Walking Tour of Beaches 2-1-25

Walking Tour of Beaches 2-1-25
Here's a summary of the meeting with clickable timestamps:
Meeting Summary
Introduction & Purpose
0:05 John Zodi opens the meeting, introducing two major budget projects: Short Lane Property & Pear Tree Point Beach.
0:12 Short Lane Property: Discussion on how to utilize the land acquired in 2012.
0:24 Property Description: Located from the water up to near the sewage pump station.
0:44 Project Background: On the agenda for years but delayed; recent clearing mishap in late 2023 removed trees improperly.
Short Lane Property Development Plan
1:03 Design Team: Dan Bigs from Weston & Sampson leading design.
2:04 Four Main Components:
Beach Expansion - Extending the beach to the neighboring private beach.
Dune Construction - Flood mitigation similar to the existing parking lot protection.
Lawn Area - A designated green space in the middle.
Wetlands Relocation - Moving wetlands to higher ground.
2:43 Budget & Bidding: Initial $1M budget; bids came back at $1.9M; reevaluation concluded full project needed.
3:55 Funding Plan: Parks & Rec Commission recommends proceeding with full project; process includes Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, and RTM approvals.
Weed Beach Park Upgrades
4:47 Increased Beach Usage: Post-pandemic growth in visitors; parking lots are filling up.
5:30 Visitor Experience Considerations: Concerns over gravel parking lot conditions for families and mobility-impaired visitors.
6:57 Meeting Officially Called to Order: Open for questions.
7:47 Funding Contribution: Community Fund pledged $350,000 for Weed Beach improvements.
Environmental Concerns
7:53 Invasive Species Removal: Mugwort & fragmities overgrowth addressed; past volunteer efforts not fully effective.
10:06 Use of Chemicals: Assurance that no synthetic chemicals or fertilizers will be used in new lawn areas.
11:01 Parking Lot Surface: Uneven, gravel-filled; plan includes a pervious surface for better drainage.
Pathway & Tree Removal Debate
13:39 Permeable Asphalt Pathway: Designed for accessibility (strollers, wheelchairs).
17:22 Tree Concerns: Plan results in a net loss of 17 trees; concerns about impact on flood resilience.
22:04 Coastal Resilience Goals: Plan focuses on long-term resilience rather than immediate changes.
Pear Tree Point Beach Project
37:06 Three Main Goals:
Raise & Restructure Parking Lot - Mitigate flooding & erosion.
Rebuild Boat Ramp - Address shallow depth issues.
Dredging Project - Remove sediment build-up near the harbor.
42:52 Flooding Concerns: Current parking lot at elevation 4.2 floods frequently; plan raises it to 6.2.
46:17 Projected Flooding Reduction: Current high tides reaching parking lot would no longer impact after project completion.
Parking & Usability Adjustments
56:49 Parking Reduction: Approximately 20 spaces removed to expand beach area.
58:00 Concerns Over Reduced Parking: With increasing population, some question the logic of removing spaces.
1:01:07 Tree Planters in Parking: Islands added for shade & environmental benefits.
Conclusion
1:03:25 Next Steps: Budget discussions and bonding process to proceed.
1:04:02 Open for Further Questions: Encouragement to follow up with town officials.