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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-11-10 Community Preservation Committee Minutes Approved 01/12/2017 TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER Community Preservation Committee Thursday November 10,2016 120 Main Street, North Andover, MA. 01845 In Attendance Committee Members: John Simons, Alberto Angles, Charles Gangi, Deb Feltovic. Staff: Merylle Chase- Community and Economic Development Assistant Owner(s)/Representative(s): Laurie Burzlaff(Affordable Housing Authority), Kathy Stevens (North Parish Church) Meeting called to order at 7:09pm Discussion Items: 1. Status update on projects from Town Meeting The Doctor's property since Town meeting the Committee has seen the property and most of the open field is wetland but there is one corner of the property closest to Milk Street that might be buildable. The property needs to have another assessment done to see if there is a potentially sellable parcel to the Town for open space. 2. Historical Society- Burying Ground discussion Kathy Stevens speaks to the committee about the current project 2nd burial ground and the $30,000 that was allocated for this project. Kathy is asking for another three years and work on the north side of the site specifically the tree line and brush piles which revealed stones that are in really bad shape and Kathy is asking the Committee for another 150,000 and push the tree line back by 30 feet. The neighbors are on board with this. There are a lot of dead or dying trees we are also working on the gravesite restoration. We would also like signage up front so the public know they are welcome. John asks the age of most of the graves Kathy Stevens's states its open in 1817-1851 but there are within family later stones there are records that show there were about 700 deaths during that time there are approximately 400 graves there. How do you want the 150,000 in a lump sum or in installments 1st thing done was an assessment Kathy we would want it over a three year span, she shows the committee a binder detailing all the work currently done. The original is held at first parish and the copy is held at the historical society. The stones are repaired in order of need. Are there vaults or mausoleums there? The Stevens Family maintained the property. Along with the Church John Simmons asks how the numbers were generated Kathy Stevens states that there was an estimate done that was for 146,000 they will do 60 stones per year we have had an arborist come out and give us a quote we have also talked to the neighbors regarding access points John Simmons is that the cost to just remove the trees or is that landscaping and regrading with stump removal. Kathy Stevens states that the numbers are not solid yet when the application deadline the numbers will be better defined Kathy shows the committee a national standards binder for grave stone restoration Approved 01/12/2017 3. Affordable Housing Trust update Laurie Burzlaff is here speaking about transferring money to the affordable housing trust 70 May street house purchase. She states that the house is a tear down. John asks if the house size will be increased, she states that they would like to move it for a better footprint on the lot John asks how the property was found Laurie states that she lives in the neighborhood and it is such an eyesore that she sent the owner a letter to try and buy the property. It has been a little over a year. It will be a great improvement it the same house as in the past with Bread and Roses and they will keep the land and sell the house with it forever stays in affordable $413,000. cost they will set up a lottery for a purchase price of$175,000 John asked if the mortgage is held by bread and roses Laurie states no it is a regular mortgage with a 99 years land hold. This should be the last single family home for us to purchase. John asks about the comps in the neighborhood. We are looking for property or multi families to work with but the pricing is difficult. Laurie states yes $400,000 is a reasonable price John asks how many homes are in poor shape in North Andover Laurie states there are only a handful of homes that we know about. Plus we like one level homes for veterans and elderly. There is a property on Maple Street that looks nice the committee agrees to transfer the funding. Laurie has asked CHAPPA to let her know once the 120 time period has expired 4. Review of Financials The accountant's office takes care of everything there are reviews of the financial documents including the Munis documents per project it looks like 390,000 in taxes roughly 1.2 million in taxes we have not received the reimbursement from the state yet usually we get it in October. The open Space funding still have 1 million dollars on Historical there is 1.9 million left Affordable there is 2 million.John Simmons is going to talk to the accountant's office to see if there is a better version. 5. Middle School Athletic Fields They have finished the work on the study but the Community outreach hasn't happened yet 6. 2017 Town Meeting potential projects and process 7. Other Business Meeting request for a January Kickoff meeting open to past applicants and the public.