10-04-18 CPC Minutes - Annual Public Hearing with White Board NCITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES - ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING
COMMITTEE /COMMISSION: Community Preservation Committee
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: October 4, 2018
LOCATION: Beverly Golf and Tennis Club, 134 McKay St.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Marilyn McCrory - Chair, Wendy Pearl - Vice Chair,
Tom Bussone, Christy Edwards, John Hall, Nancy
Marino, Heather Richter
MEMBERS ABSENT: Robert Buchsbaum, James Matz
OTHERS PRESENT: Amy Maxner - Environmental Planner, Chris Carter -
Beverly Golf and Tennis; Bill Lowd - Beverly Golf and
Tennis; Andrew DeFranza - Harborlight Community
Partners; Matt Pujo -Beverly Community Access
Media; Joscelyn Ruelle- Kersker - Beverly Parks and
Recreation
RECORDER: Travis Lovett
McCrory calls the public hearing to order at 7:00prn and welcomes everyone in attendance
and asks that everyone introduce themselves and their affiliation. McCrory thanks Bill
Lowd, Chair of the Beverly Golf & Tennis Club and Chris Carter, management /golf pro for
the facility for their offer to host this hearing at the Clubhouse tonight and for their time in
preparing the room and snacks this evening.
Overview of the Community Preservation Act (CPA)
McCrory explains the purpose of the meeting is to hear from community members as to
what Beverly's community preservation needs, possibilities and resources are. She notes
that CPA requires every community to explore the needs, possibilities, and resources for
community preservation. She provides a brief overview of the CPA and its passage in
Beverly, noting that it authorizes communities to establish a fund for community
preservation in four categories: open space preservation, historic preservation, community
housing, and recreation. Three of these categories - open space, historic preservation, and
community housing - must receive 10 percent of the total CPA revenue automatically to be
set aside or spent specifically for those intended uses. The fourth category, recreation, has
no minimum amount set aside and is funded out of the general unrestricted reserve CPA
funds. She notes that the general unrestricted funds can go toward any project within those
four categories. The CPA fund is created after communities adopt a law to pay a surcharge
Community Preservation Committee
October 4, 2018 Public Hearing Meeting Minutes
Page 1 of 4
on state property taxes. Beverly adopted the CPA in 2012 at a 1% surcharge on property
taxes (out of a possible 3 %).
CPA Successes to Date
Pearl starts by reviewing CPA in Beverly to date and highlights a few significant projects
funded so far. She explains that the Beverly CPC has received 58 applications to date, with
over $6.1 million of CPA funds requested. To date, 45 projects have been funded,
amounting to approximately $4.1 million in total CPA funds awarded. There has been over
$500,000 set aside for Open Space. She refers to the pie chart indicating Historic
preservation is a large part of where the awards are going. $450,000 in CPA funds were
used to purchase Camp Paradise at 44 Cole Street, a 12 acre property for park and
recreation use and placed under a conservation restriction that preserves the current
condition and use in perpetuity. Pearl explains that the Beverly Golf and Tennis Clubhouse
has received $734,000 to date, and the building needs a full study for preservation, but it is
a gem of a municipal property. Pearl explains the GAR Hall facade is being restored with
CPA funds, which is also a municipal building.
Pearl explains Harborlight Community Partners was able to put together a financing plan to
bring federal and state sources to make community housing available at 1 Monument
Square ( Harborlight House). Harborlight Community Partners also developed a proposal
for affordable housing at Hardy Street. Lynch Park has benefited from several projects in
the Community Preservation Act, including the play structure was funded in the amount of
$115,000. Green's Hill trail improvements were made to make that recreation land more
accessible and usable for the residents. Dane Street Playground raised a lot of money
privately, Pearl said, to design a new playground, which is in a highly visible location. CPA
funds contributed $50,000 toward the $150,000 costs. Over $221,000 has been provided
from CPA funds to rehabilitate Ellis Square, which has become more of a focal point for our
downtown, Pearl said. The pavilion at Obear Park was supported with CPA funds. If a
recreation project comes forward over the last five years, there is a good chance it was
funded in part through CPA funds, Pearl said.
CPA Needs, Possibilities, and Resources
*`See Attached White Board Notes Taken During This Discussion **
Pearl opens the discussion up for the audience to talk about their ideas for Beverly.
Pujo notes residents have talked about the former Ventron site on Congress Street as
potential for water access and recreation space. There's a river vista and a small beach
area at the end of Congress Street. McCrory said Beverly Harbor Management Authority
received CPA funding for a plan to renovate that beach area. John and Jeannette Cuffe,
members of the Ward 2 Civic Association, express interest in improving waterfront access
Community Preservation Committee
October 4, 2018 Public Hearing Meeting Minutes
Page 2 of 4
particularly along Lothrop Street. General discussion ensues about public access to the
waterfront in all areas of Beverly, including off of Lothrop Street, behind Starbucks on
Elliott Street and behind the old Bowl -O -Mat. DeFranza said the Bass River rezoning could
open up opportunity for development. Maxner said the updated the Open Space and
Recreation Plan focused on waterfront access as a need. Ruelle- Kersker said the trail maps
and signage around Hannah Elementary School need improvement. DeFranza said people
are not aware of how many trails there actually are. McCrory said the OSRC has a grant -
funded project to improve signage.
Pearl notes that Historic Preservation can include all kinds of things, but the resource
needs to be determined historically significant, with a number of critical historical records
having been preserved with the last few rounds of funding. Pearl said the Carriage House
has been determined to be historically significant and CPA has funded a preservation study
of that buiding. DeFranza said that Briscoe Middle School could probably qualify for
preservation funds. Pujo said he doesn't think a lot of people know the missile launch site
is out there on LP Henderson Road. One resident asked about plaques and how they
contribute to the history. Another resident said that signage is much more visible in
Gloucester. Pearl said generally, signage is not an eligible expense under CPA.
Pearl said the CPA can buy easements, such as an easement for a private property, such as
conservation restrictions or preservation restrictions that restrict use and regulate
modifications. Pearl said these restrictions have to be managed by a third party and there
are costs associated with that. After some general discussion about cemeteries, Pearl said
she would add historic cemeteries to the list. General discussion ensues as to historic
resources and potential re -use of some sites, such as the Nike Missile site off of LP
Henderson Road.
Pearl said there is a community preservation plan that is in the process of being updated
and will be posted on the webpage.
CPA funded a housing study to determine the public housing needs in Beverly. Housing
ranges from senior housing to larger new projects to meet a range of income levels of
affordability. DeFranza said 80% of the median income in Beverly is about $75,000 for a
family of four. Bussone said there needs to be a preference for Beverly residents, especially
when private developers come in and make use of the Housing Trust monies. DeFranza
said they can only have 70 percent local preference as allowed by law, but that could be the
standard part of any agreement. DeFranza said that Beverly, Salem, and Peabody are
applying local preference to each other based on the tri- community memorandum of
understanding. Marino asked if the project proposed in Beverly could also be funded by
other cities and towns. Maxner states CPA funds from one community can be spent in
another community, and this could work in all CPA categories. DeFranza explains that that
Anchor Point project will bring 75 new affordable housing units to the city, noting there is a
lot of need across the income spectrum. DeFranza said they would consider brownfield
Community Preservation Committee
October 4, 2018 Public Hearing Meeting Minutes
Page 3 of 4
sites, but they don't look at them intentionally. DeFranza is looking at the Briscoe property
and they are interested in the historic preservation and the housing possibilities there.
Ruelle - Kersker said basketball courts, tennis courts, and playing fields are in desperate
need of repair, noting that fields and other facilities need to be renovated to enhance
accessibility. Marino said Park Street, Pleasant View, Goldway, Bartlett Gardens are within
Wards 2 and 3. Livingston Playground in Ryal Side is a huge piece of property, and there
should be more amenities there, Marino said. They struggle for meeting space and shelter,
and more pavilions to make parks destinations should be looked into, Ruelle - Kersker said.
Pujo said to double up on use of the Bass River. McCrory said canoe access would be great.
Pearl would love to see the riverfront property bought and turned into an esplanade.
Pearl and McCrory thank everyone for the lively discussion and sharing of ideas and
encourage people to continue contact with the CPC and its staff throughout the year. They
turn it over to Christy Edwards to talk about Round 6 application process.
How to Apply for CPA Funds
2018 -2019 Round 6 Application Schedule
Edwards explains there is a two -step process for eligibility, the first being pre - applications
to determine whether or not the project is eligible for CPA funding. Round 6 pre -apps are
due by Thursday, November 1, 2018. She encourages anyone who has questions about the
application process to come to the next CPC meeting on October 18, 2018 or contact Amy
Maxner in the PIanning Department. She notes that if a project is historic in nature, it must
be reviewed by the Historic District Commission by way of determination of historic
significance application. The CPC will announce eligible projects by December 3, 2018. She
states the full CPA funding applications will be due to the CPC by January 10, 2019. Written
public comments are due by February 1, 2019. CPC members will review applications and
make project funding recommendations to the Beverly City Council by mid -April 2019.
Awards will be announced in May 2019.
Adjournment
McCrory motions to adjourn the meeting. Pearl seconds the motion. The motion carries 7-
0. The public hearing ends at 8:30pm. The next regular CPC meeting is scheduled for
Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 7:00pm in Beverly City Hall.
Community Preservation Committee
October 4, 2018 Public Hearing Meeting Minutes
Page 4 of 4
— som T Af stt�P F�p,uc- t�
D N
ull& — Mtsb tt��- UN�
f I - " ,t.
i
k'Ats"'"tl=NJnoZr
i :'fit
I
IL
I �;Klg tit... - t o M0 IWIV 4r YF
1 �
�' � � � . � �
�`
.,