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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-01 Master Plan Implementation Committee Minutes Master Plan Implementation Committee Meeting Minutes May 1, 2023 Attending: (in person): Jon Strauss (Chair), George Koehler, Eitan Goldberg, Stan Limpert, Jimmy Wefers, Richard Vaillancourt Absent: Meredith Barnes-Cook, Hollie Williams, Sean McDonough Staff: Andrew Shapiro (Director of Community and Economic Development) Call To Order Chair Jon Strauss called the meeting to order. Public Comment No public comments were received by Jon Strauss or Andrew Shapiro by the time the meeting had started and no members of the public were present to offer comments. Approval of February 15, 2023 and April 3, 2023 Meeting Minutes Eitan Goldberg motioned to approve both sets of presented minutes. Stan Limpert seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 in favor. Old Business: Continued discussion of updates on Master Plan strategies that have been made on the MPIC Implementation Web Page. Andrew Shapiro covered the following updates: Strategy 2: Create a new base zoning district for Downtown North Andover that is consistent with the goals of the Master Plan and encourages and incentivizes reinvestment • On April 12, 2023 the Town held a third public discussion and feedback session at the Senior Center regarding the potential to rezone downtown. Shapiro noted that Strategies 3 and 5 in the Land Use category also correspond to this update, as well as Strategy 18 in the Housing category. Strategy 77: Organize clean-up days for historic burial grounds and clean-up/community service days at the Historical Society properties. • The Town scheduled a Town-Wide Clean-up Day for Sunday, April 23 (rain date: April 30). Interested participants are asked to check in at North Andover Middle School (495 Main St.) to get trash bags, gloves, and grabbers. Then help clean up your neighborhood, favorite park, or a section of town that needs attention. New Business: Discussion and possible vote on bi-annual Apdate to Select Board and Planning_RQaLd Jon Strauss covered the contents of a memo he drafted, covering activities and discussion that the Master Plan Implementation Committee had undertaken since October of 2022. Mr. Koehler suggested that the memo should indicate the effective dates covered by the memo; otherwise, Members had no further comments on its contents. Stan Limpert motioned to approve the update memo. Eitan Goldberg seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 in favor. Discussion on Master Plan Strgidditional ® a MURLY Mr. Shapiro noted that the spreadsheet shared shows a list of strategies that either had not been addressed by the Town in any discernible way, or that more information was needed in order to determine if meaningful updates to those strategies could be shared. He noted further that he would work with members and appropriate Town staff to determine which, if any, of these strategies have already been addressed in some way. Some strategies may never be implemented- it's possible that when they were conceived during the planning process that they seemed realistic. Mr. Shapiro said that he would make an effort to address Strategy 22 under Economic Development: Evaluate whether the creation of a quasi public entity for economic development would offer the Town increased flexibility lexibility to negotiate with potential new employers and to be more proactive in creating economic development opportunities for the community. He noted that he could provide a memo to the Committee about whether comparable communities had undertaken something to the effect of a quasi-public entity for economic development as outlined in the strategy. Discussion if time allows: updates on current Town projects and initiatives: Downtown—Rezoning and MBTA Communities Compliance: Shapiro explained that more would be coming out on this issue in the coming months. The Town is looking at a collection of parcels along Sutton Street, proximate to Main Street to satisfy the State's prescribed zoning mandate. The Town would also need additional acreage to comply; therefore staff has begun to look at the parcels comprising the Market Basket plaza on Route 114. Housing Production Plan Update/Potential ADU Bylaw: Town staff continues to meet with representatives of MVPC to develop an update to the HPP. The process will have a robust public engagement component that will unfold later this year. It will include a process to solicit input about the development of an AUD bylaw. 400 Great Pond Road Steering Committee: Mr. Vaillancourt provided an update on this project, noting that an RFP was in the process of being released after ARPA funding was secured to fund a consultant that will determine the feasibility of either keeping or demolishing the structure on site. Downtown Shared Use Trail: Mr. Shapiro explained that a public meeting had just been held on this project at which much good feedback was received. Town staff will continue to solicit public input, work with abutters, and develop concept plans. Adjournment: Eitan Goldberg moved to adjourn, and George Koehler seconded. The vote was 6-0 in favor.