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1999-12-02City of Beverly, Massachusetts Public Meeting Minutes BOARD: SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: PLACE: BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: OTHERS PRESENT: ABSENT: RECORDER: Economic & Community Development Council December 2, 1999 Beverly City Hall Brenda Spence, Bill Rodenbaugh, Dick Mooney, Wayne Martin, Don Stacey, Deb Rosser, Joyce McMahon Tina Cassidy (City Planner), Dawn Goodwin, Kenn Buckland, Cecil Group and Dick Gottschneider, RKG Associates Wayne Mastin Jeannine Dion Chairman McMahon calls the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Approval of Meetinl~ Minutes Mooney: motion to approve the November 17, 1999 meeting minutes, seconded by Spence. All members in favor. Motion carries. Discussion McMahon states that the consultants for the City's Master Plan will be joining the ECDC members at 7:30 p.m. MeMahon recommends the meeting attendees review the draft outline. Upon lengthy review and discussion, the group refines the document further. The topics discussed: General City Goals, Natural Resource Goals, Housing Goals, Economic Development Goals, Infrastructure Goals and Transportation Goals. Discussion with Citv's master plan consultants on ECDC's role in the master nlan process McMahon introduces Kenn Buckland, Associate Senior Planner from the Cecil Group and Dick Gottsehneider, economist from RKG Associates. Gottschneider asks what the ECDC's definition of economic development is. He states if the City of Beverly were a highly impoverished community, economic development would perhaps be defined as getting people to work. This is clearly not the case in Beverly. Gortschneider states it could be defined as tax base enhancement. He suggests this should be the focus tonight. Economic and Community Development Council Minutes December 2, 1999 Page 2 McMahon responds that to her, economic development means increasing the tax base and promoting a diverse set of jobs. Rodenhaugh states the city is faced with the fact that rezoning land from residential to industrial would not be popular. Gottschneider states the city has to maximize what it has. He states he interprets this discussion as establishing the primary goals of maximizing the use of the commercial/industrial land and the secondary goal of job diversifying employment opportunities. Stacey states that there are organized efforts in some communities to identify and recruit businesses to locate in their communities. He states he does not envision the ECDC in the business of soliciting new business to come to the City of Beverly. Rodenbaugh states when you create a project like Airport Road, you are in fact soliciting business to the city. McMahon states that the City of peabody has engaged in a marketing campaign. The city put together a brochure to solicit new businesses. Cassidy adds that the City of Beverly owns five lots in the Airport Road project and there has been some discussion about a marketing campaign. Rodenbaugh states that when this draft goals and objectives outline was written in 1998, there was verbiage stating the goal was to reverse the decade-long economic slide. That has been done and the ECDC wants to continue this effort, but he believes you have to have industrial/commercial properties available for development in order to achieve it. Mooney states the City of Beverly is a community very aware of the topic of open space. McMahon adds that the city does not want to be Peabody, but would like to have Peabody's tax base. Cassidy asks the consultants their opinion about creating a redevelopment authority. Gottschneider responds that he knows a lot about redevelopment authorities and when his preliminary analysis is complete, he can advise further on it. He thinks one may not be needed. The advantage ofa redevelopment authority is the city can acquire large areas of the city by eminent domain. Gottsehneider states that the City of Worcester is a good example. Buckland adds that Stanford and Norwalk, Connecticut are also good examples. Gottschneider states that you have to meet certain criteria to qualify and it can be expensive. Gottschneider states they will recommend how to facilitate change, if change is what the city wants. Urban renewal is not the only way to achieve change. Cassidy states that "the Shoe" is one of the major issues. Zoning for the center is general industrial. There is no minimum setback and the zoning does not reflect the uses. She states she does recognize that the zoning district does not reflect the Cummings Center. Cassidy states the city is strongly advocating zoning changes. Cassidy adds that when Economic and Community Development Council Minutes December 2, 1999 Page 3 the Cummings Center opened, there was a lot of concern that some businesses would fold downtown. That has not happened. Buckland states that if the city is considering creating a new zoning district for Cummings Center, it would be wise to discuss present and future with Cummings. Cassidy responds that a representative of Cummings should participate in the master plan process process, but not drive the process. There is discussion regarding the concept of a new zoning district. Gottschneider states it could be called "mixed urban." There is discussion regarding the "CC", central commercial zone. Cassidy states the "CC" zone allows for mixed uses and the rents are currently low. Should the city consider shrinking the size of the CC zone, it would likely be controversial. Spanee states she sees the downtown area and the current "CC' zone as a connection to the waterfront, which is a treasure ignored for too long. Gottschneider states the economic study shouM look at all the options and nobody should draw any conclusions at this early stage. McMahon asks if the city should look at all IG zoning and assess it further. Gottschneider responds that you are talking about reassessing all Commercial/Industrial land, and he concurs that all districts and applicable ordinances be reviewed. Cassidy states at a previous meeting there was some discussion regarding Business Improvement Districts (BID's). She states the city is planning to do work on Cabot and Rantoul Streets in a few years. Cassidy asks ira BID should be considered. Spence stated that Deb Rosser did not think a BID would work in Beverly. Spenee adds that she would be in favor of improving businesses. Spence as'ks Buckland how local business owners can get involved in the master plan process. Buckland responds that there are a few ways, both formal and informal, including a website. Cassidy states there has been some discussion about establishing a website. Buckland states there will be public meetings, which will be advertised. He states that people may call his office or Tina's office. McMahon suggests posting information in the Chamber of Commerce newsletter. Cassidy asks what is the next step. McMahon recommends that the ECDC members make comments on the draft outline and Tina will synthesize those comments. McMahon states the next meeting will take place on January 20, 2000 at 6:30 p.m. Economic and Community Development Council Minutes December 2, 1999 Page 4 Rodenbaugh: motion to adjourn, seconded by Spence. All members in favor, motion carries. The meeting adjourns at 8:55 p.m.