2007-04-18
CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION:
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
LOCATION:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Economic and Community Development Council
MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
RECORDER:
April 18, 2007
Beverly Public Library
Patricia Grimes, Frank Killilea, Ed Cahill, Tina
Cassidy, Don Fournier
Bill O'Hare and Neil Douglas
Eileen Sacco
Grimes calls the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
Grimes asks if there are any corrections to the draft minutes of the ECDC meeting held
on March 14, 2007. There are none.
Fournier:
motion that the minutes be approved as drafted, seconded by Cassidy. All
members in favor, no one in opposition. The motion carries.
Review and Discussion on U pdatin2 the ECDC Mission Statement
Fournier notes that the review and discussion is intended as a refresher and to review the
mission statement to make sure that the members are in agreement with it.
Grimes reviews the mission statement of the ECDC.
Fournier states that the intention was to develop methods to attract and maintain
businesses in the appropriate districts. He notes that there are not a lot of alternative
locations for small businesses to move to within the City of Beverly and a plan needs to
be developed in the near future.
Cassidy agrees and notes that there is a need for light industrial buildings in the City that
small businesses can relocate to. Fournier notes that the City needs to encourage smart
development as we cannot afford to lose tax revenue, adding that we recently lost Bell
Market.
Cassidy says that Main Streets conducted a survey several years ago of what people
wanted to see for businesses in the downtown and offers to get a copy of the results of
that survey.
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Fournier notes that a plan on how to deal with the relocation of some of the small
industrial businesses that are currently near the Bass River is necessary if the area is
going to be redeveloped for other uses. He suggests that a representative of the small
business community should serve on the ECDC.
Cassidy notes that the TIF process could be used to attract and retain businesses and
notes that Beverly has used it six or seven times on large scale projects. She says that
Salem appears to be using them quite frequently recently to attract and create new jobs
and even to maintain jobs.
Cahill says he talked with the Chamber's Board of Directors about the Bass River
rezoning and there is a concern among small business owners about where they will go if
the area is developed for "higher and better" uses. He states that he wonders if the
solution would be to do what Wind over is doing, purchasing buildings and providing
alternative locations. He also notes that this is a quality of life issue noting glass
companies and auto body shops are establishments that everybody in Beverly at one time
or another needs. He adds that he would like to make sure that those types of businesses
are welcome in the City.
Cahill reviews the area along Rantoul, Elliott, and Park Streets and the types of
businesses that are located there. He notes that we need to find logical places in the
downtown that would be a good fit for those businesses. He refers to the presentation
that Cassidy made at a previous meeting on the buildings being proposed on Sam Fonzo
Drive (two-story contractor shops with garage space on the first floor and office space on
the second). He wonders if that would accomodate some of the businesses in the Bass
River area.
Fournier suggests that an Industrial Development Corporation be established.
Cassidy states that the City Ordinances call for an Industrial Development Financing
Authority but it has been inactive for decades.
Grimes suggests that areas be designated such as Park Street that might make some sense.
She also notes that there are some businesses that do not want to move or to be forced
from where they are. She says Windover is moving the Weaver Glass Company to the
Kelley Infinity site, but those options will not be available for all situations and owners.
Cassidy states that there may be some land near the airport that could be looked at.
Cahill refers back to the mission statement and says that it refers to the reconstruction of
Rantoul Street and asks what that means. Cassidy explains that it includes reconstruction
of the entire road including repaving, upgraded utilities, street lights and furniture, and
new sidewalks. The City envisions a complete reconstruction of Rantoul Street with the
upgrading of utilities.
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Killilea explains that they could never get all of the utilities underground as it would be
too taxing on the businesses. He explains that the City can upgrade the water and sewer
but they cannot make Mass Electric put its services underground.
Cassidy explains that the project is on the TIP list for the State and explains the process.
She notes that the Mayor wants to keep the project on the TIP list and hire a consultant to
finalize the plans in order to move forward with construction in the next couple of years.
Cahill questions whether the rezoning on Rantoul Street would have an impact on the
Rantoul Street reconstruction. Cassidy explains that new developments should follow
Mass Highway standards if any improvements are made to the public way.
Fournier notes that the mission statement addresses off street parking and says that if
Wind over builds the proposed parking garage there will still not be enough off street
parking and asks if there is any thought about a second phase of public parking.
Cassidy explains that the proposed parking garage will solve some of the problems and
the thought is that the garage will be used by commuters during the day and area
residents at night. Fournier notes that the Wind over concept is to get people to use the
train, and if that happens the cars will stay in the garage. Cassidy explains that spaces
will be leased to the MBTA for commuter use. She explains that there are 88 spaces now
for commuters in an off-street parking lot so there is no question that there will be an
increase in spaces and they will have to figure out how to police the MBTA spaces. She
estimates that there will be an additional 300 +/- spaces but there clearly needs to be
another off-street lot further down Rantoul Street. She explains that she has an idea about
putting a deck on the ICC lot.
Grimes says that she had an event at Monet's Garden in the RedBrick building on
Rantoul Street recently and they have an agreement with Enterprise Rent-A-Car for
customers to park in their lot. She explains that the owner has some ideas regarding
parking and promoting the downtown and she would like to invite her to talk with the
ECDC to present them.
Cassidy notes that Main Streets has been talking about parking issues and signage in the
downtown as well.
Grimes states that there are parking issues in the Farms Village and there are problems
with signage as well down there. She notes that some of the signs say 15 minute parking
and some say 2 hour parking and there is no rhyme or reason to it. She says there is a
small public parking area with a very small sign and people do not know that it is there.
Cahill says that the mission statement mentions an Office of Economic Development.
Cassidy explains that Douglas is a strong proponent of that and explains that he felt the
City would benefit greatly from someone who is solely focused on development and
promoting the City as a place to do business.
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Fournier states his opinion that Cabot Street is fragile. Cassidy agrees and says she
worries about that as well and that there have been a lot of changes in establishments in
the last year. She wonders if the City should consider rezoning portions of it, noting that
it would have to be done carefully if at all.
Fournier states that he does not understand why Main Streets is not a subgroup of the
Chamber of Commerce. Grimes agrees and notes that it seems like they should have the
same mISSIon.
Cahill states that there is a lot of overlap between the two and says that there is good
communication between the two groups.
Fournier suggests that they should share a common office and they would get a lot more
done. He also suggests that they could share fundraising.
Fournier notes that the ECDC needs more members. Cassidy states that she has been in
contact with Bill Howard of the Beverly Cooperative Bank and he has agreed to serve.
She spoke with the Mayor and he is submitting the appointment to the City Council for
their meeting on May 7, 2007. She says there will still be one opening for a member at
large, in addition to representatives of the Planning Board and the Conservation
Commission (which are currently vacant).
Fournier states that he feels the ECDC should touch base with the Chamber of
Commerce. Cassidy explains that she is attending the May meeting of the Chamber to
explain on-going projects and rezoning and she hopes to get people behind it. Fournier
suggests that Cassidy talk about the ECDC at that time and invite them to a meeting to
participate.
Grimes agrees, noting that she would like to hear what Main Streets and the Chamber of
Commerce have to say.
Cahill states that the Chamber has a Government Affairs Committee that meets with
Mayor Scanlon regularly and it could be expanded by including them in topics of interest.
Fournier suggests that Main Streets and the Chamber of Commerce be invited to the next
meeting. Cassidy agrees and suggests that Bill Howard would not be an official member
at that time but he could come and participate if he would like.
Fournier says he feels that the ECDC should go out of their way to work together and
notes that the hot topics today are the 75 foot height requirement, parking, the vision of
Rantoul Street and rezoning issues.
Grimes states that she could not agree more.
Fournier states that he feels that the Chamber could be working on economIC
development issues.
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Cahill explains that the Chamber staff works on membership drives and the golf
tournament. He suggests he could talk with the Board Members and see if they are
interested in volunteering.
Cassidy says that the next meeting of the ECDC is on May 9th and that would be short
notice to invite the Chamber and Main Streets to the meeting. She suggested that she go
to their meeting in May and invite them to the June 13th meeting of the ECDC.
Overview of Current Projects - Citv Planner Tina Cassidv
Cassidy reviews the Beverly Port Marina project on the waterfront. She notes that there
is pending litigation between the owners and the City that will hopefully result in an
amicable solution. She says the City has proposed a settlement agreement that is being
reviewed by the Kinzies presently.
Cassidy says the permitting process for the McDonald's site is moving but slowly. She
explains that the owner of the Black Cow wants clarity on several issues and the City is
working on that now.
Cassidy explains that the Ventron property is currently before the Planning Board for site
plan review and a special permit for development of 72 condominium units. She explains
that they have filed a preliminary subdivision plan as well to "protect" their rights under
the previous zoning designation (IG) until they are sure they have all the permits needed
for the condominium project.
Fournier asks if affordable housing is included in the Ventron project. Cassidy explains
that she expects the Planning Board will require 10% of the units be set aside as
affordable as they did for the Edwards School site. She also explains that the clear
preference of the City is to have affordable housing constructed on-site as opposed to off-
site or a payment in lieu of constructing the units.
Cassidy explains that an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance is being submitted to the City
Council for consideration. She says that approximately 11 % of the City's housing stock
meets the State's definition of "affordable housing".
Cassidy notes that all of the units at the Edwards Square development are sold and Depot
Square is about 45% sold. She says the commercial units at Depot Square are being
heavily marketed and prospective tenants are looking at them.
Cassidy reports that a public announcement may come next week about the commuter
parking garage, and believes it will be a positive press release.
Cassidy explains that the Friendly's property on Rantoul Street has filed a mixed-use plan
with the Planning Board and has filed a rezoning request to rezone a portion of the lot
from its current IG zoning to CC to allow the development to occur.
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Cassidy says that the sale of two of the four parcels at the airport has hit a delay when it
was found that that some of the proposed construction falls in a runway protection zone
where development is prohibited. She explains that City representatives met with the
FAA and they are trying to work the issue out. She says that plane landings at the airport
are down generally, noting that the economy and airspace restrictions enacted post-9/11
have affected it.
Fournier questions the need for the airport. Cassidy explains that it is in reasonably good
physical repair, that the Federal Government pays 90% of the cost of all improvements
with the State picking up an additional 3% of the cost. Economic impact studies show
that the airport generates significant spin-off economic benefit.
New / Other Business
Fournier asks Cassidy if she has any recent information regarding the foreclosure rate in
Beverly. Cassidy says she will look into that.
Next Meetin2
Grimes asks the members if they agree to invite Ms. McGowan to the next meeting to
discuss her parking and marketing ideas. Members agree, and Grimes will extend the
invitation.
Grimes reminds the members that the next meetings of the ECDC will be held on May 9,
2007 and June 13, 2007 respectively.
Grimes asks if there is any other business for the Committee this evening. There is none.
Fournier:
motion to adjourn, seconded by Killilea. All members in favor, no one in
opposition. The motion carries.
The meeting is adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
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