Agenda and Minutes 2010-09-15
City of Northampton
Community Preservation Committee
210 Main Street, City Hall
Northampton, MA 01060
Community Preservation Committee
DATE: Wednesday, September 15, 2010
TIME: 7:00pm
PLACE: City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street (BEHIND City Hall)
Contact:
Fran Volkmann, Chair, Community Preservation Committee
Franv@comcast.net
Tom Parent, Vice Chair, Community Preservation Committee
ParentBridge@hotmail.com
Sarah LaValley, Community Preservation Planner
slavalley@northamptonma.gov
(413) 587-1263
Agenda
Public Comment
Chair’s Report
Minutes
August 18, 2010
o
Look Park Recreation Design– request for additional funds release
Project Applications
Site Visit Scheduling
o
Financial Update
Finalize Community Preservation Plan
Housing Partnership Comment
o
For additional information please refer to the Community Preservation Committee
website: http://www.northamptonma.gov/cpc/
Community Preservation Committee Minutes
September 15, 2010
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: City Council Chambers, 212 Main St.
Members Present: Fran Volkmann, David Drake, (7:50) Brian Adams, Don Bianchi, Downey
Meyer, Lilly Lombard
Staff Present: Sarah LaValley
Chair Fran Volkmann called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Public Comment
None
Chair’s Report
There were no items for discussion.
Sarah distributed the previously approved Habitat for Humanity contract for signatures.
Minutes, August 18, 2010
The minutes were approved as presented, with a minor correction.
Look Park Recreation Design– request for additional funds release.
Sarah provided an overview and update on the project. The National Guard requires that all
needed permits be obtained before a formal commitment to the project is granted. A Notice of
Intent Filing with the Conservation Commission will require release of additional funds, as
documentation for a MEPA decision was also needed. Look Park is requesting that a total of
$45,000 ($20,000 above what is specified in the contract) be available during the permitting
process, prior to the Guard’s commitment.
Lilly, moved to allow the release of the additional amount requested, seconded by Brian. The
motion carried unanimously.
No additional funding will be released until after the public meeting required for field design has
been held. Sarah noted that this is planned for October, and will communicate that to the Park.
The Committee recapped the discussion from the last meeting regarding Conservation
Restrictions. Sarah indicated that the Conservation Commission is investigating how best to
approach the issue, and whether any legal issues are presented.
Project Applications
Lilly asked to be recused from discussion of the Florence Fields application due to Grow Food
Northampton’s involvement with Bean/Allard. The Committee agreed.
The Committee agreed that Florence Fields, Lilly Library, and the downtown tree census should
have site visits on September 25. Sarah will contact Yvonne Freccero to see whether Yvonne’s
house could be visited to provide the Committee with an idea of what the finished product of the
FHCHI’s current application would look like. A visit to Turkey Hill could be done if Committee
members want, but those in attendance indicated they are familiar with the area.
Sarah will set up the site visits, poll those not in attendance, and send Committee members a
finalized schedule.
Financial Update
None
Finalize Community Preservation Plan
Handout: Memo from Housing Partnership, 9/15/10
Fran noted that the CPC voted at the August meeting to approve the plan, with additional time to
review and suggest any final changes until this meeting.
Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes 1
September 15, 2010
Housing Partnership Comment
The Committee considered a memo from the Housing Partnership that requested an expanded
role in commenting on applications for community housing projects
The Committee discussed the role that relevant boards and committees play in the application
process. It was suggested that wording be added that it would be helpful to have boards and
committees discuss potential projects, and that a summary of discussion should be provided by
those boards.
Don noted that it would be the responsibility of the applicants to review the CPC Plan and arrange
discussions with appropriate boards and Commissions.
The Committee agreed to insert this wording, and also into the application instructions at the end
of the document.
Sarah and Fran will update the Plan, and the final version will be made available on the web.
Don moved to endorse the Plan as amended, seconded by Downey. The motion carried
unanimously.
Sarah will let the Partnership know about the discussion and updates.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:30.
Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes 2
September 15, 2010