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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-02-27-TFMP-min77S TOWN OF LEXINGTON a Ad hoc Townwide Facilities Master Planning Committee k_ APRIL IT � k1 NG'V Minutes Town of Lexington February 27, 2013 Place and time: Public Services Building, 8:30 a.m. Members Present: Richard Pagett, Acting Chair; George Burnell, Selectman; John P. Carroll; Peter Kelley, Selectman; Jeanne Krieger; Jessie Steigerwald, School Committee Members Absent: Bill Kennedy, Chair Liaisons Present: Laura Hussong, Community Center Task Force (CCTF); James Goell, CCTF; David Kanter, Capital Expenditures Committee; Alan Levine, Appropriation Committee; Paul Lapointe, Council on Aging (COA); Linda Vine, Town Manager's Office; Liaisons Absent: Joseph McWeeney, Permanent Building Committee (PBC); Mark Corr, Chief, Police Department; Louise Lipsitz, School Department; John Wilson, Chief, Fire Department Also present: Ken Buckland, The Cecil Group; Eunice Kim, The Cecil Group; Pat Goddard, Department of Public Facilities; John Fleck, Assistant Fire Chief, Joseph O'Leary, Captain, Police Department; Karen Simmons, Recreation Department; Bob Pressman, Community Preservation Committee; Joe Pato, resident; Recording Secretary: Sara Arnold The meeting was called to order at 8:32 a.m. 1. Opening Comments: Mr. Buckland explained that this Committee is reaching the point of taking positions on information that has been gathered. His plan for the meeting was to review the alternatives that have been identified for the ten facilities that the Committee is studying to ensure they are complete, and set initial priorities for facilities. He then planned to ask the members to submit their personal location recommendations based on the information that has been collected. 2. Facility Alternatives: Mr. Buckland provided an outline listing the 10 facilities that are under consideration by this Committee. The outline included subsections describing potential alternative locations for the associated uses and the issues related to those alternatives. Mr. Buckland asked that the Committee identify any missing information. Comments included the following: A. Fire Station: ■ Mr. Fleck commented, as follows: ➢ Response time is a critical factor and should be used to identify what areas in town are acceptable for a fire station; it was noted that this information is available in the MRI study that was conducted when the Town was considering the closure of the East Lexington Fire Station. ➢ The Town needs to have two fire stations, one on each side of the center and not in the outskirts. ➢ The Fire Department's administrative functions can be located on either side of Lexington center; for example, the East Lexington Fire Station could be moved to Marrett Road along with the administrative functions currently located at the Bedford Street Fire Station. ➢ If a fire station were located on Marrett Road, the Massachusetts Avenue and Marrett Road intersection would need to be reconfigured. Mr. Buckland noted that three acres is the recommended minimum for a combined police -fire station; 1.5 acres is needed for just a fire station of the proposed size. ➢ The Liberty Mutual site on Bedford Street could be used for either a new fire station or a new police station but is not adequate for a combined facility; although the lot is twice as large as the current site on Bedford Street, the parcel is long and narrow. ➢ Using Town land on Worthen Road does not appear to be realistic because of size constraints —there are only 1.0 to 1.5 acres that are not wetlands. Other comments included: ➢ Liberty Mutual is not interested in selling its parcel on Bedford Street, and RCN has its head -end services at that location. ➢ The Town may need to consider taking property by eminent domain; this could be by either taking property around the current Bedford Street location for a new fire station or taking the Liberty Mutual site plus land around that location for a combined police -fire station. ➢ If the current Bedford Street location is used for a new fire station, swing space will be needed during construction; 240 Bedford Street, used by C & W Transportation, was mentioned, but it was noted that the school buses are garaged at this site and the school bus contract requires them to be garaged within one mile of Lexington. ➢ It was noted that the Bedford Street Fire Station is in the Historic Districts Commission, which creates challenges to demolishing it. Mr. Buckland suggested that the Town could pursue a 30B process to find available properties for development of the station, and appropriate swing space if the current Bedford Street location is reused for a new or renovated station. The 30B process could involve requesting proposals or letters of interest from appropriate parties. Mr. Buckland noted that he generally does not recommend a Town sell unused property because it is so difficult for Towns to get land when it's needed; Mr. Pagett added that it is difficult for the Town to efficiently and effectively function as a landlord of leased property. B. Police Station: Comments included: The Police Station is in the Historic Districts Commission, which creates challenges to demolishing it. Mr. Carroll suggested that the medical building on Bedford Street might be a possible location for a new facility. • Mr. Buckland noted that the 30B process can be used to gather information on potentially available parcels for locating a new facility. • Mr. Buckland explained that the term "office incubator ", referenced in the handout, is used for describing a facility that is leased to a collection of small businesses. C. Community Center: Comments included: • It would be useful to know if there are any deed restrictions associated with the Muzzey units owned by the Town. • It was noted that the National Guard may be consolidating its facilities on Hanscom Air Force Base, which means that the Armory on Bedford Street may be vacated. Mr. Carroll noted that this facility has a large open space on the ground floor and a garage underneath and could potentially be used as a community center or as swing space. • Mr. Buckland is using previously identified goals for a community center when evaluating the needs. D. Hosmer House: Comments included: • Ms. Krieger suggested that if the Hosmer House is moved, it doesn't have to remain in the Historic District. • It was reported that he Historic District Commission does not want the house moved off the current parcel, although it could be moved to a new location on that parcel. • Mr. Carroll suggested that the Credit Union site might be appropriate for a Town facility. • Ms. Vine asked that the Farmers' Market be considered when discussing use of the land around the Hosmer House. E. Munroe School: Comments included: ■ The arts center could use Cary Hall for performances. F. Lexington High School: Comments included: ■ A new structure could include the school administration functions. G. Hastings School: No additional comments H. Cary Memorial Building: No additional comments L Visitors Center: No additional comments J. Stone Building: Comments included: • A resident recently suggested that it be used as a Town museum. • The Library Trustees are in charge of this building, according to a deed restriction. • It doesn't lend itself to use for Town functions. ■ Perhaps it could be used for meeting space. 3. Prioritizing Process: Mr. Buckland said the Committee should begin to prioritize the projects. Ms. Steigerwald noted that just because something isn't listed as a high priority at this time doesn't mean that it won't become a high priority. The High School is a good example. She added that at this time the public safety facilities seem to have the highest priority. Mr. Pagett agreed that public safety facilities have a high priority for him, although a caveat is if the Town purchases property at 33 Marrett Road; in that case, the Community Center becomes a high priority to prevent the facility from sitting unused. Regarding the public safety facilities, he currently favors a joint use facility at the Liberty Mutual site if the Town can obtain adequate land at that location. Otherwise, he favors a new fire station on the Liberty Mutual site and a new police station where the Bedford Street Fire Station is currently located. He noted that it would be helpful to know if the Selectmen would be willing to take land by eminent domain. Mr. Buckland again suggested the 30B process. Mr. Kelley said that a new fire station is his highest priority, and he hopes to avoid an eminent domain taking. Mr. Carroll agreed that a new fire station is his highest priority and mentioned the problems of parking and the need for two entrances for the fire station. Mr. Burnell said that the Police Department supports a new fire station before a new police station, so he favors that order. He believes that both facilities should be re -built in their current locations, although if the Town purchases property on Marrett Road, a joint use public safety facility at that location could be an option to consider. There was continued discussion about the complications involved in prioritizing projects. Although there was general support for "safety first ", it was recognized that some projects could be done simultaneously and the sequence will be influenced by a number of currently unknown factors. It was also noted that renovations at Cary Memorial Building are critical, improvements at the Visitors Center shouldn't be postponed for anything like 15 years, there is currently no community center, and the potential use of Community Preservation Act funds will be affected by the decisions that are made. Ms. Krieger noted that the debt burden is going to be a key factor, and Mr. Buckland agreed that the financial analysis is critical. He said he is developing financials that show a flat tax obligation over a specific time frame. The 30B process, which takes about six weeks, was discussed further. Mr. Kelley made a motion for the Committee to encourage the Selectmen to pursue a 30B process to determine what properties may be available for the Town to purchase for public safety facilities. It was seconded and passed: VOTE: 6 -0. Mr. Buckland asked the Committee members to use a Projects /Sites handout to identify where they thought the different functions currently housed in the 10 facilities being studied should be located. It was noted that the Selectmen will need to inform Town Meeting the purpose for purchasing property at 33 Marrett Road. Mr. Kelley made a motion that the Committee recommend to the Board of Selectmen that the purchase of property at 33 Marrett Road be for a Community Center and open space. The motion was seconded. Discussion ensued about using this site for housing, but the motion was passed as presented. VOTE: 4 -1 -1 Mr. Kelley noted that there has been considerable discussion about a joint use public safety facility, and he supports a community discussion. He made a motion to ask the Selectmen to undertake a study of the appropriateness of a combined police -fire facility at a single site, and it was seconded. It was noted that the Police Department has said it works more closely with Human Services than the Fire Department, although a combined central dispatch would be appropriate. Mr. Burnell commented that he has heard a joint use facility could save money, but that these are two different cultures. He understands that some towns have regretted combining these services, and he has not heard a strong argument for doing so. He thinks it is better to review the opportunities and see what works. Ms. Krieger sees no benefits other than combining some of the training. Mr. Buckland noted that if the Town wants a combined facility, this reduces the Town's options, and there is no significant cost benefit. Mr. Kelley suggested that if the Police Station were moved, the school administration services could be in the current Police Station. The motion did not prevail: VOTE: 3 -3 ACTION ITEMS: Mr. Buckland agreed to provide some information about communities that have combined public safety facilities. Ms. Arnold and Mr. Goddard will draft a letter to the Selectmen from the Committee for the motions that passed. 4. Minutes: A motion was made and seconded to approve the February 2, 2013 meeting Minutes. VOTE: 6-0. A motion was made and seconded to approve the February 12, 2013 meeting Minutes. VOTE: 6 -0. 5. Next Meeting: March 20, 2013 6. Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned by the Acting Chair at 10:30 a.m. Materials used at the meeting: ➢ Agenda ➢ Facility Alternatives, prepared by The Cecil Group for February 27, 2013 meeting ➢ Projects /Sites worksheet, prepared by The Cecil Group for February 27, 2013 meeting ➢ February 2, 2013 Meeting Minutes ➢ February 12, 2013 Meeting Minutes Approved March 20, 2013