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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-02-15 Master Plan Implementation Committee Minutes Master Plan Implementation Committee Meeting Minutes February 15, 2023 Attending: (in person): Jon Strauss (Chair), Meredith Barnes-Cook(Vice Chair), Hollie Williams, Jimmy Wefers, and Richard Vaillancourt Absent: Stan Limpert, Eitan Goldberg, George Koehler, Sean McDonough Staff: Andrew Shapiro (Director of Community and Economic Development), Jean Enright (Planning Director), Brian Keating (Assistant Planning Director) Call To Order Chair Jon Strauss called the meeting to order. Public Comment No public comments were received by Jon Strauss or Andrew Shapiro by the time the meeting had started and no members of the public were present to offer comments. Approval of the November 10,2022-Mggling-Miamigs Richard Vaillancourt moved to approve the minutes as presented. Meredith Barnes-Cook seconded. The vote was 4-0 in favor,with one abstention(Hollie Williams). Motion passed. Election of Officers — Chair and Vice Chair Richard Vaillancourt moved to table the discussion item until the Committee's next scheduled meeting. Hollie Williams seconded. The vote was 5-0 in favor; the motion passed. New Business: The agenda items under new business were taken up first, out of order, in order to accommodate the schedule of the Planning Director, who needed to leave early. Discussion: updates on current Town projects and initiatives: Housing Production Plan Update/Potential ADU Bylaw- Ms. Enright explained that the Town is working with the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission to update its Housing Production Plan(HPP). The process recently kicked off. There are few internal stakeholders currently,but as the planning process develops, more stakeholders will be brought into the discussion. The intent is to finish the process within the year. Ms. Barnes-Cook inquired how this project aligns with consideration of a potential ADU bylaw. Ms. Enright explained that the HPP update process would include at least one public meeting dedicated to the idea of considering an ADU bylaw, to get feedback from the public on whether it would like to see such a bylaw implemented, and if so,what the specific components of such a bylaw would be. 400 Great Pond Road Steering Committee-Ms. Enright noted that there would be a public meeting the following evening at the Senior Center to discuss updates relative to the property and to seek public input on how the Town should utilize it. Richard Vaillancourt shared a presentation with the Committee that would be shared at that meeting and covered its contents. A steering committee comprised to examine what to do with the property has met six times and conducted one site visit. The site is secured. There are a number of expenses associated with maintaining the site and building as is. The house will need a new roof and the exterior needs work as well. ADA improvements and code compliant upgrades will need to be made if the building will be used for public use. Ms. Enright said that 1.7 acres of the 7.8 acre property would be brought under a conservation restriction. Greenbelt holds the CR. Ms. Enright covered what could be done and not done on the property as a result of the CR. Mr. Vaillancourt explained that because of the sloping on the property, it probably would not be appropriate for use as a recreational field of any sort. He noted that there could be one smaller buildable lot on the property,but most of it would be covered by the conservation restriction. He also noted that the Committee would most likely be looking to acquire funding to conduct a study, or studies, of the property and building to get a better understanding of what could be done there and how to go about, as well as options for the building. Old Business: Continued discussion of updates on Master Plan strategies that have been made on the Strategy 24: Invest in infrastructure and streetscaping to enhance the downtown area as a pedestrian friendly economic hub. Discuss with existing property owners thepossibility ofzoning changes,Ja(ade improvement programs, infrastructure investments, and changes in use. • In early 2023,the Town secured $625,000 in funding, split between American Rescue Plan Act(ARPA) funding and the North Andover Business and Economic Development Fund of the Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) to fund design/engineering of the streetscape improvements outlined in the concepts developed through the Downtown Improvement Master Plan process. The Town will next draft and issue a request for proposals (RFP) to procure the services of a qualified engineering firm that can perform this work. Mr. Strauss asked if the project would include undergrounding of overhead utility lines. Mr. Shapiro responded saying that currently the project would plan for undergrounding, but that could change in the future based on feedback from downtown stakeholders and the Select Board. Mr. Shapiro also pointed out that the downtown streetscape improvements project also addresses a number of strategies in the transportation section of the Master Plan. Strategy 56: Continue to push for a new META commuter rail station at the Osgood Landing site if and when a redevelopment proposal is in place that matches the community's vision and goal for the site. • As part of an economic development bill, signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker in November of 2022, the Town received a$75,000 earmark for a "feasibility study on building a new Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter rail station in the town of North Andover." Strategy 73: Create a local Historic Preservation Master Plan to identify resources for stronger protection of historic resources, improvements to strengthen effectiveness of existing historic and neighborhood conservation districts, and protection of historic town records. • In February of 2022, the Town's Community and Economic Development Department submitted a full application to this grant program, to support development of a Historic Preservation Plan. Simultaneously, it sponsored an application for Community Preservation Act(CPA) funding, to support a required financial map to any potential grant that may be awarded by MHC for this project. Strategy 74: Complete an Historic Structures Report for the Stevens Estate including outbuildings and landscapes, as well as possible reuse options. • In February of 2023, the Town Manager's office sponsored an application for Community Preservation Act Funding(CPA) to support needed repairs to the property's Carriage House (Stables), which will stabilize the building. The Town is seeking $150,000 from the CPA to leverage against$50,000 it is seeking from a Massachusetts Historical Commission(MHC) grant for this project. Strategy 85: Continue to prioritize the update, repair, and renovation of the Town's public buildings and schools as needed. ■ In February of 2023,the Town Manager presented her recommended FY24 budget to the Select Board,which includes an approximately 122 million capital bud et. That recommended capital budget includes: -Updated 2/13/23 ■ $21.8 million for Facilitates Masterimplementation(includes construction of new Middle School addition) ■ $450,000 for general building repairs and replacement items ■ $924,000 for building roof replacements ■ $400,000 for HVAC equipment replacements ■ $27,000 for ADA upgrades ■ $250,000 for maintenance/repairs of schools ■ $200,000 for High School auditorium upgrades ■ $300,000 for ABECC gym design/construction Strategy 99:Make 'green"or environmentally friendly improvements to existing Town buildings where feasible, including the use of renewable energy sources such as solar: • In fall of 2022,the Town was awarded$139,993 from the Commonwealth's Green Communities Grant Program to fund energy conservation measures, interior and exterior LED lighting, door weather stripping, and air sealing, in municipal facilities including the High School,Atkinson, Franklin,Kittredge, Sargent,and Thomson Elementary Schools, and Town Hall. Continued discussion of updates on Master Plan strategies that have been made on the Andrew Shapiro provided an overview of the website for the new Committee Members. Updates that Shapiro included: Strategy 56 - Continue to push for a new MBTA commuter rail station at the Osgood Landing site if and when a redevelopment proposal is in place that matches the community's vision and goal for the site. • Shapiro explained that the Town received an earmark through the State's Economic Development Bond Bill in the amount of$75,000 to fund a feasibility study that will look at if and where the town could potentially accommodate a new MBTA Commuter Rail station/stop. Strategy 63 -Assess feasibility of Stevens Pond as a year-round recreational area with ice skating, along with kayak,paddleboard, and sailing lessons and rentals. • Shapiro explained that he reached out to Youth and Recreation Services Director Rick Gorman on this issue and was informed that North Andover Middle and High School students are utilizing Stevens Pond outside of summer months -primarily in September- for kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding programs run through the schools. Currently, the Town does not own sailboats for use in sailing lessons. If it were to ever pursue the implementation of sailing lessons, it would need to do so in coordination with the Water Department, in order to ensure that any activity does not negatively affect water quality. Strategy 67: Develop a conceptual plan for the North Andover Rail Trail that could then be designed and funded in sections over time. • In November 2022, the Town again contracted with Stantec to continue planning and design of this Rail Trail. This portion of the contract covers completion of a project scope and preliminary trail path, which will be based on public and abutter feedback and submitted to MassDOT for further review. o Limpert asked where the trail will run. Shapiro noted that it will run from the High School driveway on Osgood Street to the intersection of Dale Street and Marbleridge Road. Strategy 69: Continue to consider the creation of more athletic fields to support youth sports including po ten tialfor use ofprivate property. • On November 2, 2022, as part of the fields master planning process, the Town held a public meeting to give members of the public the opportunity to share their input on the condition, availability, and effectiveness of the town athletic fields in meeting the community's needs. Strategy 73: Create a local Historic Preservation Master Plan to identify resources for stronger protection of historic resources, improvements to strengthen effectiveness of existing historic and neighborhood conservation districts, and protection of historic town records. • In November of 2022, the Town's Community and Economic Development Department, in cooperation with the Historical Commission, submitted a letter of intent(LOI)to the Massachusetts Historical Commission's (MHC) Survey and Planning Grant Program. The LOI notes the Town's intent to utilize any funds granted to procure a qualified consultant that will help the Town develop a Historic Preservation Plan. Shapiro noted that the Town should receive a response from MHC by mid-December, as to whether the Town should proceed in submitting a full application. The grant would require the Town to match the grant at 50%. Strategy 86: Support and/or expand resources to address the needs of residents of all ages suffering from substance abuse and mental health challenges. • In November of 2022, the Town's Select Board approved the use of American Rescue Plan Act(ARPA) funding to provide Town staff with wellness programming. The program will provide an interactive, educational, and in-person program for staff over four(4) sessions/programs, and will include the following components: The impact of Covid upon professional lives and personal mental health; specific focus on loss, depression, and anxiety; discussion about the stigma of mental health, how and when to reach out and access support, and how to support a colleague/friend; listing of town and local resources that support mental health; specific focus on self-care—what it is, why it is important, and what it might look like for each participant. Adjournment: Hollie Williams moved to adjourn, and Meredith Barnes-Cook seconded. The vote was 5-0 in favor.