March 18 2015 Community Preservation Committee Minutes.pdfNorthampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes 1
March 18, 2015
Community Preservation Committee Minutes
March 18, 2015
Time: 6:00 pm Place: JFK Community Room,
100 Bridge Road, Florence
Members Present: Downey Meyer, Glenn Connly, Brian Adams, Dave Rothstein, Debin
Bruce, Marlene Morin, David Drake, Linda Morley, Toni Hochstadt
Staff Present: Sarah LaValley
6:00 PM
Public Presentation of Design Plans for Pulaski Park Steven Stimson provided an overview of the plans and major design elements
Public comment included:
What will happen to the entrance on Old South Street?
The new plans will separate vehicle traffic from pedestrians and reduce pavement
What type of tree protection will be used during construction?
Trunk protection with a chain link fence at the dripline, and no vehicle storage in the root
zone
What are plans for the fir tree? It is planned to be replaced. It is not practical to work around it in its current location, and it
is no longer a very good specimen.
Will the play area be handicapped accessible? Yes. Will the parking lot stairs have a handrail? Yes.
What type of maintenance is needed?
Annual mowing of the raingardens will be needed, in addition to general maintenance. Were solar lights considered?
Lights will be LED, and will be consistent with City lighting standards.
Was behavior of people considered in the design? Methods to prevent damage to park elements and landscaping were included.
What type of signage will be included? A corten steel entranceway sign is proposed.
Is there an opportunity for plan changes?
The design has progressed significantly, but there will be opportunity for some comment at the 25% construction design phase.
Regular Business Meeting Downey called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.
Approval of Minutes – June 4 2014 David moved to approve the minutes with minor corrections as submitted/ Seconded by Debin.
The motion carried unanimously, with one abstention.
Chair’s Report
None Approve Annual Reporting Matrix for Housing Supportive Services Project
Dave moved to table until an amended matrix is provided.
Peg Keller presented an overview of the matrix, which will be a two-tiered implementation of the
program. 90-95%$ success, meaning reduction in direct services required by those served is realistic.
Dave noted that the Housing Partnership desires this program to extend beyond the three years
that the CPC funded. At the application state the Partnership represented that performance measures and standards would be essential to marketing the program in subsequent years to
other funders. Dave recognized the importance of measurable criteria and asked Peg to clarify
whther the individual plans would represent only the status of families served at the time of intake, or would reflect periodic changes over the course of the three year period. Peg stated
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that iIndividual service plans will track individual results over time, and confirmed that the
plans are evolving documents. Dave withdrew his motion.
Debin moved to approve the matrix as presented and discussed. Seconded by Brian, the motion carried unanimously.
Meetings with Applicants for Round 1 2015 CPA Funds DPW, Pulaski Park Reconstruction
Jim Laurila, City Engineer, provided an overview – a $1.675 million request from CPA, with additional PARC grants to be applied for. Matching city funds must already have been approved
at that time, with Overlook funds needed at 2016.
Glenn asked about the cost estimate for burying utilities. Jim stated that it is based on previous
experience.
Debin noted that it is important for the CPC to know that the public would like to expend such a
great deal of public funds on the Park. Marlene added that she is uncomfortable voting to
recommend the expenditure without additional public input, noting that there were no press
articles highlighting tonight’s meeting.
Mayor David Narkewicz noted that the design has undergrone an extensive public process, with
positive input received, and that interest rates for possible bonding are quite low.
Marlene noted that a price tag was not tied to discussions at that time. Linda asked if there are other large City-sponsored CPA requests on the horizon. The Mayor
replied that there are always opportunities, but that nothing of this scope is planned.
David asked about maintenance. Jim replied that there is a 1-year performance guarantee, and
that DPW is confident in their capability to maintain the Park and no new staff will be needed.
Toni asked if value engineering had been done. Jim replied that those figures were presented in
the grant application.
Dave asked what was planned for the area along the “woodlnad’ that had been labeled as public
art space. . Jim replied that this had been talked about during public discussions but there was no formal plan for the area. Dave suggested the area presented a good opportunity to engage
Northampton’s artistic community in developing programming/installations for the area. Dave
also noted the same could be applied to the design and fabrication of any entry sign for Pulaski
Park, making the entrance way more reflective of local sentiment and artistic interpretation .
Marlene noted that numerous comments regarding preservation of the ‘Christmas Tree’ were
made at the Charrettes, and asked if the tree could be preserved to respect these opinions. Steven
noted that removing the lower branches was considered, and a replacement tree is proposed.
Dave noted that the 18-22 foot evergreen to be planted appears to be for a holiday tree. He asked
if DPW had considered pursuing alternate funding (matching funds or fundraising) for the
purchase, transportation and planting of that tree, given that not all in the community who
contributed to CPC funds celebrate the same holidays. . Jim replied that they had not, and that provision of trees within the Park would be considered an expectation of the City. Dave noted that
vegetative plantings would benefit the park, but that normally smaller trees would be planted, not
specimen trees two stories tall, that the architect clearly illustrated as lighted. Linda asked about other possible funding sources. Jim replied that there are no significant sources other than the
PARC program.
Dave asked for an update on the Roundhouse development and suggested that if the CPC doesn’t fund the Overlook component, a future developer of the Round House lot could do so with the
purchase price reflecting a discount. Mayor Narkewicz stated that plans have been on-hold pending remediation, and there is a City-wide parking study underway. Downey suggested that a height restriction or an easement for light might ultimately be needed.
Public Comment Session on Round 1 2015 CPA Applications
Michael Bardsley, Coolidge Park Condo Association encouraged funding for the Union Street Jail
project, highlighting the importance of the jail in Northampton’s history.
Boston Bay Architects representative indicated that the jail is architecturally significant.
Janet Gross noted that the Historic Northampton project will keep Northampton’s past alive and
should be funded.
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Bob Zimmermann, Broad Brook Coalition, encouraged support of both the Boggy Meadow Road
acquisition, for which BBC will be contributing $5,000, and the Conservation Fund. Gail and John Gaustad expressed support for the Conservation Fund, Historic Northampton, and
Union Street Jail projects. Dave Herships, BBC, expressed for support of the acquisition of an important inholding, as well
as the Conservation Fund.
Sarah Lenox expressed for the Historic Northampton proposal, which will put people in contact with their own history.
AJ LaFleur expressed support for the Union Street Jail, noting that the units are relatively
affordable and that residents cannot fund needed repairs alone. Helen Wise expressed support for the Historic Northampton proposal, which would make
information accessible, but noted concerns about public CPA funds being used for
rehabilitation of a private historic structure.
Kiki Smith, Historic Northampton, stated that the project will bring many different groups of
people for collaboration.
Richard Groening stated that the Union Street Jail had an important place in prison reform and
would be an appropriate use of CPA funds.
The Committee agreed to postpone funding recommendation discussion until the April 1 meeting.
Adjourn On a motion and second, with unanimous vote, the meeting was adjourned at 9:20 PM