2017-03-13-CEC-ATM-STM1-rpt - Laserfiche WebLink

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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2017 ATM&STM 2017-1 Programs Conservation and Open Space Following the Town's purchase of the Busa Farm property in 2012, the Town signed a lease with the Lexington Community Farm Coalition, Inc., to operate a community farm for a ten-year term commencing January 1, 2014, with options for two five-year renewal periods. Operating revenue and private donors support the operation of the farm. The 2012 ATM approved the acquisition of most of the Wright Farm property on Grove Street (12.6 acres) for open space, with an option to purchase the remaining parcel of the 43,446 square feet. The 2015 ATM approved the exercise of the Town's option and the purchase of the remaining parcel for open space and community housing. Purchase of this property closed on February 11, 2016. The newly acquired parcel contains a single family home, which will be restored for community (affordable) housing, and a barn, which, after needed restoration, is intended as public space for environmental education. The 2016 ATM approved $35,000 of CPA funding for structural and architectural analysis of the barn as well as an educational programming needs assessment. The merged lot has now been divided to reflect the different uses for CPA purposes. However, progress has been delayed by the discovery of soil contamination on the newly acquired parcel that has required the Town to seek additional funding this year for hazardous waste remediation and the legal costs of a conservation restriction. The 2015 ATM approved the following CPA funding requests: • To preserve meadow lands in Town by clearing woody vegetation and removing invasive species. Work on Hennessy Field was largely completed during summer 2015, and the first phase of work on Joyce Miller's Meadow was completed during 2016, with the final phase expected to be complete in the summer 2017; • To restore a paved Recreation Path along the Vine Brook. Phase I of the work was completed in 2016, and final grading and stabilization will be completed in 2017; • To design the sidewalk from Marrett Road to the Community Center. The design has been submitted to the Selectmen, and CPA funds for construction of the sidewalk are being sought from this ATM. For the FY2018 funding requests, see Article 10(e, f, g&p). 14