01/27/2026 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT COMMITTEE Minutes

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Town of Mashpee Community Preservation Committee 16 Great Neck Road North >iz Mashpee,MA 02649 recommendation should be contingent on that designation.A historic preservation restriction would also be required and would generally protect exterior features only. Members discussed limiting funding to exterior work and whether partial funding reduces legal risk. Counsel advised that the key issue is whether the funding supports preservation of a historic resource rather than church operations. The need for clearer cost information, oversight, and compliance with historic standards was noted. 701 Great Neck Road South Counsel advised that while there is no religious issue with this application, it raises concerns about using public funds for private property with little or no public access. Even a 50%public contribution represents a significant use of CPA funds and requires a clear showing of historic, architectural, or cultural importance to the town. Counsel cautioned that interior work, office space, or additional dwelling units primarily benefit the owner and are difficult to justify under CPA.A preservation restriction would protect only the exterior, meaning the interior could later be altered despite public investment. Counsel emphasized that Town Meeting has final authority to approve either project,but both carry legal risk.Any ten taxpayers may challenge the use of funds before they are spent or contractually committed. Counsel's role was to outline the risks and considerations; the final decision rests with the Committee and Town Meeting. NEW BUSINESS KC COOMBS PLAYGROUND Catherine Laurent, DPW Director, presented a time-sensitive request to replace the therapeutic preschool playground surface at the K.C. Coombs School. The request came outside the normal CPC cycle after safety concerns surfaced at the start of the school year. The project was first submitted to the Capital Improvement Committee, which suggested that CPC consider it for the May Town Meeting. The playground was originally funded in part by CPC in 2014, with additional support from the PTO and Kiwanis. It is used daily by preschool students and is open to the public after school hours. The poured-in-place rubber surface has broken down beyond its expected lifespan, despite recent repairs, creating choking and fall hazards for young children. Several recent injuries made the need for replacement more urgent. DPW recommended replacing the surface with interlocking rubber tiles rather than another poured surface. The tile system allows individual sections to be replaced as needed, requires less maintenance, includes a limited lifetime warranty, is made from recycled materials, and contains no PFAS. DPW would handle demolition in-house, with installation by a contractor taking a little over a week. If approved, the work would be done during summer recess so the playground is ready for the next school year. The total project cost is about$150,000, with $135,000 requested from CPC and the balance coming from other sources. The project is outside flood zones,has no conservation impacts, and, as a capital project over$25,000, cannot be paid for through a school operating budget. 2