CITY OF WORCESTER | Economic Development Committee Meeting | Tuesday, January 14, 2025 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:05 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:16 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
Councilor Jenny Pacillo
Councilor Kathleen M Toomey | | | | | Also: | Councilor Luis A. Ojeda
Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn
Assistant Chief Development Officer Michelle Smith
City Solicitor Alexandra Kalkounis
Executive Director and CEO of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau Paul Matthews
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.If you join a Zoom meeting by dialing in with a phone number, you can raise your hand by dialing *9.
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 December 23, 2024. | Attachments | | | | | | | 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 Item | |
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| | | 3a. | Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of David Sadowski, on behalf of Joseph Jreij, request the Zoning Map be amended by changing the zoning designation of the property at 0 Grafton St. (Assessors Map 41-028-0000B) from MG-0.5 to BL-1.
# 10b CC October 1, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1) David Sadowski, Clinton resident, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the Chief Development Officer, who provided an overview 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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| | | 4a. | Communication of Paul Matthews, Executive Director and CEO of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, transmitting, "Appreciating the Value of Commercial Properties: The Significance of Commercial Real Estate."
# 15a CC May 7, 2024
In Committee November 19, 2024 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the Executive Director and CEO of the WRRB, who provided a presentation relative to the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson then spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Toomey and Councilor Pacillo, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
| 5. | Accessory Dwelling Unit Items | |
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| | | 5a. | Petition of Megan Bachant request the ordinance concerning Accessory Dwelling Units be amended to extend the limit of the policy relative to "ADUs shall not be permitted on a lot with four (4) or more dwelling units" to "five (5) or more dwelling units."
# 9t CC January 9, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and moved to take up the item collectively with items #5b and #5c.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the Chief Development Officer, who discussed the impact of the Affordable Homes Act on the ADU ordinance.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with a draft ordinance to bring the city’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance into compliance with the Affordable Homes Act. Further, request said draft include information relative to eliminating the proposed thresholds for dimensional requirements.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the following speakers:
1. Oliver Chadwick, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item
2. David Webb, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item
3. Jacob Seidel, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #5b
4. Karin Valentine Goins, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item
5. Joyce Mandell, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to the item
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed guidelines concerning prefab buildings with the Chief Development Officer.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson then discussed whether prefab vendors have reached out to the city and the process concerning creating a draft amendment to the ADU ordinance with the Chief Development Officer.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a draft ordinance to bring the city’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance into compliance with the Affordable Homes Act. Further, request said draft include information relative to eliminating the proposed thresholds for dimensional requirements. | |
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| | | 5b. | Resolution of Councilor Morris A. Bergman - That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support considering the following amendments to the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Report, in order to balance the public good of creating ADU’s and to preserve the character of the neighborhoods in which ADU’s are sought to be created in: 1) Section 8A C. (c) of the Report be amended to exclude an owner being temporary absent other than for documented medical reasons; 2) Section 8A C. (f) of the Report be amended to require a family relationship of up to three (3) degrees of kinship; 3) Section 8A C. 4. of the Report be amended to require an ADU to have one (1) additional off-street parking space (for a non-family relationship) in any zones other than RS-10 and RS-7; and 4) Prior to the adoption of any Zoning Ordinance Amendment relating to ADU’s that consideration be given to any suggested restrictions upon ADU’s offered through state legislation.
# 9e CC October 3, 2023 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #5a) | |
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| | | 5c. | Order of Councilor George J. Russell – Request Standing Committee on Economic Development consider the feasibility of amending the proposed zoning ordinance amendment relative to accessory dwelling units to eliminate the proposed thresholds for dimensional requirements.
# 22b CC September 12, 2023 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #5a) | |
| 6. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 6a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to Institutional Master Plans.
# 9.15B CM November 19, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Mike Kane, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson then discussed Institutional Master Plans (IMPs), the IMP process and policies relative to how Cambridge and Boston utilize their IMPs with the City Solicitor and the Chief Development Officer.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed the Cambridge Special Act and process relative to filing special legislation for IMP permits with the City Solicitor.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Pacillo, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the process for moving forward with Institutional Master Plans (IMPs).
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the process for moving forward with Institutional Master Plans (IMPs). | |
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| | | 6b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to an update on Inclusionary Zoning and Certain Housing Project Delays.
# 9.4C CM May 28, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the Chief Development Officer, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson then discussed the notable delayed projects and policies relative to exemptions for projects with the Chief Development Officer.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed government support and assistance for climate refugees with the Chief Development Officer.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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