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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-03-30-CPC-min Community Preservation Committee Monday, March 30, 2009 Town Office Building, G-15 3:15 pm Present: Betsey Weiss, Chair; Marilyn Fenollosa, Vice Chair; Joel Adler, Norman Cohen, Jeanne Krieger, Wendy Manz, Nathalie Rice, Admin. Asst., Sandy Shaw and Dick Wolk. Also in attendance were George Burnell and Peter Kelley of the Board of Selectmen, David Kanter of the Capital Expenditures Committee, Eric Michelson of the Appropriation Committee, Joyce Miller Chairwoman of the Conservation Commission, Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator, and Maryann McCall-Taylor, Town Planner. Absent: Leo McSweeney Ms. Weiss called the meeting to order at 3:20 pm. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the comments from the Public Hearing held on th March 26specifically those relating to the acquisition of the Leary land, and to take final votes on projects that had changed significantly since the Committee’s last vote. 1.Leary Public Hearing Discussion – Ms. Weiss quickly summarized the discussion from the public hearing. Members agreed that much of the discussion at the hearing was premature, since no final decisions had been made about elements such as parking, access etc. Ms. Weiss said it was still unclear how the funding for the article would be determined, specifically how various amounts would be appropriated from the individual “buckets”. Ms. Krieger felt that the purchase should be straightforward, primarily a conservation acquisition, with the rest being appropriated from the affordable housing and historic preservation buckets. Committee members posed the question of the article risking failure if it was too ill defined. Mr. Cohen responded to this, stating that it could happen, and that he had heard from the Leary estate that day, with questions about the likelihood of passage. Mr. Cohen stressed the importance of the acquisition, and said it would be foolish if Town Meeting voted negatively based on the uncertainty of the housing and historic preservation elements. Ms. Mullins noted that Town Counsel had informed the Conservation Commission that a plan with metes and bounds would be needed for the conservation purchase as well as any division of land for affordable housing. Discussion then turned to the parking issues which arose at the hearing. Ms. Mullins said the Commission has to study the parcel and determine the appropriate place for any improvements. (This was the purpose of funding the land plan, which will enable the Commission to adequately study the Leary property and assess its future use and access.) 1 Mr. Michelson of the Appropriation Committee pointed out that the CPC had never considered a proposal like the Leary purchase, and expressed his belief that it was best to “come at it with as much information as possible”. He felt a more flexible proposal had a greater likelihood of passage at Town Meeting. He also pointed out that some individuals have said the best way to preserve the original Leary house would be to sell it. Ms. Fenollosa responded to this comment, noting that the sale of the house would preclude any affordable housing on the land. Ms. Manz added that she felt the CPC had flexibility on this issue, since the Local Initiative Project (LIP) process would allow the renovation of the house as well as the construction of new units. Discussion then turned to the issue of the $720,000 previously designated for the affordable housing lot. Mr. Cohen questioned where the figure of $600,000 had come from at the public hearing, and asked if it was a defensible number. Mr. Adler responded here, and said he felt the initial figure of $720,000 was “overpaying” and that $600,000 was more reasonable. 2.Votes on Projects - The Committee conducted formal votes on the projects that had been modified or finalized after the December hearing. The Committee voted to accept the following changes. a.LexHAB – increase to $845,000 (8-0) b.Stone Building – reduction in funding request to $180,000 (8-0) c.Center Playfields – reduction to $70,000 (8-0) d.Leary Acquisition – formal vote on project and $600,000 figure for affordable housing lot (8-0) e. Cary Vault – vote to accept withdrawal of project (8-0) 3.Article 12 – There was a very brief discussion of Articles 11 and 12, and it was noted that the CPC’s Article 11(m) will be discussed under Article 12. The meeting was adjourned at 3:50 pm. Respectfully submitted, Nathalie Rice Administrative Assistant Community Preservation Committee 2