09/01/2022 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT COMMITTEE Minutes

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6 Community Preservation Committee Minutes September 1, 2022 Review of New rom Planni ion �drtment. ..........--.-............._Appliggign f Dqp�grnent/Conservat PpL ............................. pen The Community Preservation Committee reviewed the application received from the Planning Department with the Conservation Commission serving as co-applicant entitled 751 Main Street Open Space Acquisition. Andrew McManus, Conservation Agent was in attendance to review the application to acquire an 8-acre parcel to expand the Pickerel Cove conservation area and to protect a parcel within the acquisition boundary of the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge. Mr. McManus presented a color photograph of the parcel for additional review. It was noted the 8-acre parcel is privately owned with 50%of the parcel in a Zone 11 recharge area. The land is thus highly desirable and undisturbed. It directly abuts Mashpee/Wakeby Pond. The acquisition is a vital resource in protecting the waters. It is hopeful that funding would be in place to purchase the property at the May 2023 Special Town Meeting. The land identified on Assessor's Map 13,Parcel 58 is currently not being protected and is subject to development. Under current zoning,the land could sustain approximately (4) single family building lots. The Open Space Plan identifies this parcel as privately held lands of conservation interest and it is shown as a secondary priority parcel on the Open Space Plan. As surface and groundwater continues to decline purchasing this parcel would contribute towards the protection of drinking water quantity and quality. The proposal would permanently protect wildlife habitat that is contiguous with open space and expand the opportunities for passive recreation if the trail system in the Pickerel Cove conservation area is extended. The current land owner has an interest in selling this parcel to the Town of Mashpee if it occurs within a reasonable timeframe. Letters of support contained within the project application include; the Mashpee Planning Board, Conservation Commission,Native Land Conservatory and Department of Fish& Game.