HomeMy Public PortalAbout20120125 - Community Preservation Committee - Meeting MinutesTOWN OF HOPKINTON
Community Preservation Committee
MINUTES OF MEETING
January 25, 2012
A meeting of the Hopkinton Community Preservation Committee was held on Thursday,
January 25, 2012 at Town Hall, 18 Main Street, Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Members
present: Henry Kunicki, John Coolidge, Jeff Doherty, Al Rogers, Ken Weismantel and
Chris Waldron. Bill Shaw and Ken Driscoll were absent. The Affordable Housing
Committee seat remains vacant.
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7:00PM in Room 211. Chairman
Kunicki reopened the public hearing to consider applications for CPA funding.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR CPA FUNDING REQUESTS
Open Space Acquisitions – Hayden Rowe Street: Mr. Doherty reported that the multiple
owners of the Hughes property off of Hayden Rowe are ready to sell the entire property.
The property includes about 20 acres and a house that would need to be torn down. Mr.
Doherty said the current owners offer this in part as a memorial to the former owner.
Appraisal of the property has been received and will be used to negotiate the final price.
The land locked Colella property is also for sale.
Open Space Acquisitions – Cameron Woods): Mr. Doherty reported that appraisals for
the property off Whisper Way were received. This would be a new access way to the
Cameron Woods land. The committee discussed the pros and cons of purchasing the
entire parcel or a smaller portion of it. The committee decided that the larger parcel
would provide better access and significant savings would not be realized by taking a
smaller part as it would be difficult to preserve a future building lot for the owner.
When asked about acquisition priorities of the Open Space Committee, Mr. Doherty
responded that: 1 Hughes 2 Elmwood Farm (Ash Street) and 3 Whisper Way.
Chairman Kunicki stated that purchase and sales agreements need to be finalized in the
next 30 days.
MOTION by Mr. Doherty to allow an additional thirty days to negotiate the Purchase
and Sale agreement for the Hughes property. SECONDED by Mr. Waldron. VOTE to
Approve: 6-0.
Open Space Acquisitions – Ash Street: Mr. Weismantel stepped off the Committee for
this discussion. Mr. Chris LaPointe of the Trust for Public Land presented an update of
the proposal that the town acquire Elmwood Farm in Hopkinton. There is an agreement
between the TPL and the owner of the Ash Street land to purchase the 80 acre property for
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$1.8 Million. TPL received a $75,000 grant that would be applied to the capital cost of the
land purchase. They are applying for more grants in the $10,000 to $25,000 range. The
house and 5 to 7 acres might be sold off for $400,000 according to TPL estimates
although they are using $300,000 for budget purposes. The house and lot would be
subject to restrictions. Therefore the amount requested from the town is $1,425,000.
There is a state land grant for as much as $500,000 that TPL would help the town apply for
in July with an award in November or December 2012. Mr. Lapointe stated that the town
should not count on receiving this grant. TPL would investigate the possibility of other
grants.
Chairman Kunicki suggested a town meeting vote with the purchase being contingent
on the town receiving the $500,000 grant. He stated that he would be comfortable
spending up to $1 million due to amount available in CPC funds. We have limited
available funds and some upcoming opportunities. Mr. Lapointe stated that TPL would not
be happy with a contingent vote by Town Meeting. TPL suggests the town bond for this
purchase if needed.
MOTION by Mr. Waldron for the Open Space Committee to continue with negotiations
for 30-days on the Elmwood farm property. SECONDED by Mr. Doherty. VOTE to
Approve: Yes-5, No-0, Abstain-1 (Mr. Weismantel).
Mr. Weismantel returned to the Committee at this point.
The benefits of Whisper Way land purchase to provide a better trailhead and safe access
to Cameron Woods was discussed. The CPC would need the Open Space Committee
recommendation and a final Purchase and Sale Agreement.
MOTION by Mr. Rogers to extend the time by 30 days for the Open Space Preservation
Committee recommendation and to negotiate a price for the land off Whisper Way.
SECONDED by Mr. Doherty. VOTE to Approve: Yes-6 No-0.
The Colella land off Hayden Rowe was discussed. This property is part of the Center Trail
extension to connect to Milford and is of long term interest to the committee. However
since the land is mostly wet and is landlocked the timing is not as urgent.
MOTION by Mr. Doherty to extend the time by 30 days for the Open Space Preservation
Committee recommendation and to negotiate a price for the Colella land off Hayden Rowe.
SECONDED by Mr. Waldron. VOTE to Approve: Yes-6 No-0.
HEARING CONTINUED: MOTION by Mr. Coolidge to continue the public hearing
to February 16 at 7:00PM SECONDED by Mr. Weismantel. VOTE to Approve:
Unanimous.
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NEW BUSINESS:
Fruit Street Open Space Boundaries: Mr. Coolidge stated that $3,000 was needed survey
the area adjacent to the town wells and place markers. MOTION by Mr. Coolidge
to spend up to $3,000 from the Administration account for the survey and markers.
SECONDED by Mr. Weismantel. VOTE to Approve: Unanimous.
CP Coalition Dues: Mr. Coolidge stated that $2,500 was needed for our dues. MOTION
by Mr. Coolidge to spend up to $2,500 from the Administration account for CP Coalition
dues. SECONDED by Mr. Waldron. VOTE to Approve: Unanimous.
Center Trail Work Plan: Mr. David Goldman asked when the CPC would have a Center
Trail work plan. Answer: in process.
EMC House: Mr. Rogers asked what is happening at the EMC house as it appears to be
cleaned out. No one knows what is happening.
This concluded all business for the open session. The committee will meet in Executive
Session for the discussion of appraisals and negotiation strategy on pending land
purchases.
ADJOURN to Executive Session and not return to open session: MOTION by Mr.
Dougherty to adjourn and meet in Executive Session for the propose of: to consider the
purchase, exchange, lease or value of real estate. SECONDED by Mr. Rogers. VOTE to
Approve: Yes-6, No-0, Absent-2. Meeting adjourned to Executive Session at 8:30PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ken Weismantel
Temporary Scribe
Documents Used:
1.CPC Meeting Agenda
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