HOLDING THE FLOOR: After holding its meetings mostly over the Zoom platform, the Hull Redevelopment Authority opted to return to an in-person session at town hall this week. The size of the audience, however, proved too much for the Louis C. Costa Meeting Room to handle, as members of the public were forced to sit on the floor inside the room, and some were left to find their own accommodations in the hallway. The town currently does not typically hold meetings with a hybrid option that would allow both in-person and remote participation. [Skip Tull photos]

By Carol Britton Meyer

After debating the issue for months, the Hull Redevelopment Authority has asked the town planner and an engineering consultant to discuss the details of the controversial two-way road plan later this month.

The November 24 HRA Zoom meeting will feature a presentation by Director of Community Development & Planning Chris DiIorio about the plan, which would modify traffic flow around the HRA property and as far south as the intersection near Mezzo Mare restaurant. Representatives from The Engineering Corporation, or TEC, Inc. – civil engineers involved with the project – will also participate in the meeting.

HRA members are divided about the merits of the proposal.

“There will not be a big question-and-answer session,” Chair Bartley Kelly said Monday night, although the public is invited to attend. “The board has work to do and needs to focus on that.”

Asking DiIorio to outline the plan to the HRA was first suggested at the board’s August 11 meeting following a lengthy discussion about this subject – including whether the HRA committed earlier to contributing an additional $1 million to the plan if it moves to completion. DiIorio was not present at that meeting.

At that time, the board decided to send DiIorio a clarifying letter, because there was no recollection among HRA members – including longtime member Kelly – of a vote committing the board to contributing this amount.

The letter was to leave out specific reference to the $1 million, stating that any future HRA commitment to funding for the two-way road project "will be based on the future Urban Renewal Plan and a vote from the authority.”

Click here for links to more information about the two-way road plan (scroll down the page).

Overflow crowd

A standing-room only crowd attended the at times contentious HRA’s November 10 meeting – the first to be held in person for a lengthy period of time. The overflow crowd of residents was sitting on the floor and standing and sitting in the hallway outside the Louis C. Costa Meeting Room at town hall.

One of the first orders of business was a continuing conversation about the third version of the draft Urban Renewal Plan, which once finished will be reviewed by the planning board and voted upon by the select board, before going before the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for final approval.

Kelly started off the discussion asking HRA members for their thoughts about possible development on the northernmost parcel at Phipps Street. While Kelly envisions “some kind of brick-and-mortar housing,” member Joan Senatore said she would like to see a community center on Lot B [the middle of the property] featuring an “open public park” and maybe a mobile shell for various activities – “a gathering place for different events, with nice landscaping and benches. That’s my suggestion based on what I hear from citizens’ feedback,” she said.

New HRA member Charles Richardson said thinks the board should attempt to reach a compromise.

“I’ve been referred to as a developer… [among other terms] … but I’m a Hullonian and love this place,” he said. “When I run in next spring’s town election, I want to be on the record as saying that I see the HRA property as an asset.”

Richardson’s recommendation is to set aside 20% of the property for a project that would garner income “to [meet] a lot of different [needs] in town. Let’s have a conversation.”

‘Precious, unique piece of land’

Member Dan Kernan advised the board “to look at the word ‘asset’ very carefully. This is a precious, unique piece of land that I don’t look upon as a financial asset. We should treat the property like the United States treats Yosemite National Park. It’s our Yosemite, with beautiful sunrises and sunsets.”

Kernan added that building housing on the property “isn’t the way to go. It’s not a question of compromise but about what the board thinks is the right thing to do with the [land].”

Kelly, on the other hand, said, “At the end of the day, it comes down to using common sense, and compromise is key.”

Board member Adrienne Paquin said that “selling the land and getting money for it is the easiest way,” while searching out funding from elsewhere for other uses is a viable option.

“Once land is sold, that’s the end of the story,” she cautioned.

Resident Susan Mann said that accomplishing both goals – some housing and also open space – might be possible, but whatever the plan, “It has to be cohesive in order to add beauty and charm to the town,” suggesting that everyone “keep an open mind.”

Planning board member Cindy Borges, speaking as a private citizen, spoke against building housing on the HRA land, noting its location in a flood zone.

‘Spinning our wheels’

“It feels as though we are spinning our wheels,” Paquin said, noting that she and Kernan “don’t see eye-to-eye” with Kelly “on what is valuable and possible” for the property.

The idea of contacting The Wildlands Trust, which made an informal presentation to the HRA earlier, as a follow-up came up a number of times, with plans to ask a representative to attend an upcoming meeting.

This regional trust works with communities to protect natural land across Southeastern Massachusetts and to help them come up with a funding mechanism to maintain property under its stewardship.

Steve Bowman, owner of South Shore Taco Guy, said he and a group of Hull businesses will present ideas to the HRA soon about possible uses of the HRA property.

“We want to see more going on in this town beyond the beach,” he said. “We need foot traffic in order for people to see what an exciting town we live in.”

He added that an important part of the process is collaboration “rather than sitting here butting heads with each other. Our group wants to work with the HRA and town officials to come up with something special for all four seasons of the year – something we can be proud of.”

A resident asked what will happen to the HRA once it has accomplished its mission of developing an urban renewal plan and gaining the necessary approvals.

Trust fund suggested

“Once we have accomplished our mission, we would hopefully have funds set aside before riding off into the sunset,” Kelly said, recommending such money be put into a trust fund to maintain the property for years to come.

Resident Susan Vermilya said more recreational opportunities are needed in town and emphasized the importance of “looking at the financials.” She also noted that if there was an interest in building on the property, those involved would have shown up at this and previous HRA meetings. “Where are they?” she asked. “This is really telltale.”

Near the end of the meeting, Paquin shared her thoughts about a different issue.

“We are a democracy, and citizens are told to get involved, but it drives me crazy when I hear elected members of various boards – not just this one – speak negatively about a group because they care enough to get involved,” she said. “It makes me sad. You will never see me do that, even if they disagree with me.”

She thanked the people attending this week’s meeting for “coming and showing your passion.”

A replay of the meeting will be available on demand on Hull Community Television’s website, www.hulltv.net.

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