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Home My WebLink About2017-05-04 Finance Committee Minutes TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER FINANCE COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes Meeting Date May 4th, 2017 Meeting Location: North Andover Town Hall, Board of Selectmen Meeting Room, 120 Main Street Bill Callahan, BC, Chairman X Sasha Weinreich, SW Jennifer Goldman, JG, Vice Chair X Divya Bhatnagar, DB X Karin Blake, KB X Angela Ciofolo, AC X Thomas Ringler, TR X Timothy Tschirhart, TT X Liz Gerron, LG Note: All FINCOM votes are subject to change upon receipt of new information. Note: Documents used in this meeting are listed in Document Table, herein. Non Finance Committee Members in attendance Thomas Lee (Lee), Petitioner. Daniel Leary (Leary), Citizen Call to order 6:50 Town Meeting Warrant 9, 10, 11-Presentation by Thomas Lee and Daniel Leary Discussion starts on or about 6:52 pm/001:30 on video time BC: Tonight we have Mr. Thomas Lee and Mr. Daniel Leary to talk about Warrant Articles 9, 10 and 11. Regarding a proposed marijuana facility located at 1600 Osgood Street (Osgood Landing). BC: The format is pretty simple, a presentation and then questions and answers. Leary: I am Dan Leary of 26 Andover Street Lee: I am Thomas Lee of 96 Woodcrest Drive Leary: Spoke of the ongoing project he was connected with out on Osgood Street, regarding Solar Panels. I am here tonight because I am a believer in this proposed project and the things it could do for the Town. Lee: Spoke of his background and how he got involved with this project. 1 May 4th, 2017 Lee: Continued with how he has lived in this Town for 15 years, he spoke of his family, as well as his involvement in the Town. Lee: Stated that he was approached by Jeff Goldstein who brought this project to his attention. This is not typically what I do, but I knew I wanted to help out and be part of it. Lee: This is a 1.1 million square foot area that is in the middle of this property that is unique. There is manufacturing space on this property. This is a building that does not have an industry. Since cannabis is now legal in Massachusetts and many other states (for medical purposes and adult use), this would be the best place and perfect opportunity to grow medical marijuana on this property. We would do this in the best interest of this town. We would not become a dispensary and sell marijuana on this property. We would like to create a high level research and development center that researches products that are cultivated from the cannabis plant and would only be used for medical purposes. Lee: Spoke of a company that is meeting with the Police Chief of this Town to speak of a product that they are working on. It would be similar to a breathalyzer test for alcohol, but would measure marijuana. Lee: Spoke of companies that are interested in working with this project, such as Phillips (Lighting Division). Lee: Also spoke of the tax benefits for the Town. Lee: Right now this facility pays $350,000.00 a year in taxes. As a single use facility it would exceed over a million dollars in tax revenue a year. This would become the largest tax payer, if this happens Lee: Summarized each of the Warrant Articles (9, 10, and 11) that will be voted for at Town Meeting. A yes vote will allow the process to continue. A no vote at Town Meeting will end this, and not allow this to happen, and we will not be able to come back for 2 years, and the economic situation could be different. The Finance Committee made comments, explained, instructed and also asked a variety of questions to Leary and Lee, and also spoke on the Warrant Articles and related subject matter, along with Planning, Business Plans, Zoning, and Re-Zoning changes. Leary: Spoke of the hurdle that has to be cleared and what they are confronted with, even with an approval at Town Meeting. Leary: Then spoke of the Zoning that needs to be cleared up, Planning Board ( this part is huge), the Planning Review is extremely thorough, it is done very well, everyone is involved, Fire Chief, Police Chief, there are peer reviews, permits and after that there is licensing then they will go and build it. TT: Expressed his concerns with the zoning and if this Business Plan/Project did not work out, or even if the business did not want to continue will this Zoning for that property get flipped or changed to be zoned for something else. 2 May 4th, 2017 Leary: Explained how the Town’s zoning works (in his experience), it has a very comprehensive way to make sure when things get zoned it gets transferred into the bylaws and that they make sure that they are interpreted very carefully. Leary went on to say how this is all very controlled and executed in a measured way. Leary: Went on to say that they wrote into the Bylaws that there will not be a retail operation on this site. KB: Asked if there was a shelf life on this product. Leary: Yes, there is a shelf life. Lee: There are also regulations on how the product will need to be disposed of when the shelf life is reached. Leary: Spoke of the market and what is happening out there today, this market will expand. We will be turning this into a Pharmaceutical product. TR: If a different company came in will they also have to go through the same permit process Leary: Yes. TR: What kind of jobs will we see? Leary: Technicians, administration, retail (off site) and a management team. BC: Asked how is this enterprise going to work since others did not? Why is this time different? Lee and Leary: The reality is the reasons that somethings fell through is that without residential (40R), retail would not work. Fast forwarding till today the town does not want 520 residents there. We have to say as a Town the past vision we had did not work. It was a good idea, but the world is different. This site is most valuable as an industrial site. This is a property that needs an industry. You need to look around and see what is happening around you. You cannot wait till the market happens. You have to get the market at just the right time. You need to utilize this industry and see that the demand is here and it is growing. This property is unique, because of the size and space and can be utilized fully. DB: Commented on why not bring in other types of manufacturing rather than the cultivation of marijuana. Lee: Stated that there will be a very comprehensive security plan for this project. Leary: the look and feel will be a Biotech Campus and this industry will improve the campus (property). This will be an industry that will make this property beautiful BC: Thank you for answering our questions. 3 May 4th, 2017 Approval of Minutes April 11 and April 13, 2017 Discussion starts on or about 8:49 pm/118:25 on video time April 11, 2017 JG: Made a motion to approve TT: Second the Motion All in favor April 13, 2017 TT: Made a motion to approve TR: Second the Motion All in favor Comments Discussion starts on or about 8:50 pm/119:45 on video time JG: Wanted to make a motion for our pre annual meeting (Town Meeting) to have the Finance Committee make a recommendation at the meeting on Warrant Articles 9, 10, 11 and 12 KB: Wanted to amend JG’s motion and to take the position only on Warrant Article 10 The Committee Members discussed their opinions on the Warrant Articles 9, 10, 11 and 12. JG: Felt that Warrant Article 9 was substantial and very important to the Town’s revenue. The impact to the Town approving it is substantial to the Town’s revenue. KB: Responded that you don’t get the revenue unless you change the zoning. TT: Second KB’s motion to amend JG’s motion and the to take a position on Warrant Article 10 All were in favor Adjourn: 9:00 TT: Made a motion to adjourn JG: second the motion All in favor Document Table * 1. 2017 Annual Town Meeting Warrant and Finance Committee Report thth ** 2. Finance Committee Minutes for April 11 and April 13 2017 ** 3. Osgood Landing Biotechnology Campus and Valley Green Grow. Presentation May 3, 2017 (Business Plan) --------------------------------------------------------------- * Hard copy ** Hard copy & Google 4 May 4th, 2017