SOUTHWICK – The Open Space Committee is holding another meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Southwick Town Hall.
According to Open Space Committee Chairman Dennis Clark, the meeting will consist of reviewing at the changes that have been made to the plan, including the new mapping that will be implemented in order to update the last open space plan from 2010. The committee will be discussing the comments submitted by the DPW and the Planning Board.
“There’s a lot of other information that we need to compile,” said Clark.
Some of the information includes trying to confirm all of the preserved land that are in Southwick.
Members of the Southwick Open Space Committee are seen looking over some items recommended for inclusion with the 2019 open space plan at their last meeting. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Open Space Committee member Russ Fox is hoping that enough progress can be made at the meeting in order to have a clearer picture of their current situation with the open space plan.
“We can see where we’re at and what else we can do,” said Fox.
Fox added that one plan for the near future may be holding a public hearing in order to allow the community to offer input on what they want to see, or don’t want to see, in the new 2019 plan.
The Open Space Committee sent out about 2,000 surveys to all homeowners in Southwick and has already received some completed forms from residents. The survey featured 11 questions about various recreational opportunities. Clark reported that they received back more than 400 surveys of the approximately 2,000 surveys that were sent out. The main bullet points expressed by residents included having residential housing be single homes, have specialty shopping, offer a new multipurpose center and social area for teenagers, as well as improving the water quality protection areas in town.
The committee was formed as the town of Southwick needs to update their Open Space and Recreation Plan. Every community in Massachusetts has the option to renew their plan every seven years. Southwick’s latest plan was 2011 and the deadline for them to renew the plan is November of 2019. The plan allows municipalities in town to apply for various grants from the state.
The committee is looking to keep the bulk of the plan building process internal. Committee member Russ Fox has noted that a majority of the 2019 plan will look similar to 2011, but some things have changed in terms of recreation in Southwick since 2011. This includes the additions of Whalley Park and a disc golf facility, but losing the Southwick Country Club. Since the previous plan in 2011, Southwick was also no longer the host of the Motocross Nationals.
Due to the lack of changes that are expected to be made with the new plan, the committee isn’t planning on spending $10,000 or more. If the committee planned on spending that amount of money, they would have to send out at least three Request for Proposals to organizations to assist them with the process.
Southwick’s last plan received help from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC). The consultant would help gather data and statistics to help the committee create their updated plan. Fox noted that since the committee is looking at spending less than $10,000, they could ask for help from one organization, and PVPC will be in consideration.
The Community Preservation Committee has already agreed to take up to four or five percent out of their administrative account in order to use that money to hire a consultant.
