Annual Town Meeting on Saturday passed the Community Preservation Committee funding requests in Article 20 unanimously.

The article included a request for $2.4 million for the demolition of Center School’s two rear additions and the removal of hazardous materials as part of the reuse plan for the building.

But Town Meeting denied the request for $250,000 grant for lighting of the pickleball courts at the Fruit Street athletic complex. This was broken out of the CPC’s requests and was shot down in a narrow 85-81 vote.

CPC chair outlines projects

CPC chair Ken Weismantel spoke on the article, which included nine projects. In addition to what Weismantel called “the big ask” for the Center School funding, they included:

• Contributing $185,000 to the town’s $2 million purchase of the Carbone’s Restaurant land to guarantee that 5 acres in the rear remain as open space;
• Amending the use of the previously approved $1 million grant for the redesign of Pyne Field to investigate other sites for the proposed cricket and baseball fields;
• A $20,000 grant for headstone preservation at town cemeteries;
• A $25,000 grant for benches and picnic tables at Parks & Recreation facilities;
• A $250,000 grant for lighting at the pickleball courts off Fruit Street;
• A $25,000 grant for floor restoration in the Hopkinton Public Library’s Ellsworth conference room;
• A $10,000 grant for the restoration of the limestone entrance at Town Hall;
• A $35,000 grant for the purchase of approximately 3.5 acres of land off Winter Street for open space to link Cameron Woods and Sylvan Way.

“CPC recommends spending on projects that are in recreation, open space, historic preservation and community housing,” Weismantel explained.

These are the areas designated under the Community Preservation Act. Under the CPA, at 10% of the funding from the town’s local 2% property surcharge must be allocated among three categories — open space, historic preservation and affordable housing, according to the state website. The remaining 70% can be allocated to any of these categories, as well as for recreation purposes.

Weismantel noted that the cricket/baseball field request involves no funding. The money previously appropriated for a design will be reallocated to a search for other suitable properties.

Center School project schematics described

“This is a great shared partnership between the town of Hopkinton and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts,” Weismantel said as he presented preliminary design schematics.

The ground floor would have a lobby and classroom space for the HCA. The first floor would house the Parks & Recreation Department and provide community meeting space. The Youth & Family Services Department would occupy the third floor, providing room for activities and space for meetings.

The current estimate for the entire project is $16.8 million.

Sandra Irwin, a School Committee candidate who spoke as a resident, was in favor of the project.

“They are looking for community spaces to spend their time,” she stressed. “And I think it’s very important that we set this project in motion and not delay it any further.”

In 2023, there were issues with teenagers causing disturbances at local businesses. In response, the Hopkinton Police Department, the library and businesses organized an event for teens on a half-day of school to interact with young adults and discuss their needs.

Carbone’s request explained

Residents approved the town’s plan to purchase the Carbone’s property, located at 280 Cedar Street, for $2 million earlier in the meeting. The town plans to construct a water supply pump station there for the potential connection to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority system.

Weismantel said the figure in the warrant needed to be adjusted from $225,000 to $185,000. Also, a neighboring parcel in Ashland needed to be removed from the motion. This decision was made by the CPC the previous week.

He added that the request for funding also included a study to determine the best use for the land, surveying costs, legal fees and easement access off Cedar Street.

Fruit Street lighting issues raised in separate motion

Resident Michael Miller moved that the Fruit Street lighting request be considered separately from the rest of the Article 20 requests. It was approved by a simple majority.

Miller said the lighting would cause a “significant disruption to the nocturnal wildlife” on the surrounding conservation land. He also asked about demand for the courts and who would regulate the lighting.

Jon Lewitus, the Parks & Recreation Department director, said the lighting would be regulated by a software system.

He noted increased demand for court use, particularly in the evening and by young people. The lights would be LED and would focus down on the court, so light pollution should not be an issue, he said.

He added that the timing for the lighting would have to be approved by the Parks & Recreation Commission and the Planning Board.

Ted Barker-Hook, the co-vice chair of the Conservation Commission, spoke as a resident. He said he was against the project “because of the environmental effects of the lighting.”

Barker-Hook noted that his home on Grove Street is affected by lighting from the turf fields behind Hopkinton High School. He feared this project would have a similar detrimental effect.

The project could not muster a two-thirds majority vote to support it.