HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-10-13-CPC-STM#3-rpt Town of Lexington
Community Preservation Committee
Report to
2020-3 Special Town Meeting
Article 7: Community Preservation Committee,
Community Preservation Act Projects
Submitted by:
Marilyn Fenollosa, Chair
Charles Hornig, Vice Chair
David Horton
Jeanne Krieger
David Langseth
Joe Pato
Robert Pressman
Lisah Rhodes
Melinda Walker
Gina Federico, Admin. Assistant
Approved October 13, 2020
ARTICLE 7
Project: Conservation Land Acquisition- 39 Highland
Avenue
CPA Category: Open Space
Amount Requested: $3,560,000
Amount Recommended: $3,560,000
CPC Vote: (6-0)
Project Description:
This FY21 request for CPA funds is for the acquisition and preservation of approximately 4.48
acres of environmentally sensitive open space located at 39 Highland Avenue (Map 40, Lot 233)
adjacent to existing conservation land within the Town of Lexington. The property is largely
forested upland with a maple and oak canopy, with a fringe of wetlands abutting the parcel at the
end of Sherburne Road acquired last year. The acquisition will add an additional 4'/z acres to the
Town's inventory of conservation land and enlarge the wildlife corridor that currently stretches
from Hayden Woods and Dunback Meadow south of Marrett Road up to the Upper Vine Brook-
Cotton Farm north of Marrett Road, and would protect the headwaters of the Vine Brook, an
important Lexington stream. Most important, it would preserve and make available to the public
a large area of forested open space that would otherwise likely be the site of a six-lot residential
development.
The agreed purchase price for the parcel of land is $3,500,000. An additional $60,000 is
requested in ancillary costs including legal, survey, land management and environmental
assessment fees. Section 12 of the CPA statute requires that property acquired with CPA funds
be bound by a permanent restriction. Part of the ancillary funds will be used to draft and record
legal documentation,prepare a baseline mapping and documentation report, and pay a non-profit
organization to hold, monitor, and enforce the required conservation restriction. Conservation
restrictions, approved by the applicable municipality and the State Executive Office of Energy
and Environmental Affairs and recorded with the Registry of Deeds, ensure that the protected
land will remain open and undeveloped in perpetuity.
Project Goals and Objectives:
• To preserve 4'/2 acres of forested upland, expanding upon recently acquired valuable open
space and providing an important link to adjacent conservation lands as well as to other
large tracts of open space;
• Add to existing conservation areas and improve greenway corridor connections; and
• Provide for climate resiliency through the protection of forested upland and wetland
buffer open space.
Project Benefit:
This request will permanently preserve and protect valuable open space adjacent to existing
conservation land within the Town of Lexington. It will provide for protection of wildlife habitat,
flood storage areas, wetland resource areas and provide for passive recreation. The acquisition
will also provide for environmental educational opportunities as well as adding to existing
conservation areas and improve greenway corridor connections.
Funding Request:
The FY21 funding request is $3,560,000. Of this amount $2,560,000 is proposed to be funded
with CPF cash and$1,000,000 in CPF debt.
Ashley Property, Highland Avenue
Connectivity Map
APPROPRIATED TO DATE
(by category as of October 1, 2020)
CATEGORY
COMMUNITY HOUSING $11,574,512
HISTORIC RESOURCES $33,702,301
OPEN SPACE $15,196,266
RECREATIONAL RESOURCES $16,242,898
TOTAL $76,715,977
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES $1,950,000
TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS TO DATE $78,665,977
AVAILABLE FOR APPROPRIATION AT SPECIAL
TOWN MEETING, OCTOBER 2020
AVAILABLE BALANCES
COMMUNITY HOUSING RESERVE $1,204,744
HISTORIC RESOURCES RESERVE $38,499
OPEN SPACE RESERVE $884,835
UNBUDGETED RESERVE $803,294
UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE $3,264,540
TOTAL $6,1.95,912