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HomeMy Public PortalAboutPond Parcel Planning -- 2023-11-15 MinutesTown of Brewster 2198 Main Street Brewster, MA 02631-1898 Phone: (508) 896-3701 www,brewster-ma.gov MINUTES OF THE POND PROPERTY PLANNING COMMITTEE Date: November 15, 2023 Time: 4:00pm Place: 2198 Main Street Office of: Select Board Town Manager ... _ i L'• ::v im- -.R Participants: Chair Doug Wilcock, Cynthia Baran, Kari Hoffmann, Jan Crocker, Tim Hackert, Cindy Bingham, Elizabeth Taylor, Steve Ferris (left at 5:16pm), Assistant Town Manager Donna Kalinick, Ann Schiffenhaus Remote Participants: Katie Gregorie, Mike Gradone, Anne Weirich, Tino Kamarck, Elizabeth Randall (Reed Hilderbrand), Madeleine Aronson (Reed Hilderbrand) In Attendance: Melissa Lowe (Mass Audubon), Amy Henderson (BCT), Peter Johnson, Susan Bridges Absent: Chris Ellis, Chris Williams Call to Order,• Declaration of a Quorum, Meeting Participation Statement, and Recording Statement Chair Wilcock called the meeting to order at 4:00pm, declared a quorum and read the meeting and recording statements. Public Announcements and Comment None Review and Discuss Updated Plans, Pricing_and Forum #3- Reed Hilderbrand Ms. Randall presented an updated look at the structure and outline of the public forum on November 30tH including preliminary pricing information. Some of the key items reviewed included: Review of where the Town is in the process: Phase 3, the Comprehensive Planning process • Overview of Community Forum #3 Agenda o Orientation- introduction and where we left off o Bay Property- what we have heard, the refined plans and cost information o Partnerships o Pond Property- what we have heard, the refined plans and cost information o Breakout Room Discussions- 6 different discussions with a member of the design team and Town staff facilitator o Conclusions & Next Steps Ms. Kalinick reviewed the assignments for Committee members, sharing that at least one member will be available in the breakout room discussions to help answer questions from the public. Ms. Randall added that the role of the committee member is to be able to answer questions specific to the process that the committees have conducted. In general, the design team members will be responding to a majority of the questions related to the plan. Committee members are participating as panelists, not as attendees and are asked to refrain from advocating personal opinions. Current Proposed Plan- which reflects an update as a result of feedback that ensures enough space is in reserve for future uses where a septic/wastewater treatment is necessary. There is still interest in PPPC 11.15.23 www.brewster-ma.gov Page 1 of 5 Town of Brewster 2198 Main Street Brewster, MA 02631-1898 Phone: (508) 896-3701 www.brewster-ma.gov Office of; Select Board Town Manager aligning conservation restrictions and keeping it continuous with Long Pond Woodlands. Reed Hilderbrand is still in the early planning stages and is in the process of getting more information about Mass Audubon programming. Review of possible future Municipal uses based on the Town warrant article to purchase the properties approved at Town Meeting. Member Hackert commented that in the area marked "Conservation and Nature Partnerships" he believes that it should include "and Compatible Future Municipal Uses" based on discussions in previous meetings of the committee regarding conservation restrictions. Important to recognize that we are being flexible in terms of compatible future uses. Ms. Randall responded that understanding the expectations and limitations of a conservation restriction is important. Member Baran asked the following questions: 1. At the last meeting, there were two options presented, one for housing only and one for other municipal uses, thought this was the plan to present two options? 2. Doesn't recall requesting the reserved area be expanded? What is the additional acreage? Ms. Randall responded that the area is 15 acres and the housing studies that were prepared by WXY will be shared as part of the forum. The idea is to be clear that there are two options for the same zone, one for housing and the other option would be to reserve the area for future use, which is to be determined. Ms. Randall noted that the feedback received about the housing studies was that they did not accommodate for septic/wastewater treatment that would be needed. The additional area would account for septic/wastewater and buffer zones without having fully designed what this would look like. Member Hackert understands that the forum would not present two separate plans, but an either/or scenario for the same location. He also noted that at a previous meeting, it was expressed that the conservation restrictions that have been signed by the town in other circumstances were too restrictive and that the Town needed to be aware of doing something more flexible. Member Hackert believes that adding "and Compatible Future Municipal Uses" reflects both the concern of the Town that a conservation restriction should be flexible to accommodate other compatible uses and reflects the sense that predominate use of the areas will be conservation and nature. Ms. Hoffmann clarified that with a conservation restriction, even though there is input of what the ideal conservation restriction might look like, the ultimate decision would be made by the Select Board. Chair Wilcock expressed his concern in introducing the additional area as it is extremely important to be clear on how it may be used as there had been previous discussion about a wastewater treatment plant. Ms. Kalinick shared that the committee is not seeing the full presentation as it is still being worked on and that there will be information from Mark Nelson's presentation included to help with the potential/future wastewater treatment plant. PPPC 11.15.23 www.brewster-ma.gov Page 2 of 5 E W _o �ELDEH B9 `9 O`. Or rti= x� —.f ////n/k 4- R vo a ABo oo\\\\\\\\\\\ Town of Brewster 2198 Main Street Brewster, MA 02631-1898 Phone: (508) 896-3701 www.brewster-ma.gov Office of; Select Board Town Manager aligning conservation restrictions and keeping it continuous with Long Pond Woodlands. Reed Hilderbrand is still in the early planning stages and is in the process of getting more information about Mass Audubon programming. Review of possible future Municipal uses based on the Town warrant article to purchase the properties approved at Town Meeting. Member Hackert commented that in the area marked "Conservation and Nature Partnerships" he believes that it should include "and Compatible Future Municipal Uses" based on discussions in previous meetings of the committee regarding conservation restrictions. Important to recognize that we are being flexible in terms of compatible future uses. Ms. Randall responded that understanding the expectations and limitations of a conservation restriction is important. Member Baran asked the following questions: 1. At the last meeting, there were two options presented, one for housing only and one for other municipal uses, thought this was the plan to present two options? 2. Doesn't recall requesting the reserved area be expanded? What is the additional acreage? Ms. Randall responded that the area is 15 acres and the housing studies that were prepared by WXY will be shared as part of the forum. The idea is to be clear that there are two options for the same zone, one for housing and the other option would be to reserve the area for future use, which is to be determined. Ms. Randall noted that the feedback received about the housing studies was that they did not accommodate for septic/wastewater treatment that would be needed. The additional area would account for septic/wastewater and buffer zones without having fully designed what this would look like. Member Hackert understands that the forum would not present two separate plans, but an either/or scenario for the same location. He also noted that at a previous meeting, it was expressed that the conservation restrictions that have been signed by the town in other circumstances were too restrictive and that the Town needed to be aware of doing something more flexible. Member Hackert believes that adding "and Compatible Future Municipal Uses" reflects both the concern of the Town that a conservation restriction should be flexible to accommodate other compatible uses and reflects the sense that predominate use of the areas will be conservation and nature. Ms. Hoffmann clarified that with a conservation restriction, even though there is input of what the ideal conservation restriction might look like, the ultimate decision would be made by the Select Board. Chair Wilcock expressed his concern in introducing the additional area as it is extremely important to be clear on how it may be used as there had been previous discussion about a wastewater treatment plant. Ms. Kalinick shared that the committee is not seeing the full presentation as it is still being worked on and that there will be information from Mark Nelson's presentation included to help with the potential/future wastewater treatment plant. PPPC 11.15.23 www.brewster-ma.gov Page 2 of 5 Town of Brewster 2198 Main Street Brewster, MA 02631-1898 Phone: (508) 896-3701 www.brewster-ma.gov Office of: Select Board Town Manager Member Baran moved that the Committee recommend that Reed Hilderbrand include a second separate option on a site plan for the reserve area that includes only municipal uses in the reserve area near 137 that are consistent with aquifer protection and that will not impair water quality or degrade water quality resources that will degrade water quality at the property. Member Taylor second. Point of discussion by Member Hoffmann, she expressed that she does not want to lead participants in the forum down any one particular path. By having one plan with a label that clearly includes "or", it gives residents the choice between the two options. Members Bingham and Ferris agree and do not feel that two different maps are needed if it can be made clear that there is a choice. A roll call vote was taken. Member Bingham -no, Member Hoffmann -no, Member Taylor -no, Member Hackert-no, Member Baran -yes, Member Crocker -no, Member Ferris -no, Member Gregoire -no, Chair Wilcock -no. The vote was 1 -Yes, 8 -No. Chair Wilcock commented that at the October 18th meeting the committee was provided with a presentation of appropriately scaled housing, relatively to figure out the amount sewage that would be generated. Mark Nelson talked about the treatment plant, one of the outcomes was that we can have the housing and can have if not no impact on water quality, that we could have an improvement in water quality depending on how we tie into the Herring River Watershed plans and how we deal with property in Zone Il. Chair Wilcock believes this is an extremely important point, there are people supportive of housing, but have legitimate concerns of putting housing in Zone II, about housing in the River Herring Watershed. Requires a clear explanation on how this tradeoff can be accomplished. Ms. Randall explained that the same housing presentation will be shared at the forum, which will include Mark Nelson's key takeaways to provide residents context and so that they can be relatively informed. Ms. Kalinick shared that the Cape Cod Sea Camps project page on the website will be updated and will have materials for residents to review. Member Hackert shared his opinion on the support for housing, noting that residential is permitted in Zone II, as an "as of right". Adding that in terms of the wastewater treatment, his sense is that the treatment could be good and help with wastewater in that area. Member Baran clarified that the by -right under the water quality protection bylaw has a limit, as of yet, there is one IA system that may meet it in a pilot study. Noting that this has not been shown seasonally and is preliminary information. Member Baran stated that there isn't quite the technology as of yet. She asked that the potential to put a water supply location on the property be added back to the plans, as it needs to be explored. Ms. Randal reviewed the preliminary pricing which provides a sense of the total cost of the plan, excluding housing or other development within the 15 acres: • Total Estimate: $949,400 before markups and $1.6M after markups, breakdown includes: PPPC 11.15.23 www.brewster-ma.gov Page 3 of 5 Town of Brewster 2198 Main Street Brewster, MA 02631-1898 Phone: (508) 896-3701 www.brewster-ma.gov Office of: Select Board Town Manager o $7,400 for removing three buildings o $44K to restore five buildings (to bring back to an occupiable level) o $205K for trails o $644K for roadway improvements o $49K for parking areas It was noted that the wooden docks will be stored somewhere else for an interim period and the Town will retain them, since there is no longer a Chapter 91 license associated with the property. Chair Wilcock inquired about a walkway from the handicapped parking to the beach. Ms. Aronson noted that it would be a dense graded gravel material. In closing, Ms. Randall shared that she appreciates all the comments, and that the Reed Hilderbrand team is trying to thread the needle and respond to what they think they are hearing. They look forward to hearing from the community and are hopeful to get insightful, engaging and thoughtful comments from the community. Overview of Housing Needs on Cape Cod and Brewster Ann Schiffenhaus from Housing Assistance Corporation shared a presentation on Housing to Protect Cape Cod, some of the key slides included: • Programs & Services o Prevention- outreach to homeless individuals and shelter homeless families; there are 4 family shelters o Stabilization includes rental and mortgage assistance vouchers, financial assistance programs, weatherization, and repair of homes o Em cowerment includes consumer financial education, home lotteries, building of affordable housing, engaging, educating, and empowering housing advocates. • The Power of Home and what a home means to people • Current Situation includes no availability, no housing diversity and high prices • Review of Brewster median home price ($775K), Brewster median household income ($88K) and current Brewster real estate listings. At the median household income, people cannot afford the median home price. • Renting/Buyer power of the workforce and the number of Brewster employers looking for staff • Coalition of partners to create "Housing to Protect Cape Cod", more information can be found at housin to rotectca ecod.or- Mrs. Schiffenhaus noted that the waiting list for affordable rentals is currently 3 years long, the Cape needs to start thinking about ways to create more diversity in housing. There are opportunities to think about the future and keep a town vibrant and diverse. Short Term Uses of Property Updates a. Guided walk report update: October 28, 2023 PPPC 11.15.23 www.brewster-ma.gov Page 4 of 5 Town of Brewster 2198 Main Street Brewster, MA 02631-1898 Phone: (508) 896-3701 www.brewster-ma.gov Office of: Select Board Town Manager Member Baran shared that this was a very successful walk and is looking forward to scheduling more in the early Spring. b. Town plans for spring tour day Ms. Kalinick shared that we recognize the limited number of people that can access the property. Town Administration is in the initial stages of looking at a Saturday in early April and another day during the week to hold tours of the property. Since transportation is a key piece, thinking of having people park at the golf course and use COA vans to bring them to the property. The Town would use a registration system for the events. This would be more of a self -guided tour with committee members, liaisons and Town staff available on site. FYIs No discussion Approval of Minutes from October 181 2023 and September 20, 2023 Member Bingham moved to approve the amended meeting minutes from September 20, 2023. Member Hoffmann seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Member Bingham -yes, Member Hoffmann -yes, Member Taylor -yes, Member Hackert-abs, Member Baran -yes, Member Crocker -yes, Member Gregoire -yes, Chair Wilcock -yes. The vote was 7 -Yes, 0 -No, 1 -Abs. Member Hackert requested a grammar correction on page 2 and additional details about the conversation and comments that were made during the meeting on page 4. Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chair None 0_4estions from the Media None Next Meetings Virtual Forum #3 November 30, 2023, at 6pm, January 10th, January 24th or 311t Adiournment Member Hackert moved to adjourn at 5:26pm. Member Hoffmann seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Member Bingham -yes, Member Hoffmann -yes, Member Taylor -yes, Member Hackert-yes, Member Baran -yes, Member Crocker -yes, Member Gregoire -yes, Chair Wilcock -yes. The vote was 8 -Yes, 0 -No. Respectfully submitted by Erika Mawn, Executive Assistant to Town Administration Approved on: January 10 2024 PPPC 11.15.23 www.brewster-ma.gov Page 5 of 5