CITY OF WORCESTER | Economic Development Committee Meeting | Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:04 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:21 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Candy Mero-Carlson | | Vice Chairperson Jenny Pacillo | | Councilor Kathleen M Toomey |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson
Vice Chairperson Councilor Jenny Pacillo
Councilor Kathleen M Toomey | | | | | Also: | Councilor George J. Russell
Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn
Assistant Chief Development Officer Michelle Smith
Executive Director of MassHire Central Region Workforce Board Jeffrey Turgeon
Director of Worcester Job Funds Arianna Drummy
Deputy City Clerk Stephen AJ Pottle, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Virtual Attendee Call-In Information | |
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| | | 1a. | Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated.
Economic Development Committee Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/91026766826
Economic Development Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Economic Development Committee Zoom Access Code: 910 2676 6826 | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Economic Development hereby approves the minutes of the Economic Development Committee meeting on February 29, 2024. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
| 3. | Zone Change Hearing Items | |
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| | | 3a. | Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Stephen Madaus request Zoning Map be amended by changing the zoning designation of 4 Brandt Ln., which is currently zoned partially BG-2.0, RL-7 and BL-1.0, and 0 Grafton St., which is currently zoned partially BL-1.0 and RL-7, such that both parcels will be zoned BG-2.0.
# 13a CC February 13, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Stephen Madaus, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the Assistant Chief Development Officer, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed the designated zoning of the property and surrounding area, permitted uses for BG zones and its impact on the design plan for the property with Speaker #1 and the Assistant Chief Development Officer.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed the building height limitation for properties in BG-2 and RL-7 zoning designations, permit requirements for marijuana dispensaries and plans concerning means of egress for the property with the Assistant Chief Development Officer and Speaker #1.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed the potential for maintaining a residential zoning designation for a smaller portion of the property.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Speaker #1, who discussed the feasibility of having a 25’ buffer zone for the RL-7 zoning designation.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved as amended to change the zoning designation of 4 Brandt Ln., which is currently zoned partially BG-2.0, RL-7 and BL-1.0, and 0 Grafton St., which is currently zoned partially BL-1.0 and RL-7, such that both parcels will be zoned BG-2.0. and include a 25’ setback for the rezoning to BG-2.0 at the eastern property line.
Recommend Approval as Amended on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays
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| | | 3b. | Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Donald J. O'Neil, on behalf of 47 Hermon Realty, LLC., request Zoning Map be amended to include the property situated at 47 Hermon St. within the Adaptive Reuse Overlay District.
# 14a CC January 30, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the Assistant Development Officer, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the following speaker:
1. Donald O’Neil, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays
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| | | 3c. | Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Mark Borenstein, Esq. request Zoning Map be amended by changing the zoning designation of the property located at and known as 342 West Boylston St. from the current zoning designation of Business, Limited (BL-1.0) to Business, Limited (BL-1.0) and Commercial Corridors Overlay District - Elsewhere (CCOD-E) by establishing the Commercial Corridors Overlay District - Elsewhere (CCOD-E) at the property.
# 17a CC March 12, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Mark Borenstein, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the Assistant Chief Development Officer, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Pacillo, who discussed plans concerning designs relative to guests parking with Speaker #1.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Toomey, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved.
Recommended Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays
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| | | 4a. | Communication of Paul Matthews, Executive Director and CEO of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, transmitting, "Reinventing Worcester: Changes in the community and the economy over the decades through Decennial Census data."
# 14a CC September 12, 2023 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Paul Matthews, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Pacillo and Councilor Toomey, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be placed on file.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays
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| | | 4b. | Communication of the City Manager transmitting an informational communication relative to FY23 Worcester Jobs Fund Annual Report.
# 11.4D CM March 12, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the Chief Development Officer, who provided an overview of the item with the Executive Director of the MassHire Central Region Workforce Board and the Director of the Worcester Jobs Fund.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson then discussed the importance of Job Funds and the impact the item has on the community.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Toomey and Councilor Pacillo, who spoke relative to the impact the program has had in providing jobs to members of the community.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be placed on file.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays
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