CPC hears $75,000 Birchard and $400,000 Ash Street walkway requests

WESTON -- February 1, 2021, Weston CPC takes up Birchard Park and Ash Street walkway in 2021 cycle's final hearings. The Community Preservation Committee on Feb. 1 heard a request for up to $75,000 to rehabilitate five baseball and softball infields at Birchard Park, presented by Weston Little League board member Charlie Hipwood, who cited two contractor estimates of roughly $48,000 and $65,000 and said the league spends about $35,000 annually on field maintenance. The committee also heard a $400,000 request to build a roughly 2,000-foot walkway along Ash Street connecting the reservoir to the Case Estates trail, with DPW engineer Steve Fogg saying construction is estimated near $300,000 plus contingencies for guardrail, utility pole and easement costs. Neither application was voted; both return for the March 22 public hearing. Members approved Jan. 25 minutes 7-0 after softening language describing the Affordable Housing Trust's reliance on the Regional Housing Services Office.