2021.10.14 Staff Report.pdf
October 14 2021 Staff Report
To: Conservation Commission From: Sarah LaValley RE: Staff Report, October 14 2021 Commission Meeting
5:30 – Public Hearing: Amend Conservation Commission Land Use Regulations
• Add bow hunting as allowed activity at Rocky Hill Greenway, to reflect historic use
of the area
• Update Rainbow Beach Regulations to current State Wildlife Management Area Regulations
Overview:
This is a public hearing pursuant to MGL C40 S8C regarding changes to the use regulations
governing conservation properties. No other approvals are required before these take effect, if approved by the Commission. The changes (attached) would add the Rocky Hill Greenway as an
area where bow hunting is allowed, and reference a state website for the Rainbow Beach regulations
to ensure they are the most current.
An excerpt from the 2018-2025 Open Space Plan is below. The Commission has conceptually agreed
that hunting could be appropriate in areas where it has taken place in the past, and agreed to hold a
hearing for the Rocky Hill Greenway. In accordance with existing hunting regulations for Beaver
Brook/Broad Brook Greenway, these are shown in the proposed changes as deer and turkey seasons,
archery only. State regulations address specific items, such as allowable hours, discharge setback
distances from structures and roadways, limits, allowable tree stands, and seasons. Comments
received are available at
http://archive.northamptonma.gov/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=725704&dbid=0&repo=CityOfNorth
ampton The Conservation Commission should discuss the hunting framework in future public hearings.
During the public conversation on this plan, the issue of expanding hunting opportunities on
conservation land was the only subject where no consensus or compromise emerged. As a result, the
plan makes no recommendation about hunting and the issue remains with the Conservation
Commission, which is charged with regulation the use of conservation land. Hunting is currently
allowed at Rainbow Beach and bow hunting is allowed at Beaver Brook Greenway. Hunters, their
families, friends, and supporters have advocated
for more hunting opportunities, advocating that all residents should have the opportunity to use
conservation areas in non-destructive ways. Hunting opponents have strongly opposed any new
hunting, raising issues of safety, noise, and use conflicts.
When the Conservation Commission takes this up, they might want to consider the following as they
work on a framework:
• Hunting is not appropriate in areas with high visitation and near dense residential areas, including for example Burts Bog, Broad Brook-Fitzgerald Lake, Mill River Greenway, Mineral Hills,
Parsons Brook and Saw Mill Hills.
• The community is perception is polarized more than any other issue in this plan with disagreement
on even basic facts (how noisy is hunting in terms of number of shots fired, is hunting consistent
with conservation, does inclusiveness mean that hunters should have opportunities within the city,
and should a
majority of non-hunters be able to preclude hunting opportunities).
• Issues of enforceability, safety, noise, compatibility of uses, maintenance, and alternative uses that
are inconsistent with hunting are all legitimate for discussion.
• In discussing the issues, the Conservation Commission can ignore this plan, set geographic limits
on where hunting is or is not allowed, set seasonal limits (e.g., deer season only hunting), set species
limits (e.g., hunt only non-predators), and hunting methods (e.g., limit some areas to bow hunting).
Review and Approve Updated Montview Management Plan
Meadow City Conservation Coalition (MCCC) holds the conservation restriction on the Montview
conservation area. As part of this CR and related MOU, and similar to the partnership with Broad
Brook Coalition, MCCC may conduct certain activities, such as trail maintenance, mowing, brush
cutting, and farmer selection, without requiring Commission approval. Any alteration within 100
feet of the wetland area would require a permit. The Commission previously approved the
Management Plan in 2016.