HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-12-13-CPC-minMinutes of the Community Preservation Committee
Thursday, December 13, 2012, 2:00 pm
Parker Room
Town Offices Building, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Present:
Committee Members: Wendy Manz, Chair; Joel Adler, Norman Cohen, Marilyn Fenollosa, Vice
Chair; Jeanne Krieger, Leo McSweeney, Sandra Shaw and Dick Wolk.
Administrative Assistant: Nathalie Rice
Also in attendance were David Kanter of the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) and Town resident,
Robert Pressman.
The meeting was called to order at 2:06 pm. by Ms. Manz.
1. Approval of the Minutes — Approval of the minutes of December 6 th was deferred to a
subsequent meeting.
2. Needs Assessment Report — Ms. Manz asked members for comments on the 2013 Needs
Assessment Report. Ms. Fenollosa noted that Section 2 under Community Housing Goals did
not include renovation of historic houses. She made a motion to include the phrase, "especially
historic houses" in Section 2(a) in reference to LexHAB's rehabilitation of existing modest
homes. This motion was not seconded, and the phrase was therefore not added to the draft of
the Community Housing section. Ms. Rice will post the Needs Assessment Report on the CPC
website as a "Final Draft ". Ms. Manz will post the same on the TMMA website in hopes that
the Report will generate Town interest and increased attendance at the December 19 Public
Hearing.
3. Discussion of FY14 CPA Projects. Straw Votes.
a.) Archives Records and Preservation /Conservation, $20,000 — In response to a question
raised at the previous CPC meeting, Ms. Manz reported that Donna Hooper anticipated
applying for CPA funds for this project for an additional five years. The CPC took a straw
vote of 8 -0, approving the current project for the FY14 funding cycle.
b.) 5 -Year Open Space Plan Update, $30,000 — This project had received a prior vote of
support 8 -0, with agreement by the CPC that funds could be taken from the Community
Preservation Committee's administrative budget. The Committee will seek guidance from
the Town Manager or the Assistant Town Manager for Finance as to whether funds should
come from FYI or FY14 Administrative funds.
c.) Muzzey Senior Center Upgrades, $526,818 — Per prior discussions with Patrick
Goddard, Director of Facilities, the CPC noted that this project is on hold, pending a
decision on the acquisition of 33 Marrett Road. The Committee affirmed its support the
project, however, in a straw vote of 7 -0 -1.
d.) Visitor Center Design Phase, $68,950 — Dawn McKenna, Chair of the Tourism
Committee, was present for the discussion of this project. The CPC noted that the Board
of Selectmen needed to approve the overall scope of the project, to which Ms. McKenna
reported that public hearings were scheduled for January. The CPC voted 6 -2 in a straw
vote to support the project.
e.) Installed Wall Units - Air Conditioners, Central Administration Building, $56,000 -
The CPC noted that CPA funds had been used previously for the renovation of the
Harrington School (FY09). It is currently being used as the School Administration
Building. Members expressed concern, however, that the three current applications from
the school department for these amenities did not necessarily make the building "suitable
for its intended use" as a historic resource. Ms. Fenollosa reported that the Historical
Commission and the Historic Districts Commission strongly opposed the three
applications for work at the School Administration Building. The Committee voted 1 -7 in
a straw vote not to approve the first of the three applications - the installation of Air
Conditioners.
E) Human Resources Office Renovation, Central Administration Building, $29,500 —
The CPC voted 1 -7 in a straw vote not to approve this project, per the discussion in
Section e) above.
g.) Print Shop Renovation, Central Administration Building, $430,835 — The Committee
voted 2 -6 in a straw vote not to approve this project per the discussion in Section e) above.
(The budget for this project was subsequently revised to $312,000 on December 21, 2012.)
h.) Lincoln Park Field Improvements, $150,000 — Town Counsel, Kevin Batt has
questioned whether the subsurface grading covered in this project would be necessary if
the synthetic material above were not slated for replacement. This may be an issue
because the CPA does not cover acquisition or replacement of synthetic turf. The CPC
will seek further definition on this point from Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation.
The CPC voted to support this project in a straw vote of 7 -0 -1 pending further
information from Ms. Simmons.
i.) Pocket Park Design, $20,000 — Ms. Manz updated the Committee on this application,
noting that the "alleyways" are privately owned. She said she had consulted with the
Community Preservation Coalition, and that in situations where parks are acquired for
conservation /open space, Conservation Restrictions secure the long term status of the
park. In this situation, however, where the parks would be "created" on private property,
an easement or contract might be a more appropriate characterization than an acquisition.
Ms. Fenollosa noted that the project was unlikely to fall within the "historic" category as
indicated on the application. The CPC will consult further with counsel regarding this
project, particularly regarding the ownership status of the alleyways. The project was
supported in a straw vote of 6 -1 -1.
j.) Merriam Hill Preservation Project, $3,000 —By request of the CPC, this project has
been resubmitted by the Historical Commission. At the request of Town Manager, Carl
Valente, the Commission will meet with the Board of Selectmen in the coming weeks for
informational purposes only, not for approval. With regard to the issue of the addition of
2
more homes to the Inventory, Ms. Fenollosa stated that she did not believe there would be
15 new homes added as a result of the proposed project. (Funding covers the addition of
up to 15 homes.) Rather, she noted that the recent discovery of two homes which were
omitted in the 1975 review of the neighborhood had heightened concern and prompted an
interest in a second historic evaluation. She stated that all the homeowners in the Merriam
Hill neighborhood would be notified of the commencement of the project, and that there
would be a public hearing for those homes added to the Inventory. Mr. Wolk stated his
concern about the extensive geographical boundaries of the Merriam Hill neighborhood as
they applied specifically to the potential imposition of the Demolition Delay By -law. The
CPC voted 4 -3 -1 in a straw vote, which did not achieve a majority vote of the Committee.
k.) Moon Hill National Register Nomination Project, $6,000 — After a brief discussion, the
CPC voted 7 -1 in a straw vote to approve this project.
1.) Greeley Village Front Doors, $172,734 —The CPC voted in favor of this project in a
straw vote of 8 -0.
m.) LexHAB Set -Aside Funds for the Acquisition of Community Housing, $450,000 - The
CPC approved this project in a straw vote of 7 -1. Ms. Fenollosa stated her objection to the
acquisition of single family homes by LexHAB, noting that multi - family housing took
greater advantage of CPA funding. Ms. Manz noted LexHAB's expressed willingness to
spend the appropriation on creation of new housing units on either the Busa or the Leary
land.
n.) Buckman Tavern Restoration and Renovation, $650,000 — The Committee had
previously voted support of this project with a 8 -0 straw vote.
o.) 33 Marrett Road Acquisition - Update — Mr. Kanter gave a general update on the status
of this property for use as a Community Center. He stated that the acquisition costs were
in the range of 6 -7 million dollars with an additional 30% projected for "soft costs ". A
small gym had been added to the project scope for a Community Center, raising the
renovation costs to the $11 -12 million dollars. There was a brief discussion of the portions
of the property /grounds that might be eligible for funding with CPA funds. Ms. Fenollosa
informed the Committee that the entire Scottish Rite building was on the Inventory due to
its historic, architectural and cultural significance. (This would include both the historic
mansion and its more recent addition.)
4. Future Meetings — The next CPC meeting was set for December 19 at 6:30 pm prior to the
Public Hearing for the Needs Assessment Report, scheduled for 7:00 pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:03 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nathalie Rice
Administrative Assistant
Community Preservation Committee