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Monday evening, March 15, 2010. Special Meeting of the City Council held in the Council Chambers, City Hall.~ Meeting called to order by President Neil Janssens at 6:45 o’clock p.m.
City Councillors Present: Alice Anderson, Henry Ares, Joshua Cormier, Ronald Cormier, Patrick Gerry, Edward Gravel, Scott Graves, James Minns and President Neil Janssens.
City Councillors Absent: David Boudreau and Councillor-Elect James Robinson.
Gardner Redevelopment Authority (GRA) members Present: Edward Lepkowski, Cleo Monette, Timothy Horrigan, and Robert Hubbard, Executive Director. Councillor Ronald Cormier is also a member of the GRA.
Other Officials Present: Trevor Beauregard, Economic Development Coordinator, and Robert Bettez, Jr., Planning Board member.
Urban Renewal Plan Consultant Team: Russ Burke, AICP, Project Manager, BSC Group; Kathleen McCabe, AICP, EDP, McCabe Enterprises.
President Janssens announced the joint meeting with the GRA was called to consider a working draft of the Urban Renewal Plan. President Janssens recognized Robert Hubbard.
Mr. Hubbard offered a brief overview of the Urban Renewal Plan (URP) process, as follows:
- The City conducted a study in 1998 addressing development of the Rear Main Street Corridor encompassing the new Library and parking issues.
- In 2006, the URP process began.
- In 2007, a presentation of the URP was made to the City Council; however, implementation was delayed due to lack of funding.
- In 2008, CDBG funds were available to hire the consulting team, Russ Burke and Kathleen McCabe. They have been paid for services since September 2009.
- A 30-person Steering Committee has held three major public meetings at the Library.
- DHCD suggested the Steering Committee conduct an informal presentation to the City Council prior to a scheduled formal public hearing on the URP.
- GEM Industries owner Mike Rolla committed himself to the City’s efforts to develop Main and Rear Main Street, so he provided the funds necessary to demolish the former GEM Industries furniture factory on Main Street.
- Recent private sector commitments to develop the area include demolition and development of the Nichols & Stone properties by Don Irving, as well as Gary Lorden’s redevelopment of the former Goodnow-Pearson building.
- Recently, the Mayor was notified of receipt of a $380,000 State grant to complete the final phase of the Pine Street Project.
- On February 25, 2010, the City received a $483,000 grant from the Commonwealth to purchase and demolish the property at 214 Pleasant Street (“Wayno’s Dugout”).
Russ Burke, AICP, Project Manager, BSC Group, offered a PowerPoint presentation of the URP (attached). He highlighted the following from the PowerPoint slides:
- The Commonwealth required certain criteria in order to be eligible for URP recognition. These include:
- Blighted open area
- Decadent area
- Substandard area
- He cited areas of concentration including:
- Park Street
- Downtown
- Rear Main Street
- Gateway
- Lower Main Street
- Sherman-Chestnut Industrial Area
- Lynde-School Street
- He cited these areas due to their physical conditions.
- URP goal is to maximize leveraging of public and private funds.
- URP proposes more parking for Rear Main Street, pedestrian access and circulation to Rear Main Street from Main Street.
Kathleen McCabe, AICP, EDP, McCabe Enterprises highlighted the following:
- The URP is a 25-year plan – phases of incremental projects.
- Phase I estimated cost is $59,000,000. Includes Phase III of the Heywood-Wakefield project (represents 55% of the $59M).
- No State funding available at present in the State Budget - City should lobby State legislators for project earmarks.
- Job creation estimates – 200 to 270 permanent as a result of the URP.
Councillor Graves asked if the URP includes residential units.
Mr. Hubbard replied Community Development is looking at a Main Street building for working class [affordable] housing, while the Goodnow-Pearson development is “market rate”.
Mr. Hubbard added the [focus of] Phase I of the URP has changed, as the State is no longer interested in a parking deck. The URP will look to [develop] surface parking.
Councillor Edward Gravel questioned parking plans for Rear Main Street.
Mr. Hubbard advised parking management will need to be addressed for this area (public and private).
Ms. McCabe advised the URP is a “catalyst for private investment”.
President Janssens declared the meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
Accepted by the City Council: April 5, 2010
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