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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-29 Master Plan Implementation Committee Minutes Master Plan Implementation Committee Meeting Minutes February 29, 2024 Attending: (in person): Jon Strauss (Chair), Meredith Barnes-Cook (Vice-Chair), Al Manzi, Stan Limpert, Richard Vaillancourt, Amy Mabley, Hollie Williams, Sean Kevlahan, and George Koehler Absent: None Staff: Andrew Shapiro (Assistant Town Manager/Director of Community and Economic Development), Zach Melcher(Staff Planner) Call To Order Chair Jon Strauss called the meeting to order and noted those who were present for the meeting, consisting of a quorum. Public Comment No public comments were received by Andrew Shapiro by the time the meeting had started and no members of the public were present to offer comments. Anaroval of January, 2024 meeting minutes Jon Strauss called for a motion to approve the minutes. Richard Vaillancourt motioned to approve the minutes from January 8, 2024. Amy Mabely seconded the motion. The vote was 8-0 in favor(Mr. Kevlahan was not yet present for this vote). Old Business: Continued discussion of updates on Master Plan strategies that have been made on the MPIC Implementation Web Page. Andrew Shapiro provided the following updates: Housing, Strategy 14: Utilize CPA and Housing Trust funds to offset housing costs for households at the lowest income brackets (households up to 30 percent of Area Median Income). • The Affordable Housing Trust and Bread & Roses are teaming up on an=lication for use of$ to support the development of four(4) units of affordable housing on Brown Court. Transportation, Strategy 5 6: Continue to push for a new MBTA commuter rail station at the Osgood Landing site if and when a redevelopment proposal is in place that matches the community's vision and goal for the site. 0 In February 2024, the Select Board approved the use of$45,883 in American Rescue Plan AcLkAREA)-L1n"to support the development of a study examining the feasibility of siting an MBTA Commuter Rail Station in North Andover. Combining these funds with a $75,000 State earmark, the Planning and Community Development Departments have contracted with Jacobs EnginggLing to assist the Town in producing this study. Mr. Limpert asked how long the study will take. Zach Melcher responded, noting that the proposal calls for it to take 22 weeks. Mr. Vaillancourt asked what the study will be looking at. Mr. Melcher explained that there are a number of issues that it will look at, including travel times, conflicts with other stations, ridership data, etc. Mr. Vaillancourt then inquired about steps that would need to be taken after completion of the study. Mr. Shapiro explained that the Town would need to coordinate with the MBTA on any next steps, but it's not yet known if the project is even feasible. Mr. Limpert asked why the focus of the study is Osgood Landing. Mr. Shapiro explained that the Master Plan specifically calls out Osgood Landing, but even beyond that, it represents a seemingly viable option due to the presence of the tracks, and the recent robust redevelopment of the site. Public Facilities and Services, Strategy 85: Continue to prioritize the update, repair, and renovation of the Town I s public buildings and schools as needed. • In February of 2024, the that a project to replace the Library's historic front steps would be commencing in Spring of 2024: "This Spring a project to remove the stairs, and using the original granite steps, and rebuild begins shortly. The project begins with the removal of the ' walls and shrubs in the lawn." The project is being funded with over$500,000 in Communily Preservation Act funding (awarded over multiple years). Members asked about other ongoing projects. Ms. Mabley inquired about the reuse of the former Senior Center. Mr. Shapiro noted that a reuse study with an architecture firm is ongoing, but it will take time for that building to be fully renovated and reoccupied. Mr. Limpert asked about the Historic Preservation Master Plan. Mr. Melcher explained that a consultant is now on board for the project and that a kickoff meeting would be happening very soon. Mr. Kevlahan asked about the rail trail running to Marbleridge Road. Mr. Shapiro explained that that particular segment of the rail trail has been shelved for the time being, due to some complexities that have emerged- namely the presence of protected species of grasses along the planned right-of-way. More attention is being paid to planning for the shared use path in the downtown. New Business Discussion and Rpqtentdal vot Mr. Shapiro explained that every now and then, the Master Plan Implementation Committee (MPIC) evaluates pertinent issues or projects before the Town against Master Plan priorities, to determine if that project or initiative is generally in keeping with the Master Plan. In this case, the MPIC was asked by the Planning Board and Select Board to undertake this process to evaluate the proposed MBTA Multi-Family Overlay District Bylaw that will be presented at Town Meeting in May of 2024. The Town has a webpage dedicated to this project, which is available for public consumption. Mr. Shapiro then covered basic information about the MBTA Communities State law, including the fact that the State will withhold grant funding and even prosecute communities that do not comply with the law. He then noted that the Town is putting forward Osgood Landing (1600 Osgood Street) and the North Andover Mall (350 Winthrop Avenue) as the areas that will be covered by the proposed overlay district. The law must be complied with by the end of the year and it only requires that the Town zones for as-of-right multi-family units, not actually build them. Mr. Kevlahan inquired about the required quantum of vote at Town Meeting for this warrant article. Mr. Shapiro explained that the article would need a majority (not super majority) to pass. Ms. Williams asked if existing units already constructed would count towards the Town's unit capacity requirement. Mr. Shapiro responded noting that they would not. Mr. Koehler asked about any affordable housing requirements. Mr. Shapiro noted that the bylaw calls for 15% of units to be affordable to those making a maximum of 80% of the area median income, in line with the Town's existing inclusionary zoning bylaw. This provision would need to be justified with an economic feasibility analysis, which the Town's consultant is already working on. Mr. Shapiro then presented a spreadsheet that he had drafted for the Committee's consideration. He explained that he had selected a number of strategies from the Master Plan, which he felt are relevant to the MBTA Communities issue before the Town. He asked that the Committee review these strategies and come to a consensus as to whether they do indeed have a relationship to the issue and should be considered. He then proceeded to discuss these strategies. The Committee agreed that there are 11 relevant strategies to consider, spread across the Land Use, Housing, and Economic Development sections of the Master Plan. The Committee agreed that they would evaluate the strategies and provide feedback at their next meeting, which they agreed would be on April 8th at 5pm. Adjournment: Hollie Williams moved to adjourn, and Stan Limpert seconded. The vote was 9-0 in favor.