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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2022 ATM& STMs 2022-1 & -2 Conservation and Open Space Wright Farm. Legal division of the property between the Conservation Commission and the Lexington Housing Assistance Board-was completed in February 2020. The open-space parcel, containing 26,492 square feet and a barn to be restored as a year-round multi-purpose public space for environmental education, was combined with the previously purchased 12.6-acre conservation area. The 2020 ATM approved $69,000 in CPA funds for site design to provide for public access and parking while protecting conservation lands, and these funds are currently on hand. The Conservation Commission established a Wright Farm Advisory Subcommittee to assist in the Commission's planning and to make recommendations for program activities and management of the property. The Commission, as recommended by the Subcommittee in August 2021, is requesting FY2023 funding for barn stabilization. (See Article 10(b).) Parker Meadow. Pursuant to the ADA Goal of Lexington's Open Space and Recreation Plan, last approved in 2015, $551,026 in CPA funding was approved by the 2020 ATM for construction of a universal accessible passive recreation trail system. The final design concept for this project was approved by the Conservation Commission at a public hearing, and engineering and design plans for wetlands permitting, including a bid package,were completed. Due to the initial Spring 2021 bids coming in over the appropriation, the Conservation Commission requested and was appropriated a supplemental FY2022 CPA appropriation in the amount of $235,750. The bid was reissued in December 2021 and awarded,with construction starting this February. Cotton Farm. The 2017 ATM approved an appropriation of$301,300 for design and construction work at the Town-owned Cotton Farm, to include relocating the parking area and installing an ADA-accessible trail and viewing platform. The project was completed except for minor punch list items. The Town is waiting to receive an invoice for work completed,which should account for the remaining funds. Meadowlands. The Conservation Commission is requesting FY2023 funding for restoration and preservation work on West Farm Meadow as part of the ongoing program of restoration and preservation of meadowlands program. (See Article 10(c).) Community Farm. The Lexington Community Farm Coalition continues to operate a community farm on the site of the former Busa Farm property on Lowell Street under a ten-year lease which began January 1, 2014. Operating revenue and private donors support its ongoing operations. Willard's Woods. The 2017 ATM approved $40,480 in CPA funds for the restoration and preservation of Willard's Woods, the largest and most utilized conservation area in the Town. After input from Conservation Stewards and others, that work was deferred until the completion of a comprehensive land management and site plan to address the restoration and expansion of pathways in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA). The 2019 ATM approved $138,273 in CPA funds for that work. The Conservation Commission approved the Ecological Land Management Plan prepared by Land Stewardship, Inc., in November 2020. A consultant is being engaged to prepare design, engineering and bid documents to construct a Universal Accessible Trail. Work through the design and engineering phase should be covered by the previously appropriated funds. The Conservation Commission expects to submit a FY2024 request for the construction costs of the proposed ADA Improvements per the permitted design. Presently,the Commission's projected cost estimate is $597,114 (in FY2020 dollars). Land Acquisition. The Town closed on the Highland Avenue conservation open space purchase on April 1, 2021. The remaining work involves completing the required Conservation Restriction. The fall 2020 STM-3 approved the purchase of conservation land located at 39 Highland Avenue with $3,560,000 in CPA funds, of which $1,000,000 would be funded through borrowing. After receipt of Lexington's State matching funds in November 2020, and review of the Community Preservation Fund's cash position, the Community Preservation Committee proposed an amendment to the 2020 application to allow it to appropriate an additional $1,000,000 from the Undesignated Fund Balance of the CPF thereby eliminating the borrowing component of the authorization. Town Meeting voted this change of funding source under Article 25 of the 2021 Annual Town Meeting. 15