Okay. Um, going to call the Wednesday, February 11th, 2020. No, that's not the wrong. Okay. I'm going to call the Wednesday, February 13th. Uh, economic and community develop meeting uh, committee meeting to order.
The clerk will please call the role. Council Pispus >> presum present. >> Okay. Uh announcement of open meeting recordings. The uh notice posted on the walls. Anyone here recording the meeting besides staff? Okay.
Review and approval of meeting minutes of the October 3rd, 2025 and December 12th, 2025 meeting. Um, I'm going to ask for uh entertain a motion to um approve minutes.
>> Oh, you want me to make motion? >> Yep. >> I'd like to make a motion to accept the the minutes as presented. >> Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. Those say no. Motion passes. First time on the agenda, um we are going to
take the items out of order and instead we're going to go to ins subcommittee and begin with item 11454, a report on the investigation of the Mackie Park projects. Director Jason Stevens is here from the uh from the uh department of um
community development and planning and he's going to give us a report. >> So good morning. just feeling a little under the weather, so taking precautions and and being masked here today. But it's good to see everyone in the new year and welcome councelor Hardurn to
the economic development subcommittee. Um >> morning that uh councelor Keith is present and we will continue. So, just since our last conversation, there were a couple items waiting to be completed with the
park that were delayed with the weather. Given that it's February and there's still multiple feet of snow on the ground and mainly freezing temperatures, the remaining work, which is largely to do with the um welding of the additional
uh the other side of the railing on the existing uh the now existing ramp that was built as part of this um additional work that was approved as well as the welding for the handy capable uh chair on the first level of the park. um
cannot be completed with the current weather conditions. So, if the committee will allow, I'd like to keep this item on the agenda just until the project is completed and um the the final tally of of spending for this project for the
additional work is is tallied up and and properly invoiced. >> Thank you, Director Stevens. Is there any questions or comments from the committee? >> Not on that. >> I have no questions or comments either. I um if there is no objection, we will
uh keep this item in subcommittee um as director Stevens has requested until the remainder of the project is completed due to the weather and um the other information that he gave us. As there's no objection, the item will stay on the agenda. So committee, thank you. Okay,
we're going to remain out of order. Go to item 11746, upcoming community development projects. Uh, Director Stevens has provided us with a packet of information and uh, the clerk's office will put it in the
meeting minutes and I will again give the floor to the proceedings. >> I'll keep it high level because most of this information we went over at the previous subcommittee meeting on December 12th. Uh but for the sake of councelor Hardurn who's who's new to the subcommittee I'll go through uh through
the items and there have been some updates because there were some some edits that needed to be made to the presentation um at the December meeting. So for upcoming projects just going through the list. First off we have the South Gardener Village Center
utility upgrades which has been awarded contract being completed. The amount is for $1.48 48 million and that's for a through a FY26 Massworks MWIP grant. Uh the city's planning to use those funds
to overhaul the utility wires um move them underground in the Gardener uh South Gardener Village Center. Um it's going to improve uh the uh curbing for the area. Um paving repaving of of of the area. episodes everywhere from um
East Broadway. It goes on to Union Street, Prospect Street, Chelsea Street, and I think one other, but it goes down that portion of of road there. Um >> High Street. Thank you. >> Um so supporting residential development, uh fostering sustainable
economic growth. Um, but with the contract still being completed, um, we'll wait to hear back from the state in regards to, uh, when they have that completed and ready for us to sign to be properly executed.
>> Any questions on that? Okay. And the Mass Works MWIP grant, that's a state grant. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> Uh, the rear main southside. So this is the other or this is the uh current ongoing project uh that is with a
apologies there is goodness I can't I can't seem to to catch a break. Um the FY $3.5 million but that is also an FY um uh not a housing works but a a massworks grant. I believe it's the FY23 Massworks MWIP
uh grant. Um so we had split the two projects. um the the rear main project into two two halves. This one being the one that's ongoing uh and will include um >> Oh, wait. No, sorry. >> Works. Yeah.
>> Oh, this is upcoming. This is upcoming. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Not ongoing. So, I did have it right. It is 3.5 or um 3.5 million FY25 Housing Works Infrastructure Grant Program. I was correct um with the presentation. Uh my
apologies. Uh so this is the half that has not been uh started um and is the for the remaining parking lot as well as bring the underground utilities which will already be in place on site to the bounds of what will eventually be bid
out for a private development uh for u residential as well as potential um you know commercial uh development as well. Um so the other half uh the portions of that project site had not been acquired
prior to the uh grant being awarded to the city. Uh that being because they were meant to be gifted by Cumberland Farms, prior to Cumberland Farms um changing some of their leadership around and eventually selling to a leasing
company. Um so discussions with that leasing company now have continued. Um they're based out of uh San Diego and and rather than gift the city the parcels, they're looking for a a a fair market value sale. Um, so I've been
working on behalf of my uh other hat with the GRA to find funding um both through the GR's assets as well as a potential um mass development real estate loan to pay for the uh sale that
they're looking to have for that rather than go through the I feel like it's the path of least resistance rather than going through eminent domain because we don't know how long that's going to take. Um, and given the timeline of this project, we really just need to have this par these parcels acquired because
it's what was approved through planning board. It's what was approved through conservation. Um, so rather than change the scope of the project and then go back to those boards, it'd just be easier to acquire these parcels um through the GR and move forward with
this other half of the project. um Ty Bond has been given oversight uh of the engineering for the project already been given all of the um current documentation that had been prepared prior to the project being split. So that included the permit ready plans
that had gone through uh planning board and uh conservation and so they're preparing conser construction ready and bid ready plans to move forward with this project once we have all of the the full project site acquired. >> Okay. Uh, any questions or comments?
>> Um, thank you. Um, I'm sorry. I'm I'm set. >> I'm right there with you. >> Um, thank you. Um, what is the fair market value for that property? >> 455,000. >> That was all I had.
>> Thank you. Further questions, comments from the committee? >> I uh just wanted a couple things. So, um, housing works, that's also state. that's also state >> and uh the um the
GR piece of it too. So all of the funding there so basically you're replacing what would have been the gift with GR funding. So it wouldn't be any cost to the city. >> Yeah. >> Just be clear on that. Um those are my only questions. Okay. Thank you
>> for the downtown phase 5 going into some of our upcoming CDBG projects. Uh this project has been awarded and the contract signed. The amount awarded for this project specifically is 340,000. Uh this is to improve the pedestrian infrastructure and repaving of the areas
on Willow Street between Main Street and Pleasant. Uh upgrades including crosswalk signage, street lighting, uh and accessibility improvements. Um we have yet to receive uh the grant agreement to execute these funds. Um but
uh the environmental review record for the project is complete and once the city uh executes the grant agreement from EOHLC um which is the executive office of housing livable communities um the city will issue a NTP uh notice to proceed with kind bond uh for bidding. Um and
just uh the CDBG project is also a state awarded. Uh we are a mini entitlement community. So this is another project that is of no cost directly to the city in terms of its uh municipal funds. >> Thank you. Any questions, comments?
>> Uh next, >> Waterford uh Street Community Center fire system. Another CDBG project that has been awarded. This is again um funded through the community development block grant award which we're mini entitlement community award for 122,000.
This is to upgrade the existing fire safety infrastructure at um waterford community center to ensure it complies with current safety standards. Uh includes the installation of fire alarms, electrical wiring enhancements and emergency lighting systems. Um, we also have yet to receive the grant
agreement to execute these funds. But we have just actually satisfied the environmental review record which had a special condition for the project which was completion of of uh recent radon testing at the center which came back at levels between less than 04 and 7.
I'm not sure what that unit of measurement is. P CI over L which is less than the acceptable range which is 2 to 4. uh PCI over L. I think the mayor's looking up to see what the unit actually stands for, but
>> So, it's within the acceptable range. >> It's it's well under the Yeah, it's well under the acceptable range. >> Okay. >> Um and that's an air quality test that's done on the site. So, what basically happens is uh uh housing and livable communities requires that any projects that receive funding from them for
building purposes have uh air quality sensors spread throughout the building in various different places that they choose. uh those places tend to be where they have the highest levels of radon um contamination if you will. Um and then if the report comes back that the uh
radon testings came in over the minimum level set by the department of health then we the project is not allowed to continue. Um radon testing is something that's done very often if you're selling a house or selling a condo or something like that. Um they require that for commercial buildings like this. Um and
then we did come in um as you can see well well well under any contamination readings um for the site. So that's why that's able to move forward. So the air quality test is what passed with flying colors. >> Thank you. Any questions, comments?
Greenwood Memorial Pavilion Construction. This is an exciting one um because we've had the public hearing in regards to this at the CDBG steering committee um at our November 25th meeting. This is another CDBG project actually funded through uh funds that
were originally going to the school street school demolition to the amount of uh $719,342.51. Uh quite on the on the money there. Um so we actually just received the approval from EOHLC yesterday uh in regards to
the approval for the use of this project. Um previously they had questions of using uh prior census track data because we are no longer considered an LMI community at large. Um and since this project has now been split from its original scope of being the demolition
and construction of the pavilion in one project and the split of the demolition which was completed using last year's funding um and uh now moving towards the pavilion as a separate project. They were going back and forth on whether to
use the current census uh track data for the city which is less than 51% LMI. So, we are no longer considered LMI at large and they consider the project to be a um benefit to the city at large, but given
that the project had previously been approved um for this exact scope, they gave us the approval yesterday that we can use the census track data that had previously approved this project. Um so
>> so where it says project status funds awarded reclass denied by EU. >> Oh sorry approved. >> Okay. >> So reclass approved by Okay. >> Um and so and those award those funds just to be clear for the public too because I always like to people to
really understand where the funding for our city projects comes from and what we our contribution other contributions are. Um, so that 719 34251 that's FY24 CDBG, but that was what the reclass was cuz it was supposed to go towards something else.
>> Yes. Yeah. So rather than >> either Yeah. Rather than the demolition, rather than lose out on the money, which we wouldn't do. We would look towards an additional project, either playground improvements or or something of that nature that would meet within their national objectives. We want to make
sure that we're using every dollar that we get from our mini entitlement award each year. So, we're happy with this approval from them and we'll, you know, look forward to um getting that amendment from from them so that we can move forward with executing this cuz
we've had the plans together. We've had the opinion of probable cost. We we've had all of the materials ready to move forward with this project and have really just been waiting back and forth on on whether or not this was going to be going to be approved. So, this is a a
well a well-needed win, I think, for for the city because we want to see something go there now that the the demolition of the Greenwood Memorial Pool has has been completed. >> Thank you, >> Madam Chair. If I could just add one quick thing. Um, the LMI acronym that you heard earlier stands for low to
moderate income. That's a uh HUD, housing and urban development uh term that's used for CDBG funds because CDBG start as federal funds that are given to the state that are then dispersed to us here. Uh basically what that process means is prior to the last federal census that took place uh gardener was
considered an LMI community, a low moderate income community. That meant 51% of our population was below the area median income. Following the 2020 census, our uh income levels in the city increased above that 51% low moderate
income level uh for HUD guidelines. And what that means is uh if you're 51% or above, you can consider the full city a LMI community, which means that CDBG projects, which are used to improved areas of the city that were traditionally disadvantaged due to
various uh income, health levels, um diversity levels, and things of that nature, you can consider the whole city eligible for those projects. But if you go underneath that 51%, which we have done, then you are only able to utilize those funds for projects that uh meet what's meet what's called a national
objective. uh be it removal of sum slum and blight uh improvement to an alomi area of the city which they then define as specific neighborhoods as around the city that they set for their approval. Uh so that's the conversation that was had where the area that the Greenwood pool is is now no longer in one of those
LMI neighborhoods because the city is not in that 51 plus percentage for that income level because we've gone below that. Now, it has to be neighborhood specific, but because that approval was received when we did have that level of um LMI status, that's why that's able to
go forward there, too. So, just because the acronyms that get thrown around with these, I figured it'd be worth explaining that. >> Thank you. Uh so, I would just say like with before this document gets given to the clerk, I'd want that to be updated because it'll go in the minutes. Yep.
>> Um so, the denied to approved. And then also I would request on each one of these projects if next to where it says like amount and it says the type of funding if you can specify state federal like I just would like that in there just it's just more transparent for the public and then for us if we get
questions we can say like this came from the department just to keep it um >> I mean not that it's it's in there so it's transparent but I just would like that explanation there too cuz I again get a lot of questions about what our our funds of the city go towards and what we get and I don't think some people realize we apply for these things. because we do a lot of work to
make sure we get outside funds to um come in that we are eligible for. So, um that was just a small thing that I said, but um I have I have no questions. I think this is fantastic news. I think it's interesting how you call this an exciting one. I'm like, well, this whole pack is pretty exciting this week. Um >> just because it happened yesterday.
>> Yeah. Right. It's so much progress. This one is big. It's been a long long time coming and it's done due to the work that your office has done and pursued for this. Um, and just, you know, making sure that we were able to repurpose, you know, taking funds we had and looking into repurposing them for this was this
was huge as as we all know. Um, so this this is this is a big one because it's just nice to see it and for that area to be able to be used and repurposed and, you know, keep the uh history of the Greenwood Memorial Pool. Um, you know, keep it where we'll be able to enjoy it
in the next, you know, couple, you know, coming summers and not have it sit there as it did for years. Um, that will just be nice to just kind of get it to its next it's its next era, I guess, is what I could call it. So, I'm very excited about this, too. Um any other questions or discussions?
>> Yes, I have a question. >> Thank you, chair. Um is there a time frame that we have >> for when this has start construction? >> Just given that we just got the approval yesterday. I'd say let's wait until maybe our next meeting to get a better
idea. Um because we haven't even gotten the amendment from them yet. we've just gotten the initial email saying, you know, looking back at this and and the the history of the project that we've we've approved the the amendment. Um, but we'll just wait to hear back from
them in in regards to when we actually get that amendment from them um to be able to begin work on executing the the project. >> Any questions or discussion? >> Thank you. Social service provider CDBG.
This is just going through uh the current um social service grants that we have with uh local um social service providers uh in the city between our FY24, FY25 uh and then our FY2223
which was amended also I believe our November CDBG steering committee which um allocated funds uh that were left over from the demolition of 205213 uh Main Street. that demolition there came in under budget and those funds
were um allocated to the gardener CAC and MVOCK for veterans assistance. Um so if you want I can go through each one of them but they're largely um a lot of them are year-over-year. The Garner Athletic Program is
year-over-year voices of truth we get uh requests um usually year-over-year. Um, and then the CAC are are generally the the main social servicesers that we we work with. Um, >> yeah, I think this list is pretty clear and um I appreciate the cleanup of 2223.
Like you had to go back and do those things and now we'll be on a clean slate moving forward with all of our CDBG um projects and requests and the grants and everything. Like your office did a tremendous amount of work this year cleaning that up. So, this is nice to see this list because now we're clear on
what, you know, we're all set on moving forward. Um, so I I think I don't think we need to go through each and every one of them. Um, is there any questions or comments we can do? >> Anything further on that? >> Just that, you know, like the for the 2223, it's just exemplifying that the
city does not want to waste a single dollar of these funds. When a project comes in under budget, we want to be thinking about how do we use every dollar awarded to us as a mini entitlement community? How do we give back to the social servicesers that are really uplifting the community? And I'm
glad that we were able to approve the the funding to really give um I think much needed assistance to some of the people and organizations that provide much needed assistance um in the community. So I thank the CDPG steering committee for seeing that through.
>> Thank you. >> Ongoing projects >> starting off with the rear main north side. So this is ongoing with substantial completion. Um, as I've mentioned in in previous updates in regards to this project of May 31st, 2026, uh, this is an amount for $4.1 uh
million from an FY23 Mass Works uh, infrastructure program. Um, so this is for the available parking in the downtown area, water feature, green space, splash pad, and movement of the existing utilities along the back of uh, main street businesses um, underground.
Um, so despite weather conditions out there, uh, the contractors have still confirmed that the remaining work will be completed with a March or May 31st, uh, 2026 completion date. Um, there have been some delays between National Grid
and but I'm I'm glad that I've been able to work with the contractors, work with National Grid to to see those delays through and and still stay on track with with the date that we've been saying this whole time of of May 31st. So, I'm looking forward to the ribbon cutting
there. That will be a a much needed project um for I know a lot of people have been looking for the um additional parking in the city. And so hopefully this this meets the needs and provides a venue for food trucks, provides a venue
for community gathering. like I I think it's a really needed third space for the three seasons out of the year that people can really utilize that green space. Um so I'm very much looking forward to that project being completed. >> Thank you. Questions, comments from the committee.
>> Yes, I had a comment sl um you mentioned national grid. Is there any um updates on some of the substations getting fixed? I think I reached out to you about. So what's happening is is there are people who want to get solar and the stations can't
hold they can't um they're not able to because the substation is at its max in which either some of these should reach out to the solar companies so they're not wasting their time because they're knocking on doors. customers are going
ahead and agreeing to have them come um get surveyed but then National Grid basically says is there any update on any of the uh >> is that something that your your department your department wouldn't have anything to do with that correct >> we don't have anything to do with it
directly the A1B2 upgrade project that councelor Heath is is talking about is one that is much needed into upgrading the existing infrastructure because of the current load on the system not being able to uh accompany any any further
solar development, any additional renewable energy development in the city. I have a lot of solar developers looking to build largemounted solar photovoltaic arrays, solar arrays um in the city that have reached out and I have to say to them,
this project is likely to continue into the 2030s, like probably 2031, 2032. it it's looking like a five to six year timeline for the full project to be completed. This next year is just as far as I'm aware because they've really just given a highle overview. This isn't
something that they're working in conjunction with the city. It it gives me a lot of it. It's hard to to reach to speak to developers and have them interested in building in the city and say that there's nothing that I can do in regards to this that this is a
project solely under the jurisdiction of National Grid and and their equipment and say that you know 5 to 6 years from now hopefully the infrastructure project is completed, the upgrades are completed and that we can accompany future solar
development. But until they complete that project, like I said, the this first year is is just clearing I I of the the expanding the current corridor that they have for their A1 B2 wires just so that they can
begin construction work on the upgrades that they're doing on that corridor. So, it's a long process and it's not the answer I I want to be giving. I like to be the one who hopefully moves projects along and doesn't take seven years to complete a single project, but that's
it's out of my hands, unfortunately. >> My office has been in touch with National Grid on this project, too. Um because it's affecting our solar projects that we want to do on our city buildings. Um we recently got approval. Uh National Grid's allowed for pilot programs. Uh basically, they call them
behind the meter projects. So, uh for instance, for us here, uh the goal is to get the solar panels up within the next 18 months. And now that's the initial goal, but it's a national grid 18 months. So that could be whatever you take in between it. Um, but the power produced by those panels will go
directly into the building first before then going out into the system where before it used to be the the power produced went right out into the system and it was kind of offset that way. Um, so behind the meter means it's basically we're fueling ourselves before we're connecting to the meter at that point.
Um, that's uh exactly what Haywood Hospital just got approval for for their parking lot. Um, and it's that type of work that we'll probably see being allowed more until that transition wire is done. Basically, if this was Medford, they turn it on tomorrow because they have an increased demand for electricity
because they have a greater population than we do here. Um, and Medford would love the electricity that we could produce here on solar, but there's no infrastructure to get that power from here to there. It's just really from there to here that they've got set up right now. So that's that's the project
they need to fix, but there are some new pilot programs that they're letting go of to try to get some of these projects along. It's just it's going slower than we'd expect or hope for. I shouldn't say expect because at this point we almost expect it, but slower than we hope for.
>> Um, thank you. I know this wasn't necessarily a good time to talk about this solely, but you brought up national and it just it triggered me to go ahead and ask a question. Therefore now I can for the constituents that are asking me things and such I can refer to them to get right from the video go to YouTube
and watch and get the explanation. If I can't help you think too I mean cuz we had heard that years ago with solar developers trying to come in here and they're like it's going to run out you're going to reach like we've reached it and now here we are and that was that was when there was a couple trying to come in here and
they were like you're going to get to a point we're not going to be able to do this again and now that's that's where we're at really. Um, so that's and it's different by community. I don't know the solar companies know that or whatever, but that's it's really doesn't have it's just like you said, it's out of the
hands of the community at this point, but but hopefully, but we do a good job of moving projects along here, so we're keep them moving. >> Yes. >> Other questions, comments? >> Okay. Uh, master plan update. >> The next multiple are all of the plans
that the city has going on. are quite a few so I'll try to go through them relatively quickly. The first one is the master plan which is funded through the FY FY24 community planning grant which is funded through the Massachusetts uh state onetop for growth application. So
again more state funding as well as uh 32,000 from the EA planning assistance grant. So that is a one through the echo onetop um through the exe executive office of energy and environmental affairs again state funding uh but that
is for the HPP plan which is the housing production it's which are working in tandem with the master plan the housing production and the master plan are are one and the same the housing production will be an appendix or incorporated into the actual master plan itself but the
master plan in of itself is to review uh planning efforts, existing conditions, uh public input, and to provide a vision for the community's uh future development, a roadmap of how we get there. It's to identify development for
the next 10 to 20 years. So, it's a long-term long like widescale uh planning effort. Um current work for this, we've already completed the issues, recommendations, goals, values, vision statement, and the inventory and assessment. Um so far the remaining two
aspect the remaining two chapters are for the community engagement plan and the implementation chapter. So how the city actually tracks implementation towards the goals that we've identified in the master plan itself. And we intend to have the full draft available for the
planning board and city council uh to review based on like whether we have a joint public hearing between the planning board and city council. That will depend on how quickly we get in front of city council, but the draft will be prepared by late March, early April.
Um, if there are any questions, I I could just go over the housing production plan just cuz I said they're kind of one and the same. Um, that's funded with a substantial completion date um of June 30th, but the intent is to have it completed um as well to be incorporated into the the full draft by
late March, early April. Um the substantial completion date is the adoption of the the plan itself. So um but that is to create numerical goals to expand on the affordabil affordability of housing allow wider variety of homes in the city identifying mun municipal
properties available for additional housing and how we can meet the regionwide needs uh for housing among other other components. Um, so we've already identified relevant municipal properties to be identified in this plan and we have bi-weekly meetings ongoing.
Um, and we they attended our December 9th planning board meeting to present uh briefly and we'll have ongoing public engagement to this prior to be incorporated into the master plan. >> Any questions, comments? >> Thank you. An update positive mitigation
plan. >> Another pro another plan in progress by the city. This is rather than the master plan, which is the city's first master plan since 1975. This is the city's first individual hazard mitigation plan that we're not just incorporating the
Monachus regionwide uh hazard mitigation plan. So, it's specific to Gardener, specific to its needs. Um chapter, this is funded through the FY25 community planning grant program, which is another uh Massachusetts Mass Massachusetts
state onetop for growth. So, another state uh funded grant for $90,000. Um, chapters 1 through three and also five have all been completed. Chapters four for vulnerability impacts I've just reviewed and we're currently finalizing
to send over to the steering committee. Uh, leaving chapters 6, 7, and 8 uh to be prepared before its full presentation to the planning board and city council. we'll get a better idea of what the timeline is for when the full draft will be prepared, but it also has a substantial completion date which
include up of June 30th which also includes adoption by the city council and planning board. So, we aim to have that done prior to June 30th. >> Thank you. And um I just want to Mayor I remember you had um we had initiated this after there was the substantial flooding. Yep.
>> It was in Londonster. Um, and so glad to see that this is, you know, gone pretty quickly because it's it does take a significant amount of work to get it in place as you both know, but it's something that if we have it, if we need it, it's really good that we have it. So, um, I really appreciate that. Any other comments, questions, discussions
from the committee? >> Having your own local plan too does open you up for additional grant funding for construction projects. So if if this plan identifies a vulnerability in the infrastructure, if this is, you know, susceptible to some type of damage, if we were to get a flood like Lemonster,
it does open up funding for you to mitigate that fund and kind of fix the problem before it happens. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The downtown mobility plan funded through uh that is uh awaiting contract from we are waiting the contract between
the state and the FHWA, the the Federal Highway Administration. Uh that amount is for one just north of $1.2 million and that is funded through a raise grant. So that is um federal funds uh themselves um that will access address
um transportation infrastructure, multimodal uh transit options um a neighborhood scale mobility hub uh connectivity parking infrastructure and also include the planning engineering preparation for bid ready documents for a four-story parking garage on West
Street located in the downtown area. Um, so we have been waiting actually on the discussion between MASDAT and FHWA on the language in this agreement since September of 2024. So a long long time. And I've most recently had conversations
with uh Derek Cvat over at Mass in regards to what the current deliberations are from uh FHWA because they are currently the ones uh that we are waiting on to approve the language in the grant agreement. And he got back to me on February 9th. So just this week
um saying that it's still with their um their officers on on their program administrators on uh approving the language and that. So I have no more updates to give than I'm staying on top of him and he's providing me updates as often as as uh as he can in regards to
when this could be approved. Okay. >> Our lobbyists are also doing another their own advocacy on this directly with FHWA. That's Keller Partners who does our grant writing as well. Um so they're monitoring the situation too. Um the raise grant isn't interesting in that each administration has kept an
iteration of it just really changing the name but when they go through the the tiger grants under the Obama administration the build grants under the uh current administration or the uh raise grants under the Biden administration it's the same program. They've just changed the name and the wording and the language with it. Um, so
they're reviewing all of these contracts nationwide, which is what's hope causing a ve backup um on getting this back from FHWA. Uh, but we're hopeful to get that at some point. >> Thank you. Uh, and I just want to be clear on this uh situation. So this
four-story parking garage, this is we are definitely getting a four-story parking garage on West Street or we just having conversations. I want that to be very clear. >> This is >> that's important. >> That that is very important. This is not the construction of a four-story parking garage. This is a uh is the West Street
parking lot s suitable for a parking garage of this size and if so what would that parking garage need to be engineered as? >> So this is just asking the question getting the information that there is no parking garage going there as of right now. Nothing has been decided. >> We are not building a parking garage as
of right now. We are entertaining the idea and this is the mechanism we're doing it for. >> Correct. Yep. Yes. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions, comments? project municipal service project. >> This is uh in progress awarded through
the uh FY26 uh one stop for growth um for $50,000. So again, state funded uh no cost to the city. This is to create a a citywide surplus property plan that repositions vacant, underused uh publicly owned parcels as catalyst for
housing, catalyst for jobs, equitable investment. um inventory surplus sites uh assess constraints and opportunities on those sites uh engage with local stakeholders uh and deliver a clear roadmap for strategic reuse aligning
with Garner's planning goals. Um so we've already categorized uh an inventory of parcels a total of 19 of them uh list was sent to mass development and the the planning groups that we're working with in regards to this plan. We have regular meetings ongoing. Um, and we've shared the
relevant parcel, property cards, GIS information to begin them working on the plan. Um, so ongoing but exciting because if it's not on the if it's of no use to the city and we have we own it
for no reason and they're completely buildable lots, which I think close to half of the parcels that we identified are, there's no reason why we shouldn't bid those out, have them available to to people to, especially given the expanded housing opportunities with the the new
uh home zoning act uh that was adopted in December. Um, we can we can look forward to that. >> Thank you. Questions, comments from the committee? >> Yeah, I'm glad it's being entertained. Um, and then projects and discussion.
>> Starting off with the North Central Pathway phase 2 that would be funded through a Mass Trails grant, which we've already applied for. Uh, we applied for I uh last week of December or last week of January. We sent the uh grant application in. Uh that would be a
$200,000 uh grant with a required $50,000 municipal match which would be matched through our our capital improvement funds. Um, this phase of the project would oversee the planning of the remainder of the nature trail past part that would connect to the existing trail
built off of uh, Crystal Lake Drive and connect past Park Street all the way connecting to the bounds of the pedestrian overpass that would be constructed that going over Route 140. This would not include the planning of the overpass itself. That's a that is a
separate project that is already funded and the city engineer and his team are are going through the planning for that. So we already have the 25% design completed for the remainder of this project and we've already submitted it for mass for their approval or for their
review. Um and then we've completed the grant application because these funds are meant to get us all the way to 100% uh completed and permitted uh for the remainder of the nature trail. This would not include the construction of the nature trail itself. This is solely
for the planning for the remainder of it. Um so rather than us do short sections here and there like say the next section up to Park Street, the next section being the the crossing of Park Street, the following one being up to
the um electrical uh substation for National Grid, and then the last one being um up to Route 140. We're just doing it all at once. So, we have the full plan for the remainder of the work and we can move forward with it as future Mass Trails grants allow us to.
So, whatever their awards are, that way we can complete construction of whatever portion u of the trail would be um properly funded through whatever grant award we get from future Mass Trails uh grants. If that makes sense.
>> Questions, comments for the committee. Just to make it clear for the people watching the public for this one and the next one, these are applications that have been submitted. We haven't been awarded the funding for these. So these projects are potential projects. Uh and we normally don't share applications that we're applying for to make it so
that there's not that much confusion up there thinking, you know, we applied for a grant versus we got the grant versus the project's actually going to happen. But at least for these two uh where they're one continuations of projects or two projects of big public interest that's why um you know just sharing that these things are going on behind the scenes for people who have you know is
this going to continue is this happening things of that nature. Um where we normally don't share applications that we're just in the process of writing or submitting or haven't heard back from yet to avoid any confusion but these are two potential projects. Uh we have received some feedback on both of these that has looked uh positive but it's
stuff that we're still waiting for the actual answer on if these are actually happening or not. Thank you. Uh I think the the having the applications out there um what I I think needs to be also I appreciate you making it clear for that
reason for the public because um when we do we talk about state funding and all these things like we're not just given this money. >> The city's work is we have to apply for these things. We have to we have to provide a significant amount of paper paper paperwork information be very organized you know talk to a lot of
different stakeholders to even get the application in whether it's state federal private whatever the funding is that we get but these are typically state and federal and then sometimes there's like a city match or something like that so we do a lot of work on our end to get this and we have to be eligible for it we have to have all our ducks in a row and I think that's one of
the really important things about the majority of these projects and where the funding comes from it's great that it's state funding but we have to apply for it we have to have good advocates it's at the state level um you know as I know like working with Repznik he's he does a ton of work on our behalf to you know maintain those relationships and make it
clear of what we need um for a lot of other areas in the city but that knowing the applications are out there like even just getting to the application submission point is a ton of work and it's a lot on our piece we also have to seek it out and know that it's available so um that's a big part of you know the work of your department when even comes
to getting to the project never mind getting through the project >> um so I appreciate appreciate that. Uh any questions, comments from the community? Keys Road cover. >> Yeah, as as the mayor said, like we want to make sure that this project in particular, the Keys Road, there's a lot
of people who are interested in in the North Central Pathway and the continuation of it, but the Keys Road is a is a the only connecting road for like 50 to 60 residents in Gardener. So this road's deterioration uh its current
status um is a concern for for those citizens who rely on this as their only artery to the city and to the rest of civilization. Um so we they we want to make sure that that they're aware that
we have been working on grants uh in regards to this project. Uh we've we are currently uh we have applied for one. We're in the process of applying for the other. Uh we've applied for the community covert grant which is uh state funded uh for 90,000 or $900,000.
Um and we are in the process of applying for the MVP grant uh which is um which is state state funded. Y >> yeah y um and is for110,000 which will get us all the way there to the total amount of
uh $2 million$14,000. um with some wiggle room there for the additional four. Uh but that's for the replacement of this culvert uh into a full bridge uh for the for the 60 plus residential neighborhood that relies on this crossing. Uh we want to be prepared
in case this were to ever fail uh that like we implement this to prevent that. um you know the the culvert is in pretty uh bad condition and we want to make sure that we are identifying the
existing infrastructure needs there. Um so we've looked towards various funding sources for this project because there is no grant that we can fund the full $2 million out of. We want to make sure that we're applying for as many grants
as possible so that we have funding in place to properly replace this um replace this covert. But we will hear back from uh both applications and and hope for the best for both of them. Thank you. Uh on this
one too, I know that this is we've been talking about this and multiple areas recently and um capital improvement planning. you know, you made that clear in that meeting. Like I I definitely can speak to the advocacy of this and that this is a priority because it is going
to go um and I appreciate this update and all the work that's been done on this because it does affect these residents and if there were to be an issue, it'd be a much bigger problem, longer project, bigger expense, all of the things. So, I appreciate you getting ahead of it and also acknowledging that
we're doing something about it because of course we want to have the funding yesterday and we want to be able to do it. Um, and then moving forward once this is remedied, I think we'll do our best to keep it maintained and do what needs to be done. But, um, I appreciate everyone taking this on because I think it's really important, uh, to make it
clear to the public that this is something we're well aware of because it does affect those people. Um, questions, comments from the committee. >> Uh, thank you, chair. Um, I just want to go ahead and say thank you. You know, my daughter's bus stop is right there at uh Keys in the West, and I'm not going to
say recently because it's been way too cold. Um, but the residents that are there at the bus stop always talk to me about the World Series House. So, um, you know, I now I have a better answer for him and things such, keep them updated and things such. So, uh, thank
you for the ongoing work. Um and then the only other thing I just wanted to say while um director Stevens were on these community development projects is that uh in in the uh previous session for this committee uh director Stevens gave monthly updates that I then gave during our regular
council meetings. Um but this year the way I've structured it just for the public watching as well is we he will be giving quarterly updates instead. So, we'll get four updates this year instead of um one each month. And then I will be reporting those to the council as I think he's demonstrated and made it very
clear that all of this is very organized. It's together. He's on top of it and we will get kind of his like future updates as well. But, um the actual department update of all of the things will be quarterly and we can certainly change that if needed, but I was comfortable doing that given um the
work that he did last year. So, thank you for that. >> Is there anything further on any of these items for director Stevens? Okay, thank you very much. I know you have another meeting to get to. Um, so we appreciate it and um, >> thank you guys. >> Yeah, thank you very much. >> Always.
>> Yes, I say high level that I talk for an hour. That's how these meetings go. >> That's okay. That's okay. Thank you very much. It's incredibly helpful for us as counselors, too. So, thank you. >> Okay, we will move. So, that was item 11746. Um I would unless anyone has an
objection I would like to keep this on the agenda uh just so that we can have this for all of our subsequent meetings. I think in the future, of course, that can change, but when we have the quarterly update, he will give a full department update. And um but I think in
the meantime, we keep this on here in case any of these projects we talked about, he wants to continue to update. And um for the clerk, too, like I had said with the director, he he'll you have this, but I think for the minutes, he'll do the he'll just correct the error that he had mentioned and we
acknowledged and then include just the what kind of specifically with state or federal whatever the funding is. um moving forward for the document. So if everyone also if the committee is okay with that being included in the minutes instead of this original one just because it's we discussed it they're
clear things need to be added we've agreed on okay with that too. Okay. Um okay moving to item I guess back in order but it's kind of the last thing on the agenda anyway. Um first item on the agenda. Item 11772,
an ordinance to amend the code of the city of Gardner, chapter 675, thereof entitled zoning, to remove article 9, therefore entitled science and advertising devices, and move it to a new non-zoning chapter to be numbered chapter 665.
Um, I haven't read an item like that that long in a long time, so it's exciting. Uh, so there was information included in our packet for the meeting. This is something that was submitted by mayor, the mayor and councelor Mack. Uh, and I would like the mayor to give us the kind of summary of what was
submitted. >> Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Uh, this is something that councelor Mack asked that I help co-sponsor with. So, I'm appreciative for her for including me in this process. Uh, this is a little different than an ordinance that we've had in the past and that there's no specific substantive changes in terms of
the language of the ordinance that's here proposed before you. What the ordinance before you would do was take this section of the zoning code and simply move it into a different nonzoning code. So, for instance, everything that's in chapter 675 of the
city code is considered zoning. That's things that regulate uh lot sizes, where things can go, what can be built where, and things of that nature. The regular uh ordinances that we have, which is everything but chapter 675, are also regulations. They just have a
different process to follow. If we want to amend a regular ordinance that we have that's a non-zoning ordinance, it's come before the city council as we've done several times in the past year or so even. Um, you know, make the case, have the two printings move forward from there. Zoning is a different story where we have to go before the planning board,
there's a joint public hearing. Uh, there's another meeting of the planning board, another meeting of the council, two votes from there. It's a lot lengthier of a process and that's meant for a reason and should be that way for a reason because a lot of the regulations on what can be built where are um you know to make sure that the
character of the city remains the same that you know gardener still stays gardener but still has the opportunity to grow and develop and have a lot more public input with it. The reasoning uh for taking the sign section and taking that out of the zoning code and putting it into the general ordinance category
is really the signage comes after the building portion is done. Uh so if someone says I want to build um Tiffany Crossroads 2 and we want to have another area that we have something like the 99 and Starbucks and things of that nature that process likely went through its full zoning review and if there needed
some type of zoning change that went through the process that needed to happen in terms of the planning board the council public hearings if the ZBA is involved and your signage comes as a result of those discussions that are there. The reason why signage has come up as a
topic is because there's been a couple of instances, almost about a dozen since I've been mayor and over the past couple years, a bit longer than that, where someone who's coming in to invest in the city, be it uh for a larger development like Tiffany Crossroads or a smaller uh
single business like Sawa um Asian Cuisine uh over on West Broadway where they've gone through this rigorous process of making sure that they meet all zoning requirements, making sure that they meet all of the city code requirements, and then go to put up their signs and run into a series of other roadblocks and have to start back
at square one and have to go through the process all over again. Uh, so do I believe there are changes that need to be made to the sign ordinance? Yes. Do I believe sign ordinances should be in zoning? No, because you're sending a person back through the same process and sending them back through square one and putting it through an extra cycle when
we're trying to promote development and business improvement in the city. And if we want to say we're open for business, we really should just be open for business rather than having someone go through a cycle of spending money on a lawyer, coming to a hearing, losing the time value of money because as you draw out a project, price increases go up
nine out of 10 times. And it's made it so that people aren't looking at gardener in some cases. Um, and in some cases for very minimal things. You look at what happened with uh Sawa. Their sign was denied because it was uh 3 and a half inches too tall. And so it caused it so that that person had to go through
the whole process again and hire an attorney. for three and a half inches. So, uh I think getting the sign ordinance out of the zoning code is the first step and phase one of that improvement project where we can then take a closer look at it, but at least until those changes are
made gets the developer out of that continuous cycle of red tape and as we're still working towards the final product of what the sign ordinance should look like so it's easier for developments to follow in general and we're a more businessfriendly community. Uh so that was the uh purpose of putting
this before you today is to really have phase one of a two-phase process. Um but with that phase one cutting back at least the bulk of the red tape that's causing a lot of the issues that we're getting feedback from developers around the city. >> Thank you.
>> Questions, comments? >> Um thank you chair. Um, I just I like the fact that we're like, like you said, there's some moves that need to be looked at,
things like that. Um, to make this more business friendly and this right here that way to, like I said, we need the red tape. It's actually >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh I have just one question,
one comment. Uh so I've been aware of this in a couple of instances because I've had businesses reach out to me and talk to me about it. Um it's this is no secret that this is an issue and it just doesn't make any sense. Maybe at one time it did, but doesn't make any sense
to me now that it prolongs the process. And like you said, it it we want to send a businessfriendly message. I agree with you. I think that the ordinance itself does need work. Um, but as you explained it, this being phase one of phase two
and knowing that that is been thoughtfully planned out before this was came to us. Um, that would have been that would have been the question I had is okay, what goes on from here because the ordinance really needs to be looked at. Um, but I've I've been I've been well aware of
this. Um, and I I did know something like this was probably going to be coming just because of like you said very recently there's been enough of it where uh it's it's so exciting to have these businesses or these developments happen and then they get there and and when you agree with them that this
is silly it's like okay what can we do about it right so um that's my comment so I'm really glad that you and Mac have brought this forward uh and just technic as a technical thing just with the way that the rules were just passed with the
council um for committees. This will this is our meeting one of two. So this will be on our next meeting agenda as well and we will uh make a recommendation to the council at that meeting and it's for the public watching as well. Um but then my question is so
phase one is we're taking this out of zoning moving it to non-zoning and then can you just elaborate a little bit more on phase two? So then like the review of the ordinance or what your plan is? >> Yeah, absolutely. Uh I I plan and uh council Mack as well plan on one meeting with the building commissioner and other
um relevant departments that have worked with uh you know applicants who have gone through the zoning issues that have happened in terms of how does our zoning ordinance compare to other communities or how does not zoning how does our sign ordinance compare to other communities? Um are the dimensional standards that we
have because right now our zoning ordinance right now for signs does say signs can only be a certain size can only be a certain place. They can't be lit up. uh after a certain time which I believe is 10 p.m. in the ordinance. So um there's different things like that that have to be looked at. Uh we do plan
on having some discussions with some of the uh individuals and business owners who have gone through these issues. Uh and talked about you know what was your response when you found out when did you find out was seems to be the biggest question that I'd like to know too. Um because at what point in time had you
already invested millions in the city before you found out that your sign was going to be another roadblock for you? Uh where your sign should be a thing you celebrate like it's up there, your project's done, you're finally get your brand out there. Um so things that we're probably going to be looking at in phase two are um a permit process that's more
accessible in terms of when you start your project, tell us what you think your signs are going to be so you can get that initial feedback up front. uh in ter uh reviewing the dimensional requirements to make sure they're not too restrictive. Easing the way that if you do have a sign or a reason why um
your sign doesn't fit even the new dimensional requirements because not everyone likes apples. Some places like oranges because it just fits better. If you have room for a bigger sign, should you have a bigger sign? If you'd prefer a perpendicular sign that hangs on the street rather than one uh flat on the building, uh is there a
reason why? um going through the process of getting a not variance before uh a zoning board, but maybe a special approval process uh and making it easier to get what you want downtown. The goal isn't to cut all regulations back. It's to make them more actually reasonable
and user friendly so that we get a product in the end rather than lose people because the process is just too much. >> Thank you. And I I um those that answered a lot of it hit a lot of things I was hoping that you were going to hit when you explained
what you're going to be doing in phase two. So I appreciate that. I um I think it what it does too is when you have citizens go to a business and why isn't your sign up yet? This was the example I got. Well, why isn't your sign up yet? What's like your sign says you're open for business in a lot of ways. Former
business owner here, you know, like people need to know you. They know who you are. You build a rapport. they have but who the faith like you the face of the business but also anything that you have on your business depending what the business is is important. Um, and so then what happens is, oh, people in the
community or who visit the business, they why isn't your sign up yet? Or you should get more signage here and there's a business owner who's been doing this for maybe a couple of years at this point with a huge investment of their of their time and money and they say, "What are they supposed to do?" Then it puts
them in the position where what are they going to do? Say, blame it on the city. They probably don't want to do that, but that is really the reasoning. It just puts everybody in a very weird position. um besides the fact that like you said this just has to be re-reviewed and and
um reorganized. And what I would suggest too is maybe there's some type of form or just questionnaire or something that's that's consistent where um the businesses or entities that have had this issue, you can send it them and say fill this out, make it easier for them
or get some type of testimonial. But if you have something that's hitting all the things you want, you can just provide those to the planning board, the council, whoever needs to, you know, look at it to actually change FA in phase two. Um, and I think also as a
business owner that to me would go, oh great, they're doing something about it. It actually shows the followup and you're putting especially with the small businesses. Um, and not to put anything off with the large businesses because they have a lot of work to do, too. But I think if you provide something saying here's the in here's the questions we
have about your experience like at the end of you know you purchase something and you get an email sent to you and it says you know tell us your experience kind of a thing. I think if you give them that and say like hey I know like tell us what your experience is with your sign specifically make it easy for
them to fill out what their thoughts were. They give it back to you and you have one consistent for everyone. you know, it doesn't have to be a million of them, but if it's enough of them, you can include that in your testimony as to why you want to make these changes. And that way, um, you get what you're looking for. Because that would be my
first question. I'd be like, well, you say it's been this many times or it's this been it's it's been this issue. What do they have to say? You know, cuz coming from them, like like coming from constituents, it helps us a lot of times make decisions we need to make on the council. We've heard this from so many people who've gotten, you know, all
these calls or all these emails and had all these conversations. you've had that. So, I would just document it. And that's my um recommendation, but like that's what I would say if it were me to go here, do this. They just have to submit it back and then you're more likely to get it. If you ask for a
testimony or something like that, then it's up to them to do it. But just to make it easy and a little bit more uniform, um that can help support your argument. >> If I could add um what two quick things that I forgot to mention before too. Um, and these are do two things that I do
plan if this does move forward. It would require a public hearing that I do plan to say in my testimony at the public hearing if it should be scheduled, if this should move forward. Um, I think back to the when we had the ARPA funds and we had the new sign program, we were begging people to apply for the sign
program and we had a fair amount of money left over that we reappropriated into the more successful facade program because we couldn't get people to apply. And when we were asking people, hey, you know, we've got money if you want a new sign. Well, it's a grant for you that like this is what this money is for. We got it from the federal government.
We're giving you, you know, money to get a new sign for your business. No one wanted to apply because the sign ordinance was too restrictive and they said it just simply wasn't worth the headache. So, we've got the data on that end. Um, one of the things that also brought up on my mind is, um, we allow,
and this is just an example of where the ordinance is, you know, different depending on where you are. We currently allow awnings in the uh city's main downtown commercial district. Um the cloth fabrics that go over, you know, it's John Sport Shop staple over the year. What we have balanced staffing
sign in front of them. We don't allow that in the South Gardener Center. Uh and I can think of at least one business owner who wanted to put an awning up and then was told they couldn't because of the zoning that was there. Um this would fix that and just make it more uniform across the city and it just makes it so we're not patchwork, but we actually have a uniform system across that.
Everyone's just easy to follow. It's not well where do I live? What do I find out about this? What do I do that? And it's just this is gardening and that's really the goal of it in the end. >> Thank you. Any questions, comments on the Okay, this item um being first time on the agenda will remain on the agenda
um and stay in subcommittee for the next meeting. Is there any other questions, comments about anything we've discussed today that's on the agenda? >> Okay, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So move. >> Second. >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. I
>> those opposed. No. Motion passes. Meeting adjourned. Thank you.