The Community Preservation Committee met Thursday to discuss changing the funding request amounts for two key town projects that will be voted on at Annual Town Meeting on May 2 in light of new information received.

Chair Ken Weismantel discussed the previous recommendation of $225,000 to purchase a portion of the Carbone’s Restaurant property for open space. This proposal of what was referred to as Parcel 4 also included 2 acres of land in Ashland.

The town is seeking approval to purchase the Carbone’s property, located at 280 Cedar Street, for $2 million in Article 13. It plans to construct a water supply pump station for the potential connection to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority system there.

According to Weismantel, “The Carbones decided to keep the land that was in the Ashland parcel.” The motion the CPC previously approved “had a requirement to buy that land,” which needed to be changed.

The Ashland portion would have allowed “more direct access” to Hopkinton State Park, he noted.

One concern Weismantel raised was that, if the purchase was now only for 5 acres at $225,000, “we might be setting a new comparable price for open space land.”

He added that the $225,000 also included a study to determine the best use for the land, surveying costs, legal fees and easement access off Cedar Street.

“We have to record our new parcel separate from what the town does because we’re going to put a conservation restriction on it,” Weismantel explained.

Committee members discussed altering the proposed funding recommendation for the 5-acre purchase with the other elements. They agreed in a 7-0 vote to adjust the price to $185,000.

Parks & Recreation Commission chair Dan Terry, the CPC liaison, clarified that the CPC is contributing $185,000 toward the town’s $2 million purchase of the Carbone’s property, not buying it directly. The motion was modified to state that the CPC would “participate in the purchase with the expectation of receiving 5 acres within Lot 4” after Terry’s comment. It was approved 7-0.

Center School reuse request modified

Weismantel said he was advised by town counsel to change the wording of the funding recommendation for the first phase of the Center School reuse project.

The CPC now is recommending that $2.4 million be allocated for the demolition of the two rear additions and the removal of hazardous materials.

The chair said a clause in the motion had specified that the CPC would basically have “first dibs” on the use of the property if the proposed project does not move forward.

“[Town counsel] said CPC can’t tell the town even in that motion to do that [because] it’s way beyond what we had the authority to do,” he explained.

“Speaking for myself, I wouldn’t want to support this without that condition,” said Steve Levandosky, the Open Space Preservation Commission liaison.

After discussion, the committee voted 7-0 to remove the clause.

The Center School reuse project recently has been spotlighted because of its escalating projected cost.

At the April 14 Select Board meeting, Permanent Building Committee chair Dan McIntyre shared that the most recent cost estimate for the project ballooned to $16.8 million — after starting at around $10 million.

The CPC in December approved a $2 million request to draw funding from its historical preservation fund in the upcoming fiscal year. It was expected to cover the demolition of the two additions behind the front structure of Center School, which was built in 1928.

The Hopkinton Center for the Arts was approved as the private partner for the town project. It was expected to contribute $4 million, with the town paying the remaining $6 million.

Weismantel said it was wise to go ahead with the demolition this year because the cost would only jump further in the future.

“If we don’t do the project fast, it will be $16 million,” he stressed, noting that the project has broad townwide support.

The cost for the demolition portion of the project rose once local architectural firm Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects (GRLA) submitted schematic designs in March. Last year’s ATM approved $600,000 to fund construction bid documents and engineering plans.

“At this point, we are not satisfied,” said Weismantel.

The hazardous waste removal also would allow the project to be eligible for other types of grants, according to Weismantel.

McIntyre said at the April 14 Select Board meeting that he would work to decrease the construction costs. The project’s initial scope may be pared down.

CPC vice chair Eric Sonnett said the additional money requested would go toward removing hazardous waste from the 1928 building.

Other CPC projects in Article 20

Article 20 lists the projects the CPC recommended funding. The other projects include:

• 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/tennis court at the Fruit Street fields;
• 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.

Under the Community Preservation Act (CPA), at least 10% of the funding raised 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.

‘Better vision’ sought from commissions

Weismantel suggested that the Parks & Recreation Commission and the Cemetery Commission formulate a longer-term vision for the projects it intends to propose.

He noted that other committees have five-year plans. This would help the CPC determine a “better vision” for funding allocation by knowing what proposals are on the horizon.

Weismantel also suggested that affordable housing and historic preservation projects be discussed. Sonnett recommended emailing the committee chairs involved to encourage them to set future goals.

“I’m all for long-range planning,” said at-large member Chris Alicandro. “I think it’s a great thing. But, out of curiosity, what are you going to do with the date that you get?”

Weismantel said this will help the CPC determine its priorities. The cricket field and a proposed splash pad are two expensive future recreation projects previously reviewed.

Trails Committee completes funded projects

The CPC voted 7-0 to close out four Trails Committee projects funded by the CPC. They included trailhead parking on Ash Street and Cameron Woods as well as preliminary engineering for the western route and boardwalk projects. Any unused funds return to the CPC.