11-16-17 CPC MinutesCITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
COMMITTEE /COMMIS SION
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
LOCATION:
Community Preservation Committee
November 16, 2017
Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot Street
MEMBERS PRESENT: Marilyn McCrory — Vice - Chair, Thomas Bussone II, Nancy
Marino, Robert Buchsbaum, Heather Richter, James Matz,
Christy Edwards
MEMBERS ABSENT: Wendy Pearl — Chair, John Hall
OTHERS PRESENT: Amy Maxner — Environmental Planner, Robert Dever —
Engineering Department; Suzanne LaMont — Ward 2CA for
GAR Hall; Bill Lowd — Chair Beverly Golf and Tennis
Commission
RECORDER: Travis Lovett
McCrory calls the meeting to order at 7:00pm. And asks for introductions.
Request for Extension: Greens Hill Trail Improvements
Maxner notes the Planning Department is seeking a 1 -year extension to the Greens Hill trail
improvement MOU. Maxner said this is the second extension that they are requesting.
Bussone motions to approve the extension for 1 -year. Marino seconds the motion. The motion
carries 5 -0.
Matz and Edwards arrive.
Request for Extension: Congress Street Beach Access Improvements
Maxner explains that per the MOU, the applicant needs to have a clear title to the land in order to
make access improvements, which is still being negotiated with one of the owning abutters.
General discussion ensues as to length of time needed for negotiations and actual project
construction. McCrory said they are asking for an extension of one year. Edwards asked for a
report in the interim perhaps in June, with members agreeing to add that as a requirement.
Edwards motions to grant the 1 -year extension with the condition that the applicant provides a 6-
month status report. Bussone seconds the motion. The motion carries 7 -0.
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Approval of Minutes
The July 2017 meeting minutes were reviewed and discussed. There are several paragraphs that
need re- writes and Maxner agreed to take the Committee's suggested edits. Bussone moves to
table these minutes until they are amended. Richter seconds the motion. The motion carries 7 -0.
The September 14, 2017 minutes were reviewed and members offered edits. Matz motions to
approve the minutes as amended. Bussone seconds the motion. The motion carries 7 -0.
Review of Eligibility Determination Pre - Applications
McCrory said the pre - application process is meant to determine if applications are eligible for
CPA funds. Definitions of eligibility are determined by the Department of Revenue matrix. She
notes here were eight pre - applications received, with no applications for the open space category.
Historic Category Applications
Beverly Golf & Tennis Commission — Analysis
Before discussion on historic applications start, McCrory states she attended a meeting
assembled by Mayor Cahill who invited city staff and Historic Beverly staff to talk priorities for
historic preservation projects in Beverly. Cahill asked representatives from several entities to
report back in December to advocate for priorities for their respective properties. McCrory said
she thought it would be helpful for the Community Preservation Committee to have a sense of
city priorities. Discussion ensues, with Bussone, Matz and Marino expressing concern that the
process not become controlled by politics.
With that, McCrory turns attention to the BG &T Commission who has submitted a pre -
application to conduct an assessment for preservation and restoration of the facility.
Bill Lowd, Chair of the BG &T Commission, said the condition of the Clubhouse needs to be
assessed. The project scope is about $400,000 for a comprehensive architectural and systems
analysis and an Owner Project Manager (OPM). Dever said the building will not undergo an
expansion. McCrory said $400,000 is a significant portion of the CPC budget. Discussion
ensues and it is recommended the applicant consider multiple phases for the assessment process,
to discuss anticipated funding sources to leverage CPA money and a detailed description of the
product anticipated from the evaluation.
Buchsbaum motions to confirm that the Beverly Golf and Tennis Commission for complete
architectural, systems and OPM analysis application is eligible for CPA funding under historic
rehabilitation /restoration and preservation. Marino seconds the motion. The motion carries 7 -0.
GAR Hall - Phase II Restoration
McCrory states the City is applying for CPA funds for the purposes of rehabilitation and
restoration for a significant part of the building and large budget. Marino asks if the Ward 2
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Civic Association prepared the pre - application. LaMont stated she was unaware of the
application and the CA was not invited to participate in this phase. Edwards said the whole
application will be much more successful if there are matching funds from other sources. She
said the final application would be easier to consider if broken into further phases.
Edwards motions to confirm that the GAR Hall restoration application is eligible for CPA
funding under historic restoration and preservation. Buchsbaum seconds the motion. The
motion carries 7 -0.
Beverly City Clerk - Historic Records Conservation
McCrory notes the City Clerk is applying for CPA funds to preserve historic public records.
Edwards motions to confirm that the project as proposed is eligible for CPA funding under
historic preservation. Marino seconds the motion. The motion carries unanimously.
McCrory would ask the applicant to clarify the amount of funding for the current grant cycle and
specific suit of documents to be preserved.
Historic Beverly (Historical Society) — Hale House Landscape Restoration Continuation
McCrory states the Historical Society is applying for $200,000 in funding for various landscape
improvements. Edwards said it would be useful to have a progress report on the past phases of
this project. McCrory notes there should be a breakdown of all anticipated costs in the final
proposal that also includes a site plan and results from the study. McCrory notes that
interpretational signage is not eligible for CPA money. Discussion ensues as to Round 3 funded
landscape plan, and it is recommended the applicant include findings from the landscape plan
and detailed budget breakdown.
Buchsbaum motions to confirm that Historic Beverly is eligible for CPA funding for the historic
rehabilitation /restoration category. Edwards seconds the motion. The motion carries 7 -0.
Recreation Category Applications
Ryal Side Civic Association/City of Beverly - Obear Park Coastal Erosion Feasibility .
McCrory notes the project is not eligible for open space funds because the land was not
purchased with CPA funds. Maxner notes she did a Coalition search for similar projects and it
seems this project would qualify for rehabilitation and restoration funds. McCrory said there
may have been a similar proposal in Round 1.
Buchsbaum motions to confirm that the Ryal Side Civic Association is eligible for CPA funds for
the recreation rehabilitation/restoration. Richter seconds the motion. The motion carries 7 -0.
Pete's Park — Additional Funding
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McCrory states the Beverly Recreation Department is seeking additional funding for the Pete's
Park project. Maxner said the CPC may want to consider advising the applicant to amend their
memorandum of understanding from Round 3, similar to the Ellis Square project that received
additional funding from the CPC. Bussone said if they get the information they need about the
project scope, they could vote to approve funding at any time. McCrory said they could advise
Bruce Doig to come in to amend the existing application. Marino said she would make sure that
the request is very specific. Edwards said if the federal grant comes through, the funding from
CPA should be returned.
Members agree that the pre - application should have the benefit of full consideration at this time.
Bussone motions to confirm that Pete's Park is eligible for CPA funding recreation category
under rehabilitation/restoration. Matz seconds the motion. The motion carries 7 -0.
Housing CategoryApplications
Harborlight Community Partners — Hardy Street Housing
McCrory notes the Harborlight has submitted an application to acquire land and create new
affordable housing at Hardy Street (6 two - bedroom units) with a CPA request of $190,000 and
total budget of $2.4 million. Members review the application.
Edwards motions to confirm that Harborlight Community Partners is eligible for CPA funding
for the housing category under acquisition /creation. Richter seconds the motion. The motion
carries 7 -0.
Cabot Housing and the YMCA of the North Shore
McCrory states the YMCA has submitted an application for housing creation under the housing
category for creation, rehabilitation and restoration. McCrory said the application is not eligible
for rehabilitation and restoration, with a CPA request of $200,000 and a $16 million total budget.
Members discuss the project proposal for the creation of 24 new units, but the rehab and
restoration aspects of the project are ineligible for CPA funding.
Bussone motions to confirm that YMCA Cabot Housing is eligible for CPA funding under the
community housing category for creation of the new units only. Richter seconds the motion.
The motion carries 7 -0.
Adjournment
Bussone motions to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 p.m. Marino seconds the motion. The motion
carries 7 -0. The next CPC meeting will be held at Beverly City Hall on December 14, 2018 at
6:30 p.m. Members agree to gather at SOMA that evening for a holiday party.
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