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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-06-04-CPC-min Community Preservation Committee Thursday, June 4, 2009 Legion Room 4:00 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. Mr. David Kanter of the Capital Appropriations Committee and Mr. John Bartenstein of the Appropriations Committee were also in attendance. Absent: Leo McSweeney The meeting was called to order at 4:05 pm. The purpose of the meeting was to wrap up the projects from Annual and Special Town Meetings, and to discuss land acquisition policy as it relates to inclusion of community housing, historic preservation and recreation interests as well as open space. The Committee also planned to discuss recent land acquisitions (Leary and Busa), and upcoming requests for FY 2011 CPA funding. 1.Reappointments to the CPC –The meeting opened with a discussion of upcoming appointments. The Committee was unclear whether the subsequent round of CPC appointments would be for two or three years. (Ms. Fenollosa has since researched this, and appointments are for a two year period.) Committee members will make requests to their boards and appropriate appointing bodies. 2.Project Wrap-ups – Members presented updates on three projects, some from previous years. Mr. Adler reported that a member of Greeley Village reported that he was extremely pleased with the window replacement at the Village (ATM, 2007), and that the work had greatly enhanced the apartments, both from the standpoint of view improvement and energy conservation. Ms. Fenollosa reported on progress of the Stone Building Historic Structures Report and associated repair work (ATM, 2009). She said three firms have been shortlisted to do the HSR, noting that all of them were extremely well qualified. Interviews and the selection of a firm should happen in a timely fashion. (Since the meeting, the firm of Menders, Torrey & Spencer has been selected.) Mr. Adler also reported on the tour of the Old th Burying Ground (ATM, 2007), conducted by Mr. Pinsonneault on May 28. He noted that the tour was fascinating, and that the appropriation of CPA funds was well spent. There was a brief discussion of the need for a master plan and an accurate map for the Old Burying Ground. Ms. Fenollosa pointed 1 out that a historic map of the Burying Ground does exist in the archives, but needs to be updated. 3.Updates on Leary and Busa Acquisitions - Ms. Rice updated the Committee on the Leary land, reporting that the Purchase and Sale Agreement has been signed by the Selectmen. She said that Ms. Mullins of the Conservation Department is scheduling a 21E assessment to determine if any hazardous waste is present on the Leary property, such work to take place in the next 2-3 weeks. Ms. Mullins also noted that some inconsistencies in the title search may necessitate additional survey work. Ms. Rice also updated the Committee on the progress of the Busa land acquisition. She said Mr. Valente had reported that the draft Purchase and th Sale Agreement will go to the Selectmen on Monday, the 8, and that negotiations are moving forward with the acquisition of the Goldinger parcel. There is some likelihood that the purchase of the Goldinger piece may come before the CPC for Special Town Meeting in the fall. The Committee then commenced a general discussion of the Busa land and the upcoming planning process which will determine its ultimate use. Ms. Manz noted that there is a committed group that is advocating for keeping the farm active, and suggested that in order to maintain the vista of the farm, affordable housing might be accessed off Farm Road. Ms. Krieger responded that there was little likelihood of this happening, particularly in light of the recent negotiations to acquire the Goldinger parcel. Members discussed community agricultural projects and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), an initiative which offsets the expenses of community farms by selling annual shares which are redeemed in produce (used successfully in Newton, Concord and Lincoln). Ms. Weiss asked Ms. Krieger if the Selectmen had appointed the Master Plan Committee for the Busa Property to which Ms. Krieger replied that they would probably do so in the fall, after the negotiations for the additional parcel had been completed. Mr. Cohen added here, that the Busa land will be farmed by the family for the next two years, which leaves time for the planning process. Ms. Weiss suggested that the Selectmen might send out an update to the committees and neighborhood, but Ms. Krieger again stated that an update would not be appropriate until the negotiations were complete. Mr. Wolk commented here that he feels the CPC has a responsibility for projects up to a certain point. He said in the case of Busa, once the CPC appropriated funds for the purchase, the Selectmen should manage the planning from there. Members discussed projects such as Lexington Gardens, which they felt could have been better served by a multi-board approach. 2 4.Land Acquisition Policy - On the heels of this discussion, Ms. Weiss moved to the next agenda item, the discussion of a land acquisition policy for the CPC. Ms. Manz advocated for a “broad-based” approach to land acquisition, so that all possibilities for a parcel of land could be considered up front. She recounted that with the Leary acquisition, the Committee was initially presented with only a conservation purchase, but after CPC input, it included affordable housing and a possible historic preservation project. She noted that the Busa process was completely different, but stressed that the Committee needs a “more clear cut process”. Ms. Weiss stated that she felt that it was important to have various boards identify parcels of interest, and work cooperatively toward a final outcome instead of each interest soliciting property owners individually. She said the question is, “ whether the Town wants to speak as a unified voice or individual voices when approaching land owners”. She suggested that when a parcel of land is purchased (for municipal purposes), a land use committee be formed, and that the committee have a year to make recommendations for the use of the parcel. Ms. Weiss reported that Stuart Saginor of the Community Preservation Coalition said that other towns use this process, and she passed out handouts from the Coalition regarding land acquisitions committees. Mr. Cohen reminded the Committee that Busa had been on the Warrant for the past three years. Ms. Weiss reiterated Selectmen, Peter Kelly’s point at one of the CPC hearings - that land had been purchased in the past with Town funds, but now is funded from CPA funds. Such funding, Ms. Weiss felt, predisposes projects toward mixed use. Mr. Wolk said he would heartily oppose a Land Acquisition Committee, and felt that the Conservation Commission’s land acquisition subcommittee served adequately. He also said he disagreed that the Leary hearing process was too rapid and added that he felt the existing CPC process worked well. Ms. Manz responded to Mr. Wolk’s statement, noting that the endpoint was indeed good, but she felt the process needed to be clarified and improved. Ms. Weiss added that it was important to improve the process prior to another land acquisition submittal. Mr. Adler agreed with these sentiments, stating that it was due to the work and persistence of the CPC that housing was even considered for the Leary property. He stressed that a more balanced approach is needed, particularly since it is so difficult to adapt a parcel once it has been acquired for conservation. Mr. Kanter suggested a “collegial” approach, with a lead agency or board keeping the CPC and other committees informed. He applauded the Leary outcome, which he felt was in the best interest of the Town, and he suggested that the CPC not use an “all or nothing” approach to project approval. He felt strongly that the CPC has the authority to ask for modifications of projects if they can better meet the Town’s needs. There was a general discussion of modifying projects that are submitted to the CPC, and the appropriate time for such modifications. Ms. Krieger stated her opinion that requesting changes to a project is reasonable, 3 since it is the CPC who makes the funding decision on a project. She added that the Committee has to be nearly unanimous and therefore needs to see final projects which will be acceptable to the Town. Ms. Weiss also concurred with Ms. Manz that “housing did not feel shortchanged” with regard to the Leary acquisition, but added that the modification of land acquisition projects has to follow a process, in which different boards and committees have an opportunity for input. She pointed out that the Leary purchase did not go through such a process, and the inclusion of housing was not a smooth progression. Ms. Weiss then moved that the CPC make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen for the formation of a Land Acquisition Committee, such Committee being made up of the following representatives: conservation, recreation, housing, planning and finance, and that the entity would be privy to the negotiations for land acquisitions. There was a general discussion of this motion. Mr. Cohen made the point that the Conservation Commission has statutory authority to acquire land (that presumably would put it beyond the purview of such a committee). Ms. Manz stated the she didn’t envision a difficult or complicated process, just one that involved more input from the different constituencies involved. Ms. Krieger said she was not necessarily opposed to such a committee, but had to consider it further. Mr. Kanter added that he considered the motion simply as a request for ongoing coordination and involvement by concerned boards and committees. A second was made to Ms. Weiss’ motion and a vote was taken. The motion passed 5-3, with Mr. Cohen, Ms. Krieger and Mr. Wolk in opposition. 5.FY 2010 Project Inquiries – Ms. Weiss updated the Committee on several projects whose proponents have contacted the CPC. The first of these is the Follen Church on Massachusetts Avenue. Ms. Weiss reported that representatives of the church are looking for funding for repairs to the steeple and the clock. Mr. Wolk asked if the CPC had to be aware of divisions of church and state, to which Ms. Fenollosa answered that state funds are often made available to historic churches, and therefore the issue was not a problem. Mr. Adler questioned whether the repairs might be covered in the maintenance contract with the carrier that maintains a cellular antenna on the church. Mr. Kanter was able to answer this question from his tenure on a cellular communications committee, and said that the contract for the Follen church would not cover the repairs to the steeple unless the carrier had specifically damaged the steeple. Ms. Rice distributed a copy of a lithograph of Cary Memorial Hall, which she received from Mr. McLaughlin, the Town’s Chief Procurement Officer. He noticed that ornamental molding on the Hall had been removed some years ago, and questioned Ms. Rice about restoring the molding using CPA funding. He said he had found one of the historic molding sections in the attic 4 of Cary Hall, and that this original piece could be used as a template for the renovation. Ms. Weiss reported that she had recently received inquiries about a third project – drainage improvements to the Minuteman Bikepath. Ms. Weiss was not optimistic that CPC funds could be used for such purposes, and felt the request fell under “routine maintenance” but that Town Counsel would have to decide if the project was preservation, which is eligible, or rehabilitation, which would not be eligible. 6.Signs to Identify CPA-Funded Projects – Ms. Weiss noted that other communities are posting signs on CPA-funded projects to heighten awareness of the value of the CPA. The Committee was very interested in this idea, particularly in having a generic sign that could be used during the construction phase of a job. Members were less inclined to have permanent signs, but noted that such signs on parcels of land are often tastefully done. The Committee agreed to take up this matter in the fall. The meeting was adjourned at 5:39 pm. It is likely that the CPC will not meet again until September. Respectfully submitted, Nathalie Rice Administrative Assistant Community Preservation Committee 5