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1996-09-26CITY OF BEVERLY MINUTES ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL Thursday, September 26, 1996 Members present: Chairman Joyce Golin, Vice-Chairman Bill Rodenbaugh, Richard Mooney, Sandra Reincoke, Nicholas Zavolas, Dawn Goodwin, Tim Cassidy. Chairman Golin calls the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. She explains that because Mayor ScanIon was unable to attend tonight's meeting, she will ask Cassidy to provide council members with update~ ?n yarious proj~ts around the City. · · .. Cassidy explains to the members that the so-called Airport Road project has received Pla.,ming Board approval, and that the Conservation Commission has issued a Determination of Applicability for the project. Unfortunately, that Determination was appealed by several residents, but the appeal should not delay the project in any meaningful way. The applicants will soon file a formal Notice of Intent, with an Order of Conditions granted by the Conservation Commission within four to six weeks of the filing. Although it is still possible that consmlction could begin this year, construction may not start until early next spring. Cassidy intbrms the members that the City purchased the Clover Maritm, along with the former McDonald's building on lower Cabot Street. in late June. With respect to the site formerly occupied by Ventron, it is now being cleaned up and several buildings demolished. Rodenbaugh asks if the letter authorized by the council regarding the possible acquisition of this site by the City was sent to the Mayor. Golhx reads a draft of the letter. Rodenbaugh: motion that the letter be reworded to recommend to the Mayor he consider obtaining a written letter of first refusal on the City's behalf. Zavolas seconds the amendment, stating that the DEP is loosening its brownfields legislation and that the property may in fact become more valuable because of that fact. All members vote in favor, motion carries. Gotin states that the letter will be redrafted to reflect those comments and forwarded to the Mayor. Cassidy informs the members that the Registry of Motor Vehicles will be moving into the former Webbers building on Cabot Street by the first of the year. The City, the Chamber of Minutes of the ECDC September 26, 1996 page two Commerce, and several downtown business owners have been working together to address ways to improve the mount and quality of off-street parking and adding directional signage. The first parking lot the group is concentrating on is the Franklin Place/Washington Street lot, which will be a precedent for other lot refurbishmerit projects. Members of the council express their concerns with the additional vehicle trips into the downtown and the capacity of both the through streets and side streets to handle the additional volume as a result of the Registry's relocation here. Cassidy says that the council should expect to see a Tax Increment Financing request from Cummings Properties within two to three weeks. The Conservation Commission issued a Cease and Desist Order to them because a filing is required for work on the old USM site, which is in the floodplain. The Commission is working with the company to resolve the issue. With respect to an update on the City's Master Plan, Cassidy says she must defer that question to the Mayor. On the subject of the proposed MBTA commuter rail parking garage, Cassidy informs members that the Mayor met with representatives of the MBTA the previous day, and they indicated that construction of a garage should be completed within two years. The design will likely not include a police station facility. Zavolas suggests that the MBTA be encouraged to include bicycle lockers in the design of the new garage; he has talked to a number of people who would be interested in suing the lockers, if they were available. Members next discuss the proposed Route 1A reconstruction project (completion of construction is now slated for 1998); the Rantoul Street reconstruction project (now scheduled to begin next spring); and the site of the Washington Beadle School (the City Council is currently reviewing a request from the Mayor to demolish the building). Next, Golin asks members for a status report on their respective projects on the council' s behalf. Cassidy distributes sample copies of the inventory form and introductory letter that were sent out to various lawyers, bankers, and real estate professionals a week or so ago. Golin explains that any information received on parcels and facilities available for sale, rent, or lease will be kept on file for inventory purposes. Next, Zavolas informs members that he and Rosser have looked into several waterfront developments. The auction scheduled for the marina owned by Thomas Cargill was canoeled in September, but has been rescheduled for October 251h. Two parcels are involved, and Rosser believes they will be sold to one owner. The Chapter 10A permits issued by the Harbor Management Authority are issues. Zavolas states that he has had a conversation with Professor Dennis Frenchman from MIT. There is a possibility that he could perform a studio project of the Beverly waterfront with a senior class from that institution; conducting a design charrette is also a possibility. Zavolas says that if such a study were to be conducted, the students would necessarily have to work closely with the Harbor Management Authority. Reinecke asks for an update on the Authority' s progress in Minutes of the ECDC September 26, 1996 page three developing a harbor plan for acceptance by the State. Cassidy answers that they are finalizing a Request for Proposals to hire a consultant to finish the plan, and suggests that a copy of the RFP in its current form be forwarded to Zavolas to facilitate his discussions with Frenchman. Reinecke: motion that Zavolas continue discussions with Professor Frenchman on this issue and report back to the council at its next meeting. Mooney seconds the motion, all members in favor. Motion carries. Next, Mooney states that he has been working on the subject of marketing Beverly' s potential for toursre. He has met with the new director of the Beverly Historical Society, Mr. Goss, who will be coming to Beverly within the next several weeks. He wants to continue research into the areas of tourism that business owners and residents would support. Rodenbaugh, who is also working on this project, will arrange a meeting with Moohey, Goodwin, and Goss and report back to the council at the next meeting. Cassidy suggests that the members may want to contact Helene Loiselle, head of the North Shore Conventional Council, for input. Golin states that she has packets of information on the Convention Council that she will distribute at the October meeting. Next, Golin introduces the idea of adopting a logo for the City, perhaps the painting of Lynch Park recently given to the City by Nino Lombardi. Rodenbaugh thinks that such a painting might be appropriate, since Beverly is known as the "Garden City". City Council President Brace Nardella suggests the painting could illustrate Beverly's support for the growing local ms community in the City. Golin will encourage more discussion on the subject at the next meeting, in the hope that Mr. Lombardi's painting will be available for review at City Hall by then. Next, Golin provides members with a list of future meeting dates for the council, and will give Mayor Scanlon a copy of the list for reference. Golin asks the members if there are any changes that need to be made to the draft minutes of the group's February 22, 1996 and April 3, 1996 meetings. She notes that on page two of the 2/22/96 minutes, the correct spelling of Ray's last name is Morris. Rodenbaugh: motion to approve the minutes of the 2/22/96 and 4/3/96 minutes as amended, seconded by Reincoke. All members in favor, motion carries. The next meeting of the council will be held on Thursday, October 24, 1996 at 6:30 p.m. Meeting is adjourned at 7:23 p.m.