On the message and order, referred on March 2, 2022 Docket #0314, for your approval for a short term extension of nine (9) of the fourteen (14) remaining urban renewal plans in Boston, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass in a new draft. Councilor Baker moved for substitution. Motion prevailed.
Thank you. Dockets 0434 will be referred to the Committee on City Services, Innovation and Technology Reports of Committee. Mr. Clarke, please read Docket 0314. Duncan Number 0314 The Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation, to which was referred on March 2nd, 2020 to docket number 0314 message in order for your approval, in order for a short term extension of nine of the 14 remaining urban renewal plans in Boston, submit a report recommending the order ought to pass in a new draft. Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Baker, chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation Counsel. Baker, you have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. I am going to read this committee report if people will just stick with me here. The Committee on Planning and Development in Transportation was referred the following docket for the consideration docket 0134 in order to beginning the process of sunsetting urban renewals in the city of Boston until December 34th, that's actually wrong. It's supposed to be March 30, but that's the original. This is the original. I'm okay. This matter was sponsored by Mayor Michel will win first committee on March 2nd, 2022. The committee held a hearing on Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022, and testimony was presented by Boston Redevelopment Authority officials included Director of Real Estate Devin Quirk, Urban Renewal Manager Chris Breen, Chief of Staff Heather Sarno, and General Counsel Eileen Brophy. The summary is in 2016, the Boston Redevelopment Authority doing business as a BDA, requested approval for a ten year extension for the 14 active renewal plans that were set to expire on April 30th, 2016. The BPD urged the City Council to pass this order that will protect the community development tools that will continue to cultivate vibrant neighborhoods around the city. After extensive deliberations around the use of eminent domain power, trust inequity issues and the lack of accountability and access to the BPD in the past, in the past and procedural changes moving forward, the City Council agreed to grant the approval of a six year extension of the 14 urban renewal planned areas, which is set to expire April 22nd, 2022. This request was subject to subsequently approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2016. Devin Quirk gave a historical look back on the negative impacts of urban renewal tools used in the past that cause irreparable harm to neighborhoods across the city, particularly the West End and other parts of the city. He explained that the BPD was operating in a new era of transparency and accountability. He explained that the BPD position is that authorization of this order will allow them to continue important work and spur economic development in partnership with public and private investments. Community stakeholders, and in working with the Boston City Council that is focused on the future development that addresses equity, displacement and building affordable housing for the residents of Boston . He highlighted that the administration is looking at development from the lens of equity and inclusion, community and community development. Mr. Quirk highlighted that by using these urban renewal tools, the BPD has effectuating great change in the city's central business district in neighborhoods, creating new opportunities for affordable housing, to solidify units for low and moderate income residents, and build new parks and public facilities and more. Mr. Quirk explained that since 2016, since the 2016 extension BPD, in the spirit of transparency and accountability, has facilitated a community engagement process that has garnered input on the future of urban renewal and has made relevant urban renewal documents accessible to the public through zoning viewer. Administration officials testified that the BPD reviewed the program and looked at the ongoing use of the urban renewal tools within the existing plan area to determine the future of BPD urban renewal polls in the city of Boston and to begin the process of sunsetting urban renewal. The BPD is seeking approval for a short term extension of the NAC. Extension of nine of the 14 remaining plans. In the Boston. In Boston that are set to expire December 31st, 2022. BPD officials noted that they plan immediately to sunset five of the 14 urban renewal plans on April 22nd, 2022, as the original intent and purpose of these plans have fulfilled. Mr. Quirk said that they intend to return to the Council with the plan moving forward. That requires further extension of some of the plans in order to wrap up ongoing community centered efforts. BPD officials further noted that the importance of the use of urban renewal tools in recent decades, which has resulted in the creation and preservation of nearly 10,000 units of affordable housing creation and protection of open space, provided new opportunities for many Boston residents, enabled public private partnerships and increased planning initiatives. Mr. Green presented a PowerPoint explaining BP's analysis and review process that helped to determine the reasons to allow the five urban renewal areas to sunset on April 22nd, 2022. The Five to sunset. That's what they presented the five parcels, including the following urban renewal areas. Brunswick King Urban Renewal Plan. Central Business District. Boylston Essex Plan Central Busy Business District School. Franklin Plan. Kittredge Square Urban Renewal Plan in Park Plaza Urban Renewal Plan. The extension of the nine urban areas through December 31st, 2022, included the following parcels Central Business District, South Station, Urban Renewal. Fenway Urban Renewal Plan. Campus High School. Urban Renewal Plan. South Cove Urban Renewal Plan. Charlestown Urban Renewal Plan. Downtown Waterfront Faneuil Hall Urban Renewal Plan Government Center Urban Renewal Plan. South End Urban Renewal Plan in Washington Park Urban Urban Renewal Plan. It was reported that as identified over 1300 parcels with existing land disposition agreements liaise that are tied to urban renewal power, some of which provide protection for affordable housing, open space and other other land use provisions. BPD officials explain that this request, if approved, will provide the BPD with additional time to set a plan for potential state legislation to transfer or protect appropriate provisions. Council has expressed reservations around extension of timeline of December 31st, 2022, as this will not allow BPD enough time to radically, adequately review and analyze all the Leah's LDA parcels in their inventory. Councilors discussed the impact on the owners of these properties relative to potential tax increases in the possibility of giving developers an edge in acquiring these parcels for market rate development. If these parcels were to expire without notice to the general public, discussions included the goals and responsibilities of BPD to use the urban renewal tool to shape and promote economic development throughout the city in a way that supports public good, particularly for the residents living in marginalized communities. Council stated that their focus is to protect the residents who were impacted by the urban renewal strategy in the past and most and most importantly, are looking to protect residents who will be impacted by the sunsetting of these parcels moving forward. And recommended that the BPD institute a longer time frame of sunsetting the nine parcels that would include a six month check in with the City Council during that time period. Cognizant of the trepidations and for the necessity of the BPAs role in future community development, the City Council felt vigorous. Meaningful discussions were necessary in a respectful public process that engages the residents impacted by the Urban Renewal Project's still going. Katzenbach and Flynn requested that Park Plaza Urban Renewal Plan be added to the nine parcels that were extended to December 30, extended to December 31st, 2022, in order to address. The building height issue in the area council were later requested that the Brunswick King Urban Renewal Plan also be added to the nine parcels in order to allow more time for to address residents concerns. Councilor Fernando Sanderson requested to add Kittredge Square Urban Renewal Plan to the nine Parcels Council has discussed and weighed ramifications of taking no action on the order and it allowed the renewal areas to sunset on April 22nd, 22, 2022. BPA officials explained that allowing the urban renewal parcels to expire will also cause the expiration of elders deed restricted provisions that include the protection of affordable housing and protection of open space and other land provisions. Councils expressed concerns in connection with eight month extension for aforementioned urban renewal plans, including the lack of information regarding BPD, a complete list of LDA inventory to date. They indicated that in order to mitigate the potential future harm posed to residents moving forward, it was determined that further analysis and review of the proposed nine current LDA zones and other BPD a LDA is necessary. The Council discussed extending the requested time period from December 31st, 2022, to March 31st, 2023. For the urban renewal decisions that wouldn't immediately sunset. The City Council also requested that the BPD do a six month check in with the body to provide updates on their progress. Following the hearing and additional consideration. The Committee recommends the following that the the following urban renewal renewal areas be allowed to expire first in its central business district, Boylston Essex Plan and Central Business District School Franklin plan that the following urban renewal areas be extended until March 31st 2023. Central Business South Station Urban Renewal Plan. Fenway Urban Renewal Plan Campus High School Urban Renewal Plan. South Cove Urban Renewal Plan. Charlestown Urban Renewal Plan Downtown Waterfront Faneuil Hall Urban Renewal Plan Government Center Urban Renewal Plan South End Urban Renewal Plan Washington Park Urban Renewal Plan Park Plaza Urban Renewal Plan Brunswick King Urban Renewal Plan. Ian Kittredge Square Urban Renewal Plan in recognition of City Council Authority in connection with the aforementioned Urban Renewal Plan changes, the City Council and the BPD director agreed to implement a series of procedural changes with respect to the number of legitimate concerns discussing discussed at the hearing following the City Council approval, the BPD will seek approval from its agency Board of Directors, Mayor and Department of Housing and Community Development for extension of the plans. As Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation, I recommend moving the list docket from the Committee to Full Council for discussion and formal action. At this time. My recommendation to the Full Council will be that this matter ought to pass in a new draft for the reasons stated above. Thank you, Mr. President. And I'd also like to have Counsel Earl or Councilor Anderson or Councilor Balk would like to speak. I'd like them allow them to turn. And also thank you. Thank you, Councilor Baker. At this time, I'd like to recognize Councilor Balk Council. You have the floor. For speaking substantively. I just wanted for a point of order perspective to suggest that we take a vote, that the count, that the new language is properly before the council. Just because there's a the the committee report that the chair read reflects an update to the order and and specifically that it turned out the updated version on the order accidentally had Brunswick came twice at the end and not square. So what councilors are holding in their hand that you have is the actual order that we were voting on. And I think we should probably make sure that this updated language that the chair is proposing is before it properly before the body. Thank you. Council blocks would be a motion to substitute seeing and hearing no objection. The language of the committee report would be. Substituted. Well, Mr. Clarke, we'll take a vote on that. Any objections? No objections to the language. The new language will be added. And then go ahead, cancel a book. And with that, I would just say briefly because the chair covered it very exhaustively that I think this is a a I think the council talked a lot about the fact that we want to make sure this is a thoughtful process. It's really important to our constituents. And each of us as district councilors have very specific district issues with each of these. And we want to make sure that we've got time enough to learn them and process them. So I appreciate the chair's recommendation that we extend that time period a bit. So it's not hitting us at the exact same time as a crunch on all other legislation and that we move a few of the districts that have some outstanding questions into that bucket for study over the next year. So thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Counsel. BLOCK Would any other counsel like to discuss this matter? Thank you. Councilor Baker, the chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation, seeks acceptance of this committee report and passage of Docket 0314 in a new draft. All those in favor say I am opposed. Say no to other. Things because it's. Okay at this time. Mr. Clarke, would you take a roll call vote? Roll call vote on number 0314. Councilor Arroyo. Yes. Councilor Arroyo. Yes. Councilor Baker. Yes. Councilor Baker. Yes. Councilor Book. Councilor Book. Councilor Brady. Council of Great Neck Council. Edwards. Council. Edwards. Yes. Councilor Fernandes. Sanderson. Councilor Fernando Sanderson. Yes. Council Clarity. Council Clarity. Yes. Councilor Flynn. Yes. Councilor Flynn. Yes. Councilor Lara. Councilor. Yes. Councilor Louise. In conclusion. Yes. Councilor and Media. Council and Media. Yes. Councilor Murphy. Councilor Murphy. Yes. And Council. World Council. World. Yes. Unanimous. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. The docket has passed. I just want to say, on behalf of our colleagues, thank you to Councilor Baker. Thank you to the BP team for working on this important matter. Mr. Carr, please read DAWKINS 0312.