2026-09-16 - Economic Development Committee

0:08Get ready.

0:10I don't want to I don't want to scare

0:11anyone. Uh good afternoon everyone. This

0:14is the city of Worester Economic

0:16Development Subcommittee. Uh joining me

0:19today is vice chairperson Kathleen K.

0:22Tumi to my left and to my right council

0:25at largeitra. Um, city council at large

0:28Morris Bergman as the chair. I'm going

0:31to ask the clerk who's clerking today

0:33who is AJ Podle to do a roll call. Mr.

0:36Ple, would you?

0:37>> Councilors Mitra.

0:39>> Yes.

0:40>> Tumi

0:41>> here.

0:41>> And chairperson, councelor Burkeman.

0:43>> I am here. Uh, Mr. Ple, could you read

0:451A virtual attendance call and

0:47information notice to petitioners?

0:50>> Absolutely, Mr. Chairman. So, pursuant

0:51to chapter 20 of the acts of 2021, in

0:53order to ensure active public

0:55engagement, the city of Wester current

0:56allows for both in-person and remote

0:58participation in all of its meetings. To

1:00partake in the meeting, you can either

1:01come in to the uh meeting location or

1:03you can join via Zoom. The Zoom link is

1:06listed on the agenda and on the

1:07municipal calendar of the city's

1:08website. There's also a phone number

1:10tonight. That number is 1-646828-7666.

1:14And the access code tonight is

1:16160-382-3487.

1:20We're also using this as an opportunity

1:22to make sure that folks are aware that

1:23our office has been notified of an

1:25ongoing scam involving the impersonation

1:27of city officials and departments.

1:28Scammers are fraudulently requesting

1:30payments be made for planning and zoning

1:32permits as well as city council

1:34petitions. All official emails regarding

1:36your petition will come exclusively from

1:38an atwistermma.gov email address such as

1:40[email protected]

1:42or via physical mail.

1:44Um, and that will include the city of

1:47Wester's official letter head. Any

1:48legitimate hearing letter will always

1:50include your specific application

1:51details along with the schedule hearing

1:53date, time, and location. The city of

1:55Wester will never request payments via

1:57wire transfer. Thank you.

2:00>> Thank you. Do we have anybody online?

2:03>> Mr. Chairman, we have one person online.

2:05>> All right. Well, first we're going to

2:06get to the folks in the crowd. Before I

2:08do that, I al also want to introduce in

2:11front of me is Peter Dunn. uh who is the

2:14head of economic development and uh to

2:17his right my left is Paul Morano who is

2:21the assistant um for economic

2:24development and also head special

2:26projects. So with those introductions

2:30I'll ask anybody in the audience if they

2:31want to come forward and speak on any

2:33agenda item.

2:39>> Uh thank you chair. your name and the

2:41city residence, please.

2:42>> Full name.

2:44>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, Fred Nathan

2:46Worcester on the first item, the tax

2:49increment financing.

2:52I I'm unclear something here. Have they

2:57I thought they've already started

2:58construction

3:00or have they not?

3:02>> Mr. Dunn, could you respond to Mr.

3:05Nathan?

3:06through the chair. The work that has

3:08been going on which is described in the

3:11in the memo that's been in front of us

3:13with this agenda is the um

3:15infrastructure work that's been going

3:16on. So preparing the site for

3:19redevelopment. What we're talking about

3:21with respect to this item will be the

3:23future vertical construction that will

3:25happen from uh other private sector

3:28buyers of the parcels that have been

3:30created.

3:30>> Thank you.

3:31>> All right. Thank you for that

3:32clarification. So do you going forward

3:37or even heck you know skipped going

3:40forward today do you have a even a

3:43general idea of what kind of development

3:46has

3:49have you all been approached to anything

3:52specific

3:54uh that they would need the uh tiff for?

3:58Mr. Dunn, if you don't mind, would you

4:00help us out? I'm

4:01>> just curious.

4:04through the chair. We I'm sure the uh

4:06committee would deliberate on this

4:08further as we kind of go over the

4:09entirety of the item, but generally

4:11speaking, we're talking about the

4:13competitiveness of Worcester uh not just

4:15within the context of Massachusetts. As

4:17we know, Worcester has the eighth

4:18highest commercial tax rate in all of

4:20Massachusetts. And for the types of uh

4:23end users and companies that we are

4:25trying to see locate here, we are not

4:27just competing at a state level. We are

4:29competing at a national and a global

4:31level. So putting our best foot forward

4:33on making this as attractive as possible

4:36and pulling on the levers that we can

4:38positively influence such as the cost of

4:40doing business in Worcester and

4:42Massachusetts is one of the things that

4:43will help us achieve that goal.

4:46>> Okay. Having said all that, uh they have

4:49to come before you to make some sort of

4:52a presentation of what they want to do.

4:54Correct me if I'm wrong.

4:57>> Correct. But if I could stop for one

4:59second, we're going to have a Are we

5:00having a presentation tonight of some

5:02sort?

5:02>> I would.

5:03>> Okay. So, m Mr. Nathan, can I can I make

5:05a suggestion? Absolutely. We're going to

5:07be doing a presentation. Some of your

5:09questions may get answered. I promise to

5:11give you additional time after the

5:13presentation if you still have some

5:15questions, but I think it's not the best

5:17use of time.

5:18>> All right. All right. Ask questions that

5:20might get answered.

5:20>> I was just trying to get a general idea.

5:22You know, just

5:23>> you have every right to ask those

5:24questions. Uh, also plus I don't know

5:26how long we stay in this meeting cuz I'm

5:27also going to go to the zoning. So,

5:30>> we only have you for a short period

5:32then.

5:32>> Hey, what can I say?

5:33>> We'll try to make use of it.

5:35>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

5:36>> Thank you. Anybody else uh want to come

5:38forward?

5:40Sure. Just watch just wait to the end.

5:42Rea, you come forward, sir. Thank you.

5:44Uh name uh and city of of where you

5:48reside. We don't need the specific

5:50address, just the city or town.

5:52>> All right. Good evening, Mr. Chair and

5:53committee members. Uh my name is Rich

5:55Mazaki of North Andover, Mass. Um I'm

5:58here u representing Trymont Development

6:01Partners. Uh we are a partner on item 3B

6:05uh the UC TIFF for Lakeside and Garland.

6:08Um also joined with by my development

6:11partner uh Eliza Data of E3 Development.

6:15Um just wanted to say a few words about

6:16the project. Um, so this is the

6:19redevelopment of Worcester Housing

6:21Authorities's oldest public housing

6:23property, uh, Lakeside Avenue. Um, as

6:26part of the development, we'll demolish

6:28202,

6:30uh, public housing units built in 1949

6:33and replace those units with about 350

6:36uh, affordable housing units. Um the

6:39subject of tonight's um topic is um

6:43Lakeside Phase 3, which is 103 units. Uh

6:47phases one and two are currently under

6:50construction and about 30% complete. Uh

6:53we'll deliver in 2027.

6:56Uh phase three is 103 units. as I

6:59mentioned um we've received a funding

7:01award from um EOHLC the state agency um

7:07just recently have also received a

7:09funding award from uh the city's

7:11affordable housing trust fund and then

7:13along with those sources um and also

7:16housing works was another uh funding

7:18source we've received um so along with

7:21those funding sources this uh tiff will

7:24allow the project to move forward um And

7:28the the project has had great support

7:30from the city uh from the start over the

7:32past several years of our our planning

7:34efforts in getting the redevelopment

7:37underway.

7:39>> Thank you.

7:39>> Thank you.

7:40>> UA,

7:42you want to come forward?

7:48>> Uh good evening. Robera Bryan, uh

7:50executive vice president, Worcester

7:51Business Development Corporation in

7:52Worcester. here to speak about the um uh

7:56item one uh the Greenale uh tiff zone.

8:00You do have the memo in front of you. I

8:01don't want to uh waste uh the

8:02committee's time on repeating um the

8:05work that was done by the chief

8:06development officer uh in the

8:08development office which uh ostensibly

8:10speaks about um the competition that we

8:13are facing here um in Worcester.

8:15Worcester does a lot of things very well

8:17including our workforce, our skill set,

8:20our educational system, um our higher

8:22education as well as our um is our

8:25school age children. Um and we are in

8:28the mix for advanced manufacturing uh

8:32often because of uh the things that we

8:34do well. Where uh Worcester falls short

8:37uh in the competitiveness on a national

8:40um and even regional level is our tax

8:43base. uh what often happens when

8:46companies are looking for uh sites,

8:49they're looking for sites that are ready

8:51for development and then they're looking

8:52at what their bottom line will be uh

8:54when they begin operating. We have done

8:57as much as we can, the WBDC, and

8:59preparing these 30 acres for

9:00development. As Mr. done has uh

9:03explained already there's some

9:05infrastructure work um that will be

9:06ongoing uh on the site to to put in new

9:09public streets to bring new

9:11infrastructure to these uh end users

9:13that hopefully will uh come to fruition.

9:16We also have a a new uh end user that

9:19should be beginning construction in

9:21early 2027 uh which is on a different

9:23portion of the site and you'll you'll

9:25see that construction happening within

9:27the next six months. But it's these 30

9:29acres along Interstate 190 that we're

9:31focusing on here today uh at this

9:34committee uh which is the most uh viable

9:38uh location for advanced manufacturing

9:40which is how we've slated this land to

9:42be developed to occur. There's not a lot

9:44of advanced manufacturers that are

9:46looking to expand or grow or to

9:48relocate. It's an expensive uh it's an

9:51expensive business to relocate and a lot

9:54of times the um what the criteria comes

9:56down to is again workforce of which we

9:59have but also tax base. Mr. Dunn has

10:02noted that we're the eighth highest in

10:04the Commonwealth. I would also note that

10:06our surrounding communities uh adjacent

10:09to Worcester also have significantly

10:12lower tax rates beginning at $13 a

10:14square foot and only increasing to about

10:17$25 a square foot in surrounding

10:19communities, all of which are uh still

10:22uh below Worcester's tax rate. So, this

10:25sort of pre-ordained tiff that we will

10:28be able to advertise and market as part

10:30of our package to advanced manufacturers

10:32will get us in the game, will get us a

10:34seat at the table where we're currently

10:36being knocked out early in competitions

10:39because of our tax rate. Um the prior uh

10:42speaker does make a good note that there

10:44still has to be a process that will be

10:46followed. Of course uh that each end

10:48user will still have to qualify for a

10:51tiff through the typical process uh that

10:53occurs with the development office and

10:55we will not remove that process um from

10:58the city. Uh there'll also be a

11:00responsible developer ordinance and in

11:02addition um WBDC has stepped up and also

11:05voluntarily signed a community benefits

11:07agreement which again um solidifies you

11:09know our um commitment to this site um

11:13to the labor force in Worcester both in

11:16um construction jobs as well as

11:17permanent jobs. So, I just thought it

11:19would be helpful for the committee to

11:20hear exactly what we're up against uh

11:24for advanced manufacturing and trying to

11:26bring um companies to Worcester um that

11:29oftentimes uh a company relocating, you

11:32know, looking to keep its workforce in

11:33the area can easily turn to an adjacent

11:36community um and get um a lower tax rate

11:40immediately uh without even an

11:42application to a tiff. So with your

11:44approval um this would help us be much

11:46more competitive and bring really high

11:48quality jobs to Worcester. Thank you.

11:50>> Thank you.

11:52>> Anybody else on our live audience want

11:55to come forward and speak? Seeing no and

11:58Mr. Podle, we have somebody online.

12:02>> Sharon, we have one person online just

12:03sent a request to see if they'd like to

12:06um provide any testimony.

12:10Give them a second here. Mr. Mr.

12:12Chairman, it doesn't look like the

12:13person wishes to unmute.

12:15>> Okay. Um, let's go then to uh approval

12:19of the minutes. Item two.

12:22Um, actually, can you give me one

12:24second?

12:27>> All right. Item number two. Uh, could

12:29you read the approval of the minutes,

12:30Mr. Champ, Mr. Clerk?

12:32>> Sure. Order that the city council

12:34Standing Committee of Economic

12:36Development hereby approves the minutes

12:37of the Economic Development Committee

12:38meeting on June 25th, 2026. And could

12:41you take a roll call to approve the

12:42minutes?

12:43>> Councilors Mitra,

12:44>> yes.

12:45>> Tumi,

12:46>> yes.

12:46>> And chairperson and councelor Burkeman.

12:47>> Yes. Thank you. Item 3A, communication

12:50with the city manager

12:53re uh recommending adoption of

12:55resolution establishing tax increment

12:57financing zone. I'm sorry, let me repeat

13:00that. Communication of the city manager

13:02recommend adoption of a resolution

13:04establishing a tax increment financing

13:06zone for Green Tech Park. So, I don't

13:10know if we're going to have um Mr. Dunn

13:14uh are you going to take the lead on

13:16presenting this?

13:17>> Please go ahead.

13:20>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll give a

13:21brief uh summary for the committee. I

13:22know that uh there's been already some

13:24spoken about it in terms of some of the

13:26initial questions and then Miss Brian's

13:28comments. Uh but some things I'd like to

13:30highlight further about this. Um, as the

13:33committee knows, uh, the Green Tech Park

13:36initiative has been one of the most

13:38important, uh, priorities for our

13:40economic development agenda over the

13:41last several years since, uh, the

13:43Worester Business Development

13:44Corporation and New Garden Park, Inc.

13:46took acquisition of the 51 acres. In

13:502022, a substantial amount of progress

13:52has uh, been achieved in terms of

13:54preparing this acreage for the

13:56redevelopment opportunity that we see.

13:58Uh so a lot goes into that in terms of

14:00the uh demolition of the deteriorated

14:03structures that have to exist that

14:05existed the remediation of those uh

14:08building materials that have to be

14:09handed handled appropriately. Um coming

14:11up with the planning exercise of

14:13upgrading some of the existing driveways

14:16to public street standards. uh creating

14:19the upgraded infrastructure that then is

14:21necessary to support the new intensive

14:23uses that will be there as well as the

14:25frontage necessary for the zoning um

14:28compliance for the parcels. As part of

14:30that planning exercise, the WBDC has

14:32achieved a definitive site uh definitive

14:35subdivision plan approval with the um

14:37Worcester Planning Board for that layout

14:40um and is imminently getting um

14:42contractors identified for the work on

14:44the first segment of that being uh what

14:46is currently known as Sea Street. Uh and

14:49so as um Miss Brian was describing a lot

14:53of this as it's uh made progress with

14:55the land preparation it we have entered

14:57into the marketing stage of this and so

15:00as we have identified through some

15:03exercises through site selectors and

15:05requests for proposals over the last

15:07several months uh reducing the

15:10uncertainty around whether or not this

15:13area could be eligible and supported by

15:16the council for a tax increment finance

15:18financing is something that we're

15:20looking to address and solve for with

15:22this recommendation. Uh as was noted uh

15:25similar to really the process as we have

15:28for any tiff once the company has

15:30identified and they've established the

15:32size of the building that they would be

15:34creating the number of jobs to that

15:35would be uh created at that facility we

15:38would still come into the city council

15:39with a subsequent communication

15:41outlining all of those details in the

15:43final negotiated tiff agreement and tiff

15:45terms. So, this isn't uh I guess

15:48removing that process as Miss Brian was

15:51stated, but I don't want to

15:52underestimate the value that this will

15:55have from a marketing perspective

15:57because uh folks might not be familiar

15:59with the uh history of this project for

16:02over the last several years and um the

16:04priority that it has had for the city

16:06administration and the city council. So

16:07this is a way of communicating that

16:09support to the wider audience that this

16:12is a priority that this has been deemed

16:14um eligible for a framework for tax

16:17increment financing and it's not unlike

16:19the I think the first time we did this

16:20at a novel level was the southwestern

16:22Industrial Park and we saw the success

16:24of that in that case it was the

16:26municipality that was trying to um sell

16:28those uh available parcels uh which a

16:31lot of that has now been occupied by

16:33table talk pies um but similar to the

16:35success there we saw how helpful it was

16:37there. This would be uh not too unlike

16:40that effort that was done. Uh in

16:43addition, we have set forth sort of a

16:45guiding framework. So the idea being

16:47that based on the size of the building

16:49that would be constructed that would

16:52give us some parameters as we enter into

16:54those negotiations um for the final

16:56terms uh ranging from you know 35 to 50%

17:00exemption percentage um anywhere from 10

17:02to 15 years which tends to be aligned

17:04with where we have um negotiated other

17:07commercial uh tiffs over the recent

17:09years. Um, I think that is the

17:13highlight. Again, it's really focused on

17:15the packet has a depiction of the

17:18entirety of the area. Um, but we're

17:20really focused on the 30 acres along um,

17:23Interstate 190 for the purposes of this

17:25uh, tiff zone.

17:26>> Great. Thank you, Mr. Dunn. Before I get

17:28to my colleagues for questions, if they

17:31have any, I guess one question I have,

17:33which I'm asking because I think it

17:34would benefit those listening, is could

17:37you just very briefly describe what was

17:39there? what are we trying to create from

17:42from from the past uh moving forward? So

17:46people may not know the history of what

17:48was that.

17:48>> Sure. Uh Mr. Chairman and it is um a

17:51very important area for the city and its

17:53and its legacy and and all of the

17:55economic activity and the families that

17:57have been uh supported uh in this area

17:59of the city for decades uh really over

18:01over a century. So this is uh formerly

18:04part of the Norton campus. Norton was

18:06acquired by Sang Goban. So uh St.

18:08Singleban was the one that sold this

18:10acreage to uh Worcester Business

18:12Development Corporation in New Garden

18:13Park. And it takes years to to put these

18:17pieces together because it really goes

18:18back long before that acquisition took

18:21place in 2022. Um where we were engaging

18:24with our corporate citizens of the city

18:26and learned that uh as we could tell

18:28from observation that a lot of these

18:30structures were not being used to their

18:32previous potential and previous

18:35utilization. And so that's a lot for a

18:37company to also carry in terms of the

18:39property taxes, the utility bills

18:41associated with it, the maintenance. And

18:43so a lot of this started with a

18:45retention project. It was about um

18:48helping Sang Goan maintain the jobs that

18:50they have and continue had and continue

18:52to have there um by right-sizing them

18:55into a certain quadrant of the campus

18:57that made the most sense. uh and seeing

18:59the uh investment they made to double

19:02down on Worcester in terms of the new

19:04administration building that they uh

19:06constructed of about 45,000 square feet

19:08or so that opened in 2025 and also the

19:11significant investment necessary for the

19:13new combined heat and power system um

19:15for that that new area where they've

19:18focused their operations and that

19:20resulted in the rest of it becoming

19:22surplus. So how do we take you know

19:24underutilized properties um address you

19:26know current conditions prepare it for

19:28redevelopment and that's really what I

19:30think the WBDC has done well in its

19:32history as well is that the private

19:35forces would not do this on its own it

19:37requires this kind of intervention these

19:39types of public private partnerships um

19:41to help you know satisfy the needs of

19:43our current employers like Senkoban and

19:45make sure that they're successful but

19:47also unlock that opportunity for uh

19:50redevelopment further investment and new

19:52job creation in this area that has

19:54provided jobs to the community for for

19:57literally over a century.

19:58>> All right. Thank you. I think that's

19:59very helpful. I go to my vice chair,

20:02councelor Tumi. Do you have any

20:03questions?

20:03>> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. Um I really

20:06don't have any questions because I think

20:07it's very clear. Uh I think that this is

20:10a very very important um uh effort and I

20:14think that uh an order and I think that

20:16it's something that um will stead Wister

20:20uh well um moving forward. So I'm happy

20:25with what I've been presented and I

20:27appreciate all the hard work and

20:30coordination and vision. Thank you.

20:33>> Thank you Council Me

20:36>> to you Mr. Chair to Mr. done. Um I would

20:39say that you know this is one of the

20:41projects that is really truly the

20:43economic development incentive for our

20:45city. We need this kind of project where

20:47we can get the manufacturing businesses

20:49coming into town. So this is certainly

20:52certainly something that I favor very

20:54highly. Um the question that I have here

20:57the average exemption that we're going

20:59to be giving is two two factors. The

21:02size of the building as well as the job

21:04right they have to match. So like one

21:06job per thousand square feet is the

21:10requirement. So let's say if we have say

21:12the building is I'm just asking for

21:14understanding for people that if you

21:16have 70,000 square ft and you need 700

21:19with that you need some 70 jobs to go

21:22with it where do we what would be the

21:25percentage and if it's not 50 or 100,000

21:29if it's in between does the percentage

21:30of allocation change with that or we'll

21:33just if you can just explain that

21:36>> sure through the chair I think the way

21:38that we've approached this has been not

21:39so much as a a prescription of exactly

21:42what those terms would be. It's really a

21:43framework uh to guide those

21:45negotiations. Uh to your point, um the

21:48exemption percentage ranges based on

21:51what we have historically been

21:52comfortable with on these types of

21:54incentives. And also thinking about

21:56where we're at on our commercial tax

21:59rate compared to other kind of nearby

22:00areas, it kind of brings us more in line

22:02with that is how that sort of was uh

22:05derived. And then to your point, the one

22:07job um created per 10,000 square feet is

22:11a benchmark we set forth in the

22:13beginning with the WBDC in terms of this

22:15level of um attention and effort as well

22:18as other investments that have been made

22:21by different levels of government and

22:23getting us to where we are today. When

22:24we think about the mass works program,

22:26the economic development administration

22:27at the federal level, there's been some

22:29federal earmarks as well. Um we want to

22:32make sure that that yields the level of

22:34job creation that is commensurate with

22:37that level of public participation. Um

22:39which is great to have partners like uh

22:42the WBDC involved in this because they

22:44can be patient. They're missiondriven

22:46versus you know what we saw I think some

22:47of us would have liked to see maybe

22:49something a little bit better created on

22:51the Greenale Mall site for example but

22:53when it's just totally driven by the

22:54private market that'll happen as it

22:56happens organically. Um but this

22:58required that level of you know

23:00intervention both from the public sector

23:02nonprofit being the WBDC and we all have

23:05that collective um vision and and

23:08mission in mind to make sure that we're

23:10yielding high level of job creation

23:12here. So that's how we're thinking about

23:14the types of companies or or job

23:16creation to be to be to eligible for

23:18this type of benefit. No, this is

23:20wonderful and my thanks to WBDC group

23:24and for bringing in this kind of project

23:26to the city which we need and I'm

23:28absolutely in favor of this uh granting

23:30the to them.

23:31>> Uh can I just stop for one second? The

23:34folks in the back came in a little late.

23:36Is do you want did you want to speak on

23:38the any of these items?

23:39>> No, no, we waiting for the zoning of

23:42Herman Street 42 Herman and Charlton and

23:45all that.

23:45>> So that's not in here. Actually, let me

23:47see

23:48>> if that's the

23:50Oh yeah. Okay, that's C 4C. Okay, I'm

23:52sorry. It's in a different category, but

23:55it's going to be towards the end, so

23:58>> be patient if you can. Mr. Nathan, do

24:00you have any follow-up questions before

24:02you go to the other meeting?

24:03>> I'm going to the zoning now.

24:04>> All right. So, my motion would be to uh

24:08recommend the taxment financing on item

24:113A. And hearing no other comments or

24:14questions, Mr. Ple, would you give us a

24:17roll call of a yay or a nay?

24:19>> Councilors Metitra,

24:20>> yes.

24:21>> Tumi,

24:22>> yes.

24:22>> And chairperson, councelor Bergman,

24:24>> yes.

24:26>> Move on to 3B, communication with city

24:29manager recommending adoption of a

24:31resolution to approve an urban center

24:33housing tax increment financing

24:36agreement for 16 to 32 Lakeside 16-32

24:40Lakeside A and 18-

24:4320 Garland Avenue.

24:46So, Mr.

24:49Mr. Vorano or Mr. Dunn, which one of you

24:51are going to speak on this one?

24:54>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll give a

24:55summary again. I know we had Mr. Mazaki

24:58um comment on this with a high level

25:00overview and this is really a

25:02continuation I would say on the pro

25:04partnership we've had on the

25:05redevelopment of the Lakeside Apartments

25:07with the Wester Housing Authority and

25:09their development partnership with

25:11Traymont Development Partners E3

25:13Development in terms of the um the

25:15overall vision and redevelopment taking

25:17what was you know borderline

25:19obsolescence uh with the existing public

25:21housing units and replacing those public

25:23housing units but also adding additional

25:26um additional capacity there with other

25:29affordability, other units at various

25:31levels of affordability. And so this is

25:33really focused on phase three. We've had

25:35some, you know, pre-existing

25:36partnerships on phase one and phase two,

25:38including home ownership, affordable

25:39home ownership, which is really great to

25:41see, incorporated in this redevelopment

25:44strategy. But phase three is an

25:46estimated $88 million investment to

25:49create 103

25:52um affordable mixed income rental units.

25:55uh in a four-story building uh so

25:58contained in one building. Uh there'll

25:59be a mix of one, two, and threebedroom

26:01apartments there. And the household

26:03incomes will range uh from 30%, 50% and

26:0660% area median income. So really

26:09targeting those those deeper levels of

26:11affordability as would be expected in

26:13this type of partnership with the

26:14housing authority. and they are um

26:16expecting to get under construction in

26:192027 and be about a two-year um

26:22construction process to see that come to

26:26fruition. So, this program just as a

26:28background we've this committee has

26:30looked at I think another um proposal

26:32associated with this. This is the what's

26:34called the urban center housing tax

26:36increment financing program. So, we use

26:38the terms tiffs and ties in different

26:40ways depending on the types of projects.

26:42Um we have the economic development

26:44incentive program. Uh traditional tiffs

26:46I would say which is commercial projects

26:48which is what we just spoke about. We

26:50have HIPP or the tax increment exemption

26:52program which is predominantly market

26:54rate rental housing. Um and then we have

26:56the UC tiff program which is this

26:58program uh related to this item which is

27:01really the same mechanics or same way

27:04that we can benefit a project that's

27:05predominantly affordable housing versus

27:07market rate housing. Um, so we've

27:10established two zones so far in the

27:12city. You have to first establish a UC

27:13TIFF zone in order to uh start thinking

27:16about projects under this program. We

27:18have one on the east side which is

27:20around Curtis Apartments and then we

27:22have one here uh which we've called the

27:23Webster Square tiff zone uh for uh

27:26centered on the lakeside redevelopment.

27:29So that is the um I guess high level in

27:31terms of just the details associated

27:34with the tiff plan similar to what we've

27:36done with Curtis and earlier phase at

27:38Lakeside. This is existing Worcester

27:41Housing Authority property. So it would

27:42otherwise be and has been taxexempt. So

27:45we're a little more aggressive with this

27:47program than we are with like commercial

27:49tiffs or with the HTIP program. um

27:51because these properties have been

27:52taxexempt and so we're getting you know

27:55taxes for the first time um that I think

27:57we could all remember on these on these

27:59properties. Uh so it is a little bit

28:01more exemption with uh more aggressive

28:03in that sense with an average exemption

28:05over the life of the um agreement of 90%

28:08exemption. So, even with that exemption

28:11percentage, we will be receiving over

28:13the course of this agreement uh about

28:16$900,000 in taxes that would otherwise

28:18not be received if it continued to be

28:20taxexempt under housing authority

28:22ownership.

28:23Um

28:25I think that's those are the highlights,

28:27but happy to answer any questions from

28:29the committee.

28:30>> Thank you, Councelor Timmy.

28:32>> Thank you. Um, one of the things I do

28:34want to say is, uh, how grateful I am

28:36for the mix of the types of housing. Um,

28:40and I think it's incredibly important.

28:42We've been talking about this for a long

28:43time about workforce housing and home

28:46home ownership and how important that

28:49is. And I think that that's having all

28:52of that considered in here. Um, it's

28:54great. Um, the I'm looking at the

28:57developers um, obligations. Um, and it's

29:02the uh there's a lot of demolition. Um,

29:07and then they've signed the responsible

29:10development ordinance. Uh, how are we

29:13going to make sure that there's no

29:16issues with that? It's we want to make

29:18sure that

29:21there aren't any. So

29:23>> yes, through the chair, the counselor,

29:25regardless of the um the program,

29:27whether it's the commercial tiffs, the

29:29HIPP, and the Thai agreements for market

29:31rate housing or this UC tiff program,

29:34the responsible development ordinance

29:36applies to all of that. Um so they are

29:38that ordinance is incorporated by

29:40contract and so we try to get out in

29:43front of that um with any applicant at

29:46the beginning to understand what the

29:47expectations are when we participate in

29:49any of these programs. Uh and then not

29:51just with the developer, but then as

29:53they start to uh do pricing uh to

29:55identify a general contractor, making

29:57sure that that's on the front end of the

29:59expectations that the general contractor

30:00would have and then really going all the

30:03way down to the subcontractors because

30:04it's really this kind of value chain of

30:06layers of management both starting with

30:08the municipality, the partnership we

30:10have with the development um group as

30:12well as the property owner into the

30:14different layers of the contracting with

30:16the general contractor and the subs.

30:18There's monthly reporting. We do a

30:19pre-construction conference if you will

30:21to make sure that everybody's on the

30:22same page about those requirements and

30:24expectations and goals and then um we

30:27have monthly reporting associated with

30:29that as well.

30:30>> Could you please remind me what the

30:32percentage of a local uh employees would

30:35be?

30:36>> Yes. So through the chair we have a

30:38quite aggressive goal on Worcester

30:40resident participation. So uh it is a

30:4250% Worcester resident um goal. We have

30:45not had any project get too close to

30:48meeting that. I'd say we've had some

30:49very successful projects be in like the

30:5125% range. Um and then we have uh

30:54diverse uh participation goals as well.

30:57So the uh goal for people of color

30:59workforce hours is 38% and then for

31:01women is 10%. And that was those

31:04>> was that 30 38%

31:06>> 38% people of color and 10% women. And

31:08those numbers were derived from the um

31:11disparity study that we did in analyzing

31:14the level of workforce that is out there

31:17and available to participate um and how

31:20that informs what we should be striving

31:22for for those goals on participation.

31:25>> Okay, great. Um I I don't have any other

31:28questions. I think it's all pretty

31:31spelled out pretty clearly here. So

31:34>> thank you, Council Jimmy. Council Me

31:39to chair to Mr. Dun just to clarify this

31:42is going to be a 20-year plan that based

31:45on the table that you have given for

31:47this project.

31:48>> Yes. Through the chair to the councelor

31:49the duration of the agreement would be a

31:5220-year term. Yes.

31:53>> And the total investment is about $88

31:56million and the developer is will

31:58finance for that. Uh are we certain that

32:01he has got the finances set

32:05>> through the chair to the counselor? Yes,

32:07I think some of the remaining pieces

32:09are, you know, getting ironed out and

32:10put into place. Now, it was related to

32:12the um you might remember just I think

32:14it was last week when the governor was

32:16in town announcing um recent investments

32:18from the executive office of housing and

32:20livable communities. This was one of the

32:22projects included in that. So, they're

32:24well on their way and putting together

32:25the various puzzle pieces that come

32:27together for a project like this.

32:29>> And city will benefit about $900,000

32:32is it in taxes?

32:33>> Yes,

32:35>> Mr. It looks good project to me and I

32:37think this is the kind of project we

32:38always welcome in our city and uh you

32:41said that we'll have uh uh affordable

32:44housing as well included in there with

32:47the different median percentages. So

32:50good. I think I like the project.

32:52>> Thank you Mr. T. I had a maybe one

32:54question, one comment. After the 18-year

32:56period, do you have a calculation if you

32:58don't, we can get at the uh or this

33:02comes before the full council of what

33:04the taxes would be?

33:06>> Yes, we have that.

33:08>> We're worried about 18 years from now.

33:10I'm not sure how many of us will be at

33:12this table.

33:13>> So, when we build these um these

33:15schedules in the analysis, we use a base

33:18assumption of about a 2% annual

33:20increase. So, if there was no TIFF at

33:22all, uh the starting taxes would be

33:25about $185,000 a year. And then towards

33:29the end of 20 years, because we build in

33:30that 2 and a half% assumption, it would

33:32be about $300,000 on an annual basis.

33:36And we're talking when I mentioned that

33:37$900,000 figure, that's the taxes we'll

33:39receive over the course of the 20 years.

33:41So, it is the, you know, aggressive um

33:44exemption percentage, but it's in light

33:46of the fact that it would otherwise be

33:47tax exempt. So, it hasn't contributed. I

33:49appreciate that. And last

33:53>> comment, not a question is, and I'm

33:56fairly new on the subcommittee.

33:59>> Um, I know my colleagues may be I think

34:01councilor Tums had prior experience.

34:03Council me is newly elected, but some of

34:05the acronyms I'm wondering if if I'll

34:09say for me, and maybe my colleagues will

34:11be helped by it, too. Could you at some

34:13point do a sheet for us? We got the

34:15tiff, the tithe, now we got a new

34:17addition, the UCH tiff, right? Is that

34:20right? And I think it's helpful, you

34:22know, kind of like a glossery for us.

34:24Maybe for the full council, I don't

34:26know. But, um, to be able to kind of

34:29differentiate between which ones are

34:31which and what do they stand for. So, I

34:34would do a chairman or anything like

34:35that. But maybe when we have the next

34:37subcommittee meeting of economic

34:39development, if you guys wouldn't mind

34:40try to put something together, that'd be

34:42great.

34:43>> Actually, through you, Mr. here. That

34:44would be wonderful for the entire city.

34:46>> Yeah.

34:47>> They have a lexicon of municipal

34:49verbiage.

34:50>> I'm not going to,

34:53you know, lie about it. I I sometimes

34:55get

34:56>> I have to look it up.

34:58>> Okay. So, Mr. Podle, I I'm certainly in

35:00favor of this as well.

35:01>> M one more thing to Mr. Counc.

35:05>> Yeah. Uh I see that the developer has

35:09the benefit in 20 years about 3.8 8

35:11million the tax benefit. So after 20

35:14years it's the city's gain then

35:17>> yes through the chair to the councelor

35:18that's how we put together the schedules

35:20is to give the the council visibility

35:22into what are we talking about for what

35:24the taxes that would otherwise be due if

35:26there was no benefit um what we're still

35:28going to receive with the benefit in

35:31place and then what the estimated

35:32savings are to the developer. So in this

35:34case over the 20-year term the estimated

35:37savings to the project would be about

35:383.85 85 million.

35:40>> Great. I just wanted to I I figured that

35:41out, but just wanted to make sure.

35:43>> Council me triggered one more question

35:45for me.

35:45>> Thank you.

35:46>> And that is what happens if this project

35:48gets sold in the period of the tiff

35:52>> to another entity. Do they get the

35:55benefit? I don't is it assignable or is

35:57it starting over again? Negotiations.

36:00>> Yes. through the uh chair and this one's

36:03I think an even more complicated one

36:04because of the housing authorities

36:06involvement but I'll take your question

36:08at face value because I know where where

36:10you're going with it is that generally

36:11when a project is completed across all

36:13these programs whether it's commercial

36:15tiffs you know H dip and the tax

36:17increment exemption with market rate

36:18housing or this UC tiff program when the

36:21project is completed the benefit runs

36:23with the land because at that point

36:25they've fulfilled their obligation in

36:27making the investment constructing the

36:28improvements and it runs with the land

36:30we have had some examples where maybe

36:32the project is changing hands and

36:33requires an assignment. To your point,

36:35in some cases, it's not actually that

36:37the controlling interest is different,

36:40like it's the same developer, but maybe

36:42because of the financing that they're

36:43putting together, they've created a new

36:45LLC. So, they need to assign the the

36:48contract we have to that new LLC, but

36:50they still control it, and it's still

36:51the same people that we're dealing with.

36:52If somebody were to you know abandon the

36:55project or not be able to fulfill the

36:56project we are we would be starting from

36:58square one because we need to go through

37:00the process of identifying who is this

37:03developer what's their background their

37:04experience um their proforma in terms of

37:07their approach to the overall uh

37:09development plan a good I guess a recent

37:11example of that would be like 340 main

37:12street so we had this

37:15>> um plan in place with a developer to

37:17execute on 340 Main Street that did not

37:19get executed upon so now we would be at

37:21square one we would have to renegotiate

37:23that with a new owner of that property.

37:25>> Thank you. U councelor Chimmy, council

37:29me. All set.

37:29>> All set.

37:30>> Mr. Pot, would you take a roll call on

37:33item 3B?

37:34>> Councilors Mitra,

37:35>> this is a motion in favor, excuse me, of

37:37the tiff,

37:39the UC tip, excuse me. Item 3B.

37:43>> Councilors Metra,

37:44>> yes.

37:45>> Tumi,

37:45>> yes.

37:46>> And chairperson, councelor Bergman,

37:47>> yes. Item 4 a report of the planning

37:50board upon the petition of Miltos

37:52Chacheroni request to amend the city of

37:54Worester zoning map by changing the

37:56zoning designations of the property

37:58known as and located at 455 Grove Street

38:02um MBL map lock and lot 20-30-46

38:08plus 47 owned by CP

38:1158 Garner Street LLC from the current

38:13split zoning designation of partially

38:17RL7 Seven li residence limited

38:21impartially BG3 business general to be

38:25entirely BG3 business general as shown

38:28on the attached plan. Mr. Mados, I

38:31should have had you read this for me.

38:33>> I know. I think you did my job, Mr.

38:34Chairman.

38:36>> Please go ahead.

38:37>> Thank you. Uh, good evening to the

38:38committee. Steven Madaus of MYRC here on

38:41behalf of the petitioner seeking to um

38:45correct, if you will, a a parcel of land

38:47that is splitzoned. It is a total of

38:5111,141

38:53square ft of which 7,500 is located in

38:57the BG3 and a small portion 3,600 square

39:02feet approximately is located in the

39:04RL7. It's all in under one ownership.

39:07We're seeking just to have a uniform

39:09zoning of the BG3.

39:13We did appear before the planning board

39:15in June and had a unanimous favorable

39:18recommendation for the petition.

39:21>> Okay. Um, council me, do you have any

39:25questions?

39:31>> We're looking to convert everything into

39:32BG3. that the

39:34>> Yes, because the um so the owner intends

39:38to just rebuild the structure that is uh

39:41is in need of much repair. So, we're

39:43going to replace it, but with the split

39:45zoning, it creates all kinds of problems

39:47with the setbacks and having the

39:50commercial use and the residential zone.

39:52So, by a uniform district, we can make

39:54use of the full lot.

39:56>> And you said you went through the

39:58planning board and the residents and

39:59everybody were comfortable with the

40:01>> Yes. Unanimous recommendation for

40:02approval.

40:04>> Thank you.

40:06>> Councelor Tumi.

40:07>> No, I don't have any questions. Thank

40:09you,

40:09>> Mr. MDA. I have a question. Since we

40:11weren't at the planning, but at least I

40:12wasn't. Was there much neighbors or

40:15butters that showed up? Many or

40:18>> No. My my recollection is I don't recall

40:20any.

40:21>> So, doesn't seem like there was any

40:24obvious opposition?

40:26>> No.

40:26>> Okay. So, Mr. Uh Paddle, if I may, item

40:304A would be my motion to approve the

40:32zone change. Could you take a roll call

40:35on that, please?

40:36>> Councilors Mera,

40:37>> yes.

40:38>> Tumi,

40:39>> yes.

40:39>> And chairperson, councelor Burkeman.

40:41>> Yes.

40:42>> Nice to see you. Good to see you.

40:44>> Thank you. Item 4 B, report of the

40:45planning board upon the amended

40:47communication of the city manager to

40:50recommend adoption of a zoning map

40:52amendment relative to a to relative to

40:55Belmont Street/Plantation

40:57Street corridor. Mr. Pile, do we have

41:00any attorney representation do you know

41:02on that? Oh god, that's planning. I'm

41:04sorry. Hey, scratch that. This is coming

41:07from economic development. Mr. Dunn,

41:09then please proceed.

41:11>> Yes, Mr. Chairman, thank you. This is a

41:13not a common occurrence, but this is a

41:15zoning map amendment that was initiated

41:18by the city administration through our

41:20office and the city manager support. Um,

41:22it stems through uh some of the things

41:25that were recommended in the Worcester

41:26now next long range plan was corridors

41:29of the city have been identified as uh

41:31growth corridors. And so a key

41:34recommendation of that is that while we

41:36have this effort that'll be launched

41:38shortly uh to rewrite the zoning

41:41ordinance of the city and think about

41:42all of the maps in the city, thinking

41:44about some of these targeted growth

41:46corridors for any preliminary changes

41:48that are warranted. And so the first

41:50area we chose to look at was this area

41:53along um Plantation Street and Belmont

41:55Street uh around the biotech park. And a

41:58lot has happened there. When you look at

41:59the historical zoning maps um of the

42:02city and so we have seen the reactory

42:06which this the reactory

42:07biommanufacturing park is not a subject

42:09of this zone change but a lot of the

42:11elements of what was done there is kind

42:13of being carried forward through our

42:15recommendation because that park is now

42:18zoned business general 3.0.

42:21A lot of the area around it. Um, and

42:23I'll just kind of bring this up in case

42:25you're having trouble finding some of

42:26the uh pages here. Uh, along uh

42:28Plantation Street, commonly referred to

42:30as the biotech park or the UMass

42:32Medicine Science Park, as well as the um

42:35Well, I should focus on that first. Is a

42:37remnant uh manufacturing zoning

42:39district.

42:39>> Mr. Mr. D, I'm sorry. Could you just

42:41repeat the page number if you can?

42:43>> Uh, I don't think they're numbered.

42:46>> Go ahead.

42:47>> They're not numbered. It's uh there's a

42:49it's attached in a few different ways.

42:51>> Sure. Uh and as we evaluate that um that

42:55area and that corridor uh no longer is

42:58reflective of manufacturing uses and so

43:00part of this we would say is a a

43:03correction to have a zoning district

43:05established there that is really

43:06reflective of the land uses that exist

43:08today. Uh for example you have over time

43:11the Beachwood Hotel that was created. Uh

43:14you have the mix of uses in terms of

43:16within the office space and the lab

43:18space of the UMass Medicine Science

43:19Park. uh you have the um Mass DOT

43:22District 3 office and it even kind of

43:24comes across Plantation Street and

43:26includes the Mercede funeral home and

43:29ironically uh funeral homes are not even

43:31allowed in the zoning district that

43:32exists today. So again, we view some of

43:34this as a correction uh to have a zoning

43:37district there that's reflective of the

43:38land uses there uh today as well as

43:41thinking about what um is uh planned for

43:44the future. And and I I would stress

43:47because we've had a number of

43:48neighborhood conversations, this is not

43:49in association with any particular

43:51development proposal. This is us being

43:53proactive uh about an area that was

43:56identified and thinking about the zoning

43:58maps and should any changes be made. So

44:00it's not in connection with any

44:01particular building that's being

44:03proposed or development project. Uh and

44:05then there's an area of this what I

44:08would say relic manufacturing zoning

44:10district uh to the west uh that actually

44:14is part of uh Greenh Hill Park. And so

44:16that area uh we've recommended to have

44:19it be uh reszoned to RS7 which is the

44:22zoning district for the rest of Green

44:24Hill Park. So to bring that consistency

44:26because a lot of what we try to do with

44:28the zoning maps especially now as Mr.

44:30Mad was just referencing, we have some

44:32split zone parcels and some anomalies is

44:34to create that cohesion and that

44:36consistency. And so we feel like that

44:38area that is currently restricted, these

44:40have conservation restrictions on them,

44:42the acreage there, uh it should be

44:45consistent with the rest of the zoning

44:47district that already exists across

44:48Green Hill Park. Um so it's really

44:51taking a relic manufacturing district

44:53and then um recommending a change from

44:56to either business general which is

44:58reflective of the land uses within that

45:00area or the RS7 in the areas that are uh

45:04restricted from development and

45:05consistent with the rest of Green Hill

45:07Park.

45:08So that's really the high level um

45:10overview. We did have a number of um

45:13outreach meetings through the process.

45:14It was unanimously recommended by the

45:16planning board as is referenced here.

45:18was heard by the planning board or voted

45:21on um because it was continued at one

45:24point in the spring, but it was

45:25ultimately voted on April 22nd of this

45:29year um to be to be adopted by the

45:33planning board.

45:33>> Could I ask if you're aware of any

45:35opposition at the planning board level?

45:38>> I don't know if I would say it was

45:39opposition through that. One of the

45:41reasons for the first continuence was we

45:43uh had some we took sort of a little bit

45:45of a pause I guess I would say to engage

45:47with the Shrewsbury Street Neighborhood

45:49Association. So we met with them and

45:51then we met with the Green Hill um

45:53neighborhood association as well. And I

45:55think zoning can be convoluted, can be

45:58kind of a confusing thing to understand.

46:00One of the most common concerns that I

46:03think we helped address was a perception

46:05that this might be an idea of like

46:07developing some of Green Hill Park and

46:09that's not what this is about. Um, and I

46:12think one of the things that's sometimes

46:13hard for folks to uh understand is that

46:16we do have open space of the city and we

46:19have conservation restrictions and some

46:20of this area I'm referencing at Greenho

46:22Park has that conservation restriction,

46:24but conservation land is not a zoning

46:26district. So, I think they were confused

46:27like why are we zoning at RS7? are we

46:29saying that we want to build housing

46:30there? That's not the case. It's just

46:32RS7 is one of our most restrictive

46:34zoning districts as you know. Uh it

46:36currently is the zoning district for the

46:38rest of Green Hill Park. So I think some

46:39of that outreach was not so much and

46:42conversations that we have wasn't so

46:43much about opposition. It was more about

46:45understanding what this is all about. Um

46:47and one of those topics as I mentioned

46:49that came up time and time again was you

46:51know having folks kind of wrap their

46:53heads around the fact that conservation

46:55land is not actually a zoning district

46:57of the city. Thank you so council me.

47:00>> Uh I think I'm all said very nicely

47:03explained. So this is basically an

47:05amendment is coming from the city

47:06manager.

47:08>> Yeah.

47:09>> Coucher Timmy.

47:10>> Thank you. I just have a question. I'm

47:12just looking at the map. Uh

47:15and I think it's 3 370 Plantation.

47:20Is that Merkodant's

47:22property

47:23>> through the chair? Yes, that's correct.

47:24>> Okay. All right. So that's been included

47:28in

47:31>> they'd be grandfathered anyways,

47:33wouldn't they?

47:33>> Yeah, they would.

47:35>> Yes. So right now it's it's interesting

47:37and I don't know historically why this

47:39relic manufacturing zoning district

47:40actually kind of jumped across

47:42Plantation Street. Usually you see like

47:43a street being like the dividing line,

47:45but it jumped across Plantation Street

47:47in this instance. To your point, they're

47:49pre-existing, you know, non-conforming.

47:51Um, so they wouldn't be told that you

47:53can't be there. It's just ironic that

47:55like that use is actually not allowed in

47:57the district that exists there today. It

47:59would create some complications I would

48:00say or just process um in terms of if

48:03they wanted to expand, alter change

48:06their structure, they would have to come

48:07and get special permission to do that

48:09because they're a non-conforming

48:10structure. So, they would have to get

48:12special permission to expand, alter

48:13change. So, by correcting this and

48:15having their zoning district reflect

48:17more of what exists with their funeral

48:19home use, they'll have an easier process

48:22if they ever needed to make some

48:23modifications to the structure.

48:25>> Through you, Mr. Chair, I'm assuming

48:26they've been at the table.

48:27>> We've communicated with them. Yes. Yeah.

48:29>> Okay. Thank you.

48:39>> Any other questions?

48:40>> No, I'm I'm all set. Thank you, Council

48:42Me. Good. Mr. Puddle, will you take a

48:44roll call on item 4B?

48:46>> Motion is to approve.

48:48>> Councilors Mitra,

48:49>> yes.

48:49>> Tumi,

48:50>> yes.

48:50>> And chairperson, councelor Bergman.

48:52>> Yes. Item 4C, which I believe Mr. Pile,

48:55is that the last item on our agenda?

48:57>> It is, Mr. Chairman.

48:58>> Okay, M. Okay, Mr. Finkelstein will say

49:02we're saving the best for last, I'm

49:04sure. Um, item 4C, report of the pling

49:07board upon the petition of Jonathan

49:08Ficklestein on behalf of Central Las

49:10Americas, Inc. requests the zoning map

49:13be amended by extending the BG3 zoning

49:16district and the CCODE overlay district

49:19to wholly encompass 9- excuse me 95 and

49:2325 Charlton Street 26 38 and 42 and 46

49:28Herman Street and zero Beacon Street.

49:34>> Well, Mr. Finkelstein, would you like to

49:36make the presentation? I see you've got

49:38some people here as well.

49:39>> Certainly. Good evening members of the

49:43committee. Jonathan Tinklestein here on

49:44behalf of Centro. I believe uh Juan

49:47Gomez might be

49:50>> I think our clerk can maybe add some

49:54information that but I think he was

49:55having trouble from where he was to uh

49:58zoom in. Mr. Podle,

50:00>> Mr. Chairman, uh at this time I do not

50:02see anyone attending remotely.

50:03>> I did see an email to that effect

50:05>> when we uh made this application last

50:08year. Uh, Central had a an agreement to

50:11purchase 38 Herman Street

50:14and it extended over the property goes

50:17through to Charlton Street. A portion of

50:20it's in the manufacturing zone. When we

50:21presented this idea to the planning

50:23staff, they looked at the entire area

50:27and said it's a sort of overlapping

50:31mishmash of different zones,

50:33manufacturing, BG3, the uh the CCOD

50:39and they asked if we would make an

50:41application to change the these areas to

50:46one zone, two zones, the BG3

50:49with the overlapping CCODE.

50:52So, we did that. We appeared in front of

50:54the planning board. Um, the purpose we

50:58made the application for is that Centro

51:00is purchasing the property to develop it

51:04for affordable housing. Uh, Mr. Gomez

51:08was going to give you sort of a rough

51:10outline, but I'll do that instead. Um,

51:13we're not exactly sure about the

51:15numbers, but we're looking at 60

51:17affordable housing units. Uh it's going

51:19to be tailored to uh some marginal

51:23communities. Um and we don't have final

51:28plans yet. Well, property.

51:31Unfortunately, the purchase didn't go

51:33through until July 1st. So, we waited

51:36and waited and then we came back here to

51:39finish the process.

51:42>> Can I ask you at the planning board,

51:44were there people there opposed or in

51:47favor? I don't recall, Mr. Chairman. Um

51:51perhaps these folks will I don't know if

51:53you were there or not

51:55>> at the planning board here.

51:55>> There was there was a continuence twice.

51:57>> No, no, no. Talking about the planning

51:59board meeting.

52:00>> We never heard anything about it.

52:02>> So, okay,

52:04>> that's fair. Um

52:08anything further at the moment? You can

52:10>> no the um if you if you take a drive

52:13down both Herman Street and Charlton

52:16Street, what you'll notice is probably a

52:18transformation over the past 50 years,

52:21which used to be manufacturing. You can

52:23tell from all the old buildings, but if

52:25you drive down now and you start at Main

52:27Street, you'll see a convenience store.

52:30There's some churches and really the

52:32rest of it is either empty lots or

52:35residential. The one loan

52:38building that takes advantage of the

52:40manufacturing zone is 38 Herman, which

52:44Centro just purchased. It's an auto body

52:47repair or an auto repair, and that's

52:50what they're thinking of developing.

52:52Thank you.

52:53>> Thank you.

52:55Fast, you stand by, Mr. Finglestein, if

52:57you would.

52:58>> Oh, yeah, certainly. I'm not going

52:58anywhere.

52:59>> Good. And uh folks, would you

53:01>> I will sit down.

53:02>> Would you identify yourself by your name

53:04and city address? Lewis Reyes, the city

53:06of Worester at 42 Herman Street, Wester

53:08M0610.

53:10I'll object to the zoning. Okay.

53:13>> Object to the what?

53:14>> To the zoning.

53:16>> Okay.

53:16>> Okay. This construction building. Uh I

53:19have quite a bit of issues backing up

53:22out of the track of our garage and our

53:26ramp. We have problems moving out of

53:29there. Okay. Uh you continue on building

53:32and building and building and building.

53:34There is no parking space for these

53:35people for residential area. Okay. And

53:38he just made a statement on 48

53:42okay Beacon Street or 46 Beacon Street

53:45and Herman. Okay. Uh I object to this

53:49whole situation and I would like to

53:51leave it zone free. Okay.

53:54>> But can you tell us why you object?

53:57>> Okay. I object. I have all exhibits.

53:59Please stay by the

54:00>> I have all exhibits here from the fire

54:02department. right down at the bottom of

54:04the hill. They have problems coming up

54:06that street because the main street from

54:09the YWCA and the main street of

54:11Worcester is cluted. Okay, every day.

54:16This is every day. I show you pictures

54:18right now. Even the ambulance, not never

54:20mind the fire department, the ambulance

54:22trying to get through there. Okay. Many

54:24accidents,

54:26traffic of the yin-yang. Okay. And we

54:29can't even drive out of our own

54:30driveway, sir.

54:34I've been here a few times already

54:36telling you over and over and over and

54:38telling the committee the same thing

54:40over and over and over. I mean, come on.

54:43>> This was continued a few times. I know

54:45that.

54:45>> Yes.

54:46>> Yeah. Uh, but we're all here tonight, so

54:48we're going to make

54:49>> Yes, sir. So, hopefully we can make a

54:51decision.

54:51>> My wife would like to say something,

54:52please.

54:53>> Go ahead.

54:54>> Is this one?

54:54>> No.

54:56>> Helen Raptis, 42 Herman Street,

54:59Worcester. My thing is the last time

55:02when we were here, it was over next door

55:06and there was the end of the hall.

55:07>> There was one man that was able to get

55:11the zoning around his property with no

55:14questions asked.

55:16>> So, I want to complain that we are

55:18grandfathered in and I don't want to

55:21change the way it is right now, but I

55:24don't care about 38. So,

55:27what can you do for me?

55:30Well, we're going to try to make a

55:32decision that benefits

55:34all of Worcester, but it's never easy to

55:36please everyone. So, I guess I need to

55:39ask Mr. Ficklestein some more questions.

55:41So, would you let him get to the

55:42microphone?

55:42>> Oh, sure. Sure. And if you need the

55:44exhibit, I will be more than happy to

55:46present them to you.

55:48>> Mr. Ficklestein, what's been uh argued a

55:52moment ago is that the zone change would

55:55increase, amongst other things, would

55:57increase traffic. Uh what's your

55:59response to that?

56:00>> It might I mean when you change when the

56:03zone changes over time and we're

56:05creating residential housing there will

56:08be a different type of you know traffic

56:11pattern but it's it's now a residential

56:14neighborhood. The really the sore thumb

56:16there is 38 the one we're buying. That's

56:19the property that really doesn't fit in

56:21to the zoning sort of grid that's there

56:24now.

56:25>> Can they be excluded from what you're

56:27asking? I don't think they need to be

56:28excluded. It doesn't affect their

56:30property. It only affects our property.

56:33It won't change their their use. As a

56:36matter of fact, when you it's we're not

56:39changing it to a residential

56:40neighborhood, a residential zone. We're

56:41changing it to a business general zone

56:45with a in in one of the corridors. So

56:48businesses may continue to do what they

56:51can do there, but you won't be able to

56:53have automotive repair and uh you know

56:57businesses like that that can fit into

56:59manufacturing zones.

57:01>> It won't affect any of the uses of the

57:03current properties.

57:04>> Going to let

57:06>> Thank you. I'm going to let my

57:07colleagues ask some more questions and

57:10then I'll hear back from you folks and

57:12don't nobody go anywhere. So councelor

57:15Tumi, do you have any questions?

57:16>> Um I just

57:18>> I I remember seeing a presentation on

57:20this and I'm just if if you could it was

57:23a while ago. Um are they looking to to

57:27build more residential housing in this

57:29area

57:32>> through the chair to the councelor as

57:34attorney Finkelstein stated that is the

57:36intent of Centro. I would say that I

57:39think we're always try to be careful

57:41about this is about a zoning map change

57:43and about what's appropriate in terms of

57:44the zoning district particular proposals

57:48for new uses or redevelopment would be

57:50flushed out at the planning board level

57:52in terms of the specifics of what

57:53they're talking about

57:55>> uh for a future use. So, I think I

57:57always just try to be careful about that

57:58that when we think about, you know,

58:00traffic generation or dimensional

58:01requirements, things like that, we don't

58:03have that level of detail in front of us

58:05about what they're intending to do. But

58:06I think rightfully so, they're trying to

58:08be forthright about the purpose for the

58:10zoning map change that they're asking

58:12for uh so that people know what their

58:14intentions are.

58:15>> Okay. So, through you, Mr. Chair, um the

58:18mention of of u flooding,

58:21um could we delve into that? why there's

58:24flooding there and is there any um

58:27way to correct that

58:31>> through the chair to the council. It's

58:33councilor it's not in a flood zone. So,

58:35you know, localized type flooding issues

58:37related to if there's a catch basin

58:40that's got leaves in it that hasn't been

58:42cleared out. I I really wouldn't be the

58:43person to explain that. I think we would

58:46need to get information from DPW about

58:48that. What I would say as it relates to

58:50zoning and redevelopment is that often

58:53what we find is that the redevelopment

58:55of some of these properties actually

58:57relates to more storm water being

58:59recharged on site and less leaving the

59:02site.

59:02>> Okay.

59:03>> That's generally what we see.

59:05>> Okay. Thank you. I don't have any other

59:07questions.

59:07>> Council Mitra.

59:11>> Yes. Uh Mr. through you to

59:16council Frankin if you if you can one

59:19more time

59:21kind of explain me I I read it I get it

59:24but I just want to know

59:27changing the zoning apparently it is

59:30helping us to bring in some more

59:31businesses

59:33>> pardon me

59:34>> to bringing in more businesses in that

59:36area because that's why we're changing

59:37the amending the zone right more

59:40businesses

59:41>> changing the zone will allow businesses

59:43to go in there

59:44>> where manufacturing allows businesses

59:47but doesn't allow any residential to mix

59:49with it.

59:50>> Right? But we don't have any idea right

59:52now like what will come there. It's just

59:54a forward-looking view that once we do

59:57it there will be more businesses

59:59opportunity. We came for a specific lot

1:00:03and the they thought it would be a good

1:00:05idea that if we look at the entire

1:00:07neighborhood

1:00:09that we do that instead of having this

1:00:11chopped up zoning map

1:00:13>> gives us the opportunity to have a

1:00:15better economic development.

1:00:16>> So we agreed we agreed to do that.

1:00:19>> Uh

1:00:21may know your names if you don't mind.

1:00:24>> Yes. I'm Helen Raptis and this is Lou

1:00:27Reyes.

1:00:28>> Yes.

1:00:29>> Um the thing. Go ahead.

1:00:31>> You both live in that

1:00:33>> Yes. in that 42 Herman Street.

1:00:35>> And um the thing is is he said that

1:00:38there are no businesses there. There is

1:00:40the car lot that is number 38. So they

1:00:44will take that business away. And then

1:00:47on the other side of me, I want to

1:00:49believe it's number 46. That is a whole

1:00:53business there called TripleN. And they

1:00:56will take that business away also. So

1:01:00you know those people they couldn't be

1:01:02here today but I will speak for them

1:01:04also.

1:01:05>> Well that's my that's my point is I just

1:01:07wanted to know that are there other

1:01:09neighbors along with you? They I don't

1:01:12see anyone else but you to you know

1:01:15raise any objection or anything. So I

1:01:17just wanted to see some more people to

1:01:19come and say that it is really going to

1:01:21create some difficulties for those who

1:01:24are in the neighborhood. But I only see

1:01:26both a few alone. So that doesn't give

1:01:29me a substantial, you know, feeling

1:01:31about it because I'm looking at what it

1:01:34does for our city. You know, we're all

1:01:36looking to improve the city's economy,

1:01:38improve the city's forwardlooking view

1:01:41of bringing in more businesses in town

1:01:44and sometimes we do have to live with

1:01:47that because it's something good for our

1:01:49own city. So it might have a you know

1:01:51accent more traffic going through there

1:01:54but again it has a better purpose for

1:01:56what we're doing. But if I had seen that

1:02:00you have 20 people from your

1:02:02neighborhood come here and do the

1:02:03objection it kind of makes me feel that

1:02:06hey I could I have to rethink about it.

1:02:08So I just wanted to know that uh you

1:02:10know it's passed by the planning board.

1:02:12It has gone through a screening process

1:02:14there and now it has come to us but to

1:02:17making sure that it is the right

1:02:19thinking and I'm looking at what is good

1:02:22for our city and certainly this jooning

1:02:25change will allow us to have some good

1:02:28businesses to come in and opportunity

1:02:30for the city to have a better economic

1:02:32development. We do all have to see for

1:02:34our city. We might have to sacrifice

1:02:36something but it's not going to

1:02:38jeopardize your life in that

1:02:40neighborhood. I believe the things the

1:02:42way the things will be done but seeing

1:02:45that only two of you you had brought in

1:02:4810 other neighbors from your you know

1:02:50from your neighborhood it would be more

1:02:53convincing to me I just wanted to say

1:02:55that but otherwise my feeling is I'd

1:02:58like to see what is the ultimate benefit

1:03:00for the city and what we're looking to

1:03:02make the city be in a better position

1:03:04tax-wise uh otherwise jobs creation all

1:03:08those are to To me, it's very appealing

1:03:11to me when we change the zoning for a

1:03:13purpose. So, Mr. Chair, that's my view

1:03:17and

1:03:18>> I have something to say. What happens to

1:03:20the grandfather clause when we've been

1:03:22there longer than central? Okay. And

1:03:25then all of a sudden now they want to do

1:03:26this.

1:03:26>> So, I can't actually

1:03:27>> You're not giving us the dignity and

1:03:29respect and morals. No, hang on.

1:03:30>> We pay taxes just like everybody else

1:03:32here.

1:03:33>> And I have all the exhibits here with

1:03:35the fire departments even have said,

1:03:36"Hey, Mr. Ris, can you help us to be

1:03:38able to get these people out of here?

1:03:40There's so many accidents that happened

1:03:42on the same street coming from Main

1:03:44Street down that street, Herman, all the

1:03:46way to the other side and the opposite

1:03:48side from the fire department. They have

1:03:50problems coming up, too. Now, he just

1:03:52made an accusation that he said he does

1:03:54not know whether he's going to build up

1:03:57a living building or what they're going

1:04:00to do there. So, it's up in the air and

1:04:02your guys I don't know what's going on.

1:04:04>> So, I was going to ask you a couple

1:04:05other questions.

1:04:06>> Yes. Yes. You own the property, right?

1:04:08>> Yes, we do.

1:04:08>> How long have you been there?

1:04:09>> We've been there long enough.

1:04:10>> Okay. So, you mentioned the word

1:04:12grandfather. I'm not quite sure what

1:04:14context you mentioned that.

1:04:15>> Well, I I mentioned that because we fall

1:04:18in the old category that we own the lot

1:04:20and it's been zoning free for who knows

1:04:23how long. 30 years. We

1:04:25>> So, you you have on the lot a house,

1:04:28>> right? You have

1:04:29>> we own that whole property of the house.

1:04:30>> Okay. So, the house is going to stay

1:04:33there. The house doesn't change.

1:04:35>> Yeah. But we don't want we don't want we

1:04:37don't want the zone to be changed. Sir,

1:04:39we have problems with the emergency

1:04:41ambulance and fire department getting

1:04:43off that street.

1:04:44>> But but my question is how do you know

1:04:47that the future makeup of that street is

1:04:49going to make it worse?

1:04:50>> No, you answer that question to me.

1:04:52>> I don't know.

1:04:53>> There you go. So, I don't know neither.

1:04:54>> All right. But you're acting as if you

1:04:56do know.

1:04:57>> No, I do not know. No, sir. Don't put no

1:04:59words in my mouth. I'm just practically

1:05:00saying to you, it's been zone free for

1:05:04over 30 years.

1:05:05>> Well, no. It's always had a zone. You

1:05:07say zone.

1:05:08>> Zone free meaning not not a zoning

1:05:10>> the way it is. Zone free means the way

1:05:12it is,

1:05:13>> sir.

1:05:14>> Okay.

1:05:14>> And we want it that way. We don't want

1:05:16anything to be built there. They have a

1:05:18card lot there. They have other

1:05:20buildings there. Okay. You don't even

1:05:22have parking lots for individuals and

1:05:24residential people that live in those

1:05:27areas. They have to park and they have

1:05:29to pay $100 every month. Cars getting

1:05:32hit left and right.

1:05:33>> But on your property, do you have

1:05:35parking?

1:05:35>> Yes, we do have. But we have problems

1:05:37coming out of there every day. We

1:05:39Listen, I showed you a picture. We just

1:05:41had the officer giving tickets and

1:05:44moving a nest.

1:05:46>> Okay.

1:05:47>> How many exhibits do you have on there?

1:05:49>> Say it again.

1:05:50>> How many exhibits do you have on that

1:05:52phone?

1:05:52>> Oh, we got so many of them.

1:05:54>> No, but I I don't know what that means.

1:05:56Well, what can you show us

1:05:57>> more than anything that we haven't seen

1:06:00that's not going to be hundreds of

1:06:01pictures?

1:06:02>> Well, I could I I could either put them

1:06:04out and you give me an address or

1:06:06whatever and I'll mail them to you.

1:06:08Happy to.

1:06:08>> We're here now. We could call you up.

1:06:10>> Hang on one second, Citra.

1:06:12>> Yeah. Uh, Mr. I just want to know these

1:06:14exhibits. Had you presented these

1:06:16exhibits to the planning board? No, we

1:06:18haven't because the few times that we

1:06:21have been up here, it was either

1:06:22continuence or they told us to go in the

1:06:25wrong room and we already know here. He

1:06:27knows about it because he reminded us

1:06:29when we came in.

1:06:30>> But that wasn't the planning board. That

1:06:32was the

1:06:33>> I'm sorry. That wasn't us. That was the

1:06:35planning board.

1:06:35>> Planning board.

1:06:36>> Okay. But it was also pertaining with uh

1:06:39what's his name is? Uh Faulenstein.

1:06:42>> He was not here. He was in the hospital.

1:06:44Whatever. So, we've been here trying to

1:06:46bring this issue to your presence to the

1:06:49board so you guys could be able to hear

1:06:50us.

1:06:52>> Can I just say one thing that I think

1:06:54this has been approved by the planning

1:06:56board as I read here. It has been to the

1:06:58planning board and we should have

1:07:00probably made those presentations of

1:07:02your exhibitions to the planning board

1:07:04for them to not approve. Without that,

1:07:07it has already come here to get an

1:07:09further approval from us. But I think

1:07:11you should have been there to show those

1:07:13exhibits which are the first screening

1:07:15process for us.

1:07:16>> Well, you could look at them right now.

1:07:17The these are the ones that I just

1:07:19picked up today. Today when I was over

1:07:21there, okay, we were picking up some

1:07:23trash. Okay. With the ambulance and the

1:07:26traffic coming from what the fire

1:07:28department is all the way to Main

1:07:30Street.

1:07:31>> Would you like

1:07:31>> I understand. No, I I got it. I see what

1:07:33you what you before we get to that and I

1:07:36may ask you to see that. Councelor Tim,

1:07:38you had a question.

1:07:39>> Uh, thank you. Yes. Um looking looking

1:07:41at u Google Maps from it says September

1:07:442019 but I would imagine if parking is

1:07:47tough it's still an issue. Um there

1:07:50there is a vehicle parked

1:07:53>> actually partially blocking your

1:07:55driveway. So, one of the things that I

1:07:58would suggest is that and I don't know

1:08:00if we can do this in this committee, but

1:08:02request that uh the traffic division do

1:08:06enforcement to make sure that their

1:08:09people are parking appropriately.

1:08:11>> Here's one of your masters from the

1:08:14ticker Esper here that I just took a

1:08:16picture of him and I was talking with

1:08:17him. He was taking everybody and you

1:08:19know what he says to us between here the

1:08:21colleges and everything else people just

1:08:23continue doing it and doing it and doing

1:08:25it and they accumulate 300 400 $500 they

1:08:28pay them off and they continue doing it

1:08:30>> but we have that happen all throughout

1:08:31the

1:08:32>> Okay so you see so and now if if he Mr.

1:08:35Sir Frankenstein builds whatever

1:08:38>> it's fakestein

1:08:39>> Frankenstein or what whatever it is I'm

1:08:41sorry but if he decides to build any

1:08:43kind of units in there we right in the

1:08:46middle of them

1:08:47>> we having problem just backing up out of

1:08:49our driveway right now so if he takes

1:08:52that lot and does whatever he's going to

1:08:54do to reconstruct the new building where

1:08:56are we going to go

1:08:59um if you could if you could come I'm

1:09:01going to ask the clerk Mr. Puddle, could

1:09:04we allow allow them or Mr. Morano maybe

1:09:07come forward to the table? We can't look

1:09:09at 200 photographs. So, give us like the

1:09:12top 10 or 15 that you think are going to

1:09:14show your situation.

1:09:16>> And Mr. Chairman, that's perfectly fine.

1:09:18It's in your purview as the chair to

1:09:20invite them in.

1:09:21>> You can stay right sit right there.

1:09:22Yeah.

1:09:24>> Mr. Figglestein, you want to join us or

1:09:26you want to

1:09:28>> Mr. Chairman?

1:09:30>> Sorry.

1:09:31>> Not really. Well, he's here and he's got

1:09:34photographs. I don't want to make a

1:09:35decision and have he's been every time.

1:09:37I don't want to make a decision without

1:09:39having everybody given the opportunity.

1:09:40>> Yeah. I guess I would only say that

1:09:42we're going outside the purview of what

1:09:45we're here for. These this, as Mr. Dunn

1:09:48mentioned, this is going to go through

1:09:50the zoning board and planning board.

1:09:52That's where this gets sort of where we

1:09:55>> But we have to take a vote, don't we?

1:09:57>> We show we show a we show a traffic

1:09:59report. We show a drainage report. We

1:10:02don't have it in front of us. So, those

1:10:03are just snapshots. It's like an EKG.

1:10:05It's a snapshot.

1:10:07>> Doesn't tell you how your heart is.

1:10:09>> I understand. But he's been here every

1:10:10time.

1:10:11>> I appreciate that.

1:10:12>> And he brought and he brought some

1:10:13photos. So, before we take a vote, you

1:10:15know, we haven't been here that long.

1:10:16I'm going to give him a few minutes just

1:10:18to show the photograph.

1:10:19>> You can certainly show the photos.

1:10:21>> Okay.

1:10:22>> No,

1:10:23>> no, I want you just to explain what it

1:10:25is.

1:10:25>> An emergency ambulance. Okay.

1:10:27>> Okay.

1:10:28>> That's the middle.

1:10:28>> Mr. Mr. Chairman, if you could turn on a

1:10:30microphone for him if if we're going to

1:10:31be sitting there. Thank you.

1:10:32>> Okay. Yeah.

1:10:34>> Can I can I

1:10:35>> Yeah, you can keep going.

1:10:36>> This is an emergency ambulance coming

1:10:38through there. She couldn't turn there,

1:10:39so she had to go down straight Beacon

1:10:41Street onto Chandler because she

1:10:43couldn't turn Herman Street. Okay,

1:10:45>> as you see, look all the traffic.

1:10:52Okay,

1:10:54>> and these are just the ones that I

1:10:55picked up today. If I go back into the

1:10:57phone, I go show you 50 more pictures.

1:11:01We're going all the way to Main Street.

1:11:03>> How many residents are in your vicinity?

1:11:05>> Uh we have uh what, four, five?

1:11:08>> In our building there are four units,

1:11:11but across the street is 33,

1:11:16>> but none of them showed up at the

1:11:17planning board as far as you know. Is

1:11:19that correct?

1:11:20>> Not that I know.

1:11:21>> And you said your building. Do you own

1:11:22the building?

1:11:23>> Yes, we own that building. 42 Herman

1:11:25Street. Yes, sir.

1:11:26>> So, there's other people live in that

1:11:28building.

1:11:28>> And this guy here, that's the guy who

1:11:31was there. His name is uh what is his

1:11:33name? Oscar. Right, baby?

1:11:34>> Um I don't remember.

1:11:36>> I think it's Oscar. We He came to us and

1:11:39he says, "You guys having problem?" And

1:11:41I said, and I explained to him very

1:11:42respectful. I says, "Yeah, we're having

1:11:44problem with these people. They have

1:11:46signs here, no parking, and they still

1:11:48park in here."

1:11:50But wouldn't you agree that your what

1:11:52you're telling us is your biggest

1:11:54problem is what councelor Tumi had said

1:11:56a few moments ago. It sounds like there

1:11:58needs to be a lot of work done by the

1:12:00traffic department try to figure out how

1:12:02to make traffic more bearable in that

1:12:04neighborhood. Well, isn't that true? You

1:12:08got a point. But my point was at the

1:12:10time those buildings that they were

1:12:12there, they were industrial buildings.

1:12:14>> So they were vacant.

1:12:16>> Okay? So there was no residents. There

1:12:18was no parking. There was nobody there.

1:12:21So you had a busy street coming from

1:12:24Herman and Main Street all the way down

1:12:26to where the fire department is. Okay.

1:12:29But now since your guys locked up

1:12:30Jackson Street, which it was a two-way.

1:12:33So they made that into a oneway. And

1:12:35then you were building the new building

1:12:37which is at the bottom of Beacon Street

1:12:39and Channel Street. They just recently

1:12:42just opened it and you have another

1:12:44residential area there too. I don't

1:12:46know. It's just like cluster.

1:12:49>> Now he's talking about Mr. uh

1:12:52>> Frankenstein. He's trying to build. We

1:12:54don't know what he's going to build.

1:12:56Okay.

1:12:57>> So, it's going to really going to drown

1:12:59us in.

1:13:00>> But it sounds to me I'll let my

1:13:01colleagues weigh up the way. Sounds to

1:13:03me, and I mean this with all all

1:13:06respect, you're property owner. You pay

1:13:08your taxes. Sounds to me like you've

1:13:10>> you preferred to be empty because you've

1:13:12got so many traffic problems over there.

1:13:15But but we have to function not based on

1:13:18on that it's going to be better for you

1:13:20that the building stay empty. We have to

1:13:22function on what's going to be the best

1:13:24for that building and the neighborhood.

1:13:26It sounds to me like if we could if we

1:13:28can try to help you fix the traffic

1:13:29issues that's really the issue not

1:13:31whether the buildings are building

1:13:33somebody can move into those buildings

1:13:35without the zone change and create more

1:13:37traffic. All this does is create the

1:13:39type of business that can go in there.

1:13:41Doesn't say this is I'm going to get

1:13:43council meeting. This doesn't say uh

1:13:45this is not a vote to keep the buildings

1:13:47empty or not keep the buildings empty.

1:13:49It's not that vote.

1:13:50>> It's a vote what type of businesses can

1:13:52go in there.

1:13:53>> Council me.

1:13:54>> Yes. Uh Mr. Chair, so the problem that

1:13:57you showed to us is it exists. It's

1:14:00still there. If we if we don't change

1:14:03this zone, your problem is still there,

1:14:06right? You should probably have come and

1:14:08say that we having this problem. we will

1:14:10look into it to fix that so that it's an

1:14:13easy transition for you. The problem is

1:14:15there. It's not creating some problem

1:14:17because of this new change.

1:14:20>> So I'm saying that what you have

1:14:23probably can be fixed. We can see how we

1:14:26can probably put some orders to see if

1:14:27the traffic department can come and do

1:14:30something for you. But it's not

1:14:32something it's being created because of

1:14:34this change. What I look for is that no

1:14:37matter where I live, you know, I I

1:14:40bought my house 40 years back and now

1:14:42there could be some change. I can't say

1:14:44that, you know, I've been living here

1:14:46and now it's blocking my view. I mean

1:14:48that if somebody is doing it legally,

1:14:50it's it's I can't see in future what

1:14:52comes. Changes are coming. City is

1:14:55changing. City is a different dynamic

1:14:56now. We like to see more businesses come

1:14:59in. We like to see the city's economy

1:15:00grows. City's tax base grows. This kind

1:15:03of project gives us that forward-looking

1:15:05view and your problem is not because it

1:15:10is happening. It's problem is already

1:15:11there. So you may come and talk to us or

1:15:14maybe our council that we have this

1:15:16problem and who I can we can probably

1:15:17see how we can like uh councelor

1:15:20chairperson was saying that we can have

1:15:21our traffic department look at it and

1:15:23fix but we'll make make things easier

1:15:26for you. But this is not this problem

1:15:29that you are showing us is not being

1:15:31created because this is going to happen.

1:15:33>> But I I object to what you just said. We

1:15:35already have talked to the officer over

1:15:38there and he said the call. What was

1:15:40that number? 611

1:15:42>> 311.

1:15:43>> 311.

1:15:44>> Uhhuh.

1:15:44>> Okay. Into today's day if this this

1:15:46table answer me with that bring to his

1:15:49issue. Hold on. I gave you your your

1:15:51time.

1:15:52>> Okay. Just

1:15:53>> Okay.

1:15:54And you said that you will have

1:15:56professionalism

1:15:58>> or either the police department, okay,

1:16:00to take care of the issue.

1:16:03>> Taken care of.

1:16:04>> I was going to give you the suggestion

1:16:05that which district is that? Do you know

1:16:07who's your district council?

1:16:08>> I think that's u So

1:16:12>> if you can or you can give it right to

1:16:14me. I'm a I'm a council at large or any

1:16:17one of us. I think we can put that

1:16:19request for you to look into that

1:16:21matter. to put an order for the

1:16:23administration to look into the matter.

1:16:24That can be done. I you can write to me.

1:16:27I'm saying that I'll take the case to

1:16:29see if we can solve that problem or you

1:16:31can talk to councelor O'Hara who is the

1:16:34district counselor and that's what we

1:16:36do. That's what our job is that any

1:16:38resident says we're facing this issue.

1:16:40We'll see how we can resolve that.

1:16:42>> Yeah, I know father very good.

1:16:45>> You're talking to a veteran. Okay.

1:16:47You're talking to a veteran here. I

1:16:49served the Iraq and that's since 2001.

1:16:52>> I wear this flag every day thinking of

1:16:54you guys.

1:16:54>> Well, we appreciate your service. But do

1:16:56you understand I we're try we're trying

1:16:58to be helpful.

1:16:59>> Yes. Yes. But I again I you know I it's

1:17:02you know the the grandfather clause we

1:17:04pay our taxes. I don't know why they

1:17:06want to change this zone. This is these

1:17:09are problems that I'm bringing to your

1:17:10guys here because if you if he Mr.

1:17:14Whatever.

1:17:16With all respect,

1:17:17>> I say Jonathan.

1:17:18>> Jonathan, with all respect, if he builds

1:17:20an structure building there,

1:17:23>> he's not he's representing his client.

1:17:25>> Well, there's going to be more problems.

1:17:28This is what I'm trying to bring to your

1:17:29table today.

1:17:30>> Well,

1:17:31>> and I know that for a fact.

1:17:32>> Well, I think what we said earlier is we

1:17:34don't know what's going to make it

1:17:36better.

1:17:36>> How many years you have been in just

1:17:38>> Oh, I've been all my life here. I go

1:17:40back with Dick Hoski. I go back with

1:17:42Ayana at Boxing Club. I go back Jose Ria

1:17:45from the I've been here 44 years.

1:17:48>> Okay.

1:17:49>> So you must have seen is not the same.

1:17:52>> It has changed that point. You got

1:17:54>> it has changed right. So changes are

1:17:56inevitable. It happens as we grow as we

1:17:59evolve. Money changes will come and we

1:18:02have to try to adjust ourselves to live

1:18:04with it. But your genuine problem can be

1:18:06solved.

1:18:08>> All I'm saying is you can write to me.

1:18:09I'll give you my email address. just

1:18:12about everything I have spoken with

1:18:15officer or rogue sergeants that I known

1:18:18that I served in the service with them

1:18:20and I tell you this problem cannot I

1:18:23don't know I don't know what else to do

1:18:24>> the proper channel would be to talk to

1:18:26one of the counselors and we will help

1:18:28you

1:18:28>> oh his father and oh himself I know him

1:18:31and I went to the last meeting they had

1:18:33on Harle Street

1:18:34>> did you talk to him

1:18:35>> yes I we gave him all that that's why

1:18:36they were making all them humps you know

1:18:38because of people speeding through there

1:18:40and crashing and everything

1:18:41Can you give us Can you give me one

1:18:43second for one question? Mr. Ple, are we

1:18:45if I might are we allowed to make any

1:18:48chairman's orders that cross over to uh

1:18:51>> different committee?

1:18:52>> Yeah, different committee traffic and

1:18:53park.

1:18:53>> Mr. Chairman, I I think um it's

1:18:56certainly possible. I will say because

1:18:58any chairman's order will ultimately go

1:19:00to the entire council for final

1:19:02approval. So, if you have a suggestion,

1:19:05you could make it a request of the

1:19:06standing committee that they have a

1:19:08hearing. You could have the DTM review

1:19:10the area for potential solutions to, you

1:19:13know, crowded o over parking or

1:19:16something along those lines. Those are

1:19:17options that are available to you.

1:19:19>> All right. Thank you, M. So, your

1:19:20issues, as I heard them, were the

1:19:23streets are congested, cars can't get

1:19:25through, you have trouble backing out,

1:19:27and your address is

1:19:29>> 42 Herman.

1:19:30>> Okay. So, I'm going to ask, and my

1:19:32colleagues can edit, weigh in, going to

1:19:35ask what's called the chairman's order

1:19:37that'll go before the council the next

1:19:40appropriate meeting that the uh traffic

1:19:42and engineering department along with

1:19:45the department of transportation and

1:19:46mobility, two different departments,

1:19:48they work together, review 42 Herman

1:19:51Street, your address, and the vicinity

1:19:54for traffic improvement measures to

1:19:57include reducing um congestion on the

1:20:00roadway. way in preventing vehicles from

1:20:02blocking residential addresses. Does

1:20:05that sound like it was something?

1:20:06>> Yeah. I I hope you have good luck, man.

1:20:08I will keep my fingers crossed.

1:20:09>> We're all We're all in it together.

1:20:11>> Yeah. Yes, definitely. I I agree with

1:20:13it. I mean, do you have any

1:20:14>> I think I think that's pretty conclusive

1:20:16uh comprehensive I think because that

1:20:19was one of the first things I wanted to

1:20:20look at and that's why I pulled the the

1:20:22map up and saw that because I know

1:20:25parking gets tight, you know, so

1:20:27>> very tight. But let me just make one

1:20:29other observation.

1:20:32Whomever buys this property and wants to

1:20:36build what it is, they don't want

1:20:37parking issues either. So it we want to

1:20:42improve that for everybody. And so I'm

1:20:44sure that whatever is going to be put

1:20:46there, all of those issues will be part

1:20:49of part up at the table and they'll all

1:20:52be discussed because we're they're not

1:20:54going to want to spend money on on a

1:20:57building that they can't use because

1:20:59they can't have parking,

1:21:01>> you know. So, I think I think it's it's

1:21:03a much broader issue and I think that

1:21:07what the counselor offered is a good

1:21:10first step to making sure that we know

1:21:13that that that's going to be an issue

1:21:15and when they do these plans, we can

1:21:18make a plan toward the future of of this

1:21:21happening. So, it's all we're not

1:21:24chasing the cart down the street.

1:21:26>> Yes. I sometimes I you know I want to

1:21:28really direct the traffic there but you

1:21:30know I'm afraid you know somebody will

1:21:31pull a gun on me or a knife and I get

1:21:33stabbed and killed or shot.

1:21:35>> Yeah, that's a smart stolen yesterday.

1:21:37>> Yeah, we even had uh I tell you it's

1:21:40just a cluster cluster.

1:21:41>> Yeah.

1:21:42>> Cermit, do you have any other

1:21:44suggestions?

1:21:44>> I think I think Jefferson

1:21:47>> Mr. Ple, did you get what I said?

1:21:49Because I hope I don't if I have to

1:21:51repeat it,

1:21:52>> I may not get it right.

1:21:53>> Mr. Chairman, I I have uh I have I have

1:21:56enough and we'll be watching the video

1:21:57and making sure we get that exactly

1:21:59right.

1:21:59>> All right. So, we're going to take a

1:22:01vote on this. If the vote is to approve

1:22:03this, it's not ignoring your concerns

1:22:06because we already have an order to go

1:22:08before the city council to address your

1:22:10concerns.

1:22:11>> Definitely. And I'll appreciate it very

1:22:13very much.

1:22:14>> All right. Thank you. Thank you for your

1:22:16time.

1:22:16>> Gets done.

1:22:18>> Allowing me to come here and absolutely

1:22:20>> give you the little brief of what I

1:22:22have. We heard you

1:22:23>> and I'll continue behaving and being the

1:22:25right person as a senior citizen and uh

1:22:28>> you're not a senior

1:22:28>> moving on United States citizen moving

1:22:30on with a positive image that I have on

1:22:33that street

1:22:33>> because it's just so much stuff

1:22:35happening in there.

1:22:36>> I wish Mr. John Frankenstein will be

1:22:40there at night time like Fridays,

1:22:42Saturdays and Sundays and he will see

1:22:45what goes on in there and that in that

1:22:47little vicinity there.

1:22:49>> Okay.

1:22:49>> Thank you for your service. Yep.

1:22:52>> Thank you.

1:22:52>> Thank you for your patience as well.

1:22:54Right,

1:22:54>> Mr. P. The motion then would be to

1:22:56recommend and you do have the chairman's

1:22:58order.

1:22:59>> I do.

1:22:59>> Would you take a roll call on that,

1:23:00please?

1:23:01>> Councilors Mitra,

1:23:03>> yes.

1:23:04>> Tumi,

1:23:04>> yes.

1:23:05>> And chairperson, councelor Bergman.

1:23:06>> Yes. Now, Mr. P, am I correct? There's

1:23:08no other agenda items on

1:23:10>> that is the last item, Mr.

1:23:11>> All right. So, uh could take a roll call

1:23:13on a motion to

1:23:15um conclude the meeting, please. Yeah. A

1:23:18and recommend approval of the item

1:23:20collectively.

1:23:21>> Yes.

1:23:22>> Thank you.

1:23:22>> And the chairman's order. I know that

1:23:24does need approval, but you have that.

1:23:26>> I do. Yes. Councilors Metitra.

1:23:28>> Yes.

1:23:29>> Tumi.

1:23:30>> Yes.

1:23:30>> And chairperson councelor Burkeman.

1:23:32>> Yes. At approximately 6:28 the meeting

1:23:34is concluded.

1:23:37>> Thank you.