|
|
|
|
It’s a deal
Accord on Cumbie’s reached
By Pru Sowers
Banner Staff
PROVINCETOWN — Capping almost a year-and-a-half of negotiations, the town has approved a deal to purchase a 2.53-acre lot from Cumberland Farms on Shank Painter Road designated for affordable housing.
The often-tortuous negotiations stalled around the question of legal liability for cleaning the site, which contains contaminated soil from its previous use as a burn dump. The deal struck by the town is that it will assume the first $300,000 of the clean-up cost, with Cumberland Farms assuming any expenses above that.
“We have estimates and believe it will be well below $300,000,” town attorney Jeanne McKight told selectmen Monday night, when the deal was announced.
Selectman had said throughout the negotiations they would not move ahead with the purchase unless the contaminated ash could be moved either off-site or to a location on the property where it wouldn’t present a health risk to future residents. The final solution involves moving the ash-filled soil to a back corner of the lot away from the apartments that are expected to be built on the parcel. Town engineer Mark White said the ash, which is buried four to five feet below the surface, will be covered with a soil membrane to contain the contaminants.
“Cumberland Farms did two levels of testing and risk assessment, which we have reviewed and agreed with their findings,” White said.
The purchase price, which was settled months ago, is $1 million and is $800,000 below its assessed value. Cumberland Farms agreed to make up the difference as a donation to the town.
The town community preservation committee, with voter approval, has already agreed to fund the $1 million purchase price in return for many of the expected 40 units offered as affordable housing. While the town has not advertised for a developer, it is expected the project will be a mixed-use development, including affordable and medium-priced housing, as well as possible market-rate commercial use.
“I’m almost jumping for joy that we’ve gotten this far,” said Elaine Anderson, CPC chair. “This process has gone on for so long.”
Town Manager Keith Bergman said he is confident that the town will win a state grant to pay for the $300,000 clean-up cost. However, he was quizzed by Selectman Richard Olson and CPC member Austin Knight about the consequences if the town does not win the grant.
“We shift the cost to the third-party developer,” Bergman said.
Cheryl Andrews, selectmen chair, agreed that with the town willing to contribute the land to a developer as part of the incentive to build below-market rate apartments there, any prospective builder should be willing to accept the clean-up tab.
“This property is an asset. If the request for proposal is written correctly, a developer shouldn’t need any more incentive to come in,” she said.
psowers@provincetownbanner.com
|
A model of green: hostel plans for energy-efficient future
In the News
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 1st, 2007