HomeMy Public PortalAbout20130425 - Community Preservation Committee - Meeting MinutesTOWN OF HOPKINTON
Community Preservation Committee
Minutes of Meeting
Thursday, April 25, 2013
A meeting of the Hopkinton Community Preservation Committee was held on Thursday,
March 14, 2013 at Town Hall, 18 Main Street, Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Members
present: Henry Kunicki, John Coolidge, Jeff Doherty, Chris Waldron, Ken Weismantel,
Al Rogers, and Brian O'Keefe. Bill Shaw was absent. Others in attendance:
Conservation Administrator Don MacAdam and resident David Spengler of 43 East
Main Street.
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Kunicki called the meeting to order at 7:15PM in Room
211.
CITIZEN COMMENTS: NONE
OLD BUSINESS: Proposed Land Acquisition at 43 East Main Street - Mr. Coolidge
stepped off the Committee as he has an interest in a property used in comparative data
presented by Mr. Spengler. Mr. Spengler provided background on the ownership of the
21.47 acre parcel and said his family's wish is that some or all of it be sold to the Town
for open space preservation. He maintained that the land is worth $50,000.00 per acre
in the current real estate market and said he's willing to sell it to the Town for
$25,000.00 per acre. The CPC is interested in 15.8 acres which run contiguous to
Town -owned and HALT managed parcels. Mr. Spengler's asking price for this section
(presuming the Town is the buyer) is $395,100.00. Mr. Spengler left the meeting after
this presentation. Mr. Coolidge resumed his seat on the Committee.
Elmwood Farm Parking Spaces - Mr. Weismantel stepped off the Committee as he is
an abutter to the Ash Street property. Mr. MacAdam reported that the state requires the
Town to install at least two parking spaces at the Farm prior to the release of the
$400,000.00 grant. A photograph of the new spaces must be presented to the state
prior to May 31, 2013. Mr. MacAdam requested $2,000.00 for the installation, which
would be performed by a local contractor. Mr. Coolidge expressed frustration that none
of the boards or committees involved with the acquisition have received a list of grant
requirements from the state and that notifications of various criteria have been given to
the Town piecemeal. It was agreed that a more suitable location and size for public
parking will be pursued later. MOTION by Mr. Doherty that up to $2,000.00 from the
CPA Administrative Account be expended on installation of two parking spaces at the
Elmwood Farm to be in compliance with state grant award requirements SECONDED
by Mr. Rogers. VOTE to Approve: Yes -5, No -0, Abstain -1 (Mr. Weismantel),
Absent -1. Mr. MacAdam will serve as clerk -of -the -works for this project.
Re -Vote - Elmwood Farm Warrant Article - MOTION by Mr. Rogers to support Article
41 on the 2013 Annual Town Meeting Warrant to amend the vote taken pursuant to
Article 40 G of the 2012 Annual Town Meeting to provide that the parcel of land
acquired pursuant to that vote, consisting of the parcels shown on the Assessors' maps
as U20-30-0, R25-47-0 and R25-48-0, shall be managed and controlled by the
Conservation Commission (not the Open Space Preservation Committee as currently
recorded) SECONDED by Mr. Doherty. VOTE to Approve: Yes -5, No -0, Abstain -1
(Mr. Weismantel), Absent -1. Mr. Weismantel resumed his seat on the Committee.
CPA Fund Allocations - The CPC reviewed the FY2014 funding request summary and
the CPA Fund FY2014 spreadsheet to make final adjustments in preparation for Town
Meeting on May 6. MOTION by Mr. Coolidge that the $7,000.00 requested for the Andy
Welzel Memorial Path (item 6) be taken from Passive Recreation if approved at Town
Meeting SECONDED by Mr. Weismantel. VOTE to Approve: Yes -7, No -0, Absent -1.
NEW BUSINESS: Open Space Recreation Plan Survey Results - Mr. Weismantel
explained that the Planning Board has to approve an updated open space plan. The
CPC reviewed the results of the survey. It was noted that interest in active recreation,
especially the desire for a pool and skating rink, is stronger than suggested in the 2006
survey.
Berry Acres Land Acquisition - Mr. Weismantel reported that he is working on getting
the parcel appraised. NSTAR currently owns the 20 -acre strip of land running from
West Main Street to the Charlesview area. The acquisition would prevent development
and extend the trail system. Mr. Weismantel anticipates the purchase will cost around
$450,000.00.
Fruit Street - Chairman Kunicki has submitted a letter to Board of Selectmen Chair Ben
Palleiko which expressed the CPC's position that the CPA fund be reimbursed for
affordable housing money that was expended on a portion of the Fruit Street purchase if
the land is used for another purpose (specifically, a solar farm). MOTION by Mr.
Weismantel that the CPC request advice from Town Counsel on drafting an article to
this effect for the 2013 Annual Town Meeting SECONDED by Mr. Coolidge. VOTE to
Approve: Yes -7, No -0, Absent -1.
OTHER: 0 Minutes - MOTION by Mr. Weismantel to approve the March 14, 2013
minutes SECONDED by Mr. Doherty. VOTE to Approve: Yes -7, No -0, Absent -1.
Next Meetings - The next CPC meeting will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2013 at
7:15PM. The following meeting will be held on Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 7:OOPM.
DISCUSSION CONTINUED: 43 East Main Street: Mr. Coolidge stepped off the
Committee for the discussion. It was agreed that the value assigned to the property by
Mr. Spengler was based on an offer made by a developer in 2006, thus being not in line
with current property values. Mr. Doherty reported that the appraisal suggests the land
sought by the Town is worth no more than $12,000 per acre as it is land -locked. The
Committee agreed to support an offer of $290,000.00 for the 15 contiguous acres
discussed earlier and request an additional $10,000.00 for due diligence and related
legal fees. MOTION by Mr. Doherty to request an amount not to exceed $300,00.00 for
the purchase (and associated costs) of no fewer than 13 acres of land located at 43
East Main Street SECONDED by Mr. Weismantel. VOTE to Approve: Yes -6, No -0,
Abstain -1 (Mr. Coolidge), Absent -1.
ADJOURN: MOTION by Mr. Doherty to adjourn SECONDED by Mr. O'Keefe. VOTE
to Approve: Yes -7, No -0, Absent -1. Meeting adjourned at 9:10PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Elizabeth Aghababian
Administrative Assistant
Documents Used:
- Draft 2013 Warrant
- FY2014 CPA Fund Spreadsheet
- FY2014 Funding Request Summary
- Copy of Chairman Kunicki's letter to Board of Selectmen (Fruit St.)
- Open Space Recreation Survey Reports
- Data provided by David Spengler for 43 East Main Street
- March 14, 2013 Minutes