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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-05-CPC-min Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee Thursday, October 5, 2017 Parker Room Town Office Building 1625 Massachusetts Avenue 3:00 PM Committee Members Present: Marilyn Fenollosa (Chair); Richard Wolk (Vice-Chair); Charles Hornig, David Horton, Jeanne Krieger, Joe Pato, Robert Pressman, Sandra Shaw, Melinda Walker. Administrative Assistant: Elizabeth Mancini Other Attendees: Wendy Manz, Capital Expenditures Committee liaison to the CPC, Bill Kennedy, Chair, Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LexHAB); Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager for Finance; Peter Kelley, Selectman. Ms. Fenollosa called the meeting to order at 3:01 PM. 1) The Committee was photographed for the 2017 Annual Town Report. 2) Ms. Fenollosa welcomed new member, Joe Pato, to the CPC. She then called for the Committee to elect a chair and vice-chair. After a motion duly made and seconded, Ms. Fenollosa was unanimously elected chair and after a motion duly made and seconded, Mr. Wolk was unanimously voted vice-chair. 3) Mr. Kennedy appeared before the CPC to request supplemental funds for the development of community housing on the Busa property. He provided the Committee with background regarding the initial Town Meeting appropriation and requested an additional $750,000 for consideration at the upcoming Special Town Meeting. He explained that LexHAB was now required to comply with the public bidding process which contributed to the increased project cost. LexHAB also planned to purchase the solar panels for the units instead of leasing them and the units would be made fully accessible instead of just partially accessible. The Committee questioned what prompted LexHAB to now comply with the public bidding process. Mr. Kennedy explained that Town Counsel advised on this matter, citing LexHAB is a Town entity and must therefore comply with the bidding process. Mr. Kennedy also explained that LexHAB would be unable to use Minuteman Technical High 1 School students on this project but hoped they could be utilized for the Wright Farm project. Ms. Fenollosa asked about the timing of the request and if it could wait until the Annual Town Meeting in the spring. Mr. Kennedy advised that he would rather bring the request to the upcoming Special Town Meeting because he didn't want to run out of money. After a motion duly made and seconded, the CPC voted (9-0) to approve a supplemental appropriation of$750,000 for development of community housing on the Busa property. 4) Mr. Kelley presented the CPC with a request for an unknown amount of CPA funds to be used for the acquisition of a parcel of land at 44 Adams Street. He explained that a developer recently purchased the lot and demolished the existing house in preparation for a larger home to be built in its place. The developer agreed to delay construction and provide the Town with the opportunity to purchase the lot in order to add it to the adjacent Town-owned Chiesa Farm conservation land. Mr. Kelley did not have a cost or appraisal to present to the CPC but asked the Committee to consider pursuing the acquisition. Ms. Fenollosa explained that the CPC could not issue a vote without a firm cost. She also advised that there was a statutory limit on the amount the CPC could recommend for the acquisition. CPA funds appropriated for a land purchase could not exceed the appraised amount. The Committee discussed whether the potential purchase price would include compensation for the developer's lost profit. Mr. Kelley was unsure but noted that would be part of negotiations. He also explained that the difference between the appraised value and the purchase price was expected to be funded with private donations. Several members expressed concerns about the potential cost while other members believed the acquisition would enhance the existing conservation land. There was also discussion about the CPC's financial capability to fund the purchase. Ms. Fenollosa called on Ms. Kosnoff to advise the Committee what funds were available for appropriation. Ms. Kosnoff recommended financing the potential acquisition in order to keep the customary$2 million balance in the Community Preservation Fund. The Committee also discussed the potential benefits the lot could provide for accessing the existing conservation land. 2 Ms. Fenollosa solicited comments from audience members who attended the CPC meeting to support the acquisition. They argued that the acquisition would give people greater access to the property and spoke of the opportunities the land provides for children and families. After additional discussion, the Committee decided that they were willing to entertain a future request once an appraisal was received. It was decided that the Committee would meet again in one week. Due to time constraints, the remaining agenda items were tabled until the next meeting date. After a motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 4:34 PM. The following documents were submitted at the meeting: 1) Photo- Chiesa Farm Conservation Lane 2) Photo-Vacant lot at 9 Adams Street 3) Photo- Proposed new construction 4) Community Preservation Fund Balances Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Mancini Administrative Assistant Community Preservation Committee 3