October 15, 2007
Present was Jonathan P. Smith, Ramesh H. Advani, James C. Lehan, and Jack Hathaway, Town Administrator.
Jonathan Smith called the meeting to order. Jack Hathaway read the agenda contents.
LISA DAVIS, MBTA AGREEMENT
Present was Lisa Davis of Lisa Davis Associates, Bob Davis, the attorney who represents Stop & Shop, and Ken Staffier of VHB.
Lisa Davis said they are here tonight to ask us to execute the Memorandum of Agreement. She said the access way is a jagged narrow roadway that was a taking several years ago. They would like a straight shot from Liberty Lane right to the MBTA parking. If they deeded the narrow strip to the MBTA, they would be able to go ahead with the construction of Liberty Lane. Lisa said that Jack had forwarded a revision this afternoon, which they are okay with. Stop & Shop is comfortable with going ahead in the spring. Bob Davis said there is pending site plan approval for Walgreen’s and progress is happening. They hope to build in the spring. Bob said that Stop & Shop has also gone through the bidding process as per the Planning Board and the numbers have not come in at a level that would allow
them to proceed. They will be looking at engineering and possibility of a smaller size store. Bob said they are working closely with Strata Bank and they are close to making a commitment to a store on Liberty Lane. They are also considering a small retail store next to Walgreen’s.
Lisa said that Stop & Shop is determined to finish the entire road.
Jack brought up the condition of the road where the condominiums are. Bob said the condo area is a separate party than them. It is the developer’s responsibility to construct that road. The small road by the retail store will be taken of with their project.
Jonathan questioned the coffee shop and will it be there? He said they have heard rumors. Lisa said they heard real concerns about the drive up, so they aren’t sure they will want that. They will come in with revised plans. They would need a special permit and they don’t know if they want to go through that. She said if the
Jonathan said frustration with this whole project and there is always “something else” as to why this project can’t go forward. How should we take these comments as anything different than what we’ve heard already? Bob said Norfolk isn’t an easy permitting project. The cost for underground drainage itself is expensive. They are required to put a retaining wall in which is expensive. He said that the permitting process is costly and prohibitive. It has not been an easy process and they have put in a good faith effort.
Jim thanked him for being here. Are we on their 3 year list? Jim said that when he talked to them 3 or 4 years ago, we weren’t even on their 3 year list. Jim said that this is becoming very damaging to the community. He said that this is one more reason why this isn’t being built. Jim would like a public update from time to time as to what is going on and timelines, etc. He said we are on the same page as them and we would like to help. He said the town may begin looking at alternatives. Jim said we are looking for help, and doing the road would be a big help.
Bob said they can work with us through Jack to report in more frequently. He will give us updates and he doesn’t know where this is in Stop & Shop’s Capital Plan, but will find out.
Ramesh said he has been following this since he came on the board. He started a roundtable process specifically to address comments made by them that the approval process is cumbersome.
Ramesh commented that he has never actually spoken to a Stop & Shop executive. He finds it distressing that there were land court issues and other issues. He said he doesn’t think there are any plans at all to construct anything. He doesn’t think anyone is taking responsibility. Norfolk wants this property developed.
Bob said they are prepared to be back in a couple months with an assessment of their findings and what their intentions are. Bob said that sometime after the holidays, they should be prepared to do that. Ramesh questioned the area where the sign is and what an eyesore it is. Bob said that there haven’t been any plans and they haven’t even considered it. He said they will look at it.
Ramesh said we would love to have an executive from Stop & Shop here. Bob said they can bring him in. Jim said if they do, he has to come prepared with answers. Jim asked at what point they will decide this is not viable. We need to mitigate it if it isn’t going to happen. Maybe we can all sit down together and talk.
Bob said Stop & Shop has made a substantial investment and would like the opportunity to try. Jim said we aren’t shutting them out; we would like them here.
Lisa said they didn’t get site plan approval until the spring. Then it had to go out to bid and that took several months. She said it seems like we’ve been going on forever, but until they got Planning Board approval, they couldn’t do anything. Jim said the process to get to that point took a long time. Lisa said Stop & Shop has owned that land for 7 years.
Bob said they will come back and meet in January and bring a Stop & Shop official who will have responsibility for this project. It is a woman and they will be prepared to discuss this project with us. Ramesh wants to talk about the two lots on Main Street. Independence Drive is the entrance to the whole complex. On the MBTA easement, we are all in agreement.
Jonathan wants them to commit that this person with them in January will have authority and can have some level of commitment. Bob said they can deliver the person and the authority, but he can’t promise commitment. Jonathan and Ramesh stressed that they would like to see them come back in during the first or second meeting in January. Jim, however, said that if they don’t have answers, then wait until February, if that’s what it takes. Jonathan feels the Planning Board has bent over backwards helping. Bob said the Planning Board requirements are what he was talking about, not the administration. The set of rules of which they are bound to work is very stringent. Ramesh said with 3 town meetings, they have made the B1 district changes driven by your project.
Ramesh Advani moved to accept the Memorandum of Agreement between the Town of Norfolk and Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority and Norfolk Commons LLC and Liberty Norfolk Development to LLC as referred to in the handout for the purpose of changing the MBTA easement benefits and other clauses and conditions listed here, the relocation of the MBTA easement and Boardman Street extension dated as of October 15, 2007. Jim Lehan seconded, and it was so voted.
Bob Davis mentioned Article 34 in the town meeting warrant and said they would want the Board to recommend indefinitely postponing this, as well as the Planning Board because it restricts. Bob said the sub-committee thought they were correcting a typo and they were not.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Present were EDC members Bob Nicodemus, Kim Eldred and Jennifer Troutman. Also present were Planning Board members Steve McClain and David Roche.
Bob said that they were here tonight to update everyone and to let us know what they want to do as far as outreach.
Jennifer gave the Board a brief review of the four items that they have been working on.
Bob said they have done a fair amount of comparison research with other towns that has helped them. They need to deal with predictability and timelines. Bob said they want to give a summary of where they are at town meeting. They want to do an inventory of properties and feels communication is key.
ACTION ITEMS
Jim Lehan moved to approve the annual Santa Parade and Town Hill Celebration held by the Lions Club and Norfolk Recreation on Sunday, December 2, 2007. Ramesh Advani seconded and it was so voted.
Jim Lehan moved to approve a Blind Drive sign for 44 Lawrence Street. Ramesh Advani seconded and it was so voted.
BIWEEKLY CALENDAR
Jack read the biweekly calendar.
FALL TOWN MEETING WARRANT
The Board reviewed the Fall Town Meeting Warrant and who from the Board would speak on articles at town meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
Jack is meeting with the Town Administrator and DPW Director on Wednesday to discuss the no through truck traffic.
Jim asked for details on the dedication to be held on Veterans Day.
Jack reported no update on the Franklin water issue. We will go over it after town meeting.
Caritas is anxious to enter into a PILOT agreement. Jack said this is good because we can agree on a tax bill and then there won’t be an abatement process.
NEW BUSINESS
Jack mentioned the Paws for Plainville’s interest in a kennel type facility. Jack said he went and looked at Medfield’s with the Wrentham and Plainville Town Administrators.
Jack mentioned the School Committee contract negotiations. Jack will be a part of this, although non-voting.
Jack gave a letter to the Board from Matt Borrelli. The Board feels it is premature. We can endorse the concept, but he has to go through the Affordable Housing Committee and then through the other channels.
Jonathan reported attending the King Philip ribbon cutting ceremony.
Jonathan reported on Verizon and the cable negotiations.
At 9:58 p.m., Ramesh Advani moved to go into executive session for purposes of land purchase. Jonathan Smith seconded and it was a roll call vote: Ramesh Advani, aye; and Jonathan Smith, aye. Jim Lehan recused himself from the discussion and did not vote.
As the Board went into executive session, Jim Lehan left the meeting and the building.
At 10:39 p.m., being no further business, Ramesh Advani moved to adjourn the meeting. Jonathan Smith seconded, and it was so voted.
This is a true and accurate report of the Selectmen’s Meeting of October 15, 2007.
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Ramesh H. Advani, Clerk
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