2009-03-05-CPC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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usually quite costly. She said to bring the building up to current code, deal with issues such as lead paint, etc, would increase the costs significantly. If the Town desired to renovate the structure, however, she added it could be done. A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the process that had been followed during the negotiation phase of the acquisition. Ms. Weiss stated her objection to the fact that the CPC had not been consulted during the negotiations, and that there had been no discussion of affordable housing with the Committee until Ms. Mullins’ update the previous week. Ms. Weiss expressed her belief that there had to be a window of opportunity for discussions on affordable housing and recreation during the negotiation phase. Ms. Manz seconded this thought and supported an acquisition committee with representation of various interests in addition to conservation. Ms. Weiss added that when the Conservation Commission first approached LexHAB, the CPC should have been involved. Mr. Adler said he felt the number of units on the Leary land was critical to a vote on funding by the CPC, and felt that such details should be established before the purchase came to Town Meeting. He felt it would be unwise to let the purchase go forward without a commitment to affordable housing. Mr. Wolk brought the Committee up to date on the negations for the Leary property and the efforts of the Land Acquisition Committee. He said the Leary property was land of high conservation interest, and that early in the process he had gotten the message that the site might be suitable for affordable housing. He had gone back to the Land Acquisition Committee and they had decided to include one unit of affordable housing on Vine Street. After meeting with the Selectmen in Executive Session, the Land Acquisition Committee had been encouraged to consider two units. Regarding how to divide the CPC allocations between the conservation and affordable housing “pots”, Mr. Wolk suggested that the affordable housing component be the 1-2 lots on Vine Street, presently appraised at $720,000 per lot. He added that some additional monies would be taken from the conservation “pot” since the infrastructure needed for the road would also serve the conservation parking area. There was a discussion as to whether it was appropriate for the Land Acquisition Committee to have only approached LexHAB, rather than the other housing groups in Town. Ms. Weiss expressed her concern that the Town does not have professional affordable housing staff, and that decisions regarding units on the Leary land fell outside the purview solely of LexHAB. A lengthy discussion ensued as to how the CPC should divide up the funding appropriations for the property, given the tight time constraints imposed by the upcoming Town Meeting. Ms. McCall-Taylor stated that an ANR or Property Rights plan would give a basis for the acreage and value of the two lots on Vine Street. She felt this could be prepared by Town Meeting. Mr. Wolk said he would th have a more definitive proposal by the upcoming Public Hearing on March 26. 2