Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text

Min-20160617161257

CCPC · Source year folder: 2016 · Record 47772

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Town o ' Canton, Massachusetts 
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE 
Minutes of March 30, 2015 
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm at the Canton Public Library. 
Committee Members in attendance: Lisa Lopez, George Comeau, Jeremy Comeau, Deb 
Sundin, Kathy Alfano, John McSweeney, Bob Panico, Larry Bogue 
Absent: Bob Golledge 
Consideration of Joint Planning Board/Conservation Commission 
Application for Purchase of Open Space at Plymouth Rubber Site 
Jeremy Comeau and Deb Sundin presented the revised application for the purchase of 
open space at the former Plymouth Rubber site. The Applicants are seeking a total of 
$1.74 million to purchase 6.84 acres of land. The total acreage excludes the additional 
square footage to be donated by the developer to the Town. The new price is based on 
values extrapolated from an appraisal related to the original proposal for the purchase of 
approximately 5 acres of open space. 
The Committee noted that the revised proposal was a positive development and 
consistent with their discussions at the last meeting. They agreed that it would be 
preferable to have the statutorily required conservation restriction held by a Town of 
Canton entity; however, if that is not permissible, the Neponset River Watershed 
Association has expressed a willingness to hold the restriction. 
L. Lopez informed the Committee that she had been in communication with the 
Community Preservation Coalition regarding the allocation of CPA funds for this 
proposed purchase. They advised against using funds from the Historic Preservation 
allocation as doing so would require formally subdividing the parcel and placing a 
historic preservation restriction on that area purchased with funds from the historic 
"bucket". The Committee agreed that the funds for this project should be drawn first 
from the Open Space allocation with the remainder to be drawn from the "undesignated" 
portion of the Fund. 
Though not present at the meeting, B. Golledge asked that his perspective on the 
purchase of the parcel under the Open Space allocation be included in the discussion. He 
is not opposed to using open space funds for this project; however, he is concerned that 
this project might be seen as fulfilling open space goals and might preclude future "open 
space" applications. The group agreed that even though this project is not formally 
classified as "historical," the attractiveness of this open space acquisition is influenced by 
Page 1 of 2 CCPC Minutes of March 30, 2015

its historical significance, and furthermore, it will not diminish the Committee's interest 
or support for other potential projects relating to open space and recreation. 
J. Comeau and D. Sundin reviewed the bonding information provided by the Finance 
Director. Upon their recommendation, and following a discussion of the pros and cons of 
each scenario, the Committee agreed that a 10 -year bond would be the most cost- 
effective approach while still leaving capacity for new CPC projects in the coming years. 
Motion: To recommend to the Annual Town Meeting a sum of $1.74 million be 
appropriated for the purpose of funding the purchase of 6.84 acre parcel of land at the 
former Plymouth Rubber site. Said purchase to be bonded over a period often (10) years 
and funds for this acquisition to be drawn first from the Open Space allocation with the 
remainder to come from the undesignated portion of the CPA Fund. The parcel shall be 
subject to a permanent conservation restriction allowing for active recreation and historic 
interpretation. Motion was made by George Comeau, seconded by John McSweeney and 
approved 8-0-0. 
Public Information Meeting 
The Committee discussed the need to highlight the remaining projects recommended to 
Town Meeting this year. Cable 8 will be invited to broadcast and artifacts from the 
Historical Society (relevant to past and future CPC -related projects) will be on display. 
Date and time of public meeting to be determined. 
A member of the public (Rick Mann, attorney for Canton Holdings) requested that the 
Plymouth Rubber open space acquisition be included among the presentations at the 
Public Information Meeting. 
Motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 pm by Jeremy Comeau, seconded by John 
McSweeney, approved 8-0-0. 
Respectfully submitted by 
Kristen Phelps 
Page 2 of 2 CCPC Minutes of March 30, 2015