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July 25, 2002
By Bill Carey
Berkshire Eagle Staff
PITTSFIELD -- Mayor Sara Hathaway yesterday
released an outline of what she said will be a comprehensive
approach to charting the city's economic future.
The outline, unveiled seven months into Hathaway's term as
mayor, pulls together economic development, housing, permitting
and downtown revitalization initiatives.
Committee accepts outline
It was presented to the City Council's Economic
Development Committee at a meeting last night. The committee
formally accepted the report after members of the panel, notably
City Councilor Matthew M. Kerwood, made some observations
concerning Pittsfield's economic development strategy.
Kerwood said he believes that the city should have a "strong
business retention program" to assure that the needs
of existing businesses are met.
A brief discussion concerning traffic patterns downtown prompted
City Councilor Joseph O. Guzzo to "set the record straight"
on the intended purpose of the Center Street-Seymour Street
connector project, which is slated for completion in the fall.
Guzzo said the project was never intended to serve as a "truck
route" or shortcut to Route 7. Rather, he said, its designers
meant to ease the north-south flow of local traffic on the
west side of North Street. Guzzo noted that no signs will
be erected to direct truck traffic over the route and that
Seymour Street will not be widened to accommodate trucks.
Many of the initiatives described in the three-page written
statement from City Hall involve ongoing efforts or programs.
But Hathaway revealed new interest in developing Dan Fox Drive
and an emerging "arts strategy" for the downtown.
She also asserted that the city will expedite foreclosure
and collection strategies for tax delinquent properties.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to show what I've
been doing and where I'm going," the mayor announced.
"Pittsfield is poised for development and growth, and
I am working to attract investment and channel it to places
where it will do the most good."
The written statement mentions an economic development plan,
but there is no such document as yet, Hathaway said in a telephone
interview. Rather, a state-funded "comprehensive development
plan" prepared by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
"will be the skeleton on which we'll be hanging elements
of the [economic] plan."
The $30,000 state-funded plan is not unique to Pittsfield.
BRPC Executive Director Nathaniel W. Karns said 23 Berkshire
County municipalities are taking advantage of funding made
available through the state's Community Development Initiative.
Two municipalities -- Sheffield and Williamstown -- are leveraging
the state money and other funds to prepare full master plans.
Karns concurred that the state-funded plan "would be
a starting point" for the larger vision described in
Hathaway's announcement. "These comprehensive development
plans are outlines, essentially," he said.
Dan Fox Drive area
According to the mayor's outline, the city's
Department of Community Development (DCD) has initiated work
on a "strategic plan" for the area of Dan Fox Drive
and Tamarack Road. The plan would focus on extending sewer
and water service to the area and evaluate issues related
to zoning, wetlands, property configurations and existing
land uses.
Proponents of the planned Quinn's Memorial Sports Facility,
who earlier this year failed to obtain the mayor's imprimatur
for a state grant application to build the sewer and water
lines, "will certainly benefit" from the strategic
planning, Hathaway said. She also mentioned Bousquet Ski Area,
which has been offered for state acquisition, and Berkshire
West Athletic Club.
DCD also is developing recommendations to overhaul the city's
permitting and inspections process, a frequent target of complaints.
Community Development Director Mark Amuso is overseeing the
effort, "which will examine staffing levels, specific
experiences with code interpretation, time elapsed from permit
application to approval, office hours, cross-training of personnel
and use of online permitting," the outline states.
Hathaway, taking a stab at the elusive issue of how to dole
out the $1 million-a-year GE Economic Development Fund, said
she wants the money to "support strategic public and
private initiatives." In the interview, she spoke of
setting "performance measurements" for recipients.
"My expectations for some kind of performance measurement
and the applicants' expectations for expenditures from this
fund are not matching," she said. Taxpayers should know,
she added, that "the money we are spending will have
some return."
Property owners who are behind in their taxes may feel some
heat from City Hall. The mayor's outline states that more
than 200 properties have been identified that have either
unresolved back taxes, are neglected, or both. Through a federally
funded contract, the city and Boston-based Local Initiatives
Support Corp. are working to assess the problem and prioritize
key tax-delinquent properties.
Hathaway explained that new state legislation eases "tax
title" foreclosures. "I'm very concerned that we
should take property that is lying fallow and put it back
to productive use," she said.
The mayor's outline describes a downtown arts strategy "that
could include a tax-free arts district, studios in storefronts
and a cultural plan for the city." She said she will
meet tomorrow with a representative of the Massachusetts Cultural
Council to discuss potential funding.
The mention of discussions with "several private developers"
to build a downtown cinema center is not simply a confirmation
of old news, Hathaway said.
"I debated about whether to include that in the press
release," she said. "I can't give you a lot of details
right now. Let's just say that I've already bought my popcorn
and I'm ready for the lights to go down and the trailers [coming
attractions] to begin."
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