Catherine Walsh, the commission’s representative to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), reported on Dec. 18 that the town manager asked the CPC to withdraw four applications from consideration pending additional work. The withdrawn items included two historic-preservation requests (annual town reports and a town-hall archive inventory) and two open-space projects (Shattuck Park wall restoration and design for Chapel Street Park). Walsh said the CPC had particular concern about limited community outreach and the large estimated construction cost for Chapel Street Park (approximately $5 million).

Walsh summarized remaining CPC activity: eight applications remain under review, including a Highland Cemetery nomination to the National Register, a shared-housing roof-replacement request, a conservation-fund transfer, a Perry Pond (Bridal Pipe Pond) restoration feasibility study for which the commission’s staff was praised for application completeness, an Elliott Field study and a Falls ramp ADA-access remediation estimated at $175,000 for a poured-concrete ramp. Walsh said proponents will present in public hearings starting in January and that she will circulate hearing dates to commission members.

No formal action was taken by the Conservation Commission on CPC items during the meeting; commissioners volunteered to provide public testimony supporting certain conservation projects.