File - Muttontown Preserve Community Forum

Muttontown Preserve Master Plan
Vision
Presentation for Informational
Gathering & Public Input Workshop
&
March
13, 2010
Guiding Principles
and Goals
October 20, 2010
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
Phase 1 – Information Gathering
Product: Inventory Report
•
Kickoff Meeting 1 and Formation of Steering
Committee
•
Steering Committee Meeting #1 (July 15, 2009)
•
Prioritize aspirations and springboard ideas
for Muttontown Preserve
Compilation of information findings from the
workshop and the firms ideas and
recommendations based on the information
gained from the public meeting
•
Public Workshop #1 (March 13, 2010)
•
Presentation on history and background of
preserve
•
Open forum for additional information
exchange
•
•
•
Diagrams
Graphics
Analysis Studies
To all meeting presentations (past and present) & materials/handouts….
WWW.MUTTONTOWNPRESERVE.WEEBLY.COM
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
Phase 2 – Generate and Test Ideas
Public Workshop #2 (Last Meeting- May 22, 2010)
•
Identify and explore community ideas and desires
Product: Strategic Facilities
Plan and Program Report
Proposed design created by using the Design
Public Workshop #3 (June 30, 2010)
•
Consultants will present concept plan(s) and
strategic program recommendations, listen to
feedback and modify plan and report
Steering Committee Meeting #2 ( July 21, 2010 )
•
Presentation of strategic facilities plan and program
report
•
Receive final feedback and make modifications
before submission to the county for approval
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
Report to identify and address four key use zones:
1.
Historic Buildings
2.
Equestrian Facilities
3.
The Preserve
4.
Environmental/Educational Interpretive Activities
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
Phase 3 – Resolve & Refine
Master Plan
Public Workshop #4 (October 20, 2010)
•
Present vision statement and guiding principles
•
Refine principles based on community feedback
Steering Committee Meeting #3
•
Present pre-final master plan to steering committee
•
Determine final edits to master plan
Product: Master Plan
•
•
Generated by information gathered from
Phases 1 and 2
Plan will incorporate:
•
Organization of the site
•
Conceptual design for four key zones
•
Document Community Feedback
•
Document Steering Committee
Feedback
Public Workshop #5 (November)
•
Present Master Plan to the community
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
VISION FOR MUTTONTOWN PRESERVE:
Muttontown Preserve will continue to be a Nassau County operated preserve
open to visitors to observe and appreciate nature, cultural resources (including
three former estates) and enjoy passive recreation and equestrian activities.
OVERALL PRESERVE:
Achieve a balance between the preservation
and protection of natural and cultural
resources and defined recreation.
Provide environmental and cultural
education to the public.
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
GUIDING PRINCIPLES ADDRESS . . .
• NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION
• CULTURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION
• SCENIC RESOURCE PROTECTION
• RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES
• ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY IMPROVEMENTS
• EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION GOALS
• OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE GOALS
• COMMUNICATION AND PARTNERSHIP NEEDS
• FACILITY DEVELOPMENT AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS
• INVENTORY, MONITORING AND RESEARCH NEEDS
• SUSTAINABILITY AND ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT GOALS
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
NATURAL RESOURCES
Preservation of natural resources is the primary goal at Muttontown Preserve.
Identify, protect, manage and interpret natural resources at the preserve.
• Identify a key person with a Natural Resources background
to coordinate efforts to maintain natural resources, report
progress and ensure long term plans are carried out.
• Design and locate recreational and interpretive facilities to
assure that they do not exceed the preserve’s capacity or
infringe on important natural habitats.
• Develop and carry out management strategies to protect or
enhance natural resource areas of the preserve, including
significant plant assemblages, wildlife, water bodies,
wetlands and other habitats at the preserve.
• Address invasive species issues at the preserve.
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
RECREATION
MOVIE NIGHT
GARDEN CENTER AND SHOP
Provide permitted recreational programs that are compatible with the
Nassau County Perpetual Preservation Law (Local Law 5-1988)- and the
preserve’s natural, cultural, and physical resources.
•Identify a key person with recreation and land management
background to coordinate efforts to promote, control and
report on recreational use of the preserve and to ensure that
long-term plans are implemented.
ENTRY SIGNAGE
• Identify recreational activities that are compatible with the
preserve’s natural and cultural resources and provide
appropriate support for those activities.
• County to encourage the long-term continuance of
equestrian easements at adjacent areas and maintain safe
connections to public easements.
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
RECREATION
MOVIE NIGHT
Recommended:
GARDEN CENTER AND SHOP
• Walking and Hiking
• Running, Jogging
• Horseback Riding
• Cross-Country Skiing
Requested:
ENTRY SIGNAGE
• Carriage rides in defined locations
Disallowed at Muttontown Preserve:
• Bicycling
• Shooting
• Motorized vehicles
• Dog Walking
• Amplified Sound
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
RECREATION: NASSAU
COUNTY
MANAGEMENT
AREAS
MOVIE
NIGHT
GARDEN CENTER
AND SHOP
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
CULTURAL RESOURCES
Identify, protect, preserve and interpret buildings, site and areas
significant to the history, archeology and culture of the site.
• Identify a key person to coordinate, review and report
on the use, condition and preservation of cultural
resources, especially as related to buildings and
immediate grounds.
• Determine appropriate level of preservation,
reconstruction, restoration or reuse of on-site structures.
•Identify appropriate uses for vacant or underutilized
buildings that are compatible with their historic function
and the mission of the preserve.
• Continually re-evaluate the condition and maintenance
of structures and their surroundings for safety and
stability: set priorities and schedules for maintenance.
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
SCENIC RESOURCES
Protect the scenic quality of the preserve, its landscapes, architecture,
and views.
•Provide and maintain vistas to Chelsea Mansion from
the lawns.
• Provide and maintain buffers to and from surrounding
roadways as required in the original deed restrictions
for Muttontown Preserve. Consider making buffer zones
wider and more diverse.
• Minimize the visual impact of any future activities or
support facilities upon the scenic character of the
preserve.
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
ACCESS & CONNECTIVITY
Provide appropriate access to the preserve and its recreational, cultural
and natural resources.
•Provide and maintain emergency vehicle access through the
preserve and its trail system for emergency response and
rescue operations.
• Provide preserve entrance signs, trail head orientation signs
and markers to provide easy access to and from the
preserve.
• Provide reasonable access to preserve resources for
persons with disabilities in accordance with the American
with Disabilities Accessibility Guidelines (ADA).
• Provide a printable trail map on the county website
including directions to the preserve with parking and
preserve use instructions.
• Provide a non-motorized trail system that links the parking
area(s) to the natural, cultural and recreational resources
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
EDUCATION & INTERPRETIVE GOALS
Provide opportunities for education and interpretation for the natural,
cultural and recreational resources of the preserve.
• Identify a key person to coordinate education activities for
county preserves including an ongoing training program for
staff, volunteer educators, guides, docents and teachers.
• Develop interpretive signage that is cohesive in its aesthetic
throughout the preserve.
• Provide guided and self-guided interpretive programs
designed for the general public and organized groups,
highlighting habitats, history, geology and buildings.
• Develop programs that are compatible with and encourage
the protection of preserve resources.
•Promote the preserve as a location for study by higher
education and other educational and research institutions.
•Encourage internships and volunteer opportunities at the
preserve to foster education and stewardship.
•Create a documented oral history of the preserve.
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE GOALS
Operate and maintain the preserve in a safe, clean and sustainable
manner that protects the natural, cultural and recreational resources of
the preserve.
• Identify a key person with operations responsibilities to
coordinate, schedule and report on site maintenance.
Regular coordination with natural resources and site facilities
personnel.
• Development of publicly available written guidelines for the
types and size of special events that are appropriate in the
preserve (such as equestrian events) and operational
guidelines to ensure the integrity of the preserves resources
are not compromised.
• Develop special events guidelines for programmable spaces
within the preserve that clearly identifies the character and
type of events that are appropriate. Would help to protect
the natural and built resources of the preserve.
• Provide a more efficient internal communication system for
preserve staff and other county staff
• Provide a more efficient external communication system to
solicit and respond to maintenance issues identified by
preserve users.
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE GOALS
Operate and maintain the preserve in a safe, clean and sustainable
manner that protects the natural, cultural and recreational resources of
the preserve.
• Develop and implement a set of maintenance and operation
guidelines for the preserve.
• Identify specific approaches to address resource protection
and natural resource maintenance within the preserve’s
operation and maintenance programs.
• Develop partnerships for maintenance and operation
guidelines with natural resources and building operations
responsibilities.
• Establish clear training, safety procedures and permitting to
support volunteer activities such as trail maintenance,
invasive species control and habitat enhancement projects.
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
COMMUNICATION AND PARTNERSHIP:
Develop partnerships with other public agencies, not-for-profit
organizations and the private sector. Ensure open and transparent
communications with the public. Maintain an open, competitive and
public communication as related to contracts and agreements related to
the preserve.
• Identify a key person to identify and pursue grants to
support the maintenance and operation of the preserve.
• Develop partnerships for maintaining facilities and
conducting programs. This could include a Friends of Group
or a Stewardship Council to help guide, publish and
implement elements of the plans and projects.
• Solicit, grant-write and advocate for funding.
• Coordinate with federal, state and local agencies in the
management and stewardship of the natural, cultural and
recreational resources of the preserve.
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
FACILITY DEVELOPMENT AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT:
Maintain, improve and invest in the built infrastructure of the preserve to
meet the needs of the goals of the preserve in a sustainable manner.
• Identify potential uses for vacant and underutilized
buildings in the preserve.
• Maintain and prioritize a schedule to perform preventative
maintenance on existing buildings, structures, roads and
infrastructure. Design changes to be reviewed for
compatibility with preservation of nature and long-term
sustainability.
NOW
• Seek proposals from potential groups and
organizations/institutions through publicly announced RFPs
to occupy and make use of vacant or underutilized structures
within the site in a manner that is consistent with the mission
of the preserve while preserving historic architectural
character.
• Ensure public access component is part of any adaptive
re-use proposal.
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
INVENTORY, MONITORING AND RESEARCH:
Encourage scientific research into the natural and cultural resources of
the preserve.
• Identify an institution to act as a repository
for research & data collected at the preserve.
• Create a system that periodically reevaluates, inventories and monitors research
projects at the preserve.
• Train, educate and provide outreach to staff
and the public in order to support a successful
invasive species control effort.
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
SUSTAINABILITY & ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT:
For each Nassau County Park and Preserve the Commissioner shall oversee the
development of a Management Plan to include a map showing the locations of
management areas and permitted activities in accordance with Parks Policy
(Local Law 5-1988)
• Maintain diverse populations of native species
• ControlNOW
invasive plant communities
• Actively manage the preserve through
meadow management, planting programs,
erosion control and protection of fresh
water systems.
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
PRIORITIES:
Master plan to be presented in November will lay out priority management and capital
improvements for the long term sustainability and expanded utilization of Muttontown
Preserve.
• Provide entrance signs (3)
• Provide welcome and orientation signs at parking areas and other key entrances (5)
Orientation to include preserves rules and permitted uses.
NOW
• Provide clear trail signs to facilitate access in and out of preserve especially at trail
crossings.
• Provide clear (reflective) markings identifying emergency access route through the
preserve.
• Convene and practice an annual emergency rescue drill with local EMS, fire and
police department
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
PRIORITIES:
• Improve entry roads and parking areas with latest in sustainable design.
• Stabilize structures or secure them including Zog Ruins, Gazebos and Williamsburg
Village.
• Identify equestrian trails
• Enhance trails where needed to limit erosion, flooding or root damage.
• Provide improved trail map with updated information
NOW
• Implement meadow mowing to maintain habitat
without damage to nesting areas
• Participate in regional invasive plant control
• Improve access to the pinetum with new ID tags and signs
• Implement fairy house gallery and program behind Nassau Hall
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
PRIORITIES:
• Identify county person(s) to expand, promote, coordinate, monitor and permit
activities at the preserve.
• Seek partners for improvements to equestrian center rings, fences, and footing.
• Seek partners for implementing cultural tours to include Chelsea Mansion, Nassau
Hall, (Barnswallow), and Zog Ruins.
• Seek partners for implementing an expanded nature education program including
teacher training
NOW
• Seek partners for implementing a habitat and trails management volunteer program
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
PRIORITIES:
• Improve north bound left turn into equestrian center
• Interpret Zog Ruins
• Provide viewing platforms and bird blinds at selected locations
• Provide outdoor education demonstration areas
• Renovate Chelsea Garden and greenhouse
• Connect Chelsea Garden with Mansion and Nature Center
NOW
• Expand Nature Center and provide school bus parking and restrooms
• Renovate rose garden at Nassau Hall
• Reconstruct Williamsburg Village with appropriate programming
• Reconstruct Tennis at Chelsea Mansion and/or Nassau Hall
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
PRIORITIES:
• Identify key person to make a quarterly report to the Parks Commissioner on the
state of the preserve and related buildings. Publish an annual report on the county
website.
• Maintain and prioritize a schedule to perform preventative maintenance on existing
buildings, structures, roads and infrastructure.
• Continue rental of apartments through contract agreement as a means of keeping
the buildings in use and in good condition.
NOW
• Continue residential use of buildings to provide
a 24/7 presence.
• Continue to explore alternative uses for the buildings in keeping with the preserve
mission
• Continue use of Chelsea Mansion as a wedding venue and seek additional
opportunities to generate revenue including art exhibitions, music (not amplified),
dance and the arts.
• Continue use of Nassau Hall for county and not-for-profit office space.
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010
Questions &
Comments
© SARATOGA ASSOCIATES, PS&S 2010
PUBLIC MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2010