HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Advisory Committee - 11/14/2016Downtown Committee Minutes
November 14, 2016 Pc,caIVF t� _�
Present: Lincoln Todd, True Value Hardware; Brian Quinn,qli)hhdurici Nrchy ✓all,
IDC; Eric Bednarek, Keep Mansfield Beautiful; Matt Donnelly, Fales Fuel Rerp VWittee;
Frank DelVecchio, Board of Selectmen; Walter Wilk, Finance CWAnitee' 11
William Ross, Town Manager; Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and peye1ppyient
Mr. Ross discussed the purpose, goals and objectives. He said he would like to build on the
momentum going on with infrastructure and building downtown and with the bike path being
extended into Norton. He said the North Main Street fire station will be gone in about three
years and discussed issues such as North Main Street going two-way.
Mr. Ross said there would be two parts to the downtown work: 1) infrastructure, parking and
roads and 2) promotion of events and activities.
Mr. Wilk said a number of things should be discussed, including items that would have a cost,
items that would not have a cost, as well as short-term, mid-term and long-term projects.
Mr. Donnelly suggested coming up with a list of tasks, proposals and a timeline.
Mr. Wilk suggested short-term items that CIP and the Board of Selectmen can accomplish, as
well as other items that may be management decisions.
Mr. DelVecchio said they Board of Selectmen have had a lot of discussions, but have not arrived
at any policies.
Ms. Wall said the IDC has been looking at downtown issues, especially signage.
Mr. Donnelly said there should be a downtown "vision" to guide the planning process.
Mr. Ross said the reconstruction of North Main and Oakland Streets is being done through a $2.4
million MassWorks grant; a proposal for work on the bike path has been submitted by a group of
Northeastern University students. Mr. Ross said he thinks there is funding available through the
CDBG program.
Mr. DelVecchio suggested looking at the "low -hanging fruit;" with the IDC looking at things
like banners, and asked Ms. Wall to report back to the committee on the IDC's progress.
The group discussed how the Mansfield logo was arrived at, and the idea of branding for
downtown.
Ideas: Short -Term Mid -Term Long -Term
No -Cost Low -Cost High -Cost
Ad -Hoc Downtown Committee November 14, 2016
The committee discussed funding, modeling, what makes Mansfield unique and making
downtown a cultural area.
Also discussed was downtown parking; and the need for better lighting and signage for public
parking areas.
3, Adjournment
Motion: To adjourn at 8:00 p.m. ( ) All in favor. PASSES
Date of next meetin : December Q, 2016 at 6:30 p.m., Meeting Room 3 a/b.
7,7
Signature of Chair Date of Approval
Ad -Hoc Downtown Committee November 14, 2016