CC MTG MINUTES APRIL 10 2017 COMMUNITY RELATIONS SUB-COMMITTEE MINUTES
April 10, 2017
*' Present: George Bitzas - Chair
Gina Letellier—Vice Chair
Robert Rossi
' Joseph Mineo
0 Absent: Donald Rheault
' Also Present: Council President Cichetti as Ex Officio, Councilors Calabrese, Cavallo and
Theroux, Mayor Cohen, Marc Strange, Michelle Chase and Dawn from
Engineering, Laurel Placzek, Lt. Magovern, Chris Golba, Andrew Leonard,
! Peter and Alex from Tighe&Bond,David Peter and David Gardner
' Called to Order: Meeting was called to order by Chairman Bitzas at 7:OOPM in the
Auditorium at the Roberta G. Doering School, 68 Main Street, Agawam
1. TR-2017-17 -A Resolution to Appropriate and Authorize Borrowing in the Amount of
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' $5,280,000.00 for the Walnut Street Extension Streetscape Improvement Project(Sponsored by
Mayor Cohen)
As Chair, Councilor Bitzas made introductions and set the guidelines for the meeting. He introduced Mayor 0' who mentioned goal to do this was because the Morgan Sullivan bridge project was happening this year and
it was most beneficial to tie into this state project. It costs money but will return money with investment and
creates local enthusiasm by becoming a catalyst to growth and revitalization. He mentioned he keeps trying
' to get retail to come to Agawam but the town keeps turning these ideas down. He keeps trying to get
Starbucks to come to Agawam. The Mayor said Building 451 and Aquarius Hydroponics are going into the
Food Mart area very soon. He is very passionate about this project. Michelle Chase, Engineer for Agawam
made her presentation mentioning three main issues: cost, design issues and overall town thought processes.
There was an April I"deadline which we met by submitted the Complete Streets Program to the MassDOT.
The main issue the town has faced is private develop versus public infrastructure investment. Private
development has not really worked thus far so now is the right time to do this. The state wants to see the
town investing in improvements in order to qualify for future grants like the MassWorks grant. Didn't get
that one for 2016 because the state saw we weren't investing in our own town. Listened to public comments
' and concerns and scaled back on the original project to cut costs. This will have to go back out to bid
because with these cuts, the scope of the project has changed. Mentioned they used very conservative
numbers. The changes would increase average taxes by $17.06/year or $4.26/quarter for the average
residential evaluation. She is hopeful in the future we would receive commercial and fagade grants and
noted that we could have community events to help with the maintenance. Lt Magovern spoke of any
i potential traffic concerns stating that the APD could place temporary parking signs or bans in that area if
necessary. Councilor Rossi noted that the MassWorks grant was denied for the town. Are we applying again
it in 2017? Michelle Chase said of course however it depended on what happened with this project. Councilor
Rossi questioned the inconsistencies. Michelle Chase stated that big box stores are declining and we need
more mom and pop stores like those in that area and this proposal would help to eliminate the disjointedness
•, down there. Councilor Rossi believes in revitalization but is highly doubtful this project would do this as
there wouldn't be much to draw people down there. Michelle Chase wondered if the town is doing all we
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can to help. Council President Cichetti asked what the time frame is for this along with the bridge project
and the potential of piggybacking on the first phase. If this project is going to take up to three years then that
would hurt the businesses down there. Michelle Chase stated it could be done the same time as the bridge
project and they would work to be fair to the business owners—best to do it now than to wait until the bridge
project is over and then start construction all over again. Council President Cichetti also mentioned that
Mayor Reicheh in West Springfield tried to get Starbucks to go on Memorial Avenue (where Chipotle was
' built) and Starbucks declined saying that there wasn't enough traffic on Memorial Avenue —how could we
expect to get a Starbucks if we have less traffic in that area than on Memorial Avenue? Mayor stated it
might consider if this area was improved or with newer buildings. He also noted the leases were signed with
Mr. Sanders for those stores and they are in there at this time doing work in order to open. We have to invest
if we want to get MassWorks grant from the state. Councilor Mineo asked if the bridge was going to be
closed for any length of time. Michelle Chase noted that there will be one lane both ways. Councilor
Letellier thanked everyone for coming. She looked at the proposed reduction and was surprised that it is less
than a ten percent reduction and that Phase 1 is reduced less than 5% of the total project. She expected the
town to come back with more of a significant reduction. Are the plantings really necessary at this time? Was
i there no gain in parking? If we are keeping the same amount of parking, how would this accommodate the
' increase in business? Michelle Chase noted they anticipate an increase in pedestrian traffic. Councilor
Letellier said her quick math shows more cuts are needed. Councilor Calabrese asked if Mr. Peter was
planning to develop or tear down Games &Lanes. Mr. Peter spoke briefly on his plans. Councilor Calabrese
asked if it was a possibility if he sold it that the new owner would let it just sit there to which Mr. Peter said
highly unlikely. Councilor Calabrese asked Michelle Chase to phase it to just the plaza to cut costs.
Michelle noted it would have more of a cost benefit to continue it. Councilor Theroux said he wasn't thrilled
' that we have a new laundromat in the `gateway' to Agawam or a Building 451 for that matter — how will
those promote pedestrian walking? David Gardner spoke as a building owner in that area. The reality is that
if we don't do something down there, the MassDOT projects would go south. This is good for Agawam.
46 Michelle Chase stated that you could go to Building 451 and then walk over to a caft or get an ice cream.
Councilor Bitzas asked Laurel if we could afford this and Laurel Placzek spoke about the tax affects on
citizens. Several citizens gave their respective opinions on the project and specifically the Games & Lanes
' area and contamination levels etc. Michelle Chase suggested having a committee to review this area.
Councilor Bitzas thanked everyone for their comments and concerns and closed the meeting.
' Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:46PM.
i Respectfully submitted,
' George Bitzas,Chair
Community Relations Sub-Committee
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