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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCPC Minutes - 10 19 2011_201402061428494252 MEETING MINUTES MEETING WITH APPLICANTS FOR FY13 FUNDING COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Wednesday, October 19, 2011, 2 – 5 PM Community Room of the Public Safety Building, 2nd Floor 4 Fairgrounds Road Conference Room Nantucket, Massachusetts 2:00 – 2:30 Chairman Beaugrand called the meeting to order at 2:05 PM. CPC members present are Ken Beaugrand, Chairman; Richard Brannigan, Vice Chair; John Brescher, Channing Moore, Linda Williams, Administrators Neville Richen and Glena Stokes-Scarlett. The Chairman welcomed Jascin Leonardo-Finger to the meeting she introduced Paula Lundy levy from Prospect Hill Cemetery and David Barham. Ms. Finger thanked the Committee for all their support over the years. She described for the Committee the work Maria Mitchell wished to do with the Grant they are requesting. She also mentioned that they will be working in collaboration with The Coffin School and Prospect Hill Cemetery since this restoration/reconstruction is connected to these other properties. Channing Moore mentioned for the records that he is a member of the board for Prospect Hill Cemetery. Barry Rector came to the meeting at 2:14pm and Bobby DeCosta at 2:23pm Please refer to tape #1Restoration and Reconstruction of Historic Wrought Iron Fences dated October 19, 2011 2:30 – 3:30 Chairman Beaugrand called the meeting to order at 2:30 PM. CPC members present are Bob DeCosta, Barry Rector, Linda Williams, John Brescher, Channing Moore, Richard Brannigan, Ken Beaugrand, Neville Richen and Glena Stokes-Scarlett. Mr. Beaugrand welcomed Mr. Holdgate from the Nantucket Hunting Association for their presentation of the Shooting Park Conservation Management Plan Mr. Holdgate thanked the committee and presented himself as the President of this organization and he introduced Luke Natsis as Vice President. Mr. Holdgate then gave a brief history of this property and how it came into the possession of the Hunting Association; 3 APPLICANT BACKGROUND 3.1 History The Nantucket Hunting Association was established in 1997 by a group of local hunters and shooters. The NHA became a non-profil501c3 charitable organization in 1998 with its mission to preserve the tradition of ethical hunting and maintain the balance of Nantucket's wildlife resources. It has been funded almost exclusively by membership dues and donations. Membership includes a diverse group of Americans from many States with an interest in one or all of hunting, shooting sports, firearm history or conservation. Over the years the Nantucket Hunting Association has worked on ways to educate the public about hunting as well as visiting hunters about Nantucket. Information brochures were created and distributed and the NHA hosted public forums with key speakers that included topics on tick disease, hunter etiquette and firearms regulation changes. The NHA has worked with individual Boy Scout members on community projects to earn the rank of Eagle Scout with the construction & installation of duck nesting boxes in local ponds. The NHA has sponsored several local youths to attend the annual State sponsored Jr. Conservation Camp in central Massachusetts. The camp was completely paid for and volunteers transported the kids to and from the camp if necessary. Member volunteers have become certified master and assistant instructors for the State required Hunter Education Course conducted at least once per year. The NHA is also interested in finding ways to improve the habitats and wildlife popUlations on Nantucket. Member volunteers have raised Ring Neck Pheasants to be released into the wild under a state permit obtained by the NHA in an attempt to bring back the declining pheasant population. Bob White Quail, also in huge decline are a future target for improvement. The cost of the birds, equipment and feed are reimbursed by NHA funds. Another way the NHA has attempted to help balance the island's wildlife popUlations is by more aggressively hunting one of the Island's most numerous predators of quail, Piping Plovers and song birds, the American Crow. The NHA has encouraged the hunting of crow by promoting an annual crow hunt. Since 1998, the NHA has worked in a partnership with the Nantucket Conservation Foundation to conduct a controlled deer hunt on land that was previously posted as no hunting. The Rams Pasture hunt, as it has become known, has helped increase. the annual deer harvest in an effort to control the large deer population. After the first successful hunts, the NHA with permission from the NCF incorporated a youth hunt sponsorship into the Rams Pasture Hunt. Member hunters selected for the hunt have the option to sponsor a youth hunter to experience deer hunting under the direct supervision of an experienced hunter. This controlled hunting atmosphere combined with a high concentration of deer makes for an ideal situation to introduce and educate youth to responsible and ethical deer hunting. Education continues to be a key objective of the NHA. For this reason the organization decided in 2003 that it was time to work toward establishing a professional, safe and clean shooting range so that shooters can comfortably and safely enhance their skills and beginners can learn the shooting sports. By establishing an official, controlled shooting facility, fewer shooters would venture into the Island's other open spaces searching to shoot. Below is a list of achievements, activities and events over the history of the Nantucket Hunting Association: 1997 NHA was founded. 1998 NHA became 501c3 charitable organization. 1998 First Ram's Pasture controlled deer hunt established which continues today. Effective[mm/ddfyyyy] Version[x.x] Page 6 CPC Funding Request FY2013 1998 Refurbished the Kennedy Bunker in Tom Nevers for a meeting place. 1998 until present- Distribute educational brochures Host public forums Conduct fund raising dinners & events Sponsor Annual Crow Hunting Conduct family cook-outs Install duck nesting boxes Sponsor Jr Conservation camperships Support Pheasant raise & release efforts Donate to charities Plan & permit a shooting facility 2011 Co-sponsored Annual Shooting Park fund raising event with Ducks Unlimited 3.2 Applicant Officials 3.2.1 Nantucket Hunting Association Officers (Board of Directors) President - Steven Holdgate Vice-President - Luke Natsis Secretary- Terrance Sutherburg Treasurer- Homer Ray III 3.2.2 Nantucket Shooting Park- Range Committee Chairperson - Steven Holdgate Members- Luke Natsis Terrance Sutherburg Homer Ray III Paige Buckley James Feeley Glenn Speer AdaRuth Stover BoWilson Dirck VanLieu Allen (Twig) Perkins Susan Whitlock 3.3 Previous project experience The project of developing and constructing a shooting facility with conservation restricted land is the largest scope project ever undertaken by the Nantucket Hunting Association organization. The officials and members involved in the project as well as many of the volunteer members not yet on committees and teams have a wide range of experience as business owners that span many years. Many of the committee members and volunteers are general contractors and developers that have successfully completed many large scale bUilding projects on Nantucket. The officials and members involved include excavators, general contractors, plumbers, electricians, designers, engineers and general managers. In other areas of expertise the NHA has hired consultants when needed. This has included shooting range experts, biologists, noise consultants and attorneys. Since this project was initiated, the individuals involved with their combined experience have navigated many requirements and obstacles, both known and unexpected. Effective[mmlddlyyyy] Version[x.x] Page 7 CPC Funding Request FY2013 4 PROJECT INFORMATION 4.1 Project Scope The scope of this project is to establish a shooting facility on Nantucket with an 18 acre area of open space with a conservation restriction and state approved conservation management plan. 4.2 Project Goals & Objectives 4.2.1 Overall Goal Establish 18 acres of newly protected open space and also improve adjacent undeveloped land for recreational use of the shooting sports. This will reduce the level of recreational target shooting throughout Nantucket's open space land and concentrate it on a designated shooting facility that also incorporates protected open space. 4.2.2 Objectives 1. Complete plans for shooting facility and conservation management plan. 2. Complete permit application process through approval. (State & Local). 3. Fund required escrow accounts and bonds prior to construction. 4. Clear site perimeter and survey property bounds and management area. 5. Install perimeter fencing and signage. 6. Conduct initial site remediation required by conservation management plan. 4.3 CPC Objectives The Nantucket Shooting Park project meets two of the objectives of the Community Preservation Committee. 1. The CPC objective of acquisition. creation and preservation of open space will be accomplished in two ways. The first and most direct way is by the establishment of a conservation restriction and conservation management plan on an already acquired 18 acres of Town owned land. The second way this objective will be accomplished is by developing and constructing an official shooting range in one location, reducing the level of recreational target shooting activities on other existing open space lands. This reduced activity will aid in the preservation of other open space by preventing shooting debris being left behind by un-supervised and un-regulated shooters. It will also help separate this recreational activity from other recreational users of open space that may not be comfortable being exposed to the shooting activities. 2. The CPC objective of restoration of open space land for recreational use that is acquired or created will be accomplished by the development and construction of the Nantucket Shooting Park. This recreational and educational shooting facility will allow for a safe, clean and supervised place for the shooting sports to take place on Nantucket. This activity has been a popular recreational sport on Nantucket and can be directly related to the long history of the hunting and recreational shooting lifestyle that has always existed in the island community. Effective[mm/dd/yyyy] Version[x.x} Page 8 CPC Funding Request FY2013 4.4 Community Benefits The benefit to the community as a whole will be the concentration of the shooting sports in one known and controlled location. This will reduce and possibly allow the elimination of uncontrolled and un-announced target shooting in other open space lands. These lands are also used by community members for walking, bike riding, ATV riding and scenic drives that target shooting can interfere with when not planned safely. The debris sometime left behind by target shooters would also be reduced or eliminated. There is a huge benefit to the members of the community who enjoy the shooting sports and those in the community that may want to learn more about shooting. Currently there is no officially sanctioned shooting range on Nantucket. There have been official and unofficial shooting ranges in the past. A trap range operated by the Nantucket Sportsmen's Club existed on Wauwinet Road that is now a Land Bank parking area. For thirty years or more, most of the shooting activity has taken place in an area of Madequecham Valley on Town owned land. This area has since been closed off as a direct result of the Nantucket Shooting Park project. There are well over 1000 gun licenses issued by the Nantucket Police Department. There are many island residents that were licensed in other communities as well as part time residents who shoot that are not included in these numbers. This equates to a large number of community members who need a place to partiCipate in this historically American and legal sport. From an education and training perspective, the community also benefits. Current firearm safety classes have no place to include live fire practice. The Island's law enforcement officials use a barely adequate range to practice and qualify. The proposed Nantucket Shooting Park will allow a more adequate range for all law enforcement officials to use for training at no cost to the town, state or federal departments. • 5 PROJECT PLAN & FINANCES 5.1 CPC Funding Request Total The total amount of funds requested for the project described is $412,650.00. Note: $350,000.00 of the requested funds is for temporary funding of an escrow account in substitution of a performance surety bond that can be transferred into an escrow account for the long term maintenance of the conservation restricted lands. Excess funds can be returned to the CPC as required by the CPC. Effective[mm/dd/yyyy] Version[x.x] Page 9 CPC Funding Request FY2013 5.2 Project Time Line Objective / Task Projected Start Projected Completion Resource Date Date Complete Final Daft In work November 2011 Volunteer Designer & Design Plans contracted desiqner Complete NHESP In work November 2011 Contracted Surveyor Permit ADDlicatlon & Consultant Fund Raising / In Work October 2015 Events, Membership Solicitations Dues, & Donations Secure NHESP Dermit November 2011 Januarv 2012 CPC Funds for Fees Secure Town MCD November 2011 January 2012 CPC Funds for permit Permit & leqal fees Fund/Secure Bonds & November 2011 January 2012 CPC funds & Escrow Accounts Donations Survey Site January 2012 January 2012 CPC Funds & Donations Clear Site & Perimeter Januarv 2012 March 2012 Volunteers Install Fence & Signs February 2012 May 2012 Funds for Materials Perform initial land January 2012 May 2012 Volunteers and funds manaaement for consultants Note: The project timeline for the purpose of this funding request includes tasks & objectives necessary to develop the project site to a point where the open space land has been established. The tasks to develop the entire shooting facility are not included in this request but will continue. Since the overall goal and community benefits are contingent on the successful completion and operation of a shooting facility further project costs may be included in future CPC funding requests. Effeclive[mm/dd/yyyy] Version[x.x] Page 10 epe Funding Request FY2013 5.3 Financial Plan Schedule Complete Final Daft Desl n Plans Complete NHESP $1200 Permit A IIcatlon Secure NHESP $5800 ermlt Secure Town MCD $5250 Permit Fund/Secure Bonds &Escrow Accounts Surve Site $4000 Clear Site & Perimeter Install Fence & SI ns Perform Initial land mana ement TOTALS $21600 $4000 5.4 Line Item Budget $0 $350,000 $4000 $20,000 $8000 $2500 $370,000 $12000 $2500 $2000 $2000 ITEM COST Engineering/Design Services $8200 Structures Site / Drainage $1200 Bloloalst Professional Fees $1200 NHESP/MESA Application Fees $5800 Town Plannina DeDt. Fees IMCDI $5250 Project Performance Surety Bond $350,000 Professional SurveY Services $8000 Brush Clearing Services $20,000 Fence &Sian Materials $8000 Consultation Fees &Expenses $2500 Land Management Temporary Fencing $2000 Protection durlna construction TOTAL COST $412,650 Effective[mm/dd/yyyy] Version[x.x] Page 11. Mr. Richen was asked to check with the coalition to find out 1. Can CPC fund a performance bond 2. Can CPC fund open space on town owned property The interview ended at 3:40 PM and Mr. Holdgate thanked the committee. Please refer to tape #2 Shooting Park Conservation Management Plan dated October 19, 2011 3:40 – 5:00 Chairman Beaugrand called the meeting to order at 3:05 PM. CPC members present are Ken Beaugrand, Chairman; Richard Brannigan, Vice Chair; John Brescher, Channing Moore, Linda Williams, Bob DeCosta, Barry Rector, Administrators Neville Richen and Glena Stokes-Scarlett. The Chairman introduced Susan Witte of the AHTF to make her presentations on: A) 7 Surfside Road Fund Requisition - In August of 2010 using CPC funds the AHTF purchased a one-third acre parcel at 7 Surfside Rd for the express purpose of adding additional dwelling to the site for community housing. The existing one bedroom has been repaired and is rented. Next steps are what this proposal requests funding for – to add three more dwelling units on the site. These additional dwelling units will be two 2 bedroom units and one 1 bedroom unit. This will be a collaborative project with the Nantucket High School’s Construction and Technical Class Program and inspired by the designs of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company B) House Recycling Fund Requisition – This house recycling program will create affordable year round rental units for low and moderate income islanders in the Town Overlay District. The Zoning Code 139.26 affords up to sixty days from public notice of availability of a structure needing relocation to the move off date. The value of having readily available funding set aside for house moves/recycling is acknowledged to be valuable. A few opportunities however are the result of long range planning and multi organization collaboration. Since the Fall of 2010 and continuing through to date principals and their representatives of a duplex property located in Town have been in discussions with the Planning Office and the staff liaison to the AHTF and a member of the Land Bank to coordinate efforts for the removal and relocation of a duplex. Permission for such an acquisition was the subject of a positive vote on Article 92 at 2011 ATM (see warrant article language at end of this application). C) Amnesty & Accessory Unity Creative Program Fund Requisition. For the public record Ms. Williams and Mr. DeCosta stated that they are on the Housing Board and Mr. Brescher stated that he works with Susan Witte. There are abundant examples of boot-leg, illegal, housing code violation units-non- compliant mother-in-law-suites, illegal basement units, garage apartments, Accessory Units, all unsafe yet occupied dwellings island wide. An accurate assumption can be made that a preponderance of these occupants fall within an income range that qualifies these tenants to be eligible for community housing which is any income below > 100% AMI. (see next page for current HUD income limits for Nantucket) The objective of this new-to-Nantucket program is to encourage, incentivize, and help fund local property owners who currently operate these types of units by paying for needed code compliance improvements and bringing these units into conformity. This program combined with a new Landlord Tax Relief-Abatement program will provide the necessary financial incentives to create safe, sanitary and secure affordable community housing. By the voters unanimous adoption of Article 78 at 2011 ATM the AHTF was given the latitude to pursue such innovative options and add units to the DHCD SHI list. The specifics of this type of program are outlined further in this application. Attached for your perusal is a copy of a long running and highly successful similar program run by Barnstable County. Once funding for this innovated program would be sanctioned and approved by the Community Preservation Committee the task of devising Nantucket’s exact guidelines will be done with the assistance of Town Counsel, feedback and suggestions through a public hearing process and consensus workshops with landlord and tenant stakeholders and advocates. The Planning Office is drafting amendments to the Accessory Units By Law for submission to 2012 ATM to allow more leniency in the creation of AU’s. Suffice it to say the funding provided to interested parties will be secured by appropriate negotiated deed restrictions and stringent repayment arrangements in the event of reversion. Please refer to tapes A) 7 Surfside Road; B) Cassette Malfunction; C) TON-AHTF Amnesty & Accessory Unit dated October 19, 2011