Which way Canonchet? Committee to decide

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Which way Canonchet? Committee to decide 01:00 AM EDT on Friday, July 18, 2008 BY RANDAL EDGAR

Journal Staff Writer
NARRAGANSETT — Since last fall, a group of nine volunteershas been meeting to talk about the future of one ofNarragansett’s largest and least-used open properties.
Tomorrow, in a special meeting that will start at 8 a.m. andpossibly run into the afternoon, the nine will try to answer anall-important question: How should the property be used?
So far, the members of the Canonchet Farm Master Plan ReviewCommittee have agreed on dozens of issues.
They agree, for instance, that there should be walking trails andpassive recreation, such as bird watching, on the 150-acreproperty. They agree there should be access to the Narrow River forpeople with kayaks and other boats that can be carried in and out.
They agree that some clearing should take place around the largefield in the center of the property to provide views of old stonewalls that are obscured by years of undergrowth.
But even with some 50 points of general agreement, there are somekey areas in which they do not agree.
For one, they are divided on how much clearing should take placearound the large field. Should the clearing be limited toundergrowth, or should some trees be cut to provide better views ofthe town beach and Narrow River?
They also do not agree on parking. Should the lot off Ann HoxieLane be used, or should a wooded area be cleared to create anotherlot? And should automobiles be allowed on the property forlarge-scale events? Should there be a road that loops through fromStrathmore Road to Ann Hoxie Lane?
“Those are all very basic issues which need to be naileddown,” said Thomas Fortier, the committee chairman.
The first step in answering those questions, said Fortier andcommittee member Terry Fleming, is to determine what the uses willbe.
“The question is how much activity are we encouraging at thisplace,” said Fortier, who has a background in agronomy andmanages private properties. He stressed the importance ofmaintaining a balance between the presence of humans and thenatural world. “The same issues are there in Yellowstone Parkor in any park. You want people coming to see it, but if you lettoo many people see it, it’s no longer there.”
The town-owned property, acquired by eminent domain in the 1970swith the goal of providing open land for conservation andrecreation, was largely forgotten until 2006, when a Providencepolice sergeant named Steven Courville and an enthusiastic group ofbackers proposed turning the site into a polo field.
At first, the polo plan drew local support, but as residents beganlooking at the particulars — how much land would be clearedand flattened, and the impact on traffic — the polo idea loststeam.
Ultimately, the Town Council formed the committee last year torecommend the best uses.
While some committee members want to see changes and public useslimited, others want to see property used as much as possible.
Fleming, who is chairman of the Planning Board, said he would liketo see some trees cleared to provide scenic views to the river andthe beach.
“It should be used in the way that benefits the greatestnumber of people,” he said.
Fleming also questioned the suggestion that the property would beused during the spring, fall and winter, but not during the summerbecause of ticks and mosquitoes.
“I haven’t signed off on that,” he said.
If all goes well, Fortier said the task after tomorrow’smeeting will be writing a new master plan for the former farmproperty, one that doesn’t just sit on a shelf like previousincarnations have. The plan would be presented to the Town Councilfor final approval.
But first, there is tomorrow’s meeting, which will be held atthe Community Center, on Mumford Road.
“We’re certainly hoping that we don’t meet allday,” he said.
redgar@projo.com