Town of Newbury, MA - Open Space - Recreation Plan 9/20/2000

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Open Space - Recreation Plan 9/20/2000

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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 17^th and 18^th 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