HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-03-30-CPC-min
Community Preservation Committee
Monday, March 30, 2009
Town Office Building, G-15
3:15 pm
Present:
Betsey Weiss, Chair; Marilyn Fenollosa, Vice Chair; Joel Adler, Norman
Cohen, Jeanne Krieger, Wendy Manz, Nathalie Rice, Admin. Asst., Sandy Shaw and
Dick Wolk. Also in attendance were George Burnell and Peter Kelley of the Board of
Selectmen, David Kanter of the Capital Expenditures Committee, Eric Michelson of the
Appropriation Committee, Joyce Miller Chairwoman of the Conservation Commission,
Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator, and Maryann McCall-Taylor, Town Planner.
Absent:
Leo McSweeney
Ms. Weiss called the meeting to order at 3:20 pm.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the comments from the Public Hearing held on
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March 26specifically those relating to the acquisition of the Leary land, and to take
final votes on projects that had changed significantly since the Committee’s last vote.
1.Leary Public Hearing Discussion –
Ms. Weiss quickly summarized the
discussion from the public hearing. Members agreed that much of the discussion
at the hearing was premature, since no final decisions had been made about
elements such as parking, access etc. Ms. Weiss said it was still unclear how the
funding for the article would be determined, specifically how various amounts
would be appropriated from the individual “buckets”. Ms. Krieger felt that the
purchase should be straightforward, primarily a conservation acquisition, with the
rest being appropriated from the affordable housing and historic preservation
buckets. Committee members posed the question of the article risking failure if it
was too ill defined. Mr. Cohen responded to this, stating that it could happen, and
that he had heard from the Leary estate that day, with questions about the
likelihood of passage. Mr. Cohen stressed the importance of the acquisition, and
said it would be foolish if Town Meeting voted negatively based on the
uncertainty of the housing and historic preservation elements.
Ms. Mullins noted that Town Counsel had informed the Conservation
Commission that a plan with metes and bounds would be needed for the
conservation purchase as well as any division of land for affordable housing.
Discussion then turned to the parking issues which arose at the hearing. Ms.
Mullins said the Commission has to study the parcel and determine the
appropriate place for any improvements. (This was the purpose of funding the
land plan, which will enable the Commission to adequately study the Leary
property and assess its future use and access.)
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Mr. Michelson of the Appropriation Committee pointed out that the CPC had
never considered a proposal like the Leary purchase, and expressed his belief that
it was best to “come at it with as much information as possible”. He felt a more
flexible proposal had a greater likelihood of passage at Town Meeting. He also
pointed out that some individuals have said the best way to preserve the original
Leary house would be to sell it. Ms. Fenollosa responded to this comment, noting
that the sale of the house would preclude any affordable housing on the land. Ms.
Manz added that she felt the CPC had flexibility on this issue, since the Local
Initiative Project (LIP) process would allow the renovation of the house as well as
the construction of new units.
Discussion then turned to the issue of the $720,000 previously designated for the
affordable housing lot. Mr. Cohen questioned where the figure of $600,000 had
come from at the public hearing, and asked if it was a defensible number. Mr.
Adler responded here, and said he felt the initial figure of $720,000 was
“overpaying” and that $600,000 was more reasonable.
2.Votes on Projects -
The Committee conducted formal votes on the projects that
had been modified or finalized after the December hearing. The Committee voted
to accept the following changes.
a.LexHAB – increase to $845,000 (8-0)
b.Stone Building – reduction in funding request to $180,000 (8-0)
c.Center Playfields – reduction to $70,000 (8-0)
d.Leary Acquisition – formal vote on project and $600,000
figure for affordable housing lot (8-0)
e. Cary Vault – vote to accept withdrawal of project (8-0)
3.Article 12 –
There was a very brief discussion of Articles 11 and 12, and it was
noted that the CPC’s Article 11(m) will be discussed under Article 12.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nathalie Rice
Administrative Assistant
Community Preservation Committee
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