HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-01-26-CPAC-min COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
January 26, 2021
The meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC), held in Estabrook
Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave, was called to order at 7:20 pm, by Co-Chair Sarah Felton.
CPAC members: Marilyn Fenollosa, Ruixi Yuan, Leonard Morse-Fortier, Christian
Senna, Hema Bhatt, Patrick Sullivan, and Matt Daggett were present. The CPAC
meeting was also attended by liaisons Planning Board chair Bob Creech, Planning Board
member Richard Canale, and Select Board member Joe Pato. Attending town staff
present were Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Land Use, Amanda Loomis,
Planning Director, and Molly Belanger, Planner.
***********Introduction of New Committee Members************
Ms. Belanger introduced new member Richard McDonough from precinct 5 to the
current members and staff.
***********Review of Comprehensive Process, Timeline************
Ms. Loomis presented the updated process and timeline and explained that Stantec Inc.
was hired as the technical editor and publisher for Phase 1 and Ms. Loomis provided the
timeline for when each part of the process would be completed.
Member and Liaison comments:
• There was expressed concerns about the initial trend reports regarding
inconsistencies with the existing conditions and what was a wish list.
• Clarity was requested for reading and understanding the timeline.
• Clarity was requested on what happened with the previous consultant. Ms.
Kowalski explained why the previous contract was terminated early.
• When would the public outreach be started and what would be done for outreach?
Ms. Loomis said they would be meeting with someone today on a scope of
services for outreach and will get back to the committee once it is completed.
• The current status of some of the trend reports should be corrected for example
being listed as a bedroom community and there are a lot of numbers that are
inaccurate or in conflict with other pieces would need to be corrected. Ms.
Kowalski requested that that information be sent to staff.
• Would the timeline be distributed to members? Ms. Loomis said yes.
• Could a drop box be used for the documents? Staff would look into that.
***********Review of Guiding Principles, Addition of Equity**********
Ms. Kowalski reviewed the updated document on Livable Community for Guiding
Principles with the proposed addition of Equity.
Member/Liaison comments:
• It was a great goal but changes would be needed in Equity to include advances,
racial, social, economic equity because in the trend reports it was a little skimpy
and needed clarity on how the economic piece worked for our town.
• Wanted to add social justice.
Minutes for the Meeting of January 26, 2021 Page 2
• It would be critically important to add housing.
• Language would need to be broadened to include all abilities to be able to engage
in the community.
• Put something as a preamble of Livable Community.
• This needed to address individual enablement as well as community enablement.
• The Equity clause should be interlaced within the entire document.
• The Equity clause should be at the start of the document.
Ms. Kowalski would be revising the document and any committee members can email
any other comments to her regarding the revisions. Committee members agreed that
Equity was a needed addition.
55:08
***********Role of Consultant, Stantec, Inc.************
Ms. Loomis said Stantec's role was covered in the progress report earlier and asked if
anyone had any questions regarding that.
Committee questions:
• Would Stantec come to our committee before the trend reports and executive
summaries were finalized? Ms. Loomis responded they would be coming to CPAC
for a final review and feedback.
***********Present Recommended Format for Plan Elements************
This would need to be an accessible format and a printable document on paper sizes
accessible to most people.
The format for Plan Elements would include the following:
• Mission statement for this element;
• Summary of existing conditions high-level points;
• What changed in this element since the 2003 Plan;
• Which guiding principles in the element advanced the most;
• 5 to 7 Issues/opportunities ( incorporating input from the Kick-off/SWOT and
World Cafes)
• 10 to 15 recommendations (broader than individual implementation steps)
(Goals we are trying to achieve)
Ms. Loomis presented a format template from Stantec, Inc. that would be used for the
trends and existing conditions report.
Ms. Loomis provided an explanation on what happened to the website after it crashed.
Staff is now using an intern to recover and update information now that we have access
again to the website.
Mr. McDonough asked if there is a budget or numbers for this comprehensive plan. Ms.
Kowalski said it is not usually part of the Comprehensive Plan and the committee could
get bogged down especially since some processes are hard determine in advance.
Minutes for the Meeting of January 26, 2021 Page 3
***********Discuss Upcoming Meeting Schedule************
The committee would meet the 2nd and 4 1 Tuesday evening each month and wanted to
confirm there is no conflicts.
Ms. Felton cannot attend the 2nd Tuesday of the month and will discuss that with staff.
Ms. Kowalski said they soon hope to take a stab at a drafts for the working groups and
will send who was on each working group to the members.
Stacy Butell had to resign.
ACTION: on a motion duly made and seconded the committee voted to adjourn at
8:45pm. All approved.