map and Assessor's Lot Numbers
R=Rural U=Urban
Property Name: The common name of the combined parcels. Some properties do not have common names.
USFWS: United States Fish and Wildlife Service
DFWELE: Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife and Environmental Law Enforcement
TTOR: The Trustees of Reservations
ECGB: Essex County Green Belt Association
SPNEA: Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities
SDFS: Sons and Daughters of the First Settlers
Town: Town of Newbury or a Municipal Agency
MA: Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Fed: The United States Government
Address: Street address is provided when available
Owner Status: N = Private Nonprofit P = Private for Profit
Public Access: L = Limited X = Unknown 1 = Public 4 = Private(public welcome)
5 = Private(Members only) 6 = None
Primary Purpose: Why the property is protected and what is its primary use
R = Recreation (facilities based) C = Conservation (non-facilities based activities)
B = Recreation and Conservation H = Historic/Cultural
A = Agriculture W = Water Supply Protection S = Scenic
O = Other X = Unknown
Protection Level: To what degree is the parcel protected
P = In perpetuity T = Temporary (Chapter 61, some CRs)
L = Limited N = None X = Unknown
Acres are calculated by MASSGIS and do not necessarily mirror assessors’ acreage. The acreage was taken from the MASSGIS calculations when available because assessors’ acreage is less accurate and subject to change.
Note: Information is current as of December 1999. Any missing information was not available from the written material or follow-up calls to the Assessor's office. Particulars are believed to be correct but errors may exist. Please bring these to the attention of the Newbury Open Space and Recreation Planning Committee. Updating these tables as land-use changes occur over time is an important part of the Open Space Planning process.
Table 5-1, Permanently Protected Properties Over 100 Acres
Map-Lot |
Owner |
Property Name |
Acres |
Primary Purpose |
Public Access |
R-40-1 |
DFWELE |
CRANE POND WMA |
292 |
C |
Yes |
R-40-13 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-40-2 |
|
|
|
|
|
U-12-40 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-40-6 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-40-8 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-20-9 |
DFWELE |
MARTIN H. BURNS WMA |
1462 |
C |
Yes |
R-39-8 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-42-10 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-42-2 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-42-3 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-32-30 |
DFWELE |
NORTH SHORE SALT MARSH |
107.00 |
C |
Yes |
R-13-1 |
DFWELE |
WILLIAM FORWARD WMA |
1294 |
C |
Yes |
R-3-1 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-3-2 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-5-51 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-5-46C |
|
|
|
|
|
R-34-34 |
SPNEA |
SPENCER PEIRCE LITTLE FARM |
199 |
A |
Limited |
R-49-1 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-49-9 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-11-15 |
TTOR |
OLD TOWN HILL RESERVATION |
497 |
B |
Yes |
R-11-15A |
|
|
|
|
|
R-11-17B |
|
|
|
|
|
R-11-17C |
|
|
|
|
|
R-12-10 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-12-11 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-12-12 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-25-1 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-25-11 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-25-19 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-25-22 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-25-24 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-26-1 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-26-2 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-26-25 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-26-4 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-26-5 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-35-8 |
|
|
|
|
|
U-10-1 |
USFWS |
PARKER RIVER NWR HEADQUARTERS |
2.02 |
B |
Yes |
R-10-1 |
USFWS |
PARKER RIVER WILDLIFE REFUGE |
2015 |
C |
Yes |
R-6-13 |
|
|
|
|
|
R-8-1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total: 42 parcels, 5,868 acres
Table 5-2, Essex County Greenbelt Association Conservation and Recreation Properties
Map-Lot |
Property Name |
Address |
Acres |
Primary Purpose |
Public Access |
Protection Level |
R-14-14 |
INGRAMS SALT MARSH |
211 Middle Rd. |
11.00 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-21-17A |
Knight’s Common |
Orchard St. |
9.00 |
B |
X |
P |
R-21-18 |
Knight’s Common |
|
22.90 |
B |
X |
P |
R-22-28 |
Hoope’s Saltmarsh |
Orchard St. |
23.80 |
B |
X |
P |
R-22-29 |
Hoope’s Saltmarsh |
|
23.80 |
B |
X |
P |
R-30-2 |
GRAF RESERVATION |
PI Turnpike |
175.00 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-30-3 |
GRAF RESERVATION |
|
5.00 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-30-6 |
GRAF RESERVATION |
|
17.00 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-30-7 |
GRAF RESERVATION |
|
8.00 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-30-8 |
GRAF RESERVATION |
|
61.00 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-30-9 |
GRAF RESERVATION |
|
4.00 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-31-22 |
GRAF RESERVATION |
|
8.88 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-31-23 |
GRAF RESERVATION |
|
2.30 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-31-24 |
GRAF RESERVATION |
|
1.70 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-31-31 |
Pine Island |
Pine Island Rd. |
0.36 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-31-32 |
Pine Island |
|
4.00 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-31-33 |
Pine Island |
|
1.88 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-31-7 |
Pine Island |
|
7.50 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-31-9A |
Pine Island |
|
2.40 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-32-37D |
PINE ISLAND SUGARLOAF |
37 Old Pine Island Rd. |
6.00 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-41-25 |
GRAY ADAMS RESERVATION |
3 Moulton St. |
1.00 |
C |
4 |
P |
R-49-23 |
GRAF RESERVATION |
|
6.00 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-50-14 |
PLUMBUSH SALT MARSH |
PI Turnpike |
4.00 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-50-15 |
AMELIA LITTLE SALT MARSH |
Sunset Dr. |
9.50 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-50-16 |
AMELIA LITTLE SALT MARSH |
|
6.20 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-50-16 |
AMELIA LITTLE SALT MARSH |
|
6.20 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-50-18 |
AMELIA LITTLE SALT MARSH |
|
10.40 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-50-18 |
AMELIA LITTLE SALT MARSH |
|
10.40 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-50-2 |
AMELIA LITTLE SALT MARSH |
|
28.30 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-50-7 |
AMELIA LITTLE SALT MARSH |
|
11.00 |
B |
4 |
P |
R-5-40 |
STILT POND |
|
10.00 |
C |
X |
P |
R-14-13 |
Wilson Woodland |
~MiddleRd. |
10.05 |
B |
4 |
P |
Total: 32 parcels, 509 acres
Table 5-3, Miscellaneous Protected Properties
Map-Lot |
Owner |
Owner Status |
Site Name |
Acres |
Primary Purpose |
Public Access |
Protection Level |
U-6-27A |
X |
N |
FIRST PARISH CEMETERY |
3.00 |
H |
X |
P |
R-11-10B |
SDFS |
P |
|
0.47 |
H |
X |
P |
R-11-10C |
SDFS |
P |
|
0.50 |
H |
X |
P |
R-11-10D |
SDFS |
P |
|
0.51 |
H |
X |
P |
Total: 4 parcels, 4.4 acres
Table 5-4, Town of Newbury Owned Conservation and Recreation Properties
Map-Lot |
Owner |
Property Name |
Address |
Acres |
Primary Purpose |
Public Access |
Protection Level |
R-18-23 |
BYFIELD WATER DIST |
WATER DEPARTMENT LAND |
Larkin Rd. |
10.51 |
W |
6 |
P |
R-18-24 |
BYFIELD WATER DIST |
WATER DEPARTMENT LAND |
Larkin Rd. |
5.22 |
W |
6 |
P |
R-18-25 |
BYFIELD WATER DIST |
WATER DEPARTMENT LAND |
Larkin Rd. |
13.27 |
W |
6 |
P |
R-40-3 |
BYFIELD WATER DIST |
WATER DEPARTMENT LAND |
Forest St. |
1.93 |
W |
6 |
P |
U-11-65 |
Town |
BYFIELD SCHOOL |
|
0.34 |
R |
1 |
L |
U-11-66 |
Town |
BYFIELD SCHOOL |
|
1.80 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-11-10A |
Town |
EVERGREEN CEMETERY |
Cottage Rd. |
3.51 |
H |
1 |
P |
R-16-6 |
Town |
GREAT MEADOW |
121 Orchard St. |
16.50 |
B |
1 |
P |
R-16-7 |
Town |
GREAT MEADOW |
|
23.15 |
B |
1 |
P |
R-21-19 |
Town |
GREAT MEADOW |
|
54.85 |
B |
1 |
P |
R-21-22A |
Town |
GREAT MEADOW |
|
5.31 |
B |
1 |
P |
U-14-17 |
Town |
Library/Ball field |
50A Lunt St. |
~2.6 |
R |
1 |
X |
R-12-5 |
Town |
LOWER GREEN |
High Rd. |
4.82 |
R |
1 |
P |
U-2-3 |
Town |
NEWBURY BEACH |
|
7.34 |
R |
1 |
P |
R-47-1 |
Town |
NEWBURY ELEMENTARY |
63 Hanover St. |
11.56 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-47-24 |
Town |
OAK HILL CEMETERY |
Parker St. |
0.92 |
H |
1 |
P |
U-7-24 |
Town |
OAK HILL CEMETERY |
|
0.92 |
H |
1 |
P |
R-20-108 |
Town |
PLAYGROUND |
14 Pearson Dr. |
1.46 |
R |
1 |
L |
U-1-191 |
Town |
PLUM ISLAND BEACH |
|
11.54 |
R |
1 |
L |
U-9-75 |
Town |
TOWN GREEN |
|
5.72 |
R |
1 |
P |
R-11-74 |
Town |
TOWN PIER |
289 High Rd. |
2.20 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-1-60 |
Town |
TRITON HIGH SCHOOL |
Elm St. |
34.10 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-17-18 |
Town |
TRITON HIGH SCHOOL |
112 Elm St. |
88.95 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-19-6 |
Town |
Woolen Mill |
Larkin Rd. |
~1.9 |
H |
X |
X |
Total: 24 parcels, 306 acres
Table 5-5, Agricultural Preservation Restrictions, Conservation Restrictions
Map-Lot |
Owner |
Owner Status |
Address/ Site Name |
Acres |
Primary Purpose |
Public Access |
Protection Level |
CR/APR |
R-12-4 |
Mennicicci/Polis |
P |
Barton Field |
6.9 |
C |
N |
P |
CR |
R-22-27 |
Richard Simkins |
P |
65 Orchard St. |
25.7 |
A |
6 |
T |
CR |
R-34-20 |
KNIGHT ELIZABETH |
P |
TENDERCROP FARM |
10.40 |
A |
4 |
P |
APR |
R-34-30 |
TRAISTER |
P |
~High Rd |
34.00 |
A |
X |
P |
APR |
R-34-34 |
SPNEA |
N |
SPENCER PEIRCE LITTLE FARM |
128 |
A |
L |
P |
APR |
R-34-4 |
TRAISTER |
P |
~Green St. |
34.00 |
A |
X |
P |
APR |
R-34-40 |
Kozazcki |
P |
off High Rd. |
16.00 |
A |
X |
P |
APR |
R-34-46 |
Kozazcki |
P |
off High Rd. |
17.95 |
A |
X |
P |
APR |
R-45-8 |
Traister |
P |
Highfield Rd. |
10 |
A |
6 |
P |
APR |
R-45-9 |
Traister |
P |
Highfield Rd. |
15.7 |
A |
6 |
P |
APR |
R-48-1A |
Kozazcki/Harris |
N |
~High Rd. |
11.13 |
A |
X |
P |
APR |
R-48-55 |
Colby |
P |
119 High Rd. |
52.3 |
A |
6 |
P |
APR |
R-49-1 |
SPNEA |
N |
PI Turnpike |
22 |
A |
X |
P |
APR |
U-13-3 |
Joanna Batchelder |
P |
Johnson Mill |
1.6 |
C |
L |
P |
CR |
U-14-21 |
Joanna Batchelder |
P |
Johnson Mill |
0.67 |
C |
L |
P |
CR |
Total: 15 parcels, 386 acres
Table 5-6, Town Owned Parcels of Unknown Open Space Attributes
Map-Lot |
Site Name |
Address |
Primary Purpose |
Public Access |
Protection Level |
R-11-10A |
EVERGREEN CEMETERY |
2.60 |
H |
1 |
P |
R-11-74 |
TOWN PIER |
3.50 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-12-5 |
LOWER GREEN |
3.10 |
R |
1 |
P |
R-1-60 |
TRITON HIGH SCHOOL |
33.00 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-16-6 |
GREAT MEADOW |
12.80 |
B |
1 |
P |
R-16-7 |
GREAT MEADOW |
26.00 |
B |
1 |
P |
R-17-18 |
TRITON HIGH SCHOOL |
98.00 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-20-108 |
PLAYGROUND |
1.74 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-21-19 |
GREAT MEADOW |
53.80 |
B |
1 |
P |
R-21-22A |
GREAT MEADOW |
5.10 |
B |
1 |
P |
R-39-6 |
|
3.40 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-47-1 |
NEWBURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL |
11.40 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-47-24 |
OAK HILL CEMETERY |
0.60 |
H |
1 |
P |
U-11-65 |
BYFIELD SCHOOL |
1.21 |
R |
1 |
L |
U-11-66 |
BYFIELD SCHOOL |
0.20 |
R |
1 |
L |
U-1-191 |
PLUM ISLAND BEACH |
5.40 |
R |
1 |
L |
U-2-3 |
NEWBURY BEACH |
0.00 |
R |
1 |
P |
U-2-3 |
NEWBURY BEACH |
0.00 |
R |
1 |
P |
U-5-26 |
|
-999.99 |
|
|
|
U-7-24 |
OAK HILL CEMETERY |
0.60 |
H |
1 |
P |
U-9-75 |
TOWN GREEN |
2.90 |
R |
1 |
P |
R-18-23 |
WATER DEPARTMENT LAND |
8.00 |
W |
6 |
P |
R-18-24 |
WATER DEPARTMENT LAND |
4.40 |
W |
6 |
P |
R-18-25 |
WATER DEPARTMENT LAND |
13.70 |
W |
6 |
P |
R-40-3 |
WATER DEPARTMENT LAND |
2.30 |
W |
6 |
P |
R-20-9 |
|
5.60 |
B |
1 |
P |
R-11-10A |
EVERGREEN CEMETERY |
2.60 |
H |
1 |
P |
R-11-74 |
TOWN PIER |
3.50 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-12-5 |
LOWER GREEN |
3.10 |
R |
1 |
P |
R-1-60 |
TRITON HIGH SCHOOL |
33.00 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-16-6 |
GREAT MEADOW |
12.80 |
B |
1 |
P |
R-16-7 |
GREAT MEADOW |
26.00 |
B |
1 |
P |
R-17-18 |
TRITON HIGH SCHOOL |
98.00 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-20-108 |
PLAYGROUND |
1.74 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-21-19 |
GREAT MEADOW |
53.80 |
B |
1 |
P |
R-21-22A |
GREAT MEADOW |
5.10 |
B |
1 |
P |
R-39-6 |
in Martin Burns WMA |
3.40 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-47-1 |
NEWBURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL |
11.40 |
R |
1 |
L |
R-47-24 |
OAK HILL CEMETERY |
0.60 |
H |
1 |
P |
U-11-65 |
BYFIELD SCHOOL |
1.21 |
R |
1 |
L |
U-11-66 |
BYFIELD SCHOOL |
0.20 |
R |
1 |
L |
U-1-191 |
PLUM ISLAND BEACH |
5.40 |
R |
1 |
L |
U-2-3 |
NEWBURY BEACH |
0.00 |
R |
1 |
P |
U-2-3 |
NEWBURY BEACH |
0.00 |
R |
1 |
P |
U-5-26 |
|
-999.99 |
|
|
|
U-7-24 |
OAK HILL CEMETERY |
0.60 |
H |
1 |
P |
U-9-75 |
TOWN GREEN |
2.90 |
R |
1 |
P |
|
|
|
|
|
|
R-2-5 |
Across corner of Middle |
Elm St. |
X |
X |
X |
R-25-12A |
~ |
139 Hay St. |
X |
X |
X |
R-2-5A |
Cor. Middle and Central |
Middle Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
R-32-14A |
~ |
Off High Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
R-32-3 |
~ |
Off High Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
R-32-30 |
~ |
39 Pine Island Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
R-32-32 |
Old Gravel Pit |
189 High Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
R-32-7A |
~ |
Off High Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
R-35-10 |
NE cor. At RR crossing |
Boston Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
R-36-27 |
Landfill/Town Forest |
75 Boston Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
R-36-9 |
~ |
87 Middle Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
R-38-2 |
Inholding to MBWMA |
off Orchard St. |
B |
1 |
X |
R-39-1 |
cor. Wayside/I-95 |
Wayside Ave. |
X |
X |
X |
R-39-6 |
Inholding to MBWMA |
off Orchard St. |
B |
1 |
X |
R-47-36 |
NW of RR ROW |
45 Parker St. |
X |
X |
X |
R-47-37 |
NW of RR ROW |
off Nbpt. Tpke. |
X |
X |
X |
R-50-4 |
Island in PI River |
114 PI Turnpike |
X |
X |
X |
R-5-10 |
~ |
Newbury Neck Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
R-51-18 |
Island N of Bridge |
PI River |
X |
X |
X |
U-1-139 |
~ |
51 Sunset Dr. |
X |
X |
X |
U-14-37 |
behind PO |
2A Central St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-2-13 |
Beachfront |
7 5th St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-2-138 |
~ |
22 Old Point Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
U-2-139 |
~ |
27 10th St, |
X |
X |
X |
U-2-14 |
Beachfront |
6 5th St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-2-142 |
~ |
20 6th St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-2-143 |
~ |
9 McLeod Ave. |
X |
X |
X |
U-2-150 |
~ |
14 Old Point Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
U-2-158 |
~ |
10 Olga Way |
X |
X |
X |
U-2-171 |
~ |
12 Olga Way |
X |
X |
X |
U-2-20 |
Beachfront |
7 3rd St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-2-21 |
Beachfront |
8 3rd St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-2-27 |
Beachfront |
39 PI Bl. |
X |
X |
X |
U-2-3 |
Beachfront |
28 Northern Blvd. |
X |
X |
X |
U-2-8 |
Beachfront |
5 7th St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-2-9 |
Beachfront |
6 7th St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-3-118 |
~ |
11 16th St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-3-19 |
~ |
Hutchins Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
U-3-21 |
~ |
21 Hutchins Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
U-3-23 |
~ |
Hutchins Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
U-3-25 |
~ |
15 Hutchins Terr. |
X |
X |
X |
U-3-37 |
~ |
34 14th St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-3-43 |
~ |
12th St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-3-45 |
~ |
25 12th St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-3-47 |
~ |
21 12th St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-3-48 |
~ |
26 12th St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-3-53 |
~ |
32 14th St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-3-87 |
~ |
9 12th St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-4-173 |
Basinfront |
7 35th St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-5-1 |
Saltmarsh |
71 Old Point Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
U-5-2 |
Saltmarsh |
73 Old Point Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
U-5-20 |
~ |
119 Old Point Rd. |
X |
X |
X |
U-5-5 |
Saltmarsh |
81 Old Point Rd, |
X |
X |
X |
U-7-26 |
~ |
48 Parker St. |
X |
X |
X |
U-8-20 |
E of NES |
Hanover St. |
X |
X |
X |
B. Unprotected Open Space Properties
The following tables contain information on privately-owned open space properties within Newbury that are not permanently protected:
Table 5-7, Chapter 61 Properties
Table 5-8, Privately owned and Unprotected Parcels of Open Space Interest
The Chapter 61, 61A, and 61B lands are held under restriction by the Massachusetts General Laws. The restriction against development affords the owner substantial tax benefits while the land is designated as such. The Town has the Right of First Refusal to purchase these properties when they come on the market for sale. Therefore, these lands offer a valuable opportunity for acquisition and recreation space.
The other properties listed below are an updated and more accurate version of the Windshield Survey compiled by the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission in 1991. These properties were originally selected based on their potential for development and any features on the property that would make it suitable for preservation or acquisition for recreation. Several of the properties that were on the original survey have become developed with subdivisions and are excluded from this report.
Methodology
The Town can use this database to prioritize and examine their acquisition options. It can be continuously updated to reflect further development, preservation or change of use in any parcel. Furthermore, the community members can petition to add or remove properties to the list as the Town examines its options for acquiring recreation space.
Table 5-7, Chapter 61 Properties
Map-Lot |
Owner |
Address |
Acres |
Primary Purpose |
Public Access |
Protection Level |
Ch.61 Type |
R-1-1 |
C.J. Armstrong |
1 Coleman St. |
34.3 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-11-17 |
Parker River RT |
OFF COTTAGE RD |
30.7 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-14-8 |
Marcia M. Raymond Tte. |
297 Newburyport Tpke. |
24.4 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-16-1 |
David S. Caldwell Corp. |
78 Elm St. |
116.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-18-1 |
Kochakian |
176 Elm St. |
10.7 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-20-25 |
Ronald Pearson |
10 Fruit St. |
12.7 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-20-25B |
Ronald Pearson |
2 Fruit St. |
7.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-20-42 |
Estate of Lewis Bulgaris |
off Orchard St. |
3.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-20-43 |
Estate of Lewis Bulgaris |
Orchard St. |
16.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-2-11 |
David Caldwell Corp. |
ELM ST |
18.4 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-2-12 |
Donald Woodbury |
15 Coleman Rd. |
11.2 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-2-13 |
Donald Woodbury |
15 Coleman Rd. |
24.5 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-2-17 |
David S. Caldwell |
78 Elm St. |
5.5 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-22-10 |
Marsha Jesperson |
26 Orchard St. |
121.2 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-22-24 |
Wm. G. Creed/ Florence Creed |
43 Orchard St. |
18.7 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-22-27 |
Richard Simkins |
65 Orchard St. |
25.7 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-23-2 |
Hoyt |
212 NEWBURYPORT TP |
2.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-23-3 |
David Hoyt |
208 Newburyport Tpke. |
17.7 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-23-31 |
Frederick Littlefield & Sarah Quill |
off Middle St. |
10.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-23-6 |
Littlefield/Quill |
NEWBURYPORT TP |
26.3 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-24-4 |
COLBY ROBT J |
Hay St. |
11.0 |
A |
X |
T |
A |
R-25-10 |
Robt. Colby |
NEWMAN RD |
2.2 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-25-10A |
Robt. Colby |
94 NEWMAN RD |
0.3 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-25-9 |
Fred Jackman |
OFF NEWMAN RD |
15.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-26-11 |
Joseph Story II |
High Rd. |
6.5 |
C |
6 |
T |
F |
R-26-14 |
Joseph, Nancy, Peter Story |
off High Rd. |
14.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-26-15 |
Joseph, Nancy, Peter Story, Ttes |
off High Rd. |
22.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-26-28 |
Smith (High Moon Farm) |
186 High Rd. |
8.3 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-27-61 |
Glen DeArmand |
243 High Rd. |
4.7 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-27-62A |
DeArmand and Irene Troy Ttes. |
247 High Rd. |
3.7 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-27-64 |
Eva Marie Smith |
255 High Rd. |
20.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-27-65 |
Samuel Smith/Eva Marie Smith |
OFF HIGH RD |
3.9 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-31-17 |
Robt. J./Lucille Colby |
OFF PINE ISLAND RD |
59.6 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-31-29 |
Robt. J. Colby |
OFF PINE ISLAND RD |
6.9 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-31-35 |
Robt. J./Lucille Colby |
PINE ISLAND RD |
6.4 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-31-37 |
Salt Marsh RT, Paul O'Hara Tte. |
Pine Island Rd. |
18.3 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-31-38 |
Salt Marsh RT |
OLD PINE ISLAND RD |
0.3 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-31-39 |
Salt Marsh RT |
OFF OLD PINE ISLAND RD |
5.2 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-32-14 |
Brown |
161 High Rd. |
14.1 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-32-16A |
Geof Walker |
173 High Rd. |
6.5 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-32-4 |
Stickney (Statom) |
139 High Rd. |
8.3 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-32-7 |
Robt. Colby |
OFF HIGH RD |
12.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-33-14 |
Musterfield RT |
Plummers Ln. |
12.7 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-33-15 |
Musterfield RT |
Low St. |
23.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-33-19 |
Gertrude Jackman, Price Joy Ttes. |
48 R Low St. |
43.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-33-20 |
Apostolos |
38 Low St. |
3.8 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-33-20A |
Apostolos |
38 Low St. |
3.2 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-33-33 |
San Antonio/ Wilkinson |
41 Low St. |
5.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-33-4 |
Smith (High Moon Farm) |
186 High Rd. |
6.4 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-33-47 |
Robt. Colby |
138 HIGH RD |
9.9 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-34-10A |
Susan J. Little |
65 Green St. |
10.1 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-35-21 |
Gertrude C. Jackman, GCJ RT |
68 Green St. |
23.5 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-36-20 |
Eleanor Woodman Realty Trust |
Newburyport Tpke. |
31.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-36-21 |
Eleanor Woodman RT |
OFF NEWBURYPORT TP |
3.4 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-36-25 |
Eleanor Woodrnan Realty Trust |
Boston Rd. |
26.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-36-26 |
Gertrude C. Jackman/GCJ RT |
OFF BOSTON RD |
4.8 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-37-1 |
Littlefield/Quill |
136 Middle Rd. |
69.1 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-37-2 |
Littlefield/Quill |
off Middle Rd. |
14.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-37-3 |
Littlefield/Quill |
Middle Rd. |
11.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-37-4 |
Littlefield/Quill |
Middle Rd. |
60.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-38-1 |
Marsha Jesperson |
Orchard St. |
14.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-42-11 |
Mary Donald |
49 South St. |
39.8 |
R |
X |
T |
B |
R-44-11 |
Myette |
off Scotland |
25.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-44-6 |
Joseph Maskiewicz, Estate of |
Scotland Rd. |
10.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-44-8 |
Joseph Maskiewicz, Estate of |
Scotland Rd. |
10.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-45-1 |
Stanley J. Pikul |
Scotland Rd. |
71.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-45-3 |
Hale St RT, Jere Myette, Tte. |
Hale St. NBPT |
10.5 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-45-4 |
Hale St RT, Jere Myette, Tte. |
Hale St. NBPT |
10.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-45-5 |
Wm. A. Colby |
34 Scotland Rd. |
50.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-45-6 |
Hiller RT |
Scotland Rd. |
17.8 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-46-7 |
Traister |
23 HIGHFIELD RD |
0.7 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-47-2 |
Della Davis |
65 Hanover St. |
7.1 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-47-35 |
N.A. Nichols Realty Trust |
Highfield Rd. |
27.2 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-47-8 |
Gertrude C. Jackmen/GCJ RT |
93 HANOVER ST |
3.5 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-48-44 |
Richard and Bethany Allen |
97 High Rd. |
5.5 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-48-49 |
Olbrych |
105 High Rd. |
15.3 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-49-10 |
Robt. J./Lucille Colby |
PLUM ISLAND TPKE |
63.2 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-49-22 |
Rolfe |
PLUM BUSH CREEK |
9.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-50-11 |
Robt. J./Lucille Colby |
OFF PLUM ISLAND TPKE |
1.6 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-50-6 |
Robt. J./Lucille Colby |
PLUM ISLAND TPKE |
13.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-50-8 |
Robt. J./Lucille Colby |
PLUM ISLAND TPKE |
21.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-51-23 |
Robt. J./Lucille Colby |
3 OLD POINT RD |
17.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-5-18 |
Joseph Story II |
High Rd. |
13.6 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-5-20 |
Robt. J./Lucille Colby |
303 HIGH RD |
10.6 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-5-23 |
Robt. J./Lucille Colby |
336 HIGH RD |
11.5 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-5-47 |
Joseph Story II |
High Rd. |
76.3 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
R-5-49 |
Aletter |
304 High Rd. |
16.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
U-10-23 |
Lorenc |
Little's Lane |
6.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
U-14-19 |
Mackay |
48 Main St. |
12.9 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
U-7-15 |
Kozazcki |
27 R PARKER ST |
7.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
U-7-17 |
Kozazcki |
27 R PARKER ST |
7.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
U-7-22 |
Kozazcki |
41 R PARKER ST |
22.7 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
U-8-49 |
Walton |
64 Hanover St. |
18.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
U-9-14 |
Atkinson |
9 GREEN ST |
6.1 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
U-9-15 |
Atkinson |
11 GREEN ST |
2.0 |
A |
6 |
T |
A |
Total: 95 parcels, 1,797 acres
Table 5-8, Privately Owned and Unprotected Parcels of Open Space Interest
Map-Lot |
Owner |
Address/Site Name |
Acres |
Primary Purpose |
Public Access |
R-12-2 |
Private |
282 High Rd. |
15.2 |
|
|
R-12-7 |
Private |
Newman Rd. |
6.7 |
|
|
R-12-8 |
Private |
Newman Rd. |
5.5 |
|
|
R-14-10 |
GOV DUMMER ACADEMY |
GOVERNOR DUMMER ACADEMY |
3.20 |
R |
4 |
R-14-5 |
ESSEX ROD & GUN CLUB |
ESSEX ROD & GUN CLUB |
10.20 |
R |
X |
R-15-10 |
ESSEX COUNTY SPORTSMENS CLUB |
ESSEX COUNTY SPORTSMENS CLUB |
2.00 |
R |
X |
R-15-11 |
GOV DUMMER ACADEMY |
GOVERNOR DUMMER ACADEMY |
98.00 |
R |
4 |
R-15-2 |
GOV DUMMER ACADEMY |
GOVERNOR DUMMER ACADEMY |
2.65 |
R |
4 |
R-15-3 |
GOV DUMMER ACADEMY |
GOVERNOR DUMMER ACADEMY |
1.42 |
R |
4 |
R-15-4 |
GOV DUMMER ACADEMY |
GOVERNOR DUMMER ACADEMY |
1.82 |
R |
4 |
R-15-5 |
GOV DUMMER ACADEMY |
GOVERNOR DUMMER ACADEMY |
39.00 |
R |
4 |
R-15-6 |
GOV DUMMER ACADEMY |
GOVERNOR DUMMER ACADEMY |
0.71 |
R |
4 |
R-17-13 |
Manter Realty Trust |
81 Central St. |
63.3 |
|
|
R-18-21 |
Private |
Larkin Rd. |
13.1 |
|
|
R-18-22 |
Private |
7 Larkin Rd. |
27.3 |
|
|
R-2-1 |
GOV DUMMER ACADEMY |
GOVERNOR DUMMER ACADEMY |
14.00 |
R |
4 |
R-21-15 |
Private |
99 Orchard St. |
11.5 |
|
|
R-21-16 |
Private |
Orchard St. |
14.9 |
|
|
R-21-17 |
X |
INHOLDING |
6.97 |
X |
X |
R-2-2 |
GOV DUMMER ACADEMY |
GOVERNOR DUMMER ACADEMY |
85.70 |
R |
4 |
R-22-16 |
Private |
254 Middle Rd. |
17.7 |
|
|
R-22-19 |
GDD Realty Trust - Gale Meserve, Tte. |
7 Maple St. |
0.22 |
|
|
R-23-22 |
Private |
off Orchard St. |
12 |
|
|
R-23-22A |
Private |
off Orchard St. |
17 |
|
|
R-23-23 |
Private |
Middle Rd. |
10.8 |
|
|
R-24-2 |
Private |
off Hay St. |
19 |
|
|
R-24-7 |
Private |
Boston Rd. |
23 |
|
|
R-25-20 |
X |
INHOLDING |
5.51 |
X |
X |
R-30-2A |
X |
INHOLDING |
1.97 |
X |
X |
R-35-11B |
Private |
Boston Rd. |
14.3 |
|
|
R-35-19 |
Private |
82 Green St. |
9.9 |
|
|
R-36-11 |
Private |
166 Boston Rd. |
21.4 |
|
|
R-36-22 |
Private |
Devil's Den Pasture |
34 |
|
|
R-36-24 |
Private |
Newburyport Tpke. |
47 |
|
|
R-38-2 |
X |
INHOLDING |
19.47 |
X |
X |
R-39-5 |
X |
INHOLDING |
5.99 |
X |
X |
R-39-7 |
X |
INHOLDING |
5.05 |
X |
X |
R-40-10 |
X |
INHOLDING |
3.39 |
X |
X |
R-41-42 |
Private |
138 Main St. |
43.6 |
|
|
R-42-13 |
Private |
off I-95 |
25.7 |
|
|
R-43-4 |
Private |
155 Scotland Rd. |
20.5 |
|
|
R-43-8 |
Private |
191 Scotland Rd. |
28.7 |
|
|
R-44-16 |
Private |
113 Scotland Rd. |
28.8 |
|
|
R-44-19 |
Private |
Scotland Rd. |
19 |
|
|
R-44-20 |
Private |
off Scotland Rd. |
46 |
|
|
R-44-9 |
Private |
off Scotland |
8 |
|
|
R-45-14 |
Private |
Scotland Rd. |
27.1 |
|
|
R-45-15 |
Private |
Scotland Rd. |
24 |
|
|
R-45-17 |
Private |
Scotland Rd. |
23 |
|
|
R-46-10 |
MERRIMACK RIVER BEAGLE CLUB |
MERRIMACK RIVER BEAGLE CLUB |
29.50 |
R |
5 |
R-46-11 |
X |
INHOLDING |
32.41 |
X |
X |
R-46-9 |
MERRIMACK RIVER BEAGLE CLUB |
MERRIMACK RIVER BEAGLE CLUB |
12.40 |
R |
5 |
R-47-23 |
MERRIMACK RIVER BEAGLE CLUB |
MERRIMACK RIVER BEAGLE CLUB |
21.12 |
R |
5 |
R-47-26 |
N.A. Nichols Realty Co. |
8 Newbury Tpke. |
59.6 |
|
|
R-49-9 |
SPNEA |
PLUM ISLAND AIRPORT |
43.80 |
X |
6 |
R-6-12 |
Private |
23 Marsh St. |
30.8 |
|
|
Total: 56 parcels, 1,214 acres
Source for all tables: MassGIS Protected and Recreational Open Space Project, EOEA, 1999
Town Of Newbury Assessors’ Maps and General Information Report, 1999 GIS data from Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, 1999.
C. Recreational Resources
As seen in Section 3, there is substantial and growing interest in both active and passive recreation in Town. This section details the existing resources that are currently available and discusses their condition. Section 7 provides an analysis of needs.
Active Recreation
Table 5-9 below summarizes the existing fields and facilities for active recreation.
Table 5-9: Existing Fields for Active Recreation
SPORT |
Newbuy Elementary School |
Upper Green |
Lower Green |
Library (Lunt St) |
Triton (subject to availablility |
FIELD HOCKEY |
|
|
|
|
1 |
FOOTBALL |
|
|
|
|
1 |
SOCCER |
1 SMALL |
|
|
|
1 |
BASEBALL (LL) |
|
|
|
1 |
|
SOFTBALL |
1 |
1 |
|
|
2 |
BASEBALL (BR) |
|
|
|
|
1 |
T-BALL |
|
|
3 |
|
|
TENNIS |
|
|
|
|
3 |
BASKETBALL |
1 |
|
|
|
|
HOCKEY |
|
1 |
|
|
|
Passive Recreation and Trails
Passive recreation includes such activities as walking, hiking, bicycling, hunting, wildlife observation and bird watching. Water-based endeavors like swimming, canoeing, and boating are also of importance. In general, passive recreation refers to activities that do not require specialized facilities or improvements.
Newbury has a large percentage of its land area classified as protected open space. Many of these landscapes are strikingly beautiful and are of many diverse types - barrier beach, tidal marsh and estuary, coastal drumlins, glaciated uplands, forest, and farmland.
Table 5-10: Primary areas for Passive Recreation
Primary areas for passive recreation |
Acreage in Newbury/total |
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS) |
2015/4662 |
Old Town Hill Reservation (TTOR) |
497 |
William Forward Wildlife Management Area (DFWELE) |
1294/1707 |
Martin Burns Wildlife Management Area (DFWELE) |
1462 |
Crane Pond Wildlife Management Area (DFWELE) |
292 |
Spencer-Pierce-Little Farm (SPNEA) |
234 |
Great Meadow Farm (Town) |
99 |
Newbury Beach (Town) |
7.3 |
Total acreage in Newbury |
5900 |
With an abundance of publicly accessible land, it would appear that the Town has more than enough land available for passive recreational uses. There are however several factors which affect the usefulness of the existing open space inventory:
Wetlands: A considerable amount of our protected open space is either marsh or other wetlands. As noted in Section 4 there are over 5000 acres of tidal wetlands in the Town. There is an unknown but considerable amount of non-tidal wetlands as well. Upland areas generally do not extend long distances without wetland interruptions.
Soil Conditions: As seen in Section 4, the soil types present in many locations present difficulties for any frequent or heavy recreational use.
Restricted use: Some of the protected lands in the Town are primarily used for hunting or wildlife based recreation or are otherwise restricted in their use.
Underutilization: A positive is the generally accepted fact that many of our current passive recreation areas are underutilized and expanded use is possible. Town Residents may not be aware of all the recreational opportunities available to them in the Town.
Trail Inventory
While not a complete inventory of trails in the Town, the map provided by the Friends of our Trails (FOOT), a trails group in the greater Newburyport area, is included for reference. It shows in general that each of the above properties has available trails but wetlands or major roadways present obstacles to linking the various areas with continuous off-road pathways.
Merrimack Valley Planning Commission has received a grant and will be undertaking a more detailed inventory and GIS mapping of all trails in the area in early 2000.
Regional Trails
The Bay Circuit Trail (BCT) has its northern terminus at Plum Island Beach from which it follows a 200-mile arc around metropolitan Boston, ending at Duxbury Bay in Kingston.
In the early ‘90s, Town residents worked to designate the Newbury portion of the trail. A route in the eastern portion of the Town was needed, to include Old Town Hill as a “jewel” along the trail and to connect with the Rowley and Ipswich sections at Prospect Hill.
Finding ways to locate the trail off-road has been a challenge. However several landowners have allowed the trail to cross their land. The Eliza Little Trail from the Plum Island Turnpike to Little’s Lane is a wonderful path through SPNEA’s Spencer-Pierce-Little Farm. And in the fall of 1999, The Trustees of Reservations (TTOR), the Newbury Bay Circuit Committee, and FOOT collaborated on a trail section with several lengthy boardwalks connecting Boston Road and Hay St. The hike to the top of Old Town Hill is the only other off-road section.
The remainder of the trail follows existing roadways. This is necessary primarily to cross marshland and rivers – the Plum Island Turnpike, Newman Road – or where there is no public access. There is some potential to add more off-road sections if the permission of private landowners can be obtained.
Greenways: Connections and Gaps
Greenways, continuous areas of abutting open land, are beneficial not only in terms of resource protection, but they can also provide a good location for community-wide recreational trails. It is useful to look at our existing greenways for potential trail connections.
Parker River NWR – Old Town Hill - Wm. Forward WMA – Parker River
Route 1 Gap
Little River – Highfield Rd. APRs – Martin Burns WMA – Great Meadow Farm
Byfield Village/ I-95 Gap
Crane Pond WMA – connections with Georgetown and Groveland open lands
Again, the marshes and estuary that make up much of the Town are the primary obstacle to trail linkages, as most of our open lands connect well with the exception of gaps at major highways.
An important feature enhancing access to Martin Burns and Crane Pond WMAs is the former railroad bed (and now a utility corridor), which extends from the Newburyport T Station west to I-95 and from Byfield Village into Georgetown with few impediments or encroachments. Without this improvement, transiting either area would be all but impossible due to wetlands and water crossings. For the most part intact all the way south to Danvers, a distance of some 30 miles, this former rail bed has been proposed as a section of a regional trail initiative, the East Coast Greenway.
As a potential resource to the Town, this rail bed and expanded non-hunting use of Martin Burns and Crane Pond WMA offer perhaps the most potential to provide more open space recreation, if potential conflicts with sportsmen can be addressed. In addition, use of this corridor may provide connections with our neighbors in Georgetown and Newburyport, as well as with public transit.
Access to the Beach
According to the recent Open Space Survey, this is a prominent concern of Town residents. At this time we know of no inventory of all rights-of-way to the ocean beach and other waterways. However, it does appear that there are numerous points of access on Plum Island. “Resident only” parking is available on Northern Blvd. The facilities at Parker River NWR are convenient and with a yearly pass are of reasonable cost.
There is some displeasure at the seasonal closure of the beach at the federal refuge. This action seems based on a reasonable need for protection of endangered species and is unlikely to change. Despite this access restriction, Newbury residents enjoy much better public access to the beach than most neighboring communities.
Access for Boating
The Town operates a boat ramp for residents only on the Parker River, with facilities for temporary docking. The Parker River and the Basin at Plum Island provide considerable area for boat moorings. Several commercial marine facilities exist on the Parker River, which offer improved access for a fee if desired.
A number of informal access points are available for “portable” watercraft, i.e., canoes, kayaks, etc., such as the Parker River at Middle Road, the Plum Island River at the PI Turnpike, Pine Island, etc.
While accommodating all who want to enjoy our waterways is becoming a difficult task due to the popularity of water-based activities, the Selectman and Harbormaster do a commendable job of meeting residents’ needs.
Recreation on our Roadways
There is a demonstrated need to use the Town’s improved ways to make recreational trail connections. Newbury residents can be commonly observed walking, bicycling, and jogging on the back roads in their neighborhoods. The Plum Island Turnpike is widely used for recreation and non-motorized transportation. Clearly, there is a need to consider recreational use when the Town maintains or improves its highway system.
As growth occurs and traffic levels increase, walking on Town roads will likely become less attractive and perhaps even unsafe. At that point, additional improvements for pedestrians and cyclists will be required at some expense to the Town. With careful planning, this problem can perhaps be avoided.
The Plum Island Turnpike is a road that deserves special consideration for its recreational value. Working with the City of Newburyport, the next maintenance cycle would provide a perfect opportunity to make improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Section 6 - Community Goals
A. Description of Process
The Goals, Objectives, and Actions outlined in this plan were developed by a planning committee at the request of the Planning Board. Members were solicited from Town with input from the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and Selectmen. Semi-monthly meetings were held to develop a survey, develop open space maps, and develop the Action Plan that follows. The planning committee relied on input from Town residents, the results of the survey analysis, and the analysis of the maps to develop recommendations.
Statement of Open Space and Recreation Goals
The following goals are a mix of goals for the short and long-term. They represent input from a wide cross-section of Town residents. Section 8 details the Objectives and Action Steps that support these goals
Goals for Open Space and Recreation in Newbury are:
1: Protect the Town’s rural character;
2: Protect natural resources rivers, coastal areas, wetlands, marshland, and wildlife;
3: Meet the demand for active recreation;
4: Enhance passive recreation opportunities;
5: Establish ongoing responsibility for open space and recreation concerns.
Criteria for Selection of Open Space and Recreation Properties
In addition to the creation of the goals, the Committee spent a great deal of time discussing criteria for the selection of properties to meet the Town’s needs. As properties come on the market or are available to the Town through the 61A process, it is important to be able to evaluate them in a timely manner. While there is no strict formula to help Newbury decide what are the most appropriate lands for open space preservation and recreational development, Table 6-1 details the features that might make a property desirable. The most suitable parcels will likely include one or more items from each column. Lands that meet multiple needs, offer resource protection and are located in such a way that they connect with other open space and Town facilities are a rare commodity and deserve special
attention.
Table 6-1: Criteria for selection of Open Space and Recreation Properties
Protection of Unique Resources |
Community Needs |
Strategic Location |
Watersheds and rivers |
Active recreation facilities |
Abuts existing conservation land |
Existing public water supplies |
Passive recreation areas and trails |
Near existing Town facilities, schools |
Potential water supplies and aquifers |
Beach and river access |
Provides trail connection |
Scenic vistas |
Access for boating |
Expands wildlife corridor |
Agricultural heritage |
Access for hunting and fishing |
|
Historic buildings and locations |
Playgrounds, parks, and picnic areas |
|
|
Land for future municipal facilities |
|
Section 7 - Analysis of Needs
In February 1999, the Open Space and Recreation Committee distributed a survey questionnaire to all households in Newbury to determine the residents’ priorities regarding open space and recreation issues. The results of this survey, along with the Natural Systems and Land Use Inventory and Analysis prepared for the Town of Newbury in Spring 1998 by Todd D. Ford and Darcy L. Jameson (now Section 4) indicate that there is a serious need to protect existing resources and a strong desire among residents to preserve existing open space.
The Open Space and Recreation Planning Committee also assessed existing recreational facilities and needs. The results are presented in this section.
Summary of Resource Protection Needs:
A large majority of those who responded to the survey feel that there is a “great need” for the Town to increase its efforts to:
Preserve open space (84% of respondents);
Protect the Parker River and its tributaries (84% of respondents);
Preserve the rural character of the Town (83% of respondents);
Protect the watersheds around public wells (84% of respondents); and
Preserve buildings of historic or architectural interest (64% of respondents).
The first four of these items are inextricably intertwined. The abundance of forested and non-forested open space is a critical component of the rural character of the Town. Marshes, farmland, and wooded areas provide scenic vistas along both major and secondary roads and make the area exceptionally attractive to residents and tourists alike. These areas provide resources for both passive recreation (hiking, birdwatching, hunting, etc.) and for agriculture; all these activities provide economic benefits to the area.
As open space diminishes and more land is developed, local groundwater and surface water resources are at increased risk of pollution from numerous sources, including runoff from roadways, septic systems, and privately held sewage treatment plants. Clam flats in both the Parker River and the Sound are routinely closed due to high levels of fecal coliform bacteria. One of Byfield’s two community-supply wells was taken off-line in 1998 due to chronically high levels of bacteria from the Parker River and was replaced with a new well. As noted in the Ford/Jameson study, the soils in Newbury are ill-suited to supporting septic systems, putting ground and surface water at even greater risk of contamination as new septic systems go on line.
The fifth item, the preservation of buildings of historic and architectural interest, is also a significant factor contributing to the rural and scenic character of the Town. The age and the quality of the Town’s historic building stock contribute significantly to the attractiveness of the area. The Town’s history is deeply woven into the fabric of the built environment; these buildings provide an irreplaceable link between the present and the past.
Section 4 identifies a number of concerns and issues related to the priorities identified by the Town’s residents in their responses to the survey:
Potential loss of existing wildlife habitats: As noted in the 1998 Ford/Jameson Study, “Newbury has an abundance of wildlife and a variety of unique ecosystems” which are in danger of being lost as existing open space is developed. These habitats support both common and rare species of vegetation and wildlife and provide opportunities for many passive recreational activities. These habitats are valuable ecological and economic resources.
Potential fragmentation of wildlife corridors: While approximately 50% of Newbury’s total acreage is conservation land, much of this land is discontinuous – it is separated by privately held parcels and fragmented by the major highways running through the Town (Routes 1 and 1A and Interstate 95). The resulting fragmentation, especially as privately held parcels are sold and developed, could threaten the health and diversity of the area’s ecosystems. Opportunities for linking recreational areas will also be lost.
Existing protected and unprotected open space parcels have been listed in the Section 5 inventory..
By mapping these parcels, open areas deemed critical – whether because of their scenic character, the wildlife or vegetative populations they support, their influence on surface or groundwater resources , or other factors – can be identified and steps can be taken to work toward their preservation.
Summary of Community’s Needs
1. Recreation:
Of those who answered the Open Space and Recreation survey, 50% indicated a “great need” for the Town to increase Town-owned recreation areas. Out of a list of 17 items, respondents considered the following five to be the Town’s highest priorities:
Trails for uses such as hiking, skiing and horseback riding (45% of respondents);
Access to the beach (43% of respondents);
Athletic fields for soccer, baseball, Little League, etc.(36% of respondents);
Playgrounds (32% of respondents); and
Access to the water for boating (31% of respondents).
Respondents indicated the same five resources as the ones for which the Town has the greatest need, in slightly different order:
Access to the beach (59%);
Access to the water for boating (49%);
Trails for hiking, etc. (49%);
Athletic fields (37%); and
Playgrounds (36%).
The Committee surveyed the coaches of the existing teams to gauge their determination of current needs. The strong feeling of the coaches and others involved in these organized sports is that the existing facilities are inadequate. According to the coaches, the current demand for organized sports needs the following additional facilities to provide practice space, game facilities and proper field rotation. This existing need is detailed in Table 7-1.
Table 7-1: Current demand for athletic fields as determined by coaches
Soccer: At least one (1) full-sized fields for older players Two (2) undersized fields for younger children
Baseball: At least three (3) additional Little League size fields not including the Lunt Street field One (1) Babe Ruth size field
Softball: Two fields
Football: One field
Town constructed fields should have fencing, dugouts, backstops, parking, drinking fountains etc.
|
Table 7-2 provides the detailed requirements for various fields. Table 7-3 shows that Newbury has fewer facilities than many surrounding Towns. Furthermore, as Section 3 demonstrates, the demand for active recreation facilities is growing.
Table 7-2: Dimensional Requirements for Playing Fields
SPORT |
WIDTH (ft.) |
LENGTH (ft.) |
AREA (sq. ft.) |
ACERAGE |
Field Hockey |
180 |
300 |
54,000 |
1.24 |
Football |
160 |
360 |
57,600 |
1.32 |
Soccer |
223 |
344 |
76,712 |
1.76 |
Baseball (LL) |
225 |
225 |
50,625 |
1.16 |
Softball |
225 |
225 |
50,625 |
1.16 |
Baseball (BR) |
380 |
380 |
144,400 |
3.31 |
T-Ball |
85 |
85 |
7,225 |
0.17 |
Tennis |
|
|
|
|
Basketball |
|
|
|
|
Hockey |
|
|
|
|
Table 7-3: Comparison of Newbury Facilities with Surrounding Towns
SPORT |
Rowley |
Georgetown |
West Newbury |
Groveland |
Merrimac |
Salisbury |
Newbury |
Field Hockey |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
1 (T) |
Football |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
1 (T) |
Soccer (Full) |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 (T) |
Soccer (Sm) |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
Soccer (Prac) |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
Baseball (LL) |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
1 |
Softball |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
4 (2T) |
Baseball (BR) |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 (T) |
T-Ball |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
Tennis |
0 |
1 Set |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
3 (T) |
Basketball |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
Hockey |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
Playground |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
Current population growth patterns predict that between the year 2000 and the year 2020 there will be a 7% increase in the population of those residents19 years old and younger, indicating some additional need for playgrounds and athletic fields for organized youth recreation. During the same time period, the population of those over the age of 60 is expected to increase by 142%; as part of the Open Space and Recreation Plan it will be important to identify and develop recreational resources for this age group.
Newbury is endowed with a number of open space areas available for passive recreation, including the beaches on Plum Island, the Parker River Wildlife Refuge, the Martin Burns and William Forward Wildlife Management Areas, the Old Town Hill Reserve, the F. William/Henry Gray Reserve, and the salt marshes. Some of these areas appear to be underutilized, either because people are not aware that they are available as a resource or because access points or permissible uses are unclear. Increasing public awareness of these areas could be an important step in addressing the need for passive recreational resources. A more complete description of these resources is found in Section 5.
Agriculture:
55% of those who responded to the Survey indicated “great need” for the Town to increase its efforts to encourage active farming. As detailed in Section 4, 11.9% of the total land area of Newbury is classified as agricultural. Some of this land is protected conservation land; however, much is still privately owned and unprotected. Of the privately owned properties, some are subject to Chapter 61 restrictions and as such provide significant opportunities for the Town to acquire open space in the future. The rest of the properties remain at high risk of purchase and development, especially as the current owners approach retirement; sale of the land for development may become more economically attractive for the owners and/or their heirs than continued agricultural use.
The presence of farmland and active farming activity is a “defining characteristic of the community.” Any efforts to preserve the rural character of the Town must include efforts to maintain the economic viability of agricultural land use for the Town’s farmers.
Summary of Management Needs, Potential Change of Use:
Of those who responded to the Survey, 83% affirmed that they are concerned about the rate of growth in the Town. To address this concern:
35% favor no new residential development until the Town’s Master Plan is revised;
29% favor development at a reduced or restricted rate;
18% favor no new residential development at all;
8% favor no changes to current policy (i.e. no restrictions other than current zoning).
9% of respondents expressed no opinion on residential growth policy.
The majority of respondents favored or strongly favored the following actions or measures on the part of the Town to acquire and preserve open space:
Work with developers and land owners who are developing land to set aside public land and open space (83%);
Accept state funds for the acquisition of open space (72%);
Appropriate funds on a regular annual basis for the purchase of open space and recreation space when available (68%);
Change Zoning to promote open space conservation (e.g. cluster zoning) (63%);
Form a land bank to hold and manage land (54%).
Fewer than half of the respondents (40%) favored appropriating money only for specific parcels as opportunities arise.
Section 8 - Goals and Objectives
Using the goals described in Section 6 and the analysis of needs in Section 7, the Committee worked to develop a number of objectives for each goal.
Goal #1: Protect the Town’s rural character.
Objective 1-1: Preserve and protect the Town’s remaining open space.
Objective 1-2: Address growth and growth management strategies.
Objective 1-3: Encourage new and continued agricultural uses in Town.
Objective 1-4: Identify and preserve scenic views and historic sites.
Goal #2: Protect natural resources, rivers, coastal areas, wetlands, marshland, and wildlife.
Objective 2-1: Protect water supplies (present and future) and their associated watersheds.
Objective 2-2: Protect the river and associated marshland.
Objective 2-3: Protect coastal areas and wetlands.
Objective 2-4: Provide continued and connected spaces for wildlife through preservation of open space.
Objective 2-5: Preserve, protect, and maintain the upland resources and habitats critical to the survival of local wildlife.
Goal #3: Meet the demand for active recreation
Objective 3-1: Provide 10 additional athletic fields.
Objective 3-2: Identify suitable properties that may be available for purchase, lease, or gift.
Objective 3-3: Evaluate and improve existing recreational facilities.
Objective 3-4: Link active recreation space with passive recreation and other public needs.
Goal #4: Enhance passive recreation opportunities
Objective 4-1: Provide information to Town residents about available existing resources.
Objective 4-2: Develop new passive recreational opportunities within existing public open space lands.
Objective 4-3: Maintain and enhance existing recreational use of Town roadways.
Objective 4-4: Participate in regional trail planning and development efforts.
Goal #5:Establish ongoing responsibility for open space and recreation concerns.
Objective 5-1: Create a permanent Open Space and Recreation Committee (OSRC).
Section 9 – Action Plan
To support the goals and objectives outlined in Section 8, the Committee developed the following Action Plan, which includes proposed actions to help realize each objective, identifies the body or bodies to be responsible for that action, and sets a timeframe in which the action should be carried out. We have recommended that a permanent Open Space and Recreation Committee (OSRC) be established to oversee progress of the action items and to provide assistance to other Boards and Commissions as needed (see Goal #5 in Section 8) to implement the Plan.
Goal/Objective |
Action |
Primary Responsibility |
Timeframe |
Goal #1: Protect the Town’s rural character |
|
|
|
Objective 1-1: Preserve and protect the Town’s remaining open space |
A. Identify and inventory existing unprotected properties that are strategic to the objectives of the Open Space and Recreation Plan or that have under-utilized potential for passive or active recreation. |
OSRC |
Year 1 |
|
B. Distribute information regarding land conservation options to landowners. |
OSRC |
Years 1-5 |
|
C. Establish special account to hold back tax payments from sold 61A parcels; funds to be used for acquisition of open space parcels |
Board of Selectmen; Finance Committee |
Year 1 & ongoing |
|
D. Target specific parcels for protection; purchase selected 61A parcels using funds from special accounts (see item C above); work with DFW, Trust for Public Land, and other organizations to purchase selected parcels, etc. |
Board of Selectmen |
Years 1-5 |
|
E. Regularly evaluate and update inventory of open space parcels. |
OSRC, with Board of Assessors |
Ongoing |
|
F. Review all Town-owned properties for potential recreational use, designation as conservation land, or sale to fund purchase of other land. |
OSRC and Board of Selectmen |
Ongoing |
|
G. Create an environmental constraints map for Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and Building Inspector. |
OSRC |
Year 1 |
|
H. Shift management of Town conservation properties to the Conservation Commission and develop/review management plans for all Town conservation land. |
Board of Selectmen; Conservation Commission |
Years 1-5 |
|
I. Research the available tools and options for land conservation and make this information available to all Town Boards. |
OSRC |
Year 1 |
Objective 1-2: Address growth and growth management strategies |
A. Review zoning bylaws and consider potential revisions to relive the pressure for residential growth and to increase revenues, including: increasing areas zoned commercial and industrial; establishing smaller minimum lot sizes for town centers; allowing townhouses/small apartments by special permit; providing for cluster housing; reducing frontage requirements for lots on turning circles, with a trade off of increased lot size (i.e., 50% reduction in frontage for 50% increase in lot area).
|
Planning Board
|
Years 1 & 2 |
|
B. Review Town’s existing Master Plan and prepare build-out analysis; revise Master Plan as appropriate to support the objectives of the Open Space Plan |
Planning Board |
Years 1 & 2 |
|
C. Examine the need for and feasibility of public water and sewer in some locations and the impact of growth on those needs. |
Board of Selectmen |
Year 1 |
Objective 1-3: Encourage new and continued agricultural uses in Town |
A. Obtain technical assistance from MA Dept. of Food and Agriculture, Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program, and US Natural Resources Conservation Service. |
Planning Board |
Years 1-5 |
|
B. Provide landowners with information regarding 61A tax status and Agricultural Preservation Restriction protection. |
Board of Assessors |
Years 1-5 |
|
C. Ensure that agricultural properties are taxed as they are used, not for their development potential. |
Board of Assessors; Board of Selectmen |
Years 1-5
|
|
D. Work with farmers to address issues related to pollution. |
Conservation Commission |
Years 1-5 |
|
E. Establish education program through local real estate agents to advise prospective purchasers of properties adjacent to agricultural uses of what activities, noises, odors, etc., they may experience. |
Planning Board |
Year 1 |
Objective 1-4: Identify and preserve scenic views and historic sites |
A. Identify and inventory unprotected sites and properties that are of scenic significance; inform owners of protection options and/or recommend selected sites for purchase by Town. |
OSRC |
Years 1-5 |
|
B. Develop a scenic roads bylaw; this bylaw should include provisions for safety-related roadway improvements and allow for ordinary maintenance and repair of stone walls. |
Planning Board |
Year 1 |
|
C. Cooperate with existing regional efforts to designate Route 1A a Scenic Byway. |
OSRC; Historical Commission; Board of Selectmen |
Years 1-5 |
|
D. Establish a tree planting program. |
Board of Selectmen |
Year 1 |
|
E. Develop strategies to protect stone walls. |
Planning Board |
Year 1 |
|
F. Create up-to-date inventory of historic sites and make relevant Boards aware of sites of historic interest. |
Historical Commission |
Year 1 |
|
G. Consider creation of local Historic Districts. |
Historical Commission |
Years 1-3 |
|
H. Compile and disseminate information to make the public aware of sites of scenic and/or historic interest. |
OSRC; Historical Commission |
Years 1-5 |
Goal #2: Protect natural resources, rivers, coastal areas, wetlands, marshland, and wildlife. |
|
|
|
Objective 2-1: Protect water supplies (present and future) and their associated watersheds. |
A. Identify future well sites and protect those sites in advance from development and contamination; identify sources for funding this study. |
Water Board; Board of Health; Planning Board |
Years 1-5 |
|
B. Develop strategies for protecting existing water supplies and watershed. |
Water Board |
Year 1 |
|
C. Review zoning bylaws regarding protection of water supplies and revise as appropriate to provide protection needed. |
Planning Board |
Year 1 |
|
D. Support Building Inspector in enforcement of current zoning bylaws regarding water supply protection. |
Planning Board |
Ongoing |
|
E. Study needs for water supply and sewer to Plum Island and Old Town. |
Water Board; Board of Selectmen |
Ongoing |
|
F. Establish a reserve fund to allow the Town to purchase properties on which future well sites are located. |
Board of Selectmen; Finance Committee |
Year 1 |
Objective 2-2: Protect the river and associated marshland. |
A. Strictly enforce the Rivers Protection Act. |
Conservation Commission; Building Inspector |
Ongoing |
|
B. Seek assistance from CZM and DEP. Meet with representatives from these agencies. |
Conservation Commission |
Year 1 |
|
C. Make Planning Board aware of the Act and affected lands. |
Conservation Commission |
Year 1 |
|
D. Review zoning bylaws regarding wetlands protection and modify as appropriate. |
Planning Board |
Year 1 |
|
E. Create natural resources map. |
OSRC |
Year 1 |
|
F. Encourage cooperation with existing environmental groups as appropriate |
OSRC |
Years 1-5 |
|
G. Establish ongoing environmental monitoring procedures. |
Conservation Commission |
Years 1-5 |
Objective 2-3: Protect coastal areas and wetlands. |
A. Have relevant Boards and officials review the Coastal Conservation Management Plan, understand the recommendations, and revise existing bylaws, etc., as appropriate. |
Conservation Commission; Planning Boards, Building Inspector; Harbor Master; Board of Health |
Years 1-2 |
|
B. Develop a barrier beach and ACEC management plan |
Conservation Commission |
Years 1-2 |
|
C. Establish ongoing environmental monitoring procedures. |
Conservation Commission |
Years 1-5 |
Objective 2-4: Provide continued and connected spaces for wildlife through preservation of open space. |
A. Identify existing wildlife corridors, such as reparian forests, fence rows, etc. |
OSRC |
Year 1 |
|
B. Identify isolated patches of core habitat that need connecting wildlife corridors. |
OSRC |
Year 1 |
|
C. Work with State agencies and environmental organizations to prioritize corridors for protection and restoration. |
OSRC; Conservation Commission |
Years 1-5 |
|
D. Review and revise subdivision bylaws and regulations to increase opportunities to protect and create wildlife corridors. |
Planning Board |
Years 1-2 |
|
E. Provide information to the public about the importance of wildlife corridors. |
OSRC |
Years 1-5 |
Objective 2-5: Preserve, protect, and maintain the upland resources and habitats critical to the survival of local wildlife. |
A. Work with the Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife and other conservation groups to target populations of wildlife for protection. |
OSRC; Conservation Commission |
Year 1 |
|
B. Identify and inventory critical habitats in upland areas. |
OSRC |
Year 1 |
|
C. Evaluate and update this inventory on an ongoing basis. |
OSRC |
Years 2-5 |
|
D. Target Specific areas for protection and possible purchase. |
OSRC; Planning Board |
Years 1-5 |
|
E. Create a critical habitat and upland resources map. |
OSRC |
Year 1 |
|
F. Provide information to the public about the necessity of protecting and maintaining the identified critical habitats/upland resources. |
OSRC |
Years 1-5 |
Goal #3: Meet the demand for active recreation. |
|
|
|
Objective 3-1: Provide 10 additional athletic fields. |
A. Identify properties appropriate for active recreation and work toward their acquisition and development. |
OSRC |
Ongoing |
|
B. Identify and develop facilities needed to support athletic activities. |
OSRC |
Year 1 |
|
C. Complete a self-evaluation of handicap access needs for facilities. |
OSRC |
Year 1 |
|
D. Determine actual cost of maintaining fields and establish annual maintenance budget. |
Board of Selectmen |
Years 1-5 |
|
E. Examine subdivision bylaws for increased opportunities to have recreation facilities located in or associated with new large subdivisions. |
Planning Board |
Years 1-2 |
|
F. Periodically evaluate demand for active recreation facilities against facilities available. |
OSRC |
Ongoing |
Objective 3-2: Identify suitable properties that may be available for purchase, lease, or gift. |
A. Periodically send a letter to all residents with tax bill asking landowners if they have any available property which would be suitable for active recreation. |
OSRC, with Board of Assessors |
Annually |
|
B. Evaluate properties on a case-by-case basis. |
OSRC |
Based on response of 3-2.A above |
Objective 3-3: Evaluate and improve existing recreational facilities. |
A. Develop a maintenance and repair plan to bring existing fields up to standard. |
OSRC |
Year 1 |
|
B. Institute a Parks and Recreation Department to maintain and repair all Town-owned fields and facilities. |
Board of Selectmen |
Years 1-3 |
Objective 3-4: Link active recreation space with passive recreation and other public needs. |
A. Identify and seek to purchase suitable properties that can meet the objective of more than one public need. |
OSRC; Board of Selectmen |
Ongoing |
|
B. Locate recreation properties near existing facilities such as toilets or parking. |
OSRC; Board of Selectmen |
Based on available properties. |
Goal #4: Enhance passive recreation opportunities. |
|
|
|
Objective 4-1: Provide information to Town residents about available existing resources. |
A. Prepare a resource map or brochure of existing passive recreation sites. |
OSRC |
Years 1-2 |
|
B. Involve students and/or scouts in publicizing existing resources. |
OSRC; Planning Board |
Ongoing |
|
C. Inventory and publicize existing beach access points. |
OSRC |
Years 1-2 |
|
D. Inventory private lands open for passive recreation. |
OSRC |
Years 1-2 |
Objective 4-2: Develop new passive recreational opportunities within existing public open space lands. |
A. Work with Open Space Managers to meet residents’ needs. |
Board of Selectmen; Conservation Commission |
Ongoing |
|
B. Form a volunteer Trails Committee as a sub-committee of the OSRC for the purpose of developing and maintaining trails in the Town, including the Bay Circuit Trail. |
Board of Selectmen |
Year 1 |
|
C. Improve current trail system, establishing connections and bridging gaps where possible. |
Trails Committee |
Ongoing |
Objective 4-3: Maintain and enhance existing recreational use of Town roadways. |
A. Ensure that, wherever possible, Town roadway planning, maintenance, and improvements follow the requirements of MGL Chapter 90E, Section 2A, and MHDE Engineering Directive 97-004. |
Board of Selectmen; Highway Department |
Ongoing |
|
B. Evaluate roadside parking and add additional resident parking as needed to improve open space and beach access. |
Board of Selectmen; Highway Department |
Years 1-2 |
|
C. In cooperation with Newburyport, pursue improved accommodations for pedestrians and bicycles on the Plum Island Turnpike. |
Board of Selectmen |
Years 2-5 |
|
D. Improve pedestrian and bicycle access to the Newburyport MBTA station |
Board of Selectmen; Highway Department |
Years 2-5 |
Objective 4-4: Participate in regional trail planning and development efforts. |
A. Pursue improvements to the Bay Circuit Trail and the Merrimack River Trail. |
Trails Committee |
Ongoing |
|
B. Connect where possible with trail initiatives in neighboring communities. |
Trails Committee; Board of Selectmen |
Ongoing |
|
C. Cooperate with ongoing regional trail planning at Merrimack Valley Planning Commission. |
Board of Selectmen; Planning Board |
Ongoing |
Goal #5: Establish ongoing responsibility for open space and recreation concerns. |
|
|
|
Objective 5-1: Create a permanent Open Space and Recreation Committee (OSRC) |
A. Convene Boards to define the responsibilities and structure of this group, or have it continue to operate as a subcommittee of the Planning Board. |
Board of Selectmen |
Immediate |
|
B. Meet on a monthly basis |
OSRC |
Ongoing |
|
C. Monitor and implement the Open Space and Recreation Plan. |
OSRC |
Ongoing |
|
D. Identify and develop an understanding of funding vehicles available for land acquisition. Apply for funding where available and applicable. |
OSRC |
Year 1 |
|
E. Periodically evaluate the progress of the action items outlined in the Open Space and Recreation Plan and update needs and opportunities with the context of the Plan. |
OSRC |
Ongoing |
|
F. Pursue opportunities for participation in regional and State-wide initiatives consistent with the goals and objectives of the Open Space and Recreation Plan. |
OSRC |
Years 1-5 |
Section 10 - Public Comments
This section is to be completed pending receipt of final public comments and letters of support. Letters should be addressed to the Planning Board, 25 High Road, Newbury.
Section 11 – References
Forthcoming
Appendices
Survey
Survey results
Survey comments
Maps – Open Space map included. Other maps to follow.
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