Weston CPC Moves Toward October 28 Public Hearing on Josiah Smith Tavern

WESTON -- September 16, 2019, Weston's Community Preservation Committee advanced the Josiah Smith Tavern project toward a December town meeting vote and tentatively rescheduled its public hearing to October 28. The committee received a 90-percent drawing-level construction estimate of approximately $9.5 million for the 18th-century building, with total project costs, including soft costs, contingencies, and infrastructure, projected at roughly $12.7 million, according to presentations by the project's construction team. A Finance Committee member urged the committee to minimize long-term borrowing by drawing down the CPC's roughly $10.5 million fund balance and dedicating three to four years of annual receipts, estimated at $2.5 million per year, rather than issuing a 20- or 30-year bond. Staff member Tracy was directed to model five-year and 20-year bond scenarios for the tavern project for review at the October 7 meeting. The committee also received a $36,280 Phase 2 application for botanical plantings along the rail trail, covering segments near Stonegate and between Conant Road and Church Street that were excluded from Phase 1.