Panel to consider $188K in CPA requests in Shutesbury

SHUTESBURY — Expansion of a conservation area near Lake Wyola, with the possibility of using a portion of this land for affordable housing, and repairs to the former town library building, are among up to $188,000 in requests coming to the Community Preservation Act Committee.

The committee this week began reviewing four grant applications for funding that, if recommended, would be brought to annual Town Meeting for up or down votes by residents.

If all are recommended and approved, though, the CPA account would be about $80,000 short from what it has from the surcharge on property tax bills and the state match, said Chairman Matteo Pangallo.

The committee is expected to vote on projects at its March 26 meeting.

The largest request is $89,000, for a $102,700 project, from the Conservation Commission. This involves Kestrel Land Trust acquiring a 9-acre parcel between Wendell and Locks Pond roads currently owned by the Footit family.

Abutting the South Brook Conservation Area to the south, this is shared parcel with approximately 196 acres of conservation land on the east side of Wendell Road, expanding the existing Bright Water Bog nature retreat.

In addition to the conservation aspects, the idea is to have a possible community housing lot, which might be used by Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity, which has expressed interest in the project. The town, though, would have to go through a request for proposal process.

The remainder of the parcel would be preserved as conservation land used primarily for passive recreation, with snowmobile use likely allowed.

The next biggest ask is for between $55,000 to $85,000 for rehabilitation of the front porch at the former M.N. Spear Library, coming from the reuse committee

The project would include work to stabilize the porch and repair or replace historic details at the building, with work to meet the U.S. Department of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

“This kind of repair would be essential for any use of the building, it’s just something that needs to be done,” said committee member Henry Geddes.

There are also two smaller requests.

The Elliott Park Committee is $9,000 for a $9,800 project to maintan a gazebo and improve a shed at the William G. Elliott Waterfront Park.

Located near the Randall Road boat launch and beach at Lake Wyola, the park is on town conservation land.

Finally, $5,000 is sought to cover the town’s share of a regional affordable housing coordinator from the Franklin Council of Governments.

The FRCOG got a $10,000 grant from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Commnunities to partner with Leverett and Shelburne.

This will pay for 74 hours of time to work on general housing tasks.

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