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Fall River Open Space Plan
SECTION X. Public Comments
The Fall River Open Space and Recreation Plan was released for public comment on August 18, 1997. Notice was placed in the Fall River Herald News and copies of the Plan were distributed to all City Departments for comment. The Comment period closed on September 5, 1997. The Fall River Open Space and Recreation Committee met following that period to review all comments and make changes to the Plan as appropriate. The following pages contain comments to the Plan by the following City Boards and organizations:
- Mayor Edward M. Lambert, Jr.
- Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District
- Fall River Planning Department
- Fall River Park Department
- Fall River Conservation Commission
- Watuppa Water Board
- Greater Fall River Land Conservancy
- Green Futures
- Friends of the Watuppa Reservation
September 10, 1997
Open Space & Recreation Committee
One Government Center
Fall River, MA. 02722
Dear Committee Members,
I would like to acknowledge the outstanding work done by the committee in preparing the City's Open Space & Recreation Plan. In producing this comprehensive document the committee clearly went beyond the requirements set forth by the state.
The goals and objectives of the plan will serve as guidelines to improve the City's park system, protect environmentally sensitive areas and provide additional recreational activities for the public. In addition, the submittal of this plan has allowed the City to apply for grant money to improve Kennedy Park and acquire land for the protection of open space, totalling more than $700,000.
I strongly recommend and support the City's Open Space & Recreation Plan.
Sincerely,
Edward M. Lambert, Jr.
Mayor, City of Fall River
September 15, 1997
Ms. Jennifer Jillson Soper
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
Division of Conservation Services
100 Cambridge Street
Boston, MA. 02202
RE: City of Fall River Open Space and Recreation Plan
Dear Ms. Soper:
Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) staff have recently completed a review of the City of Fall River's Draft Open Space and Recreation Plan for the purpose of certification by the Division of Conservation Services.
We find the plan to be consistant with SRPEDD's regional goals and objectives and in general compliance with DCS's Open Space and Recreation Plan Requirements. The plan reflects the time, effort and research put into it by the Town's officials, committee volunteers, and the Buzzards Bay Project staff. The Five Year Action Plan reflects the need to address some long standing issues, paricularly land use and water supply protection in east Fall River as well as the need for improvement to city's urban park system.
SRPEDD recommends and supports the certification of the Fall River Open Space and Recreation Plan, pending your approval of their forthcoming ADA/504 package. If you have any questions concerning our comments, please do not hesitate to contact our Comprehensive Planning Section.
Respectfully,
Stephen C. Smith
Executive Director
cc: Jim Hartnett, City Planner
Edmund Medeiros, SRPEDD Commissioner, Fall River
Mark Rasmussen, Buzzards Bay Project
September 10, 1997
Open Space & Recreation Committee
City of Fall River
One Government Center
Fall River, MA. 02722
To Whom It May Concern:
On behalf of the Planning Board I would like to express my support of the 1997 Open Space & Recreation Plan.
The goals and objectives of the Plan are consistent with those of the Planning Board for the development and preservation of Fall River's natural resources.
I recommend and support the Open Space & Recreation Plan.
Sincerely,
James K. Hartnett, Planning Director
September 8, 1997
To Whom It May Concern:
On behalf of the Fall River Park Department I would like to express our sincere support to the City of Fall River's Open Space and Recreation Plan.
The open space plan not only targets universal accessibility for all Parks but also the improvement of lighting and security throughout the park system.
With the help and commitment of the Open Space Committee, the urgently needed restorations & improvements to the city's park system may be given the attention they require.
Sincerely,
Board of Park Commissioners
Richard Kitchen
Administrator
September 8, 1997
Open Space & Recreation Committee
c/o Planning Department
City of Fall River
One Government Center
Fall River, MA. 02722
RE: Comments on Open Space & Recreation Plan
To the Open Space & Recreation Committee:
I applaud your efforts in producing this historic document, Fall River's first Open Space & Recreation Plan. It is breathtaking in scope, thoughtful and thorough. It captivates our imaginations and sets forth a vision of what our city can be if we act in concert to make it happen.
The Greater Fall River Land Conservancy will look forward to working with the permanent City Open Space Committee and Mayor Lambert's administration to help the plan become a reality.
When the dust finally settles at the end of this region's current building epoch, how ironic it would be if Fall River is the envy of its more bucolic neighbors for its healthy environment, protected water sources, wilderness reserves and contented citizenry. It sounds like a great place to live.
Sincerely yours,
Michael A. Labossiere, President
Greater Fall River Land Conservancy
September 29, 1997
Mr. James Hartnett
Planning Director
One Government Center
Fall River, MA. 02722
Dear Mr. Hartnett:
I am writing this letter to you as Chairman of the Fall River Open Space and Recreation Committee. As the Administrator of Public Utilities, I would like to commend your committee on the Plan for Open Space and Recreation generating countless hours of work.
Although on face value it seems this would be almost over ambitious but this is the only way to approach this type of need for the City of Fall River. Acquisitions of properties through grants for the use of recreation for providing of the open space and those of applicable protection of the drinking water supply, cannot be over emphasized.
I do not only fully endorse but congratulate the committee on a job well done.
Sincerely,
Joseph S. Rego, Jr.
Administrator of Public Utilities
September 18, 1997
Open Space and Recreation Planning Committee
One Government Center
Fall River, MA. 02720
Dear Committee Members,
I am writing to commend the Committee for its preparation of Fall River's first "Open Space and Recreation Plan". The plan is first of all impressive compendium of valuable information about the natural resources of the city. More importantly, the six goals identified by the report accurately reflect critical needs which our community is facing. In a highly developed city like Fall River, preservation of our remaining natural resources is a vitally important concern.
Protection of the North Watuppa and Copicut watersheds which recharge and buffer Fall River's drinking water supply (Goal #1) should receive especially high priority as the city moves ahead to implement this Plan, The undeveloped watershed lands in east Fall River are among the city's most valuable assets. City residents benefit greatly from the foresight and good stewardship of past city leaders who established the water supply for the future by acquiring the remaining undeveloped lands in Watuppa and Copicut watersheds.
These lands in addition have the potential for providing unique educational and recreational experiences. Surveys and records in the files of the Conservation Office indicate that Fall River is home to well over seven hundred plant and wildlife species, and this natural heritage can be accessible to residents and especially to children through the establishment of trails and nature study areas.
Also of strong interest to the Conservation Commission is Goal #3 which calls for protection and enhancement of greenways in urban Fall River. Objective #2 under this goal calls for restoration of threatened and degraded natural resources. Remaining greenspaces throughout Fall River such as the Quequechan River Valley offer prime opportunities for providing inner city residents with easily accessible open space. As Commissioners, we observe examples of degraded wetlands and water quality on a regular basis. We would welcome the opportunity to work with other city departments to restore these resources.
The Commission has on occasion experienced frustration regarding our abilities to carry on effective enforcement of the Wetlands Protection Act. In order to put more effective enforcement tools in place, we would especially like to pursue Action Item 2(I), which calls for investigating the adopion of a city Wetlands Protection Ordinance and Zoning Bylaws. We also strongly endorse Action Item 2(g) which recommendds an increase in Conservation staffing and expanded training opportunities for Commissioners.
Once again, I congratulate the Committee on its work and hope to see the Conservation Commission playing a major role in helping Fall River to make these Open Space and Recreation goals a reality.
Sincerely yours,
Shaun P. Walsh, Esq.
Chair, Fall River Conservation Commission
September 17, 1997
Dear Mayor Lambert and members of the "Open Space and Recreation Committee",
On behalf of the "Friends of the Watuppa Watershed", I am writing this letter in support of the 1997 Open Space and Recreation Plan. It is encouraging to see that Mayor Lambert and the City of Fall River share the same goals: to increase the protection of the Watuppa and Copicut Water Supply, and the East Fall River Watershed lands. In addition, I think that supporting natural resource protection in Shingle Island River, Bread & Cheese Brook aand Rattlesnake Brook Watersheds are important goals.
For many years the East end of Fall River was a great mystery. I think that the public needs to be educated as to the value of this undeveloped land. I think that they need to be made aware of the importance of protecting its most precious natural, economic and scenic resource. Together, I think that we can work to educate our City by letting them get involved with helping to protect and conserve Fall River's natural assets.
Congratulations to you all on a job well done. I look forward to the implementation of this plan in the very near future.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Blanchette, President
"Friends of the Watuppa Watershed"
September 15, 1997
Open Space Plan Committee
One Government Center
Fall River, MA. 02722
Dear Open Space Plan Committee:
Green Futures enthusiastically endorses your recently completed open space plan for Fall River. It was long overdue, - something that should have been completed years ago. Thanks to your diligence and hard work Fall River now has the means to fully protect its municipal water supply watersheds, secure environmentally sensitive areas, preserve critical wildlife habitat in this increasingly urbanizing corner of Massachusetts, and encourage outdoor recreational opportunities thereby improving the quality of life for all area residents.
We recommend that the Open Space Plan Committee not disband, but remain as a permanent standing committee to see that the goals and objectives you worked so hard on are fully implemented and actualized.
Once again, congratulations on a job well done.
Sincerely,
Beth Sullivan, Media Catalyst
continued...
CONTENTS
- Plan Summary
- Introduction
- Statement of Purpose
- Planning Process and Public Participation
- Community Setting
- Environmental Inventory and Analysis
- Inventory of Lands of Conservation & Recreation Interest
- Community Goals
- Analysis of Needs
- Goals and Objectives
- Action Plan
- Public Comments
- References
- Appendix
- Fall River Map