2011-12-07 (2)CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
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MEMBERS PRESENT:
MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS:
RECORDER:
Economic and Community Development Council
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Beverly Public Library — Staff Conference Room
Chair Patricia Grimes, Vice Chairman Neil
Douglas, Tina Cassidy, Charlene St. Jean, Don
Fournier, Mike Collins, Bill Howard
Denise Deschamps
Tina Cassidy
Grimes calls the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
1. Approval of Minutes
Grimes asks if there are any corrections that should be made to the draft minutes of the
September 14, 2011 meeting. There are none.
Fournier: motion to approve the draft minutes of the ECDC meeting held on
September 14, 2011, seconded by Cassidy. All members in favor, the
motion carries 7 -0.
2. Review of Development Scorecard
Cassidy updates the members on progress /changes since the last meeting:
• Site work has started at the parcel adjacent to Aero Manufacturing;
• The vacant 2.77 former airport parcel has been fully permitted for Cicoria Tree
Service and sale of the site is scheduled for next week;
• The Housing Authority received its State funding for two duplexes on Essex
Street and expects to start construction next spring;
• Beverly Port Marina's latest appeal of the Black Cow permits was denied but they
have filed two additional appeals (one against the City, one against DEP);
• Construction of the new 173 unit senior housing project on Conant Street is
completed;
• The former Heritage Bank on Colon Street has been leased to Rockport National
Bank;
• Concept plans for redevelopment of Windover's "small block" (Former Weaver
Glass building) are on hold until market conditions improve;
• The MBTA's garage is at the 60% design stage and construction is tentatively
slated to start in April of 2012;
Final ECDC meeting minutes December 7, 2011 meeting
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• Construction has been completed on the one -lot extension of Michael Road;
• The City Council approved a TIF for Cell Signaling Technologies, Inc. in October
and the State vote on the application is expected later this month;
• The Planning Board approved the construction of two multi- tenanted contractors'
garages on the former Britton automotive site on Park Street; and
• A public hearing to consider extending Old Rubbly Road to create a six lot
subdivision in Wenham is scheduled for January of 2012.
3. Discussion/Update on Brimbal Avenue/Route 128 Overpass Improvement
Proiect / Neil Douglas
Douglas updates the Council on this matter. He has been working with Denise
Deschamps on this issue for a number of months. He met with the Mayor to discuss the
approach, and the Mayor considers the ECDC as the coordinator of this project. The
Mayor has good reason to believe this project is an excellent candidate for funding
through the State's I program. He explains that the number of new jobs that might be
created, along with the additional tax revenue and property values that result, strongly
support continued investigation and work on this project.
There are about 25 parcels in the area with potential for development or expansion of
existing businesses. The project can be viewed in two parts; improvements west of
Brimbal Avenue would be phase one and those east of Brimbal Avenue would be a
second phase. There are four potential components of phase one: A connection between
Sohier and Brimbal Avenue, a connection between Sohier and Tozer, a new road from
Brimbal Avenue to the hospital and signals at Dunham Road and at the Route 128 ramp.
All other work would constitute phase two.
He has met with several property owners as has the Mayor, and so far reaction is positive.
They are working with the City's consultant on the Brimbal Avenue improvement project
(Jacobs) to tweak the design to address some early feedback from business owners in the
area. He is also exploring the possibility that Jacobs might assist with the packaging of
an I application if /when the time is right to submit one. He will continue working with
Deschamps and the Mayor on this, and continue meetings with potential stakeholders,
and will report in at the next meeting.
4. New or Other Business
a. Chairman
Members note that this meeting is the last one at which Councilor Grimes will
preside. Since she did not run for re- election to the Council she will not be on the
ECDC after this meeting and another councilor will be appointed to take her
place. Members offer a token of their appreciation for her service to the Council
and wish her well.
b. Schedule next meeting
Final ECDC meeting minutes December 7, 2011 meeting
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The next meeting of the ECDC will be held on Wednesday, March 7, 2012.
Fourier states that he will not be able to make that meeting due to a previous
commitment.
5. Adiournment
Grimes asks if there is any other business for the Board to conduct at this meeting. There
is none.
Douglas: motion to adjourn, seconded by Cassidy. All members in favor, the
motion carries 7 -0.
The meeting is adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
Final ECDC meeting minutes December 7, 2011 meeting
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