Open Space and Recreational Plan 2009-2016

Open Space and Recreation Plan for the Town of Rockport 2009 FINAL SUBMISSION Open Space and Recreation Committee Members Eric Hutchins, Watershed Protection Committee Christopher Lewis Donna Marshall-Higgins, Recreation Committee Lawrence Neal, Conservation Commission Marcia B. Siegel, Rights of Way Committee Mary Ruth Sole, Planning Board Peter Van Demark, Cartographer Maps produced by Peter Van Demark using Maptitude® GIS software Open Space and Recreation Plan for the Town of Rockport 2009-2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF MAPS .................................................................................................................................................... 3 Section 1 PLAN SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................... 4 Section 2 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 5 2A Statement of Purpose ........................................................................................................................... 5 2B Planning Process and Public Participation .......................................................................................... 6 Section 3 COMMUNITY SETTING ................................................................................................................... 8 3A Regional Context ................................................................................................................................. 8 3B History of the Community ................................................................................................................... 9 3C Population Characteristics ................................................................................................................. 11 3D Growth and Development Patterns .................................................................................................... 14 Section 4 ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS ................................................................. 23 4A Geology, Topography and Soils ........................................................................................................ 23 4B Landscape Character .......................................................................................................................... 27 4C Water Resources ................................................................................................................................ 32 4D Vegetation .......................................................................................................................................... 37 4E Fisheries and Wildlife ........................................................................................................................ 40 4F Scenic Resources and Unique Environments .................................................................................... 45 4G Environmental Challenges ................................................................................................................. 47 Section 5 INVENTORY OF LANDS OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION INTEREST ............. 50 5A Private Parcels ................................................................................................................................... 51 5B Public and Nonprofit Parcels ............................................................................................................. 59 5C ADA Access and Public Transportation to Open Space .................................................................... 74 Section 6 COMMUNITY VISION .................................................................................................................... 75 6A Description of Process ....................................................................................................................... 75 6B Open Space and Recreation Goals ..................................................................................................... 76 Section 7 ANALYSIS OF NEEDS..................................................................................................................... 78 7A Summary of Resource Protection Needs ........................................................................................... 78 7B Summary of Community’s Needs ..................................................................................................... 78 7C Management Needs, Potential Change of Use................................................................................... 80 Section 8 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................. 81 Section 9 SEVEN-YEAR ACTION PLAN ........................................................................................................ 82 First-Year Action Plan ................................................................................................................................. 85 Action Plans for Years Two to Seven ......................................................................................................... 87 Section 10 PUBLIC COMMENTS .................................................................................................................... 89 Section 11 RESOURCES AND REFERENCES .............................................................................................. 90 11A Resources ........................................................................................................................................... 90 11B References ......................................................................................................................................... 90 Section 12 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................... A-1 Appendix 1 Results of the Rockport Open Space Survey 2008 .............................................................. A-1 Appendix 2 Mailing List for Rockport 2009 Draft Report Review ...................................................... A-13 Appendix 3 Public Comments .............................................................................................................. A-14 Appendix G ADA Access Self Evaluation ............................................................................................ A-36 2 Open Space and Recreation Plan for the Town of Rockport 2009-2016 TABLE OF MAPS Map 3A Regional Context ................................................................................................................................. 8 Map 3C Population Density ............................................................................................................................ 13 Map 3D1 Watersheds and Water Lines ...................................................................................................... 16 Map 3D2 Watersheds and Sewer Lines ..................................................................................................... 17 Map 3D3 Zoning and Composite Development ....................................................................................... 18 Map 3D4 Developable Lands and Partial Constraints .......................................................................... 19 Map 3D5 Zoning Map ........................................................................................................................................ 22 Map 4A1 General Soil Map .............................................................................................................................. 25 Map 4A2 Hydrologic Soil Group .................................................................................................................... 26 Map 4B1 Unique Features ............................................................................................................................... 29 Map 4B2 Major Trails Areas ........................................................................................................................... 31 Map 4C1 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................. 34 Map 4C2 Millbrook Well Field ........................................................................................................................ 35 Map 4E Habitat for Rare Species .................................................................................................................. 44 Map 5A1 Total Public, Non-Profit and Private Parcels ......................................................................... 53 Map 5A2 Private Parcels ................................................................................................................................. 58 Map 5B Public and Non-Profit Parcels ....................................................................................................... 60 Map 9 First-Year Action Plan Map ............................................................................................................... 86 3 Open Space and Recreation Plan for the Town of Rockport 2009-2016 SECTION 1: PLAN SUMMARY The objective of Rockport’s 2009 Open Space and Recreation Plan is to increase the residents’ connection with the Town’s invaluable natural resources and history. The Committee hopes to achieve this through communicating with the community and by implementing

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