By Jonathan L'Ecuyer
Staff writer
May 20, 2008 05:36 am ROCKPORT — The newly formed Rockport Open Space and Recreation Advisory Committee wants some advice from town residents. The group has developed a survey that asks residents for their opinions on a wide range of issues, ranging from the importance of acquiring or preserving open space to the specific parcels residents would like the town to acquire. It even asks residents what they like best about living in Rockport. The last pair of questions in the 10-question survey asks residents what they would be willing to do to preserve or add open space in Rockport and what methods of open space protection they would support. The survey can be accessed on the Internet by visiting http://groups.google.com/group/osrac/web/survey. Residents without Internet access may use the computers at Rockport Public Library, or pick up a printed copy at Town Hall, the library, or at the transfer station during certain Saturday hours. Deadline for completed surveys is June 30. "The survey was developed by looking at some other towns that have done such things," Open Space and Recreation Advisory Committee Chairwoman pro-tem Mary Ruth Sole said yesterday. "We took pieces of several different communities' (surveys) and massaged and manipulated it to make it more fitting for Rockport." The survey was first made available to residents at last month's Town Meeting. Sole said it's best for people to complete the survey online as software is able to organize the results much more quickly than if it were done by hand. The new open space committee became official just days before Town Meeting on April 5. If that had not happened, Town Meeting would've been asked to consider Christopher Lewis' article, which called for the creation of an Open Space and Recreation Plan Committee with seven people appointed by the town moderator for terms of five years. Lewis, a former candidate for selectman, is now the committee's chairman. "Planning allows change to occur along with open space considerations to maintain Rockport's character," states the survey before the first question. "Change is inevitable — we want you to influence the change as actively as possible." Sole said though the committee will not utilize the results of the survey for "a while," it will help members set priorities for issues before making any decisions. Members of the committee, appointed by selectmen, include Sole of the Planning Board, Lewis, Marcia Siegel of the Rights of Way Committee, Donna Marshall of the Recreation Committee, former Public Works Commissioner Chip Norton, and writing specialist Christina Tecce. Watershed Committee Chairman Eric Hutchins, who has worked hard in recent months to identify parcels within the watershed he believes should be protected, is also expected to join the panel. The new committee is picking up where the last one left off more than a decade ago. Rockport has not had an approved open space plan since 1983. An attempt to update it was made by a 21-member committee in 1997, but fell short of completion. Conservation Agent Geralyn Falco has told Lewis the new committee will have the benefit of being able to edit the 1997 open space draft plan. Selectmen recently voted to allow nine members to serve on the committee, up from the originally planned seven. Rockport cartographer Peter Vandemark was interviewed by selectmen for appointment to the committee last Tuesday and is expected to be appointed at their next meeting, May 27. During his interview, Vandemark said the 1997 plan failed, in large part, because of inadequate mapping. He told selectmen his 35 years of mapping experience should greatly benefit the latest attempt at a plan. Vandemark may be conflicted regarding where to go next Tuesday as coincidentally, the next Open Space and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting is also scheduled for that night at 7:30 p.m. Committee members will convene at Rockport Public Library at 7:30 p.m. while selectmen meet in Conference Room A of Town Hall. Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
Survey at a glance 1. Rate how important it is to you for the town to preserve/acquire the following: The options are: Add to the trail network, provide bike paths and sidewalks, buildings or places of historical or architectural interest, historic archeological sites, forests and woodlands, open space to protect wetlands and wildlife habitat, contiguous or continuous open space areas, open space for active recreational needs, open space for passive recreational needs, open space to preserve real estate values, open space to protect groundwater and drinking water resources, open space for public coastal access, provide long term protection of exiting trail network. 2. Indicate the recreational activities in which you or your family participate or would like to participate: Options include: Baseball, softball, football, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, beach, swimming, boating, canoeing, kayaking, cross-country skiing, sailing, fishing, horseback riding, ice skating/hockey/curling, indoor basketball, outdoor basketball, jogging, track, walking, nature hikes, golf, bicycling, mountain biking, snowmobiling, tot playground, picnicking, birdwatching, skateboarding, other (please specify). 3. How important for you are the town's recreational places for: Toddlers (up to age 4), young children (5 to 8), upper elementary (9 to 12), teenagers (13 to 18), adults, handicapped, senior citizens. 4. Describe specific parcels in Rockport you would like the town to acquire for open space and what makes them unique for prioritization? 5. How many reside in your household? How many in your household are 18 years or younger? 6. What is your street name? 7. What do you like most about living in Rockport (Indicate the top three from the following): Small town character, open space, very walkable town, schools, sense of community, town parks and beaches, access to Boston, local businesses rather than chain stores, ocean environment, friendly people, recreational opportunities, art and cultural activities, other (please specify). 8. In 15 to 20 years, how would you like to see Rockport's mix of residential, business and open space. Same general mix as it is now, more business (thus more business and residential tax), more housing, build out into the woods, less protected open space, more protected open space, other (please specify). 9. To preserve/add open space in town, would you (check any or all): Contribute land to the town, donate money to buy land, rewrite your deed to limit future use of your land, vote to change zoning laws. 10. What methods of open space protection do you support (check any or all): Land acquisition by the town, acquisition only through donations or government grants, protection through town bylaws/zoning regulation.
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