Wilber School Redevelopment Committee

Meeting of December 6, 2004

Approved Minutes

Attendees:            Jim Goldsmith, Jim Glaser, Melissa Mills, Marilyn Zahn, Bob Levin, Reese Schroeder, Joel Tran and Craig Edwards

                Meeting called to order at 7:35 PM.  First order of business was to vote on the hiring of a secretary for all of the future meetings.  It passed unanimously and Bob Levin will arrange with the town.

The Planning Board’s plan to count as 30 the number of apartments included in the Wilber School redevelopment was discussed.  The Planning Board is also suggesting that a waste water treatment facility be placed on the property but no overtures or correspondence has been sent to anyone on our committee. 

 It was discussed how the Wilber School parcel could be approached by a developer in many different directions. 

-The parcel could be subdivided into 8,000 square foot house lots arranged around the outside perimeter.  This is allowed in the zoning by-laws and would not need any new roads to accomplish this task. 

-A separate building could be built for apartments.  Apartments rather than condominiums are preferred as they help count towards the town’s 40B responsibility. 

Also discussed is how a developer comes up with his profit numbers and usually backs into the build out scenario.  Dave DePree has been working on a spreadsheet to show many of these possibilities and it was left that we should wait until he is present to analyze those figures.  It was suggested and shown through some very rough numbers that the land, 3.7 acres, is worth more than the building being reused. 

Many questions need to be answered by the Selectmen before we can continue with our process. 

-What kind of plan stands the best chance of passing a vote at town meeting? 

-What are the priorities for town space needs now?

-What is the town’s desire for usage for town offices?  It was voted at town meeting to keep the building and not cost the town money to improve the site. Is this possible?

-Can a land lease be made with a developer for the whole parcel?

The Committee is planning to use the next two weeks and one general meeting scheduled for Monday, December 13 to fine tune the model of developing the parcel without the town spending any money.  The town will most likely have to come up with money to abate the building.  The following questions need to be answered before a meeting with the Selectmen being scheduled for the beginning of January.

-Potential uses depicted in a spreadsheet, we need to know what the town will accept.

-Septic situation needs to be addressed.  What is the largest septic the parcel can hold for our use only? Is the center of town going to use this also?

-Estimate in 2005 dollars to abate the building of hazardous material and seal it until our plan is put into action.

-What financing outside of private financing is available for development if the town decided to develop on its own?  Any tax credits available?  If apartments are built, should it be turned over to the Housing Authority?

                We need to present a model for development at town meeting to allow a vote on use that is:

1) Environmentally Sound

2) Financially neutral

3) Will enhance the center of town and surrounding neighborhoods.

It was moved and approved to accept the minutes as presented for the meetings of November 15 and December 1, 2004.

Three tentative meetings in January were scheduled for:

Wednesday, January 5

Monday, January 17

Monday January 24. 

All meetings will be held at 7:30 PM in the Library meeting room.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:01 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

                Craig Edwards