Quick Recap:
- A couple of agenda items from meeting Apr 7 not covered in time allotted, so this session was added also in a meeting slot before the Town Council meeting. Discussion was healthy and in the time allotted
- Grants submitted for a variety of work desired, what can or should get done with or without grant discussed
- NuStyle back in discussion as the prior agreement to sell ultimately fell through; who will buy (and how) is best case scenario as the Town would spend more than a private party would to clean up the 'brown field' and we don't have the money to start the clean up with
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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.
The Twitter hashtag can be found online #edc0414
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23edc0414&src=typed_query
Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in one album
https://photos.app.goo.gl/VYYiLMPgyGuf7xtx5
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/2021-4-14_edc_agenda_.pdf
- Economic development subcommittee meeting underway, real time reporting commences #edc0414 Jones, Bissanti in Chambers; Hamblen, Frongillo remote.
- Community planning grant opportunity, state has been changing grant process overtime, expression of interest applied earlier; MassWorks grant submitted for Grove St/Washington intersection among other items. #edc0414
- State hasn't provided guidance yet on the downtown project before making any zoning changes to avoid missing out on incentives #edc0414 we need to take a comprehensive approach to zoning, hoping for MAPC to help us with this.
- "Incremental changes don't scare me, if they can be beneficial, then we should consider it. Having alignment in the long term approach is great". #edc0414 did mention the Beaver St interceptor, in case, down the road, there may be a grant for something like that
- #edc0414 June 2 is a deadline for certain grants, other grants are due later this year (Sep). Top complete streets possible projects in Jun $1.9M year to date, $10m over past years. Shared listing of a current report from treasurer.
- #edc0414 how does zoning tie to grant money? Best to get a 3rd party assessment of zoning to bring about proposals to gain better consensus. MAPC has specialist that can do this and help us. Can cover the multiple issues (complete streets, affordable housing, parking, etc.)
- There are a lot of options to incentivize development, someone coming in could help us with all of that. #edc0414 moving to agenda item 2; NuStyle property highlighted on map
- Did have a deal with an adjacent landowner with conditions, summer/fall of 2019 visited owner to confirm conditions, it didn't work out and deal fell through. #edc0414 was on list of things to do for 2020 and then COVID-19 hit. So we have time for a discussion on this
- Did apply through EPA for grants on clean up, once you start, you're in it. Where did this fit in the finance ladder? #edc0414 if you can see past the clean up, it good land and heck of a location. Is a liability, not increasing but not reducing either. Needs $s and imagination
- NuStyle was put on as an issue that is a long term problem to be addressed. #edc0414 need to assess contamination on property and adjacent, and confirm costs to remediate. Land use study may help to provide a set of options
- "let's just get rid of it" Jones #edc0414 "it is a waste of a property that could be worth something" "giving it or selling doesn't absolve us of responsibility" for the location, likely upwards of $1.5M per Bissanti Hellen - There is specialized stuff in this arena
- A private entity could redo the site cheaper than the Town could. #edc0414 a delicate issue. Motion to adjourn, second, passes 4-0 via roll call Another pause between meetings, Town Council up at 7
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| Recap - Economic Development SubComm Meeting - Apr 14, 2021 |
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