Winter Island Master Plan - Public Meeting #3 Meeting Summary - May 11, 2011Salem Winter Island Park Master Plan
1 The Cecil Group / Susan St. Pierre / Bio Engineering Group / FXM Associates / PAL
Public Meeting Memorandum #3 May 11, 2011 Meeting Date: May 5, 2011 / 6:30pm The third Public Meeting was held on May 4, 2011 at 6:30pm with approximately 40 attendees. The meeting started with a review of the master planning process including a brief overview of the two alternatives Scheme A and B and then introducing the Draft Master Plan. The major items included:
1. Restore Fort Pickering Draft Master Plan
2. Road side parking with reinforced turf 3. Continuous internal walkway for pedestrian and bicycles 4. Continuous perimeter path system with access to shoreline edges 5. Boat launch parking (approx. 32 spaces) 6. Enhanced entrance gateway with wider driveways, signage and gatehouse 7. Wind turbine located near the harbor master’s office 8. Relocation of camp store into Hangar Garage or other building 9. Restoration of Barracks Building 10. Restoration of USCG Hangar 11. Introduction of sustainable initiatives to provided environmentally friendly park including: (Bio cells, porous paving, rainwater harvesting, etc.) 12. New parking at Hangar Garage 13. Maintain access road at Hangar Garage 14. Shift edge of parking lot back on east side to accommodate more green space and wider pedestrian walkway and shoreline green space 15. Vehicle access around USCG Hangar 16. Ramp and dock to remain in its current state 17. Dock to be expanded to accommodate more kayaks 18. Light house to be restored 19. Interpretive program developed for the park 20. Manage access into Fort Pickering with guided tours and formalized interpretive trails 21. Manager to manage all uses and schedules on the island 22. Pavilion to remain in its current location 23. Community Gardens to be located in an open sunny area away main uses with easy access
Public Meeting #3 questions and comments: 1. Will the moat restoration require EPA permitting? 2. Should there be a concern about contaminated soils especially from lead paint at the Barracks Building and who would be responsible? 3. Castle Hill in Ipswich received funding very quickly to restore the structure 4. Why can’t the park just be transferred over to the Nation Park Service?
Salem Winter Island Park Master Plan
2 The Cecil Group / Susan St. Pierre / Bio Engineering Group / FXM Associates / PAL
5. Salem’s Veteran’s Organization can assist with building/renovation projects (CWT-Compensated Work Therapy Program-pays an hourly rate to do various renovation jobs) 6. Second Core of Cadets / Salem is the home of the National Guard – potential funding source with support from Tierney 7. Historic Salem suggested reviewing the Vine Feasibility Study to be part of the master plan for the restoration and preservation of the Barracks and USCG Buildings 8. The RV use should stay on the island and at minimum according the Salem Harbor Master Plan with keeping 16 RV spaces in the NW corner of the site and well buffered 9. Park Service involvement is questioned and whether the island should be handed over to the NPS 10. A Cape Cod Naval Base was transformed into an museum but is not acquiring appropriate funding 11. There is concern for the noise level of the Wind Turbine and commented on hearing it from ¼ mile away 12. What is the potential for building larger docks? Verify whether this is consistent wtih the Harbor Plan 13. The final report should include the infrastructure improvements 14. A bed and breakfast should be affordable and not high end so all park users can enjoy. A bed and breakfast may have legal implications, but must be confirmed for privatization of public property 15. The Barracks Building should be considered long term for a senior center or veterans home and should add more language in the program 16. There was a concern for the community garden location and a new sunnier location should be reconsidered 17. Some attendees recommended keeping the park as is and not changing anything 18. Case Studies to review: a. Foundry Renovation in Pennsylvania (Park Service and Heritage Center) b. Rockport, MA – Shalin Lieu Performance Arts Center
Previous Public Meeting #2 Comments: 1. Some hesitation to remove ‘all’ of the RV’s from the park, but potentially remove all RV’s if the island can be financially sustainable over time. Some still favor the use 2. Roads should be widened 3. The island should not become a very formal park with formal edges. It should maintain its rustic and natural character to some degree 4. Preferred parking in Scheme A 5. Like amphitheatre for many reasons, but some concern for amount of traffic it will produce within the park 6. The pavilion should remain, very popular and a good revenue generator 7. Potential introduction of Cycle Rickshaws to the park 8. Enhanced gateway was preferred with multiple lanes for convenient access for visitors and member
Salem Winter Island Park Master Plan
3 The Cecil Group / Susan St. Pierre / Bio Engineering Group / FXM Associates / PAL
9. Restoring the moat should be a last priority. Safety was a concern being located near the beach use with children activity 10. Tot lot relocation near the beach walk and on street parking was preferred 11. Keep parking for Salem residents and for/near water use (viewing) 12. Value to locating parking in one place so visitors are not circling park 13. Open views to water should be maintained and not views under trees 14. Like community gardens and should remain 15. Keep park for Salem 16. Need a back up plan 17. Set goals for building but do not set a deadline 18. Terraces for community gardens not a good idea 19. Rahab Barracks building, but it not, do not use for RV use 20. Like wide spread open feeling 21. Phase out RV’s especially along waterfront 22. Like thought of heavily buffering and secluding RV’s 23. Expand and improve restrooms 24. Petition state to raise boat ramp fees, but keep McCabe Marina? 25. Restore old Coast Guard building in condition they once were 26. Do immediate low cost moth balling of Barracks 27. Widen green space along parking lot for pedestrian use (benches, etc.) 28. Make sure there is overflow parking for trailers 29. Make sure park does not compete with The Willows 30. Obtain an agreement with Plummer Home about satellite lot? 31. Doug? Will do labor for renovations if Salem pays for materials 32. Prioritize parking for Salemites and senior citizens 33. Keep boat trailers parking further away from the ramp 34. Turn current trailer parking into new use-location? 35. Performance center desirable 36. Paths should be gravel or shells 37. Hangar should have more windows if it becomes a used facility/function room 38. Turbines can generate significant $$. No opposition at this time 39. Gardens are more important than RV’s 40. 100 garden spaces are sold out in 1st season 41. Add fire pits on the island 42. Entrance should have turnaround space 43. Amphitheatre should have multi use purpose 44. Restaurant should be considered or ice cream parlor 45. Parking lots are full every summer