HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_8.20.20 MINUTES: MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE: AUGUST 20,2020
In Attendance (via Google Meet and telephone): Members Chris Nobile, Stan Limpert,Jay Dowd,
Meredith Barnes-Cook, Hollie Williams, Kelly Cormier,Jonathan Strauss, and George Koehler; Staff:
Andrew Shapiro (Director of Community and Economic Development) and Jean Enright (Planning
Director)
Absent: Member Lou Napoli
The meeting began at 5:00pm and just prior to being called to order, Andrew Shapiro began to read
aloud the following statement:
Pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting
Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, and the Governor's March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number
of people that may gather in one place, this meeting of the Master Plan Implementation Committee will
be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. Specific information and the
general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or
requirement to attend this meeting can be found on the Town's website, at .n o rth a n d o ver.mg..&gv.
For this meeting, members of the public who wish to watch the meeting may do so on their televisions
by tuning to Comcast Channel 99 or Verizon Channel 28 or online at .n rth n arc m. r . No in-
person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure
that the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time,via technological means. In the event
that we are unable to do so, despite best efforts,we will post on the Town of North Andover website an
audio or video recording,transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible
after the meeting. If the public would like to participate in public hearings please email your
question/comment prior to or during the meeting to,..........s ......... ... ... it n rth n rm . .The
question/comment will be read during the proceedings and responded to accordingly.
Introductions
Mr. Shapiro then introduced himself to the Committee,followed by Planning Director Jean Enright; all
Committee Members then introduced themselves,thereby confirming their attendance at the meeting.
The only noted absence was Lou Napoli.
Review of Mission Statement and Duties
Mr. Shapiro read the mission statement and duties aloud to the Committee, noting that it had been
approved by the Town's Board of Selectmen back in December of 2019. He then offered the Committee
Members an opportunity to ask questions or provide feedback.
Chris Nobile explained that implementation of the Master Plan will require strong cooperation with the
Planning Board and he noted the presence of Kelly Cormier on the Committee as she is a Member of the
Planning Board.
Stan Limpert noted that he recalled the last Town Manager saying that the Master Plan deals with
"Town infrastructure" as opposed to high level philosophical ideas.
Jean Enright noted that she feels the Plan is a vision for the Town, and that many chapters overlap to
provide a unity for that vision. The strategies laid in out in the Plan will need to be prioritized by the
Committee, in terms of what should be addressed sooner than later, and there also needs to be
recognition that it will take time to complete strategies and goals associated with the Plan.
Mr. Shapiro noted that there are certain tasks that the Town has taken on—Municipal Vulnerability
Preparedness planning being one of them—that are not specifically called out in the Master Plan, but
which do satisfy overarching goals laid out in the document. The document does not contemplate all
possible issues that the Town could have potentially faced in the future—the gas explosions and the
pandemic being two notable unanticipated issues the Town has recently encountered.
Jonathan Strauss questioned how the Committee would work with bodies such as the Select Board or
Planning Board when projects are brought forward—does the Committee review projects for their
compliance with the Master Plan? Mr. Shapiro explained that if projects are allowed by-right per the
Town's current Bylaws,then the Committee does not necessarily have authority to intervene in the
consideration of such projects—e.g. the Town does not currently have an inclusionary zoning Bylaw in
place, which is a strategy outlined in both the Town's Master Plan and Housing Production Plan; hence,
a proposal for multi-family housing that is allowed under current zoning would not be compelled to
include affordable housing. Ms. Enright noted that in the near term, it would be important for the
Committee to think about how it could best interact with staff, understand the strategies that have
already seen some progress, and to prioritize other strategies that need to be address going forward.
Meredith Barnes-Cooke questioned whether the prioritization of strategies would be done across all
elements/themes, as opposed to within each element/theme. Ms. Enright confirmed that that would be
the case, citing issues related to improvement of Downtown as an example,which cuts across many silos
of the Master Plan. Ms. Barnes-Cook then asked if the Plan has an overarching mission statement that
might drive how to prioritize strategies. Mr. Shapiro responded by noting that he feels the Master Plan
in and of itself represents the mission statement and provides a comprehensive guide for where the
Town wants to be on a number of issues.
Mr. Nobile stressed the importance of understanding which strategies have already seen some progress,
but also to formulate a process for interacting with Town staff and local Boards to continue to make
progress. He noted that the Committee would need to report to the Select Board on a quarterly basis
regarding progress being made toward Master Plan strategies and goals. Kelly Cormier agreed with Mr.
Nobile and also stressed the importance of ensuring that local boards, like the Planning Board, are
operating in a way that facilitates advancement of Master Plan strategies. Mr. Strauss expressed his
opinion that the Committee should perhaps have direct interface with the Planning Board when new
projects are introduced to ensure their compliance with Master Plan goals. Ms. Cormier questioned
whether the Committee would want to do that and/or have the authority to do that. Mr. Shapiro noted
that he feels that each local board is responsible for approving or not approving projects based on what
the Bylaws allow, as well as their adherence to the Master Plan. Moreover, it would be onerous for the
Committee to evaluate every project that comes before all local boards. Instead, he noted it would be
more effective for the Committee to advance advocacy for wholesale changes it sees as priorities—e.g.
if it feels affordable housing is an issue that needs to be addressed, it can advocate for the passage of an
inclusionary zoning ordinance, which would then compel future multi-family housing proposals to
include an affordable housing component.
George Koehler remarked that the Committee could have a large role to play in advocating for zoning
changes it would see as necessary to advance Master Plan goals and strategies. There might also be an
opportunity for the Planning Board to refer proposed zoning changes that come before it to the Master
Plan Implementation Committee. Mr. Strauss agreed with Mr. Koehler and suggested that perhaps
having a subcommittee of Members focused on zoning could be a way of tackling potential zoning
changes.
Prior to wrapping discussion about the Committee's mission statement and duties, Mr. Shapiro noted
that the Planning Department is in the process of interviewing candidates for a vacant Staff Planner
position, which will focus on project implementation; notably projects that advance Master Plan
priorities. That planner will have a lot of interaction with the Committee.
Election of Officers(Chair,and Vice-Chair, and Secretary)
The Committee opted to table discussion of this item and Members who are interested in serving in a
leadership capacity were encouraged to email either or both Mr. Shapiro and Ms. Enright to express
their interest ahead of the next meeting.
Review and Discussion of ,r PI a..n ....fir , i r h t- Discussion regarding reporting out of
progress on strategies
Mr. Shapiro described the way the spreadsheet is organized and what type of information that it
contains; notably that strategies are filed under general categories,that there are different stakeholders
who are responsible for carrying out various strategies, and that each strategy is assigned a general
timeline within which it is expected to be completed. He went on to say that a good first step for the
Committee might be to determine which of these strategies have already been addressed by the Town
and how they have been addressed. The Committee should decide how to move forward on gathering
and notating that information.
Jay Dowd noted that the strategies could be organized or prioritized by what skillset or actions are
needed to accomplish them. Mr. Limpert added that the relative impact of each of the strategies or
goals has not been identified, and perhaps better understanding the impacts and prioritizing goals that
provide "more bang for buck" could be appropriate. Priorities could be arrived at in a number of ways,
including by seeing which strategies cost more (or less) or which ones could be accomplished in less
time. He noted that he thought a first step for the Committee could be to do this prioritization.
Ms. Williams questioned whether any of the strategies outlined in the Plan had any budgets
appropriated to them so that they can be addressed. Ms. Enright noted that she has begun activities
related to improvements to the Downtown by obtaining a grant available through the Columbia Gas
funding. A consultant is on board is and is currently working with the Town on developing a Plan for
Downtown. Additionally,the in the Town's most recent budget is funding to update the Town's 1987
Watershed Plan; requests for quotes have been sent out to engineering firms to begin that project.
Mr. Nobile suggested that perhaps Ms. Barnes-Cook could take the lead in helping to formulate a
"roadmap"for prioritizing the Plan's strategies.
Ms. Cormier and Mr. Limpert stressed the importance of needing to communicate accomplishments or
forward movement on Plan priorities to the Town. The idea of lawn signs was raised, as was displaying
information on the Town's website.
Mr. Dowd asked about the strategy involving"catalytic parcels" along Osgood Street. Mr. Shapiro
explained an Amazon distribution facility will be coming to Osgood Landing—a project that has been
approved by local boards. The Town has also received funding to extend sewer service along Rt. 125,
which will improve the market value of parcels along that stretch and create potential for future
redevelopment. He went on to say that the Master Plan calls for area plans of major commercial
corridors to be undertaken. This area (Rt. 125)was identified as a priority area to examine, and
therefore,the Committee could advocate that the Town seek funding to undertake such a planning
process.
Mr. Limpert noted that it would be helpful to have staff(Mr. Shapiro and Ms. Enright) identify which
strategies have been accomplished or worked on, so that the Committee can have that information
moving forward. Ms. Williams agreed. Ms. Enright agreed and noted that a next step after that would
be to prioritize outstanding strategies. She suggested that perhaps the Committee could form a
subcommittee to work on how the Committee will address prioritization, and that perhaps Ms. Barnes-
Cook could lead that effort. Ms. Barnes-Cook indicated that she could lead the effort and Mr. Limpert
and Mr. Dowd offered to work with her as well.
Discussion and vote on frequency/dates of meetings
The Committee agreed that meeting once per month, at least initially, would be appropriate. The
Committee then agreed to hold its next meeting on Thursday, September 24, 2020 at 5pm.
Adjournment:
MOTION: Jay Dowd made a motion to adjourn,Jonathan Strauss seconded the motion. Vote: 8-0.
The meeting adjourned at 6:31PM