CPC Meeting 2023-2-16 Minutes Beverly Community Preservation Committee
February 16, 2023 Meeting Minutes
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CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD: Community Preservation Committee
SUBCOMMITTEE: None
LOCATION: Beverly City Hall Council Chambers
DATE: February 16, 2023
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson Heather Richter, Vice Chair Derek
Beckwith, Christy Edwards, Nancy Marino, Marilyn
McCrory, Suzanne LaMont, Danielle Spang, Robert
Buchsbaum, Thomas Bussone by phone
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT: Bruce Doig (City of Beverly Parks and Recreation),
Victoria Healey (City of Beverly Planning Department),
Mary McCaffery (representing Beverly Farms
Improvement Society), Lisa Crowell (Owner, Larcom
Theatre), Randy Wetzel, Margaret Vernon, Mike
Petkovich, Bob Ashmore
RECORDER: Naomi Moca
1. Call to order
Chair Richter chairs and opens the meeting at 7:03 p.m.
Pursuant to Chapter 107 of the Acts of 2022, Section 3,this meeting of the Beverly Community
Preservation Commission was conducted in person.
1. Review of Round 10 CPA Funding Applications
a. Birch Plains pickleball courts
Bruce Doig, Director of the City of Beverly Parks and Recreation Department, is present. Doig
states that if the Committee votes to approve the funding today, then the process for approval by
the City Council for releasing the monies will be expedited. Doig states that although the project
bid was at a lower rate than expected, there is no plan to alter the amount that is being asked for
from the Committee.
The Committee discusses issues raised in letters from the residents of the Birch Plains
neighborhood, such as the warehouse building construction, parking and traffic, and noise
concerns. Doig states that the Mayor's Office scheduled a public meeting for February 28, 2023
at the Beverly Municipal Airport administration building to discuss those concerns. The
Committee discusses moving forward with city-wide publicity for the meeting, the location of
the project, methods for sound mitigation, and whether the project is within the jurisdiction of
the Conservation Commission. Bussone observes that it is in the scope of Committee's role to
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Beverly Community Preservation Committee
February 16, 2023 Meeting Minutes
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determine funding, whereas it is the City's role to determine methods for mitigating other
concerns that the project raises.
Randy Wetzel, Birch Plains neighborhood resident, states that on some weekends the road has
cars parked on both sides, significantly narrowing the passing area. Wetzel cites news articles
elaborating on the decibel range of pickleball courts and expresses concern for the physical well-
being and mental health of the residents.
Mike Petkavich of 60 Trask Street observes that parking overflow occurs only with tournaments,
that the noise in the area is of concern, and questions how to mitigate noise. Margaret Vernon of
56 Trask Street expresses concern that the project will lower the value of her home. Pickleball
player Bob Ashmore summarizes his experience in Albuquerque, NM.
Petkavich asks if it is possible to estimate the cost to implement a special application to install
the poles for the sound barriers in advance of February 28, 2023 meeting. Doig states that he is
doubtful it would be done in time for the public meeting.
The Committee discusses whether the project request is an appropriate use of CPA funds,
whether the project site can be shifted further away from the neighborhood, if it is appropriate to
approve funds that are higher than the bid amount, and whether to wait to vote on the item until
after hearing the results of the public meeting.
The item is continued to the March 16, 2023 meeting.
b. Gillis Park improvements
Spang and Lamont recuse themselves.
Edwards: Motion to Approve the Gillis Park Improvements project, the CPA funding
request of$25,000, in the category of Historic Resources for Historic
Rehabilitation and Restoration from the balance of the Historic Preservation
reserve and the General Fund. Marino seconds. Richter takes a roll call vote.
Motion carries 7-0-2. Spang and Lamont abstain.
c. Lynch Park Carriage House preservation
The Committee discusses the phases of the project, the current scope of the use of the building,
whether the upgrades are permanent changes or temporary patches, how the work will be
monitored and by whom, and which steps are defined as preservation as opposed to restoration.
Beckwith: Motion that the Committee approve funding for the Lynch Park Carriage
House Preservation Project in the amount of$100,000 from the Historic
Preservation reserve, with the understanding that the Historic District
Commission (HDC) be involved in the project and be part of the
memorandum of understanding (MOU). Buchsbaum seconds. Richter takes a
roll call vote. Motion carries 7-2.
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d. Restoration of Beverly Farm Cemetery fence: Phase II
Mary McCaffery of the Beverly Farms Improvement Society is present and summarizes the
progress of the project up to now.
Beckwith: Motion that the Committee approve the updated application for funding
Phase II of the Beverly Farms cemetery fence restoration project in the
amount of$80,000, in the category of Historic Resources for Historic
Rehabilitation and Restoration from the balance of the Historic Preservation
reserve and the General Fund, with the understanding that the HDC will be
involved as overseer of the project. Marino seconds. Richter takes a roll call
vote. Motion carries 9-0.
e. Marquee restoration Larcom Theatre
Lisa Crowell of the Larcom Theatre is present and summarizes the progress of the project up to
now. The Committee discusses the sources of funding for the project, including crowdfunding,
thus far.
Beckwith: Motion that the Committee approve the application for the marquee
restoration project request for funding in the amount of$175,000 under the
category of Historic Resources for Historic Rehabilitation and Restoration,
that the funds come from the General Fund, that the HDC be involved in
oversight of the project, that the standard clawback provision for the
recouping of funds if the property is sold within 15 years will apply, and that
the CPC be listed on the insurance for the property as a Loss Payee for the
duration of the clawback. Bussone seconds. Richter takes a roll call vote.
Motion carries 9-0.
9:20 p.m. Buchsbaum departs.
2. Approval of minutes
a. September 30, 2022
Members review and offer edits to the September 30, 2022 draft meeting minutes.
Beckwith: Motion to accept the September 30, 2022 meeting minutes as amended.
Marino seconds the motion. Chair Richter takes a roll call vote. The motion
is approved (8-0).
b. October 20, 2022
Members review and offer edits to the October 20, 2022 draft meeting minutes.
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Beckwith: Motion to accept the October 20, 2022 meeting minutes as amended. Edwards
seconds the motion. Chair Richter takes a roll call vote. The motion is
approved (8-0).
c. November 17, 2022
Members review and offer edits to the November 17, 2022 draft meeting minutes.
Beckwith: Motion to accept the November 17, 2022 meeting minutes as amended.
McCrory seconds the motion. Chair Richter takes a roll call vote. The motion
is approved (8-0).
d. December 15, 2022
Members review and offer edits to the December 15, 2022 draft meeting minutes.
Beckwith: Motion to accept the December 15, 2022 meeting minutes as amended.
McCrory seconds the motion. Chair Richter takes a roll call vote. The motion
is approved (8-0).
3. Other items not known in advance of the posting of this agenda
Beckwith states that 2022 distributions from the state were higher than expected.
Marino observes that there is a distinction between projects being completed as opposed
withdrawn in 2022.
Materials added to the record:
• Letter from Community Preservation Coalition
4. Adjourn
Bussone: Motion to adjourn. Beckwith seconds the motion. Chair Richter takes a roll
call vote. The motion is approved (8-0).
Meeting adjourns at 9:33 p.m.
The next meeting will be March 16, 2023
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