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2007-02-21 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: LOCATION: MEMBERS PRESENT: Economic and Community Development Council MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: RECORDER: February 21,2007 Beverly Public Library Patricia Grimes, Frank Killilea, Ed Cahill, Neil Douglas, Don Fournier, Don Stacey Tina Cassidy and Bill O'Hare Eileen Sacco Grimes calls the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Presentation by Windover Development - Future Development on Rantoul Street Lee Dellicker addressed the ECDC and discussed possible future plans for the redevelopment of the area around the Beverly Depot. He reviews the area of discussion on an aerial photo. He notes that Wind over owns the entire block with the exception of the Goat Hill Grill and three of the parcels are under agreement. Dellicker explains that the first phase of Depot Square is going great and notes that they have 19 purchase and sales agreements and he expects three more before the end of the week. He further notes that the project will be complete in a matter of days. Dellicker explains that the future phase of the project proposes a deck level with Rantoul Street and underground parking. He also notes that there will be two open space gardens with retail space on the entire first floor of both buildings and a restaurant with outdoor seating. He notes that they are looking at alternative off street parking for the area. Dellicker reviews the proposed, conceptual elevations of the buildings from the Pleasant Street and Rantoul Street perspectives. He notes that there will be a series of walkways, one along the train tracks to make a pedestrian connection to the train station, which they hope will improve the retail and future restaurants in the area. Dellicker states that they are focusing on working with the City and the MBTA to create parking for rail commuters, noting they would need a certain residential unit count to make that work. He notes that the proposed increase in the height limit in the CC zoning district will help that. He also explains that the top floors of a 75 foot building would be set back noting that as the floors get higher, the floors are set back from the primary facade. Minutes Page 10f5 02/21/07 ECDC Meeting Dellicker reviews the size and number of units in the buildings. He indicates that two bedroom condos will be approximately 1,100 s.f. in size and the one bedroom units will be 700-850 s.f. He also notes that each unit will have a small study which people seem to like. He adds that there is a potential to turn the adjacent storage building into condos but says it is successful as a storage facility at present. Fournier asks how much parking will be on the site. Dellicker states that they are trying to get 600-700 spaces onsite. Dellicker explains that the MBTA has been looking at the parking situation at the Beverly Depot and have been studying the possibility of a garage in this area for about 20 years. Dellicker explains that Wind over currently leases space to the city for commuter parking and are aware of the current need for commuter parking. He also states that they are committed to maintaining that number of spaces for public use during construction and will cooperate with the MBTA. He also explains that they have come up with a concept design for wrap around parking on the site and explains the drawings. He notes that there would be a parking garage behind the building. He also notes that there would be retail units on the first floor and residential units above. Dellicker explains that the entrance to the parking would be on Pleasant Street to the wrap around deck. He also notes that it would help solve the commuter parking problems in the downtown. Douglas suggests that the attention focus should be on the other side of River Street for commuter parking. He notes that it is a contaminated site and commuter parking could be accommodated on a site of that nature. Dellicker stresses that this is only a concept and he has no idea if the MBTA is going to go for this. Douglas states that the features of this project impress him and he is also impressed with the quality of the work that was done in Depot Square, noting that it is a testament to what can be done. Dellicker explains that when looking at the area and trying to plan development it became clear that there were urban planning issues involved. For that reason they hired the consulting firm of the Cecil Group in Boston who came up with the design. He says that Wind over does not yet own all of the parcels that would be needed to make the project work and at this point it is only an idea that might be possible with the cooperation of the landowners and the City and the state. Cahill asks how many parking spaces would be available for commuter parking. Dellicker states that the MBTA is thinking about 300-500 spaces. He also notes that this would ease the existing parking problems in the residential neighborhoods. Minutes Page 2 of5 02/21/07 ECDC Meeting Grimes asks if they have a time line in mind for this project. Dellicker states that if the height rezoning goes through in the next few months and the permitting process began immediately thereafter, construction would start approximately two years from now. Fournier asks what other permits they would need for the project. Dellicker states that the project does not need Conservation Commission review but would require Planning Board approval. He notes that depending on how the zoning change is enacted, the Planning Board may have the authority to grant a special permit to allow a 75' building height if certain requirements were met. Cahill notes that the Goat Hill Grill property looks like it is separate on the plan. Dellicker explains that Wind over does not own the site, but if it was purchased the lot would square off the block. Douglas asks if they have done any economic analysis as to what the impact would be on the City. Dellicker states that he has not done one yet. Douglas asks how they assess the demand for condo units. Dellicker states that they have done a lot of studies on other areas and they continue to be encouraged by the success of Depot Square. He notes that they are targeting Beverly residents, young professionals, and people looking to live in cities like Boston or Somerville who will find these units more affordable than comparable ones in those cities. Dellicker says that he cannot say the firm will build the whole project at once, noting that they would have to see how the market absorbs the units. Fournier asks if they have considered the traffic ramifications from a project of this size. Dellicker notes that they have not done a traffic study yet but they would do one as part of their submittal for the plans. Grimes opens the meeting up for public comment at this time. Mary Rodrick addressed the members and noted that she is the City's representative to the MBTA. She states that she feels that taking away existing parking capacity is a critical issue. She also notes that the price of housing is also a problem noting that we do not have housing for people who work at the Cummings Center or Beverly Hospital and she feels that the proposed housing is too expensive. Dellicker notes that the City routinely requests that 10% of the units being created be set aside as affordable housing and at Depot Square there are 6 units. He explains that one is on site and the other five are along the Rantoul Street corridor. Douglas stresses that parking is a fundamental issue for commuters. He notes that the main depot is not just for Beverly residents but serves the entire region. He also suggests that they should look at the National Grid property on River Street. Dellicker notes that Minutes Page 30f5 02/21/07 ECDC Meeting they own the lot and they have no intention of wiping out all existing off-street commuter parking in Beverly. Rodrick asks if Wind over is willing to build the garage and lease it to the City or the MBTA. Dellicker states that they are looking at that and will have further discussion with the City and the state. He notes that the MBTA has said that they have no money to build a garage. He also notes that this design may not be the solution but he hopes that they can find one if they work together. There being no further questions or comments regarding this matter, Grimes thanks Dellicker for attending the meeting and making the presentation. She also explains that the proposal for the rezoning of the height requirements is before the City Council and a joint public hearing with the Planning Board and the City Council will be held during the process. Douglas states that he would like to see a financial analysis on the economic impact that this project will have. He notes that a $100 million dollar project should be treated with consideration, stressing that we cannot compromise the commuter parking situation which would compromise the ability of the train depot to function properly. He states that we need to embrace the elements that will ensure commuter parking. Grimes states that she was impressed with the flexibility of the ideas that they presented and they seem to be interested in looking at solutions, noting that they realize that it does not work without parking. Fournier states that he would be concerned about phasing of the project and notes that the parking should be constructed first. He notes that the concept makes sense but how you do it is key, noting that the economic impact will be enormous. Douglas notes that Depot Square is first class and they are selling in a weak market. He notes that they are not affordable, but they are not unaffordable either. New / Other Business Grimes notes that the Commission will postpone discussion of the Scope of Study Area for the Bass River segment of the Waterfront Rezoning until the next meeting. Don Stacey announced to the ECDC that he is resigning his position effective immediately. Grimes states that the members are sorry to see him leave and his contributions have been valuable to the Council and wishes him well. Next Meetin2 The next meeting of the ECDC will be held on March 14, 2007. Minutes Page 40f5 02/21/07 ECDC Meeting Douglas: carnes. motion to adjourn, seconded by Killilea. All members in favor, motion The meeting is adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Minutes Page 50f5 02/21/07 ECDC Meeting