Town of Sharon

Sacred Heart Reuse Committee

Meeting Minutes of 5/9/13

Approved on 5/23/13

Sharon Community Center

 

Committee Attendees

Karen Friedman, Chair  

Larry Seggelin - absent

Carl Gladstone

David Straus - absent

Mitch Blaustein

 

 

Other Attendees

Alice Cheyer – 1 Glenview Road

Corey Snow

Peter O’Cain

Eric Hooper

Anne Bingham - 78A Cedar

Ben Puritz

David and Joan Sahl  - 82 Cedar

Todd Arnold 70 Cedar

 

Chair Report

Chair Friedman called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM and asked Town Engineer Peter O’Cain to provide a summary update.

 

Discussion

Town Engineer Peter O’Cain said that a Designer Selection Committee formed to choose a design team to work on the land reuse of the Sacred Heart site. Beals and Thomas of Southborough, MA was chosen by a vote of 6-0 by the Committee.

 

Robert Weidknecht of Beals and Thomas reviewed the Meeting #1 kick off document dated May 9, 2013 that he created. The agenda items included 1) Introduction, 2) Project Goals and Objectives, 3) Potential Project  Activities/Considerations, 4) Background Information Received, 5) Project Schedule, 6) Public Meetings, 7) Public Meetings – Publicity/Stakeholders. He said the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the proposed reuse of the area of the former Sacred Heart School. The goal is to create a recreational facility on the Sacred Heart site. There are interested citizens who want no organized activities and those who want an athletic field. He said they need to assess the site and conditions, learn from the abutters and understand other uses while keeping cost and funding in mind.

 

Chair Friedman said we will be requesting funding from Community Preservation and wants to see if other grants are available.

 

Mr. O’Cain said a lot of the site is restricted by the National Park Service.

 

The charettes were planned for 5/23 and 6/6 and the ballroom at the Community Center is booked for 7PM for both dates. The public meeting is scheduled for 6/20. The presentation of the final document is scheduled for July 16th.

 

Mr. Weidknecht said at the charettes, he will present the site constraints as well as regulatory constraints. He will discuss what the site issues are and will get public input. From the first meeting the goals for the second session will be determined. He will present alternatives and opportunities that everyone wants. The third meeting will have 80% of the concept plan completed. 

 

Mr. Weidknecht asked what types of questions the audience should be asked as part of the first charette.  Mr. O’Cain said lighting, fencing, sprinklers, bleachers, parking and adaptability for multi purpose use are some of the topics to be discussed.

 

Ms. Friedman said it needs to be determined if passive recreation is wanted versus organized recreation.

 

Mr. Puritz said the core issue is the ability of the site to accommodate scheduled and unscheduled uses for a range of interest.

 

Mr. O’Cain asked how many uses can the field sustain and how many hours of organized sports can be accommodated on it.

 

Mr. Blaustein asked what the cost of turf would be.

 

Mr. Snow said CPC funds cannot be used to fund a turf field.

 

Ms. Bingham asked if the fields could be dedicated to girl’s sports.

 

Ms. Friedman said the younger teams are boys and girls combined.

 

Mr. O’Cain stated that abutter notices for those within 1000 feet of the property will be sent out.

 

A discussion of the orientation of the field as pertains to the sun was held.

 

Mr. Snow suggested that some groups committed to fields should perhaps participate in the funding.

 

Mr. Puritz said there needs to be a balance between ownership and entitlement and wants to keep the process as open as possible. What are expectations associated with financial commitment, he said it cannot be perceived as exclusive. He said the Recreation Advisory Committee is spending time on a field permit policy.

 

Mr. Gladstone asked if CPC funds can be used to relocate or build new tennis courts.

 

Mr. Snow said yes. He said grants and subsidized funds are available to encourage tennis court construction.

 

Mrs. Freidman said she wants to maximize uses.

 

Mr. Snow said a well formed application would be due to the CPC by the beginning of September.

 

Mr. Puritz asked if Mr. Weidknecht could speak to the use of turf and antibiotics in the water shed area. Mr. Weidknecht said he will have someone look into it.

 

Ms. Cheyer said the proposal discusses a natural grass field.

Mr. O’Cain said the bid document does not hold the designer to any particular design.

 

Mr. Puritz said the Board of Selectmen will determine what is presented to the CPC and Town Meeting.

 

Mr. Snow says it is up to Town Meeting to vote.

 

Mr. Gladstone suggested the site be looked at in its entirety.

 

Minutes

Mr. Gladstone moved to approve the minutes of 3/4/13 and Mr. Blaustein seconded the motion.  The Committee voted 3-0-0 in favor of approval.

 

Adjournment

Mr. Gladstone moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 PM and Mr. Blaustein seconded the motion. The Committee voted 3-0-0 in favor of adjournment.

 

Next Meeting

5/23

 

Attachment

May 9, 2013 Agenda from Beals & Thomas