HomeMy WebLinkAboutIDC COMM 7/27/2016INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RECEIVED
MINUTES OF TCL?' # CLERKS OFFICE
JULY 27, 2016 WORKSHOP
WITH BOARD OF SELECTMEN, PLANNING BOMWA I l A II: 01
AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
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Members of the Commission Present:
Bob Krentzman
Krista Hill Cummings
David Martin
Others Present:
Town Manager William Ross
Members of the Finance Committee
Members of the Planning Board
Board of Selectmen
The above members of the ICD met with members of the Board of Selectmen, Planning Board
and Finance Committee for the purpose of conducting a workshop focusing on Economic
Development.
Mr. Ross addressed the group and indicated that a draft of the Tri -Town video the Board
approved several months ago had been completed. The video was then shown to the Board.
Kara Griffin, Director, and Danielle Fish, V.P. of Economic Development for the Tri -Town
Chamber briefly discussed the background of the video and indicated that it was going to be sent
to Governor Baker's office within the next couple of weeks. Mr. Krentzman, Chairman of the
IDC distributed two documents (Industrial Development Concentrations/Activities and Why
Mansfield?) and briefly discussed the documents. Krista Cummings, IDC member then
addressed the group and went through the Why Mansfield document. She indicated that the IDC
had done an extensive survey and had received over 1000 responses.
Mr. Ralph Penney, Chairman of the Planning Board, then addressed the group, but indicated that
he wasn't certain what the purpose of the workshop was. Mr. Penney talked about Cabot Park
and the group discussed the zoning changes that passed Town Meeting a few years ago. He
asked what the Planning Board can do to assist with growth and sustainability and help the town
be more competitive. He expressed a concern about traffic throughout town. Mr. Walter Wilk,
Chair of the Finance Committee addressed the group. He suggested that the Town needs to
focus on the Cabot Park and increased density in order to attract businesses of the future, but that
data needed to be assembled in order to do that. It was noted that Shaun Burke, Planning
Director, is working on assembling that data. Mr. DelVecchio asked that the data that was
requested by Mr. Wilk be circulated to everyone. Mr. Krentzman noted that the IDC had met
with Steve Clancy a major realtor in the Cabot Park who helped them understand that the Town
needs to find out what businesses are looking for and then work to meet those expectation.
Mr. Penney expressed a concern about the promise of walking trails during the completion of the
Plymouth Street fields. Mr. Ross is going to look into this.
Mr. Joe Sollecito, MMED Director addressed the group. Mr. Sollecito stated that in his former
position in Taunton, they went out and talked to industry groups to attract the highest rate users.
Mr. Trowbridge asked if planning could get data on other parks about density and permitted uses
and the density.
There group agreed on the following:
• Chairs of the boards will be the guidance group.
• The Planning Board and IDC will initially meet to develop some strategies on the Cabot
Park and on the Downtown.
• The data should be assembled and compiled by the middle of September on a GIS map.
• The four Boards will re -convene in mid-September and in mid-October
• A zoning study of the Cabot Park will be prepared by the Planning Board by mid-
September which will include incorporating restaurants and recreation.
Mr. Trowbridge would like to see an economic development director hired and perhaps
investigate grants for this purpose. Mr. Krentzman indicated that this was a goal of the IDC; Mr.
Ross will be lead on this and investigate how it will be funded.
A discussion took place about the Fales Fuel site and the connection to the downtown and
parking. There was disagreement about whether these items can be discussed independently or
as part of a larger plan. Mr. Trowbridge believes Fales should be on hold until the needs are
analyzed. Mr. Schoonveld would like to schedule a similar meeting to discuss downtown.
Ic-la ?v IV
tgned Date
Material used in this meeting:
Tri -Town Chamber of Commerce Video
Industrial Development Concentrations/Activities
Notes Taken by Mr. Schoonveld
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