HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - MPC - 07/18/2017 (2) Master Plan Committee
Minutes of July 18,2017 Meeting
APPROVED MINUTES
MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE MEETING
TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2017 - 7:00 PM
WILLCUTT COMMONS, POINT ROOM
IN ATTENDANCE: Clark Brewer, Chair
Peter Hobson
Katie Dugan
Dr_ Paul Schubert
Kevin McCarthy
Amy Glasmeier
Eric Seuss
Patrick Kennedy, Vice Chair (at 8 pm)
Susan Bruce, Cohasset Procurement Officer,
Angela Geso, MPC Administrator
ABSENT: John Donohue
Lynn Schwandt
Charlie Higginson
Meeting called to order at 7:00 by Chair Brewer,
Dates set for remainder of 2017 meetings: October 17, November 16, December 19 (Tuesdays)
REORGANIZING THE COMMITTEE:
Chair: Motion by Dr. Schubert, 2"d by Peter Hobson to nominate Clark Brewer Vote: 7-0
Vice Chair: Motion by Katie Dugan, 2nd by Dr. Schubert to nominate Patrick Kennedy Vote: 7-0
HIRING CONSULTANT— FINALIZE DESCRIPTION AND PROCEDURE: The Request for Proposal
(RFP) will be circulated on Friday, July 21 as the first step in securing a consultant to develop a
Comprehensive Master Plan for the town. A Pre-Proposal Conference is scheduled for Friday, August
11 where potential candidates can ask questions pertinent to the developing of this plan. Proposals
will be due on Friday, Sept. 8. After review and ranking, the finalists will be interviewed in mid-
September with the intention of selecting a consultant by Sept. 25_
There is $95,000 available in the Master Plan budget for this project. If the firm we choose has in-
house GIS capacity there wouldn't be the need to hire a G1S sub-contractor so that would affect the
expenditures. Procurement Office Susan Bruce suggested negotiating a fee rather than putting the
$95,000 on the table. The RFP is focused on the needed qualifications for the positions with no
mention of money; if the consultant chosen submits figures not within the budget we could either
negotiate or go to the 2"d qualified candidate.
SCHOOLS: Peter Hobson asked if schools are on Master Plan. While the Master Plan doesn't
specifically drive education, it would address issues such as a traffic plan, residential development,
population growth etc. Katie Dugan said the schools have their own strategic plan in place and that
Master Plan Committee
Minutes of July 18,2017 Meeting
she felt the growth in the last decade was due to large injections of housing units (Avalon, Toll
Brothers). Also, the schools have capacity to go from 1,600 to 1,800 without the need for expansion of
existing facilities.
LUST OF CONSULTANTS: There were several individuals and firms on a list that Clark Brewer felt
should be contacted. Members suggested contacting local colleges, advertising in trade magazines
and other methods that would generate good response. Susan Bruce will be the point person on this
aspect of the search and will filter all information before bringing it to the committee's attention.
REVIEW PROCESS: Patrick Kennedy asked about a working group to do the ground work, choose 3
finalists and bring their proposals to the full committee prior to interviewing the candidates. He further
felt that getting all the committee members together could be difficult but a smaller working group
would be more likely to all have common time available.
COHASSET VISION FOR THE FUTURE: Clark Brewer stated he doesn't want the consultant to do
the Vision Statement but rather provide input to a statement drafted by the MPC. Clark Brewer and
Peter Hobson feel the current Vision Statement doesn't come across as all that relevant to residents
and that the focus should be on how to retain things we already like in Cohasset and how to prepare
for the future with quality of life issues. Peter Hobson feels the town seal should be our focus as it
shows governance, education, history and a coastal location and to push the "small town" character of
Cohasset and how to best maintain it. We need to show people there is no need to fear change that is
done properly. Peter Hobson, Eric Seuss and Kevin McCarthy have been tasked with creating a vision
statement to be presented at the August meeting.
Update from Peter Hobson. Affordable Housing Steering Committee Designee to MPC
The AHSC is working on developing an affordable housing production plan modeled after the town of
Scituate. Peter Hobson feels that if we have a production plan in place prior to the release of the 2020
Census we can avoid projects similar to Avalon. While the AHSC production plan is not going to be a
part of the Master Plan, the two committees will interact on issues that will impact both committees.
Goals include promoting compatibility with neighborhood, town and open space character regarding
new housing; meeting 40B affordable housing goals; provide housing options for senior citizens.
Chair Brewer would like all MPC members to review our Master Plan and come up with three
questions for each section to discuss at future meetings. Katie Dugan has offered to set up a schedule
to review 3 chapters per meeting with Land Use & Zoning, Housing (including Affordable Housing and
Build Out Analysis) and Economic Development
Chair Brewer requested (on the record) that if members cannot attend a meeting they are obligated to
notify the chair in a timely manner.
With no further business to discuss, motion to adjourn made by Member Kennedy and seconded by
Member Dugan. Meeting adjourned at 9:45 pm.
MINUTES APPROVED BY MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE: (DATE) ~�
SIGNED BY MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE CHAIR: