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2005-09-21 CITY OF BEVERLY MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: Economic and Community Development Council SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: September 21, 2005 LOCATION: Staff Conference Room, Beverly Public Library MEMBERS PRESENT: Carla Cox, Pat Grimes, Don Stacey, Joyce McMahon, Neil Douglas MEMBERS ABSENT: Larry Smith OTHERS PRESENT: Tina Cassidy, Bill O’Hare (ex-officio members) OTHERS ABSENT: Jason Silva (ex-officio Planning Board representative), Conservation Commission representative (ex-officio) RECORDER: Tina Cassidy The meeting is called to order at 7:00 p.m. Cassidy starts the meeting by saying that Larry Smith has indicated he will have to resign from the ECDC due to other time commitments and his personal schedule. Cassidy will inform the Mayor and says that another member will need to be appointed to the ECDC to fill the vacancy left by Smith. The position is designated for one with financial experience, and members mention several people in the community that might be appropriate members. Cassidy will forward the names to the Mayor. Next, the members review a draft mission statement and goals and objectives. They make several changes to the draft mission statement. The draft read as follows: “The ECDC will prioritize the short-term and long-term economic and community development goals of the City of Beverly as set forth in the Master Plan; review proposed projects to ensure that they are consistent with those goals; assist developers in achieving projects which are consistent with those goals; advocate changes to regulations and procedures which impede the attainment of the goals; publicly promote appropriate development within the City; and develop methods to attract and retain businesses to targeted districts.” Following discussion, members revise the draft mission statement to read: “The ECDC will prioritize the short-term and long-term economic and community development goals of the City of Beverly as set forth in the Master Plan; review proposed projects to ensure that they are consistent with those goals; assist developers in achieving projects which are consistent with those goals; advocate changes to regulations and procedures to facilitate the attainment of the goals; publicly promote appropriate development within the City; and develop methods to attract and retain businesses to targeted districts.” McMahon: motion to adopt the mission statement as revised, seconded by Grimes. All members in favor, motion passes. Meeting Minutes – ECDC Sept. 21, 2005 meeting Page 1 of 6 Next, members discuss the draft goals and objectives developed by Douglas. The draft goals and objectives were as follows: “Master Plan Goals and Objectives 1. Stabilize and strengthen commercial and industrial property values; 2. Encourage commercial and industrial development through: (a) Infrastructure improvements (b) State/federal grants and loans (c) Real estate and corporate tax incentives (d) Supportive land use policy 3. Review and stream-line city regulations and processes providing oversight of private economic development initiatives; 4. Refocus planning priorities for economic development upon specific districts including: (a) Route 128 corridor from Brimbal Avenue to Essex Street (b) Cherry Hill/Airport Area (c) Rantoul/Cabot Street corridors from Gloucester Crossing to waterfront (d) Waterfront area proximate to Beverly/Salem Bridge ECDC Priorities 1. Provide a more equitable balance of tax revenues emanating from residential and non-residential sectors by (a) Advancing marketing strategies for use and reuse of industrial and commercially zoned properties (b) Identify industrial development obstacles and promote the advancement of measures required to facilitate the optimal use of non-residential properties. 2. Promote full and productive use of vacant land resources supporting both community and economic development through (a) The maintenance and planned utilization of areas currently zoned for industrial and/or commercial use in the Route 128 corridor including Cherry Hill Office Park, Garden City Industrial Park, and Beverly Airport Area. (b) Advance planning and development program for new Route 128/Brimbal Avenue overpass and infrastructure improvements incorporating cultural, economic, recreational and open space uses. 3. Stimulate the enrichment of Beverly’s older commercial/industrial areas through: (a) Reconstruction of the Rantoul Street/Park Street road system and supporting infrastructure including the specific objective of providing off-street parking facilities for area’s business and industry. (b) Encourage mixed residential and commercial development along the Rantoul and Cabot Street corridors from Gloucester Crossing to the waterfront. Meeting Minutes – ECDC Sept. 21, 2005 meeting Page 2 of 6 (c) Advance a new vision for the development of the waterfront area embracing the properties proximate to the Beverly/Salem Bridge incorporating recreational, commercial, and tourist business development opportunities. 4. Provide an office and on-going forum promoting the coordination and advancement of public and private development initiatives including: (a) Appointment of Community Development Officer and provision of supporting budget (b) Regular meeting schedule with City Department heads to facilitate a coordinated review and consideration of private community/economic development projects (c) Regular meeting schedules with business enterprise and public service agencies reinforcing Beverly’s commitment to promote economic development (d) Conducting business surveys to identify business needs and public program solutions. (e) Facilitating State and Federal grants, loans and tax incentives supporting economic development (f) Review of regulatory and permitting procedures to facilitate a more timely and constructive process in support of private economic development initiatives” McMahon asks for an explanation of where the existing “IR” (Restricted Industrial) zoning districts are. Cassidy explains that the IR zoning is around the airport (including Cherry Hill Industrial Park, the airport, Garden City Business Park/Sam Fonzo Drive), Brimbal Avenue near Route 128, and a parcel of land on the Wenham Beverly line north of Route 128. Douglas elaborates on the Brimbal Avenue/Route 128 IR area, explaining that the properties along Dunham Road are also zoned IR, including the North Shore Music Theater which contribute significantly to the local economy. The committee discusses whether its efforts should specifically include just IR zoned land, or all industrially zoned land including IG (General Industrial). The consensus is that both types of industry should be supported by the Committee’s efforts. Grimes states that the master plan called for the City to encourage appropriate commercial and industrial development on land already zoned for those purposes. Members discuss the need to provide economic development related information on the City’s web site, including areas zoned for industrial and commercial use and grant opportunities for small businesses. The committee considers options for focusing planning priorities on different areas of the City to support economic development, including the Route 128 corridor from Brimbal Avenue to Essex Street, the Cherry Hill Industrial Park/Airport area, the Rantoul/Cabot Street corridors from Gloucester Crossing to the waterfront, the waterfront area near the Beverly/Salem bridge and the Bass River, and Cummings Center. Next, the Committee turns to establishing the committee’s priorities. Cox asks Douglas to explain the following suggested priority: “Identifying development obstacles and promoting measures to facilitate the optimal use of non-residential properties.” Douglas answers that includes things like suggesting public policies to the City’s elected officials and establishing grant funds to support economic development. Cassidy adds initiatives such as hiring an economic development director/manager, suggesting appropriate zoning changes, and creating a brochure marketing Beverly as a place for business are other examples. Meeting Minutes – ECDC Sept. 21, 2005 meeting Page 3 of 6 Douglas urges the committee to consider creating an inventory of properties in need of/capable of supporting new economic development, and taking proactive steps to make the development possible. For properties deemed more significant, the committee should engage the owners in a dialogue to find out what the obstacles and impediments are to redevelopment. Douglas offers his opinion that providing an office and an on-going forum to promote the coordination and advancement of public and private development initiatives is very important for the City. Cox states she would strongly support – and advocate for – an economic development officer devoted to addressing economic development-related issues on the City’s behalf. Douglas states that such a position is probably essential to accomplishing the goals and objectives being discussed here this evening with respect to economic development. The subject of redevelopment of the Beverly waterfront is then broached, and Douglas says that redevelopment of Beverly’s waterfront is essential to the City’s long term economic health, and the City needs a staff person devoted to accomplishing that and developing an overall plan for the waterfront. Cassidy then gives members a status report on the Route 128 overpass project, and offers to print out small size plans of the conceptual design options for this project for further discussion at the next meeting. Stacey suggests that the alternative designs be emailed to members if the plans are available in that format. General discussion then takes place on the importance of the North Shore Music Theater to Beverly’s economy and cultural richness. The reconstruction of Rantoul Street is considered essential to the future economic health of Rantoul Street. When construction does take place, it will be very important to have a community/business liaison in place to shepherd the businesses and community in general through the project. The draft goals and objectives of the committee are amended as follows to reflect tonight’s discussion: Mission Statement The ECDC will prioritize the short-term and long-term economic and community development goals of the City of Beverly as set forth in the Master Plan; review proposed projects to ensure that they are consistent with those goals; assist developers in achieving projects which are consistent with those goals; advocate changes to regulations and procedures to facilitate the attainment of the goals; publicly promote appropriate development within the City; and develop methods to attract and retain businesses to targeted districts. Master Plan Goals and Objectives 1. Stabilize and strengthen appropriate commercial and industrial property values; 2. Encourage appropriate commercial and industrial development through: Meeting Minutes – ECDC Sept. 21, 2005 meeting Page 4 of 6 (a) Infrastructure improvements (b) State/federal grants and loans (c) Real estate and corporate tax incentives (d) Supportive land use policy 3. Review and streamline city regulations and processes providing oversight of private economic development initiatives; 4. Focus planning priorities for economic development upon specific districts including: (a) Route 128 corridor from Brimbal Avenue to Essex Street (b) Cherry Hill/Airport Area (c) Rantoul/Cabot Street corridors from Gloucester Crossing to waterfront (d) Waterfront area proximate to Beverly/Salem Bridge and the Bass River ECDC Priorities 1. Increase tax revenues emanating from non-residential sectors by: (a) Advancing marketing strategies for use and reuse of industrial and commercially zoned properties (b) Identifying development obstacles and promoting measures to facilitate the optimal use of non-residential properties. 2. Promote full and productive use of vacant land resources supporting both community and economic development through: (a) The maintenance and planned utilization of areas currently zoned for industrial and/or commercial use in the Route 128 corridor including Cherry Hill Office Park, Garden City Industrial Park, and Beverly Airport Area. (b) Advancing planning and development for new Route 128/Brimbal Avenue overpass and infrastructure improvements incorporating cultural, economic, recreational and open space uses. 3. Stimulate the enrichment of Beverly’s older commercial/industrial areas through: (a) Reconstruction of the Rantoul Street/Park Street road system and supporting infrastructure including the specific objective of providing off-street parking facilities for area’s business and industry. (b) Encouragement of mixed residential and commercial development along the Rantoul and Cabot Street corridors from Gloucester Crossing to the waterfront. (c) Advancement of a new vision for the development of the waterfront area embracing the properties proximate to the Beverly/Salem Meeting Minutes – ECDC Sept. 21, 2005 meeting Page 5 of 6 Bridge and Bass River areas incorporating recreational, commercial, and tourist business development opportunities. 4. Provide an office and on-going forum promoting the coordination and advancement of public and private development initiatives including: (a) Appointment of Development Officer and provision of supporting budget (b) Regular meeting schedule with City Department heads and municipal boards and commissions to facilitate a coordinated review and consideration of private community/economic development projects (c) Regular meeting schedules with business enterprise and public service agencies reinforcing Beverly’s commitment to promote appropriate economic development (d) Conducting business surveys and developing web-based and written materials to identify business needs and to promote public program solutions. (e) Facilitating State and Federal grants, loans and tax incentives supporting economic development (f) Review of regulatory and permitting procedures to facilitate a more timely and constructive process in support of private economic development initiatives. McMahon: motion to adopt the goals and objectives as outlined above, seconded by Grimes. All members in favor, motion carries. Members then outline the agenda for the next meeting. Cassidy states that the owners of the former Ventron site have confirmed their attendance at the next meeting for a discussion on the future of that site. The committee decides to devote an hour to that segment of the meeting. Next, the committee considers candidates for chairman and vice-chairman of the committee. After brief discussion, Grimes agrees to serve as vice-chairman and Cox agrees to serve as chairman. McMahon: motion to nominate Carla Cox as chairman of the ECDC and Pat Grimes as vice-chairman of the ECDC, seconded by Douglas. All members in favor, motion carries. th The committee asks Cassidy to see if the next meeting on October 19 can be held in the same location. Cassidy says she will try to arrange that. McMahon: motion to adjourn, seconded by Grimes. All members in favor, motion carries. The meeting is adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Meeting Minutes – ECDC Sept. 21, 2005 meeting Page 6 of 6