2013-05-02-CPC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee Thursday, May 2, 2013 3:00 pm, Parker Room Town Offices Building, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue Present: Committee Members: Marilyn Fenollosa, Chair; Joel Adler, Richard Canale, Norman Cohen, Jeanne Krieger, Robert Pressman, Sandra Shaw and Dick Wolk. Administrative Assistant: Nathalie Rice Also in attendance was David Kanter of the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC). The meeting was called to order at 3:03 pm. by Ms. Fenollosa. 1. Approval of the Minutes — The minutes of the meetings of March 14 and March 27 were voted on and approved as submitted. (Mr. Pressman noted his absence from the March 14 meeting, and therefore his inability to vote on the March 14 minutes.) 2. Updates and Member Concerns — Ms. Fenollosa asked Mr. Cohen for an update on the acquisition of the Scottish Rite property. He stated that the Purchase and Sale Agreement had been signed, and that there would be a twenty -five year deed restriction on part of the premises which encompassed the majority of the parcel's open space. He showed the Committee a copy of a section of a plan prepared as part of the acquisition. The restriction would not include the land surrounding the main manse, though there was no scale on the map to determine the offsets from the structure. This prompted a discussion of the types of activities or construction that could take place on the lot with Ms. Fenollosa noting that an historic preservation restriction could be amended. Mr. Canale added that the Town has a need to understand the proposed uses for the entire property. 3. Town Meeting Wrap -up — There was a discussion of Article 8 and the CPC presentation at Town Meeting. It was agreed that Ms. Fenollosa's brief introduction of all the projects was appropriate, though members agreed that some of the presentations by applicants were unnecessarily long. They also stated that at the 2014 Town Meeting, the CPC should sit together up front as a committee. Members felt it was unfortunate that the LexHAB article (8m) was seen by Town Meeting members as a referendum on the development of community housing at the Leary and Busa properties. Members discussed whether the LexHAB article should be presented at the fall Special Town Meeting. Mr. Cohen felt strongly that the CPC policy of no fall submissions should be adhered to. Others agreed with this opinion.