2015-12-03-CPC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Committee voted to approve the project as a placeholder in a straw poll (9 -0). After the vote, Mr. Kennedy updated the CPC on several on -going LexHAB projects that were supported with CPA funds. 3) LHA- Greeley Village Rear Door and Porch Preservation Project- Prior to the start of the presentation, Ms. Fenollosa advised LHA Executive Director, Caileen Foley that Town Counsel had recently provided a favorable opinion on the revised project application. Ms. Foley distributed a handout to the CPC that detailed existing conditions of the rear doors and porches of the units at Greeley Village. The proposed project would replace existing storm and screen doors, frames and trims. The porches and steps would be made more stable and more supportive railings would be constructed. LHA seeks $263,250 in CPA funding which was decreased from their initial request of $415,711. Ms. Foley explained that the original funding request was submitted prior to her start date as LHA's new Executive Director. Once she was able to review the request in more detail, Ms. Foley was able to reduce the numbers and make the costs more manageable. The revised application also responded to Town Counsel's initial concern about applicability under the CPA statute. Greeley Village units were not purchased with CPA funds, therefore the proposed project would only qualify for CPA funding if the purpose of the improvements was to preserve and protect the real property from 'injury, harm or destruction'. Town Counsel argued that the initial application did not demonstrate preservation of the building from harm so much as the protection of building users from harm. Mr. Kanter cautioned Ms. Foley on the use of the phrase 'loss of energy' in the revised application; Town Counsel specifically recommended the CPC condition any recommendation against the use of CPA funds for construction costs to renovate the building unrelated to the existing structural problems. Ms. Foley noted that the phrase would be stricken from the application. The CPC voted to support the project in a straw poll, 9 -0. 4) Grain Mill AIIev Improvements- Economic Development Director, Melisa Tintocalis and ad -hoc Grain Mill Alley Steering Committee Chair, Fred Johnson came before the Committee to present their request for additional CPA monies to fund the further design and construction of the alley that connects Mass Ave and the Minuteman Bikeway. FY16 CPA funds were utilized for design development and the current request would bring the conceptual design to completion and fund the construction of the project. Ms. Tintocalis and Mr. Johnson reported that an agreement between the Town and the alley's adjacent property owners was currently being reviewed by Town Counsel. Town Counsel has advised the CPC that any recommendation of CPA funds for the project be contingent upon acceptance of the agreement by all three parties. Ms. Tintocalis and Mr. Johnson presented a design proposal and reviewed the specific aspects of the project such as lighting, seating and plantings. A break -down of construction costs had been provided to the CPC earlier in the week which reduced the construction estimates from $427,000 to $337,383.