HomeMy Public PortalAboutPlanning Board -- 2022-09-28 Minutes\ �w"spa,,, Brewster Planning Board
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%/m/11111111����"0\0 MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 6:30 pm
Brewster Town Office Building (virtual)
Approved: 10/12/22
Vote: 6-0-0
Chair Madalyn Hillis -Dineen convened a remote meeting of the Planning Board at 6:30 pm with the following members
participating remotely: Amanda Bebrin, Charlotte Degen, Rob Michaels, and Elizabeth Taylor. Tony Freitas and Alex
Wentworth were not present. Also participating remotely: Jon Idman, Town Planner.
Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, this meeting will be conducted in person and via remote means, in accordance
with applicable law. This means that members of the public body may access this meeting in person, or via virtual means.
In person attendance will be at the meeting location listed above, and it is possible that any or all members of the public
body may attend remotely. No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, and public participation in
any public hearing conducted during this meeting shall be by remote means only. The meeting will be broadcast live, in real
time, via Live broadcast (Brewster Government TV Channel 18), Livestream (livestream.brewster-ma.goy), or Video
recording (tv.brewster-ma.gov).
The Planning Board packet can be found on the Planning Department page on the Town of Brewster website
(www. brewster-ma. gov).
Hillis -Dineen declared that a quorum of the Planning Board was present.
6:32 PM CITIZEN'S FORUM
No citizen comments.
6:34 PM PUBLIC MEETING
Presentation from the Brewster Community Preservation Committee on the "Town of Brewster Community Preservation
Plan FY23-FY27".
Documents.
• Overview of the Proposed Change to the Community Preservation Committee Bylaw -Article 14
• Draft Article 14 for Fall Town Meeting
• Town of Brewster Community Preservation Plan FY23-FY27
• Power Point Presentation to Planning Board
Sarah Robinson, Vice Chair of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), stated that she would present the
Community Preservation Plan for FY23-FY27 to the Planning Board and discuss recommendations of the plan specifically
a proposed town meeting article to change the CPC bylaw as it relates to the formula used to allocate Community
Preservation Act (CPA) funds. Robinson explained that the CPA is a state law that allows Massachusetts communities to
conduct a referendum to add a small surcharge on local property taxes. The CPA allows communities to generate
revenue for open space and natural resources, historical resources, community housing, and outdoor recreation. It is
funded from local tax revenue. Brewster is also eligible to receive up to 100% in matching funds from the state. Robinson
reviewed Brewster's CPA funding allocation formula which was adopted in 2005. 50% of funding is reserved for open
space, 10% is reserved for historic preservation, 10% is reserved for community housing, and the remaining 30% can be
used for recreation, historic preservation, and community housing with up to 5% spent on administrative costs. Unspent
funds are carried over in their respective categories to the next fiscal year. Brewster's Community Preservation
Committee (CPC) is responsible for vetting application for CPA eligible projects.
Robinson discussed the need fora 5 Year CPA Plan specifically to create a framework for making funding
recommendations. She referred the Planning Board to the plan provided in their packet and summarized the various
components of the plan. She discussed two recommendations from the CPA Plan. A change is proposed to the current
funding allocation formula to adopt the statutory CPA formula which allots 10% to open space, 10% to historic
preservation, 10% to community housing, and the remaining 70% unreserved for use to fund projects in any category.
The CPC believes a change to the statutory formula will allow the committee maximum flexibility in all four issue areas to
PB Minutes 09/28/22 Page 1 of 3
recommend eligible projects. Robinson also discussed a second recommendation from the CPA Plan for a target
allocation policy. The target allocation policy percentages for FY24-FY27 are proposed at 30% for opens space, 30% for
community housing, 10% for historic preservation, 10% for recreation, 15% for unreserved for use to fund projects in any
category, and 5% for CPC administrative costs. The target allocation policy would not be codified as a part of the Town
bylaw since it will be updated to meet the current town needs and priorities, The policy will allow the CPC and the Town
more flexibility depending on what projects apply for funding from year to year. In August, the Select Board approved the
5 Year CPA Plan and recommendations within the plan.
Degen asked Robinson for further explanation on the target allocation policy and about the process the CPC will use to
review and analyze the policy on a 5 -year basis. Robinson stated that she expects the CPC will do a financial review on a
quarterly basis to determine whether targets for each category are being met and whether adjustments need to be made
after a period of 5 years. Degen asked if the analysis would be reported so that the public would know whether the
targets were being met. Robinson stated that CPC meetings are open to the public. At this time, reporting on whether the
CPC has met their target allocation policy is not required.
Michaels also asked about monitoring of the target allocation policy. He asked how the 5 -year target allocation policy gets
adjusted to meet the needs of the town if needs change from year to year. Robinson responded that because of the
possibility of varying applications from year to year, a 5 -year period to review the applications funded seemed reasonable
before making changes to the target allocation policy. Michaels sought further clarification on the target allocation policy
as he thought even though it was a 5 -year allocation the percentages allocated to each category would be changing from
year to year. Robinson confirmed that the target allocations would not be changing from year to year but would be
reviewed after the 5 -year period. Projects will be weighed against each other and chosen based on the needs and
priorities of the community.
Based on comments from the Planning Board, Robinson asked the Board whether they would like to see reporting by the
CPC on the target allocation policy specifically information on whether the targets are being met. Bebrin responded that
reporting on the target allocation policy would be helpful especially with the new change to the funding formula. Hillis -
Dineen stated that she thought a report from the CPC on an annual basis to the Select Board or at town meeting was a
good idea.
Taylor stated that she voted to support the 5 Year CPA Plan, but she does not support Town Meeting Article 14. She has
concerns that the funding is not set in stone and could be changed. Taylor stated that if projects come in and there is no
funding available through the CPA there are options to do short-term borrowing or bonds. She does not think the lack of
funds should preclude any project from going forward.
Degen also agreed that a report should be shared, or the CPC could conduct a meeting to review whether targets have
been met over 5 years and if they have not been met that should be reviewed as well. Bebrin noted that CPC allocations
are voted on at town meeting. Taylor suggested the CPC may want to post updates as to project funding on their
webpage on the town website. Michaels suggested 5 -year look backs on how funding was allocated would be helpful to
share with the public.
7:13 PM PLANNING DISCUSSION
Approval of Meeting Minutes: August 10, 2022.
The Board reviewed the August 10, 2022 meeting minutes.
Motion
Minutes, as amended. Second by Taylor. Roll call vote: Michaels
aye. Degen abstained. Vote: 4-0-1.
by Bebrin to Approve August 10, 2022 Meeting
-aye; Taylor -aye; Bebrin-aye; and 718 PM
PM COMMITTEE REPORTS
Hillis Dineen announced that the Affordable Housing Trust is planning a forum on October 27t" from 5-6:30 pm at the
Brewster Ladies Library,
Bebrin stated that the Vision Planning Committee (VPC) has been working on the final draft of the Local Comprehensive
Plan (LCP). A copy of the text version of the draft LCP can be found on the town website. There will be a t meeting of
the Planning Board, Select Board and VPC to conduct a public hearing on the LCP on October 12t" at 6:30 pm in
preparation for inclusion in the Fall Town Meeting warrant.
Bebrin also chairs the Bay Parcel Planning Committee and noted that the committee is working on engaging a consultant
for long term planning but there are events taking place on the property in the interim.
PB Minutes 09/28/22 Page 2 of 3
Taylor stated that the Open Space Committee will have an article on the Fall Town Meeting warrant to purchase 5 acres
in the Baker's Pond/Nickerson State Park area for the purpose of connecting trails.
Taylor also sits on the Pond Property Planning Committee. The committee is working on a video that introduces the
public to the property. A travelling kiosk is being worked on to provide information on the property to various groups. The
committee is also considering short term uses but the lack of parking is creating difficulty.
Degen, the Planning Board's Select Board Liaison, reported on the Wing Island boardwalk project. She noted that when
Wing Island was purchased by the Town it was intended for the public land to be accessed through public not private
property. Initially, a Wing Island Road was proposed as a roadway across the marsh. The Select Board has reported that
this project is in the earliest design phase. Preliminary work has been done to determine placement of the boardwalk and
size. She also stated that a working group has been established to work on policies regarding access of the former Sea
Camps property. The group has received applications for short term use, The library continues to look at opportunities
for grant funding for a library addition. A task force for water resources is in the works. Taylor stated that there is
information in the Select Board's September 26th packet on the Wing Island boardwalk. Taylor stated that the boardwalk
project may be eligible for CPA funds.
7:31 PM FOR YOUR INFORMATION
A copy of the Planning Board's Proposed 2023 Meeting Schedule was provided in the meeting packet.
Idman reminded board members of the October 12th public hearing on the Local Comprehensive Plan. He noted that the
Planning Board and Select board were both approving authorities for the plan.
Motion by Bebrin to Adjourn. Second by Degen. Roll call vote: Michaels -aye; Degen-aye; Taylor -aye; Bebrin-aye;
and Hillis -Dineen -aye. Vote: 5-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 pm.
Next Planning Board Meeting Date: 10/12/22
Respectfully submitted,
Lynn St
Assistant, Manning
PB Minutes 09/28/22 Page 3 of 3