Please write to City of Quincy Ordinance Committee, David McCarthy, and City Council President, Noel Dibona, to urge them to hold a public hearing on the Quarry Hills Associates lease renewal.
Why is the lease renewal important?
Quarry Hills Associates (QHA) runs the Granite Links golf course abutting the historic Quincy Quarries and eastern end of the Blue Hills. In 1997, as part of the environmental review and agreement QHA made with the state to lease this public land from the City of Quincy, QHA was required to provide a public benefit: a walking path through the property to give people access from the north to the Reservation’s Great Dome and Sawcut Notch Paths.
Approval for the trail has been inconsistence. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection reaffirmed this requirement in 2005, the Quarry Hills Associates. Read the bottom of page 18 to see the passage of the Finding related to the trails. Later, the DEP told QHA that it could build the trail in a location that did not connect directly to the Reservation at Great Dome, which essentially continues to block access to the park.
The lease from the City of Quincy is up for renewal – and here’s where you come in.
The lease negotiations were just referred to the City of Quincy Ordinance Committee. The Ordinance Committee is not required to hold a public hearing, so they might not even consider requiring a footpath in the new lease.
That would mean that the QHA would never build the paths, and that access to the Reservation from the north and Cunningham Park in Milton would be prevented forever.
What can you do?
Please write an email to the chair of the City of Quincy Ordinance Committee, David McCarthy, dmccarthy@quincyma.gov and President Noel Dibona, ndibona@quincyma.gov, to urge them to hold a public hearing on the lease renewal of Quarry Hills Associates.
And when if the Committee agrees to a hearing, please attend (and bring your friends!), to tell them why access to the Blue Hills is so important.
Sample email
Please send your email to Chair David McCarthy at dmccarthy@quincyma.gov and Noel DiBona at ndibona@quincyma.gov (be sure to sign with your name and address – and please cc judy@friendsofthebluehills.org).
Dear Chair McCarthy and President DiBona,
I would like to urge you to schedule a public hearing to give the public an opportunity to comment on the terms of the Quarry Hills Associates lease renewal.
I hike the Blue Hills frequently and know what a valuable resource it is for our community.
[add a personal comment about what the Blue Hills means to you.]
A trail to the Reservation through the city land leased to Quarry Hills Associates would benefit Quincy residents, and other park users.
Please allow the public to weigh in on how important these footpaths are to the community, and the importance for the new lease to include a requirement that QHA build the paths.
Thank you for considering allowing public input on this important issue.
Please circulate this letter to other city council members.
Sincerely,
NAME
ADDRESS
I lead a group of seniors hiking the Blue Hills at least once a week year round to keep them motivated.
We enjoy the peaceful fresh air and groomed trails.
I totally support the Quarries Association and City of Quincy to
Hold this meeting to extend this trail.
Loraine Sumner
Milton COA Volunteer
Just wrote an e-mail that was denied because of it’s length. Short and simple QHA has been ignoring an agreement it made in 1997, the Golf Course is thriving and you nor I could walk away from such an agreement w/o charges being filed. My letter to Chairman McCarhty soon to follow. Thanks Friends of the Blue Hills
Thanks for taking action!
If QHA was required to add the trail to get approval for their development, they must get this done or access to the course must be blocked until it is done. We should meet to understand the background and to present the legal agreement they signed. I wonder where the head of QHA lives? I smell protest.
I also agree that e need an meeting for the public to comment. Just emailed my request! Let’s get this done!
We have to have public hearing. So we can get this done. The more walking paths the better so people can walk or hike. It is great for personal health and appreciate the beauty of nature.
Thank you for spreading the word! I have emailed the city councilors. A lease of such scale demands a thorough process.
Publicly owned green space should never be a barrier to access!
I support this effort, and have emailed the Ordinance Committee Chair
Thank you! That’s great!
I do hike the the BLUE Hills and value it’s resource!! It is a great place to hike,train and sightsee . We need more trails for everyone to hike . Please hold a hearing on this matter and be transparent about all aspects of this trail
Thanks you!
If the agreement is with the state shouldn’t our efforts be pointed at MADEP and Quincy Conservation instead?
Good question! The agreement for the lease is with the City of Quincy.
Please consider the possibility of these connecting paths…..Would increase access and out enjoyment of the area….When I visit the blue hill I am filled with fond childhood memories ….
Thank you for your consideration….
Thank you for your comment!
All my emails have been kicked back. I had to go to the Quincyma.gov website to submit emails. I emailed Ward 4 City Councilor Brian Palmucci, At Large Councilor Anne Mahoney and the Ward 1 Councilor Dave McCarthy as all the city councilors are on the Ordinace committee but QHA is in Ward 4.
Thanks, Jen. Good to know. Our emails went through, but it sounds like it’s better to go through the website.
Ann Mahoney’s responded this morning.
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you very much for your email.
I did ask when this was referred to ordinance for a redline version of the lease and I do intend to push for a public meeting.
I live in Ward 4 and have been and avid user of the Blue Hills.
Many have been disappointed for years regarding the walking trails that never came to be.
Feel free to give me a call if you would like to discuss. 617-719-7378.
Respectfully,
Anne Mahoney
Be an amazing addition for people to walk!
Dear Ordinance Committee Chair McCarthy,
I strongly urge you to schedule a public hearing to give the public an opportunity to comment on the terms of the Quarry Hills Associates lease renewal.
I hike the Blue Hills frequently and know what a valuable resource it is for our community, we need a path connecting (as required!) the golf course to the Blue Hills…
I inspected today the access from Chickatawbut Road toward the Quarry Hills area — there SHOULD be a trail that connects from there to the gold course! I support the Quarry Hills Association and the City of Quincy opening access to the public, and holding a hearing to let people say so.
Quarry Hills Assoc Must fulfill its obligations and build the trail or risk losing their lease
We need a public hearing on this issue
Thank you!
We need a public hearing on this issue.