CITY OF WORCESTER | Economic Development Committee Meeting | Monday, March 9, 2020 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:45 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:39 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Susan M. Ledoux | Committee Members | | Chairperson Candy Mero-Carlson | | Vice Chairperson Sean M Rose | | Councilor Matthew E Wally |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson
Councilor Sean M Rose
Councilor Donna M. Colorio | | | | | Also: | Assistant Chief Development Officer for Business Development Peter Dunn
Assistant Chief Development Officer for Planning and Regulatory Services Stephen Rolle
Chief Development Officer and City Solicitor Michael Traynor
Assistant City Clerk Nikolin Vangjeli, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 1a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Economic Development hereby approves the minutes of the Economic Development Committee meeting on March 2, 2020. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and moved to adopt the item. Order adopted. | |
| 2. | Certified Project Application Item | |
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| | | 2a. | Communication of the City Manager recommend approval of a Certified Project Designation and Tax Increment Financing Plan for WuXi Biologics USA, LLC
# 8.4B CM February 25, 2020 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the Assistant Chief Development Officer, who spoke concerning the item and discussed how they worked to take a property that was not on tax roll and now put the land into use. He also explained how the company will produce 150 jobs.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the following speakers:
1. Sean Fitzpatrick, Director of Manufacturing for WuXi, spoke in regard to the company, their procedures, their employees and room for growth.
2. Craig Blais, President and CEO of Worcester Business Development discussed the company, importance of the land being on the tax roll, and his support for the plan.
3. Jacob Vasquez from the Chamber of Commerce spoke on the item and shared his support on having WuXi’s first lab in North America.
4. John Weaver from Mass Biomedical Initiatives shared the importance of having the company in Worcester, and expressed his support.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson provided a brief statement of support for the item and moved for a roll call vote to recommend approval of the item.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
| 3. | Hearing/Zone Change Items | |
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| | | 3a. | Report of the Planning Board Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommending adoption of a proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment relative to parking and paving in residential front yards.
# 11a CC January 14, 2020 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the Assistant Chief Development Officer, who spoke regarding the Item, including the need for the following two amendments: 1) In Section 7, Article IV, Table 4.4 Note 5(b)(iii): Exclude walkways 5 feet or less in width from the calculation of impervious surfaces and change proposed impervious limit for RL-7 to fifty percent (50%), rather than forty percent (40%) as originally proposed and; 2)In Section 9, correct the article referenced to Article IV, Section 8(D)(4).
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved to recommend approval of the Planning Board Report and that the item be approved with the amendments brought forth by the Assistant Chief Development Officer.
Recommend Approval as Amended | |
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| | | 3b. | Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Robert E. Longden, Esq. request to change the zoning designation at 284 Highland St., from RS 7 to RL-7
# 12c CC October 29, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Attorney Mark Bornstein, Worcester resident, spoke concerning the item and shared his support
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved to accept the Planning Board Report and Recommend Approval.
Recommend Acceptance of the Planning Board Report and Approval | |
| 4. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 4a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the semi-annual Tax Increment Financing / Tax Increment Exemption Report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2019.
# 9.4B CM November 12, 2019
In Committee January 28, 2020 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | |
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and moved to place the item on file.
Recommend File. | |
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| | | 4b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the Municipal Electric Aggregation Plan in Worcester which offers participants a greener electricity supply, improved price stability, and consumer protections.
# 9.27A CM November 12, 2019
In Committee January 28, 2020 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recommended the item be held.
Recommend Hold. | |
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| | | 5a. | Petition of William S. Coleman III request City Council have Administration consider asking the Arts Commission to meet with local artists to discuss making a Giant City of Worcester Heart (City Seal) Mosaic for the Common.
# 8b CC February 27, 2018
In Committee April 10, 2018 - Held
In Committee November 18, 2019 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. William S. Coleman, III, Worcester resident, discussed his work on the mosaic, he also proposed that a mosaic be presented to the city, and installed around City Hall.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved to recommend approval to have the City Administration and the Worcester Arts Council work together with William S. Coleman, III to develop a plan to accept and display the Giant City of Worcester Heart (City Seal) Mosaic for the Common, City Hall or a location deemed appropriate.
Recommend Approval. | |
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