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
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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.
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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
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