Charlestown Neighborhood Council Monthly Meeting Minutes March 3, 2015 Charlestown Neighborhood Council Vice Chairman, David Whelan, called the meeting to order at 7:05 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Medford St., Charlestown with 14 meeting members present. Motion to approve the January, 2015 meeting minutes Motion to dispense with the regular order of business Annissa Essaibi George Candidate for Boston City Counsel Council owns the Stitch House in South Boston, experienced teacher Election in the fall, September 26, 2015 (May not be a primary as it is an off year election pushing this race off to Nov ) Wynn Update Lynn Levesque Due to go into Everett in 2017 Working with Dan Ryan to protect interests of Charlestown community 3/11/15 there was a good meeting with 75 people in attendance Working group sessions on Monday night (3/9/15) Questions asked on the environment All meetings are facilitated by same facilitator 3/10/15 meeting will be dedicated to jobs issue 3/11/15 meeting will be dedicated to transportation Tentative community meeting 4/8/15 SFEIR was filed on 2/16/15 and comments are due by 3/27/15 Copies of SFEIR are available at library Not working to make sure Wynn is successful but to protect Charlestown Working groups are dedicated to getting questions out and answered No agreements or negotiations--just a listening and questioning session. 3/11/15 will be Sullivan Sq and construction issues related to transportation Minutes will be taken and made public City should be taking a lead on this Anthony Gallagher from City Gaming Department is involved Should be somebody there from Transportation Dept High School is tentative location for next community meeting Transportation Dept needs to take a lead on verifying data All need to come to the meeting Presentation of 2/11/15 is on the Patriot Bridge web site Sullivan Sq studies done when Ikea was proposed where are those numbers?
Charlestown Marina Update-- Chuck Lagasse People should be seeing improvement with snow removal this year Access is clear Pile driving last week started slowly Pier 8 along north side Working on dock E and D in the next weeks b/c marine fisheries wanted them out of this area by mid-march and done with pile driving The main or spine that runs out to the breakwater is already in and will complete the section out to the breakwater within the next week with pile driving Breakwater will be in place by next week. All the pile driving will be complete on Pier 8 within the next 5-6 weeks Proceeding on the Harbor Walk with Halversham Design for landscape design will have plans done within the next few weeks materials, lighting etc Halversham is also doing the landscape design at Pier 6 and Pier 8 Plan on opening the offices and bathrooms in building 224 at foot of Pier 8 within a week This will be a temporary office New building will be constructed by next year with all amenities necessary Massive amount of activity at the old Navy Yard in East Bosto 150 people working on this project off site There will be continued public notices for finalizing the permitting for Pier 6 and 8 Conservation Commission saw 100% support from community On time with construction some delay in the breakwater due to weather 12 trucks a day of concrete going into the breakwater Total timeframe will go into 2017 to have harbor walk completed Talking with Paris Landing to resolve existing law suits Trying to get all parties working on maintaining the harbor walk Pile driving is not disturbing anyone Hydraulic hammer is driving the piles and the soil conditions are conducive to suppressing noise Construction management meetings will be set up very soon As many as 200 ongoing inquiries and have 40 contracts signed This facility has been deteriorating for so long this is a public relations issue CNC is very pleased that they have been updating the community so regularly Motion to close the floor. Public Safety Ed Grace reporting: 2 reports January Meeting with 13 Residents in attendance Sexual Assaults:2 Robberies : 2 Aggravated Assaults:1. Breaking and Entering :6 Auto Theft:2 Larceny:9 ( Christmas mail orders left on doorsteps) Larceny from Motor Vehicle:4
Towed Motor Vehicle:9 MV Violations:59 Parking Citations:102 December Arrests: 18 including one Assault with a gun Charlestown Overdose 2014: 22 Year to Date (1/20/15) 2 Deaths 2014: 1 Deaths 2015: 0 Total Calls for Area A-1: 67000 National Park Police: 1 Arrest for possession of knife Next Meeting Safety Police Station A-15: 2/1715 @ 6:30 pm February Meeting (2/17/15) with 9 residents in attendance Capt. Furlong reported Area A-15 Charlestown has seen a 51% decrease in part 1 crimes year to date, attributed to weather and officers making tip based arrests Auto Theft:2 Larceny:3 Larceny from Motor Vehicle:2 Graffiti:0 Community Disorder:0 Towed Motor Vehicle:2 Motor Vehicle Violations:133 Parking Citations:156 Sexual Assault:1 Robberies:2 Aggravated Assaults:5 Arrest Made Breaking and Entering:2 Officer Bob Luongo was recognized by Judy Evers on behalf of City Councilor Sal Lamattina, Tom McKay from NS and Ed Grace CNC for his outstanding commitment to the Charlestown Community with a citation and birthday cake. Boston Police keep stressing the concept of partnership between community and police. Next Safety meeting Tuesday, 3/17 Area A-15 Police Station Community Room @ 6:30 pm. Resident of the Development was arrested with firearms and large amount of heroin This happened after the 2 nd meeting so details will be presented at the next meeting on 3/17/15 next meeting Motion to accept as a report in progress. Basic Services Amanda Reinfeld reporting: Courageous entertainment license for operating fundraising events in the Navy Yard Between May-October 2015 Includes audio devices for music Licensing board hearing was supposed to be 2/9/15 but was delayed due to weather
No objections. Last year s events were managed very well When they are having an event, there is still public access to the pier: Dave DeLorenzo will have staff put up a sign saying that the pier is still open Police details requested but rarely get granted no problem to date This meeting was a love fest They have helped the largest number of children 1000 kids Basic Services Committee approved the Courageous licensing request Motion to ratify the vote taken by the committee Development Committee Dave Whelan reporting: Chain Forge Building 60 people in the audience 250 seat restaurant Hotel beds 38 pieces of equipment determined to be historic and will remain on site There are PCBs that will be sealed thus producing a limited use Cannot be housing Three hotel chains are interested in this location Start construction by the fall of 2015 and think it will take up to 2 years Hotel guests Vehicles are going to go to Autoport for valet parking Issues: Union labor Parking for construction workers and hotel workers Should develop good relations with YMCA Should study transportation and safety issues to reduce negative impact All deliveries to be in the loading bay area Developer will come back with remediation Will be a couple of spots for drop off in front of the hotel Expansion of water ferry service Conceptual design received unanimous vote of support from committee Motion to ratify vote taken at the meeting supporting conceptual design. Visit to Harbor Point Peg Bradley reporting: Myles Burns plans to answer the RFP for Housing Development Willing to take anyone to Harbor Point Diane, Katie and Amanda will join Peg for visit on Friday 3/6/15 @ 11:30 AM Boston Housing Authority putting out the RFP Mitigation Committee Dave Whelan reporting: Somewhat derailed because of DPH delay due to weather We need to get moving and put out this application to begin the new mitigation program
Election Committee Dave Whelan reporting: Nomination papers for the at-large CNC seat were received but Tom has this Information and he is not available to report. Motion to Open the floor: Mark Reed, 36 Soley St. regarding old house built next to St. Mary s New family wants to rip down the house to build a garage 40 people along with the Preservation Committee secured a 90 day delay House will be demolished on 4/15/15 Three requests of the CNC: 1) Landmark commission asked if CNC could talk with BRA to ask them to waive the parking requirement BRA supports the notion that the Charlestown rule for one off street parking should be stopped 2) Add some amendments to table E overlay district code that could exempt the parking space requirement 3) If curb cut is granted, there is a guideline in public works that require 2 spaces replaced for every one space taken thus reducing impact Suggestion that the CNC write a letter to the BRA requesting the waiver of the one off street parking be waived and that the CNC would like to request that this issue be revisited relative to 6 Soley St. Motion to close the floor. New Business Motion to send a letter to the BRA (cc: Salvatore LaMartina) urging that Authority to: 1. Deny the demolition permit application for 6 Soley St., Charlestown, 2. Schedule a BRA design review meeting for 6 Soley St with notification to the Soley St. Neighborhood, the Charlestown Neighborhood Council and the Charlestown Preservation Society. # 6 Soley Street is in the Neighborhood Design Overlay District (Section 62) and is required by Article 80E-2.1 to undergo BRA Small Project Review which includes community meetings, 3. Schedule subsequent design review meetings, as necessary, to ensure that the owner s design iterations are taking the design review recommendations into account, and 4. Waive the requirements for off-street parking for the 6 Soley Street project as the existing home is an historically significant structure (as determined by Article 85) as recommended by the Boston Landmarks Commission. Motion to adjourn: 8:30 PM