Posted by Dennis Herrick [pool-70-109-136-6.cncdnh.east.verizon.net at 70.109.136.6] on July 13, 2008 at 10:47:01:
While trolling for Scruton dirt up on the Fosters Daily Democrat, I ran into the following. The most interesting statement is: "When it came to rezoning more land commercial and industrial to offset residential taxes, Larochelle asked: "Are we still behind that?"
In Plaistow, commercial zones generally follow the major highways and industrial zones follow the railroad line, with a little intermixing. Just because the Testa Property has been used by industry for almost 50 years doesn't mean they're grandfathered. Looks to me like land can be zoned and re-zoned willy-nilly. But I seriously doubt if you ever run across commercial and industrial land reverting back to residential. So I say re-zone Testa's property mixed commercial-industrial-residential, just like the former Lucent Technologies Plant in North Andover. We need a far better class of players involved in this redevelopment. What we've got now is a company, Testa, and a Planning Board with no leadership and no vision. They're all staid, conservative, get-along-to-go-along types, totally lacking in any creativity or energy. My Gawd, there's even a mill building renaissance happening right now in Haverhill and Lawrence and none of this seems to rub off on Plaistow. The power brokers in town really have things locked up tight.
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By ADAM D. KRAUSS
akrauss@fosters.com
Article Date: Monday, July 7, 2008
ROCHESTER — Councilors' recent discussion about their goals for the city and manager provided a sobering look at what can't be done following deep cuts to the approved budget.
City Manager John Scruton said helping the economic development commission fill and redevelop empty space should be "dropped." The council cut funds to set up a lease system with startup businesses downtown.
When it came to improving infrastructure, Councilor Chuck Grassie said, "we cut most of that." More than $1 million in road work was eliminated in the budget process.
Mayor John Larochelle said it would be hard to protect land, another goal, after money for easements went instead to offset the tax rate.
Councilor Ray Varney asked that councilors begin looking earlier in the year, instead of budget season, at the cost escalations tied to labor costs. Councilor Ralph Torr requested a list of all upcoming capital improvement projects.
Councilors said they already succeeded at maintaining recreation and library services during the budget process, where they were under threat.
The self congratulation was short-lived.
When it came to rezoning more land commercial and industrial to offset residential taxes, Larochelle asked: "Are we still behind that?"
There was little to no response.
"OK," the mayor said Tuesday, ending the brief discussion.
In other action:
— Without debate, councilors unanimously approved Benedict's Restaurant putting its sun-splashed sign on the new city-owned pump station in front of the South Main Street business, where major road work caused disruptions. The project caused several temporary impacts — like traffic detours, dust and debris — but the sizable pump station is permanent, said Karen Pollard, the city's economic development director.
— Councilors granted retroactive approval for the city manager to apply for a nearly $224,000 technology grant for the Police Department, secured through Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, a Rochester Democrat. It was unclear an application had to accompany the congresswoman's work, officials said.
— Councilors also got behind Pat Splaine and Peter Ejarque's plan to utilize a state-enabled tax relief program as they work to bring back the North Main Street Scenic Theater. Taxes tied to the increase in valuation due to improvements will be suspended for five years.
"That just means it gets passed on" to other taxpayers, said Torr, the only councilor to oppose the idea.
"If they don't do the project there's nothing to tax," Larochelle said.