Town of Sharon

Sacred Heart Reuse Committee

Meeting Minutes of 5/23/11

Amended and Approved  6/6/11

Sharon Community Center

 

Committee Attendees

Karen Friedman, Chair  

Jim Michael

Valeda Britton  

Ed Keenan

Larry Seggelin

John Davis

Carl Gladstone

David Straus

Michael Ginsberg

 

 

Other Attendees

Alice Cheyer

Peter O’Cain

Susan Price

 

 

Chair Report

Ms. Friedman called the meeting to order at 7:33 PM and thanked both Mr. O’Cain and Ms. Price for coming to the meeting.  

 

Discussion

Mr. O’Cain said that he started getting quotes for the scope of services to take down the Sacred Heart building. This will be a formal bidding process once it begins. He noted that the cost was approximately $250,000 several years ago. He commented that prices are better now as many contractors are out of work.

 

Mr. Ginsberg asked Mr. O’Cain for a plot plan of the property and Mr. O’Cain said he had given one to the Recreation Department. He said he included parking and is aware that at certain times of the year there is not enough parking.

 

Mr. Michael stated that a traffic study is also needed.

 

Mr. Straus asked if the building were taken down, what would happen to the property. Would it be fenced? Mr. Michael said that if there are no immediate plans for construction, the land could be loamed and seeded.

 

Ms. Friedman asked Mr. O’Cain if he had any information about moving the tennis courts.  Mr. O’Cain said that it is a political decision. The rest of the land has park service protection. He is sure that the tennis courts are on the property and so we would need to discuss moving them with the Recreation Department.

 

Mr. Ginsberg said he thinks the Conservation Commission would not allow movement of the tennis courts. He also commented that according to the terms of the Community Preservation rules, he believes if monies from Community Preservation are used to take down the building, then an outdoor recreational facility has to be built.

 

Mr. Ginsberg said that if we do not receive a good response to the RFP he would propose to take down the building using CPC funds.

Mr. Michael said that a question for Town Counsel is, if CP funds are used to take down the building and then the use idea was changed, if a developer came in could the demolition monies be repaid, essentially buying back rights.

 

Mr. Davis said that he hesitates to say to take CPC funds and live with the restriction tied to it and rule out commercial uses that could make money for the town. He wants to keep the notion of someone paying rent.

 

Mr. Ginsberg said he wants to say here is the RFP and this is the response date.

 

Ms. Friedman asked if there is any “right time” to put out the RFP and Mr. O’Cain said that any time is fine. It is really the luck of the draw to find someone willing to create a unique use with unique limitations.

 

Mr. Straus said it would be great to have a cost estimate for taking down the building and feels the demolition cost would be a big problem to a developer. Mr. Michael said it’s an easy estimate to do. Disposal is straight forward.

 

Mr. Keenan said he wants a final word from the Conservation Commission as to whether the basketball courts and tennis courts can be moved. He also wants to hear from the Advisory Board and Brett McGowan.

 

Mr. Michael said fields will require maintenance. He also said that developers are skittish in this market.

 

Mr. Gladstone asked Mr. O’Cain for website suggestions to post the RFP.  Mr. O’Cain said the Central Register, Town website, Town Hall, local newspapers and construction news outlets were the appropriate venues for posting the RFP.

 

Susan Price, Chair of the Planning Board told the Committee that the Planning Boards role is to review subdivisions and make changes to zoning. They have site plan approval and sign approval authority in Post Office Square as well as authority over scenic roadways in town.

 

Mr. Davis said when we put out an RFP to include both lots which equate to a little over 5 acres, what is the Planning Boards role. Ms. Price responded that developers would go to the ZBA for site plan approval. They would go to the Planning Board for a subdivision or zoning issue.

 

Mr. Michael suggested that in order to be attractive to the developer there needs to be a slam dunk. These are tough times for a developer and feels the economies of time are working against us.

 

Ms. Price said the building is an eyesore and is concerned with the liability for injury.

 

Mr. Straus said he feels that even with money, the project does not seem possible to make money on.

 

Mr. Ginsberg said we need to determine the clientele to cater to.

 

Ms. Price said there might be places in town to relocate the tennis courts to but who will incur the cost.

 

Mr. Davis said the owner of Camp Everwood said space was available on his property but the financials were not discussed. Mr. Gladstone commented that he thought there would be traffic issues at the Everwood location.

 

Mr. Keenan said that there are 21 acres of uncommitted land at Horizons but is unsure if this land can be used for active recreation.

 

Ms. Price said it seems like the DPW site should be able to include the fire department. Mr. Keenan said there is no money for a new fire station.

 

Mr. Seggelin suggested that the sports teams respond to the RFP and provide information of how much they would be able to donate to the project.

 

Mr. Ginsberg said that the teams are not saying how much they would give to support the project. An all purpose field would be needed. He suggested speaking to the sports directors to see if the teams would reply to the RFP. He thinks they could come up with funds to support the field.

 

Mr. Gladstone said he is concerned with the exclusiveness of a field.

 

Mr. Davis said if the Committee is to perform their due diligence, and not rule out an indoor recreational facility we need to think of people to invite to the meetings who can say what this land can be used for. He is unsure if any other uses are viable in this economy and on this space. He wants to id professionals to tell us what a particular use would require. We need to determine what is realistic and unrealistic and explore possibilities and get an idea if indoor recreation is realistic before thinking of ball fields.

 

Mr. Michael said that parking is a sticking point on health facilities.

 

Mr. Seggelin said that if you took down the building and built an all purpose field you could add parking and take it away from the street.

 

Ms. Cheyer wanted to reiterate that she does not think the property should be used to add more parking. She thinks adding single space parking is wrong and suggested the idea of shuttling to another area or adding a two story parking facility.

 

A brief conversation ensued between the members. It was suggested that abutters be invited to speak to the Committee as well as people who own/run indoor sports facilities and builders.  Mr. Gladstone suggested physical therapy facilities and to look outside the traditional health club idea, like a sports medicine facility. Mr. Ginsberg said a sports bubble has a short life span. Ms. Price suggested that it is a good idea to reach out to the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce for ideas. It was also suggested that Mr. Intoccia be called in to discuss the property as well as a representative from the YMCA.

 

Ms. Friedman said she will create a letter inviting abutters to a future meeting and Ms. Levitts will touch base with Mr. O'Cain regarding obtaining address labels for abutters within 100 feet of the Sacred Heart property.

 

Meeting Minutes

Mr. Keenan moved to approve the meeting minutes of 4/25/11. Mr. Davis seconded the motion and the Committee voted 9-0-0 in favor.

 

The Committee stated that the 5/9 minutes do not need approval because the minutes were informational in nature and there was no quorum.

 

Next Meeting

6/6/11, 6/20/11

 

Adjournment

Mr. Keenan moved to adjourn the meeting and Mr. Ginsberg seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 8:55 PM.

 

Attachments

1. Pictures of Sacred Heart Property provided by Mr. O’Cain.

2. 5/23/11 email from Ben Puritz to Peter O’Cain regarding CPC funds and the demo of the Sacred Heart Building