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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-061322 June 13 2022Planning & Development Department 367 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 – Phone: 508-862-4678 Committee Members Ann Canedy – Chair Farley Lewis – Vice Chair Elissa Crowley Steve Gould Elizabeth Lewis Phyllis Miller Douglas Payson Tracy Pratt Anne Rowland Kris Clark – Town Council Liaison MINUTES Monday, June 13 2022 5:30 PM A quorum has been met, Ann Canedy – Chair opens the meeting. Call to Order/ Introduction of Land Acquisition and Preservation Committee Members Also in attendance Mark Milne, Finance Director Town of Barnstable, Janet Milkman, Barnstable Land Trust and Councilor Kris Clark Chair Canedy reads the following: Notice of Recording Please note that this meeting is recorded and broadcast on Channel 18. In accordance with MGL Chapter 30A §20, I must inquire whether anyone is taping this meeting and if so, to please make their presence known. No Response Approval of Minutes A motion to accept the minutes as written from the April 11, 2022 meeting was made by Vice Chair Farley Lewis and seconded by Member Pratt. All in favor, aye. A motion to accept the minutes as written from the May 9, 2022 meeting was made by Member Rowland and seconded by Member Pratt. All in favor, aye. New Business Presentation by Mark Milne, Director of Finance regarding distribution of Community Preservation Act funds Ann Canedy - Chair Present Farley Lewis – Vice Chair Present Phyllis Miller Present Elizabeth Lewis Arrived late Douglas Payson Absent Elissa Crowley Present Anne Rowland Present Tracy Pratt Present Town of Barnstable Land Acquisition and Preservation Committee www.town.barnstable.ma.us/LandAcquisitionandPreservation Finance Director Milne begins his presentation discussing the Schedule of Unreserved Fund Balances by Program Area as of May 31, 2022. The three program areas are Affordable Housing, Historic Preservation and Open Space & Recreation. The projected revenue can be allocated to any of these three program areas. Open Space Recreation will have almost $1,000,000. He then shared a spreadsheet on the history of Land Bank and Community Preservation Fund appropriations highlighting percentages of appropriations by program areas. The materials provided by Mr. Milne show a history of projects supported by Community Preservation funds from 1998 to the present. Chair Canedy asked about whether the Land Bank bonds were almost paid in full. Mr. Milne reported the Land Bank bonds are going to be expiring in 2025 and will open up more allocations from CPC. Councilor Clark asked how much of the $8.9 million in open space is allocated to recreation. Mr. Milne responds that $1.3 million in FY23 was available for funding Open Space Recreation. Ms. Milkman asks if there will be an opportunity for more programming once the debt is paid off. Would the town secure another bond or spend more money on a project? Mr. Milne says either could be an option and would depend on cash flow and the need to bond. Ms. Milkman asked if the decision to bond versus using cash has any impact on the town’s sewer project. Mr. Milne responded that CPC funds can only be used in the three program areas. Presentation by Janet Milkman, Barnstable Land Trust, regarding Bowles (Brazelton) Conservation Restriction and possible vote to recommend approval Janet Milkman shares a map and tells the history of the Bowles (Brazelton) property. Two parcels obtained in 2001 and 2007 have Conservation Restrictions (CR) held by the Barnstable Land Trust (BLT). The remaining three parcels, a little over five acres, are split into three lots. One lot will be purchased by BLT and the remaining two lots will be donated by the family to BLT and have CR’s on them. There will be a small amount of public access on the land protected by a CR (mostly for neighborhood accessibility). There is no allotment for parking. This will complete the whole wildlife corridor all the way to the marsh and harbor. The CR is restrictive in permitted use. This parcel has been farmed from time to time over the years and an option to cultivate native seed will be left open. The house and barn on Lots 4 and 5 will remain in the family. Chair Canedy shared the significance of this property; everyone in Barnstable Village is familiar with this property and it is a real treasure. Vice Chair Farley Lewis asked who will hold the CR? Ms. Milkman reported the town will. Councilor Clark suggests that when BLT presents this proposal to the Town Council, that they include the Audubon property which is part of the wildlife corridor that will be continued. Further, BLT may want to ask for letters of support from Audubon as well as others (e.g Barnstable Village Association). Chair Canedy asks for a motion to recommend approval and a roll call vote. Canedy – Yes Lewis, Farley – Yes Rowland - Yes Pratt – Yes Miller – Yes Crowley – Yes Lewis, Liz - Yes Unanimous – vote passes. Walking Weekend Reflection and Next Steps Vice Chair Farley Lewis reports there were a total of 8 walks. The weather was great; the turnout could have been better. Perhaps LAPC should hold the Walking Weekend in another month when it is not so busy with graduations, weddings etc. She thanked all that led walks. Many thanks to Amy Harwood, Marketing Coordinator and Lynne Poyant, Communications Director for their assistance. The goal is to reach a broader group for the fall. Vice Chair Farley Lewis talked about creating a Walking Library, which is an Action Item listed in the Open Space and Recreation Plan. Chair Canedy is hopeful that the new support person who will be coming on board shortly will be able to start this for the Committee. Chair Canedy shared the news that meeting materials will be up on the website as well. Councilor Clark shared a positive experience she recently had involving DPW. She came across a downed tree on a walk and was able to connect with Andrew Bernier, Tree Warden to remove the tree before the scheduled walk. He cleared the path in a very timely fashion and she wanted to publicly thank him for his efforts. Discussion of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 61A Chair Canedy provided materials relating to MGL Chapter 61A. 61A properties are set aside for agricultural use, forestry and cranberry bogs and have a tax reduction along with a Conservation Restriction (CR) that is dependent on use. The land can lose its status if there is a change in ownership and/or use. The procedure to follow is spelled out in the Law. The seller is to notify Town through several committees and boards. The Town has the right of first refusal. The Town Manager, Town Council, Planning Board and Conservation are notified that the property is to be sold and may be taken out of 61A status. This is time sensitive. Chair Canedy would like to find out how many 61A properties there are in the town. Member Farley Lewis makes a motion for Chair Canedy to contact the town for a list of 61A properties. Seconded by Member Pratt. All in favor, aye. Old Business: Update on status of outstanding Conservation Restrictions-Harju, Amaral, Prince Ave, Wakeby, Commerce (Bowles), Silvia Chair Canedy asks Janet Milkman whether she knows what the status is for these CR’s. Ms. Milkman reports they are still at the State awaiting approval. Chair Canedy asks members to make a motion if they are so inclined to direct her to write a letter of support to the State (through the Town) from the Board. A motion was made by Member Rowland and seconded by Member Pratt. All in favor, aye. Chair Canedy will draft a letter of support. Update -Pathways Project and Trayser Bridge Construction Proposal Member Payson is absent. Funding for this project needs to be secured. The first grant was lost due to inaction and the second grant application was not awarded. Update-Centerville Cranberry Bog No updates at this time. Update – Twin Brooks Proposal Member Liz Lewis talked about the Cape Cod Commission Subcommittee meeting about climate change, mitigation and sea level rise. One more meeting is scheduled in July. The Traffic Mitigation Plan submitted by the developer received substantial push back from abutters. More updates will be provided at the next meeting. The Commission hearings may be completed in July. Report from Phyllis Miller/Tracy Pratt regarding Santuit Preserve Member Pratt reported he and Member Miller met with the Town regarding cutting and trails. He had expected to see that work had begun but it has not. It was suggested he reach out to Joe Marshall, DPW. Councilor Clark reported the difficulty with staffing the Town has encountered may be a reason why this has not happened. Report from Farley Lewis regarding Community Preservation Committee Open Space applications. Member Lewis reported a site visit at Armstrong Park in Osterville took place with CPC. Lindsey Counsell (CPC Chair) would like to see a Conservation Restriction placed on this property. The use is not really open space but more of a park, not substantial enough to award CPC funds and the CR would be the easiest way to protect this property. Report from Town Council Liaison Kris Clark. None at this time Update -Open Space & Recreation Plan None at this time Chair Canedy asks if anyone has anything further to discuss. Councilor Clark inquired about the speaker for July’s meeting. Chair Canedy reported that Chris Nappi from MEA and Ian Ives will present. Councilor Clark also would like to start to look at the Open Space and Recreation Plan. Next Meeting July 11, 2022 Adjournment Member Miller made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Member Crowley. All in favor, aye. The meeting closed at 6:42 PM.