COUNCIL RECEIVES ADVICE FOR REOPENING DOWNTOWN

. REPORT:SPECIAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING (5/4/20)

The meeting was held virtually as a Zoom webcast and was also simulcast on Amherst Media Channel 17. A recording of the meeting can be found here.

All Councilors participated. Also participating were Town Manager Paul Bockelman, Clerk of the Council Athena O’Keeffe, and Planning Director Chris Brestrup

Highlights

• A Business Improvement District (BID) and Chamber of Commerce presentation on Resilient Amherst, highlighting the needs of downtown businesses as they plan for reopening
• Discussion of plan for opening the Farmers Market
• Consideration of altering the public way at 133 and 143 South East Street
• Town Manager Report with COVID-19 Update

Announcements
The meeting began with announcements of upcoming meetings:

* May 11, 5:30 p.m., special meeting of the Council, School Committee, and Library Trustees to discuss updated financial indicators. 

* May 18, 6:30 p.m., Town Council

* May 12, 2:30 p.m., Finance Committee 

* May 18, 9:30 a.m. Town Services and Outreach Committee

All meetings will be webcast on Zoom. (see Town Calendar for Zoom links).

Public Comment
Peter Treyz of Cherry Lane suggested a “car hop” tray delivery from local restaurants to cars parked in the Spring Street lot. He has received encouragement from Fresh Side and Formosa restaurants, and plans to talk to other downtown restaurants about the service.

Reopening Downtown Businesses
Claudia Pazmany, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, and Gabrielle Gould, Executive Director of the Business Improvement District (BID) presented the results of a survey they conducted of Amherst businesses and compiled by Chamber assistant John Page. Most businesses have had to furlough employees and 20 per cent said it was unlikely that they would be able to reopen if the shut down continued past June 1. 

To help local businesses, the Chamber and BID have created a microgrant program and raised $174,000 out of a $500,000 goal in less than two weeks. They are taking applications for the first round of sustaining grants to total $150,000. They plan a second round of grants to help businesses reopen. More information on the program and an application can be found here. A similar presentation was made to the Community Resources Committee on April 21.

The BID and Chamber recommended hiring a new Economic Director to replace Geoff Kravitz, who left to become Town Manager in Sunderland. They encouraged the Town not only to move ahead with infrastructure improvements, but to make plans for “Destination Amherst,” which they hope will include a new parking garage, a performing arts venue on the Town Common, a complete redesign of the North Common and of Kendrick Park. They also are pushing the Town to expedite permitting for downtown businesses, to change the zoning bylaw to align with the old Master Plan, and to create “smart growth” overlay (40R) districts. 

Gould said the Town should expect a post-pandemic surge of new residents who commute from Amherst to Boston or New York a few days every week or so. And while businesses want a walkable downtown, they also want expanded parking to accommodate more cars. In addition, both Gould and Pazmany repeated their support for the demolition/expansion of the Jones library, which they have said will help revitalize the Town after Covid-19. 

Councilor Cathy Schoen (District 1) cautioned that this will be a financially challenging year for the Town and residents, and said that the Council will have to make hard decisions about capital projects. She said that in the listening sessions held last year, the elementary schools project had been very popular, but the library project was not. Councilor Steve Schreiber (District 4) indicated that the shutdown of libraries during the pandemic has been very difficult, and he continues to be a strong supporter of the demolition/expansion plan for the Jones, and emphasized that it is “very important” to the Town. Councilor Alisa Brewer (at large) said that even though the listening sessions showed a lack of support for the plan, that opinions might change when more facts are known. .

Town Manager Report.
The Town Manager’s report emphasized the uncertainty about whether the campuses here will open in the fall. In the report, Bockelman speculated that they are unlikely to open fully (with residential instruction) before a COVID-19 vaccine is available. And the status of the campuses will have a significant impact on local businesses and rentals.

The Council gave Bockelman the go-ahead to negotiate water agreements with Hadley and Sunderland by a 12-1-0 vote (Brewer dissented). 

COVID-19
On May 6, Governor Baker ordered all residents of Massachusetts to wear masks when in public when complete social distancing is not possible. There is a possible $300 fine for not wearing a mask, though enforcement will be mostly As of “educational.” As of May 3, there have been 57 cases of COVID-19 in Amherst.

Councilor Mandi-Jo Hanneke (at large) voiced concern about crowding on the Rail Trail and the Amethyst Brook trails, and suggested that masks should be mandatory there. Schreiber also wanted the Town to create a policy about discarded furniture left by the sides of roads when people move out of town.

Farmer’s Market
A substantial portion of the meeting was devoted to the safe opening of the Farmers Market. Farmers Market organizer John Spineti, who has been involved since the Market opened in 1972, and current Market manager Dave Machowski have been working with the Town to develop a plan to allow the market to open by Memorial Day weekend. Farmers markets are considered essential businesses by Governor Charlie Baker. They are a primary source of fresh, organic produce to those participating in the WIC, HIP, and SNAP programs and a valuable source of income to area farmers. 

The proposed plan would entail a single entrance on Boltwood near the entrance to Town Hall, three rows of 10-foot tents on Spring Street, and an exit south on Boltwood. Foot traffic would be one way and controlled to maintain adequate distance. No reusable bags would be allowed. There would be barriers between the growers and the public. Council President Lynn Griesemer (District 2) suggested expanding onto the Common, since none of the usual events will be taking place this summer. Also, an online ordering system with curbside pickup is envisioned. The application was referred to the Town Services and Outreach Committee by a vote of 11-1-0, with Brewer voting no, and Sarah Swartz (District 1) leaving before the vote. The application and plans are presented here. 

Alteration of Public Way at 133-143 South East Street
The Council considered a proposal to alter a public way as part of a development at 133-143 South East Street. The mixed use building proposed by Amir Mikhchi went through many presentations before the Planning Board approved the project with conditions on October 19, 2019 (it was modified on February 19, 2020). However, when the site was prepared for construction, Mikhchi discovered that the building pad must be raised by three or four feet because of wet conditions. This would require grading the west side of the building toward South East Street, but alterations to the public way are under the purview of the town. Mikhchi has said he would construct a bus stop, seating area, bicycle racks, and sidewalk but needs approval from the Town Council. 

Councilor Dorothy Pam (District 3) objected to the scale of the project and its lack of parking. Councilor Evan Ross (District 4) reminded the Council that the Planning Board has already approved the project and the Council can only rule on the public way. Brestrup stated that the project would not be viable if the alteration is not acceptable. The Councilors voted 11-1-0 (Darcy Dumont, District 5, dissented) to refer the matter to the TSO Committee, asking it to look closer at the plans and the recommendations of the Design Review Board, with a report due back in 30 days. TSO Chair DuMont said she voted “no” because, given that there are other urgent issues before the committee, she does not think the committee will be able to turn around a recommendation in 30 days. TSO added a May 11 meeting to its schedule to address the Farmers Market.

The meeting adjourned at 10:11 p.m.