By Carol Britton Meyer

The Hull Redevelopment Authority set its summer schedule this week, allowing time to discuss revisions and additions to the draft Urban Renewal Plan in what Chair Bartley Kelly called “a fresh start” beginning with next Monday’s meeting.

Board member Dan Kiernan said he thought that it is a good time “to look at where we each stand on the URP and to take a couple of minutes to talk about what our top-level priorities are – to see where we are all on the same page and where there are disconnects, with everyone having an equal say.”

Member Adrienne Paquin said this approach “makes sense to me. I think what we’re missing here is [defining] the process. … to avoid spinning our wheels like we have for the last couple of years.”

The next meeting dates are June 9 and 30 and July 14 and 28.

The board discussed at length what that process might look like, along with possible uses for the 13-acre property – from affordable housing to a community center to open space to commercial, among others.

Kelly brought up the controversial topic of the two-way road proposal, which would eliminate some bayside traffic lanes and change the direction of the oceanfront road from one-way to two-way.

“It appears that the town is moving forward with this plan, so we need to discuss that. The URP is a planning document – will we follow the town’s lead regarding the two-way road plan?” he asked.

He also mentioned recent presentations by the Hull Artists group for an arts center and by a Cohasset’s Lisa and Paul Rogers, who are proposing a multi-generational child wellness and community center, Dylan’s Tide, in memory of their late son. The Wildlands Trust also made a presentation for some part of the property.

‘We need to find the common areas’

“We need to find the common areas amongst those parties,” Kelly said.

There are plans for HRA Technical Operations Manager Mark Hamin and a member of the board to meet with the Rogers to talk about the URP process and how their proposed project might fit in, along with the timeframe.

In response to a comment made by Paquin about references to a “parcel by parcel” approach to the HRA property, Hamin said that “the idea of thinking about different proposals is not treating them in a separate way. The URP doesn’t address development of the property in a piecemeal, but rather, a holistic way and [in consideration of] compatible and complementary uses.”

Kelly noted that board members “have all articulated our visions of what we think would work – everyone wants open space and connectivity. Who are the benefactors? They should be the residents and taxpayers of the Town of Hull.”

He then said that numerous events have occurred and are planned for the HRA property.

“If we want such a venue as part of the URP, we will have to get the zoning for it,” he said.

‘We have to reach some kind of compromise’

Member Dennis Zaia said he believes “we have to reach some kind of compromise about how all this could work. … The URP will give us the greatest control about what might be included – whether a community center or open space...”

Resident Paul Newman suggested the HRA hire a project planner or designer “to put together different scenarios from people’s wishes and to look at the financials” in order to come up with a URP “that works for the town.”

At one point in the meeting, Hamin brought up “a point of order,” stating that he believed that “someone in the meeting is not presenting themselves accurately.”

He was referring to one of the participants using statements such as “Honesty counts” instead of his or her name on their Zoom profile. The implication was to block them from participating.

Kelly suggested just ignoring it “if they don’t want to show themselves.”

Paquin noted that the HRA “often has unidentified participants, and we’ve never kicked them out for not having an appropriate name.”

The process, Kelly explained, is that if someone in the audience has comments to share, they can raise their hand on the Zoom function and will be invited to speak after board members have an opportunity to make their comments.

Resident Lisa French told the board “it’s not disruptive for someone to put up something other than their name, and there’s no reason to throw [that person] out of a virtual meeting. There’s a difference between being annoyed and having a meeting disrupted, and writing something other than your name is not it. … Everyone needs to be thoughtful.”

She also noted that residents attending a meeting – either in person or virtually – aren’t required to identify themselves “unless they wish to speak.”

It “would be easier if the HRA had a policy,” Hamin said.

The board again discussed the possibility of conducting a townwide survey of possible uses for the property as suggested earlier by Paquin.

Resident Susan Mann suggested waiting until “there’s a clearer vision” for the property, while SOS Hull member Susan Vermilya asked whether a site review has been conducted “to know what’s feasible – to define what you’re working with – which could help the process along.”

Paquin said she would explore the idea further and report back to the board.

“I don’t see how this could be bad for us,” she said.

Hamin recommended moving “on parallel tracks” in order “to have as much reliable data as possible – some through surveys – with someone doing a fiscal analysis related to different scenarios. All this information will guide the HRA in making its decision” about the ultimate use of the property.

At the end of the meeting, Kelly gave the board a “homework” assignment – “to come up with some sort of a vision that might work for the property, and where” in preparation for the June 9 meeting.

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

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