By Carol Britton Meyer

Steve Bowman, owner of South Shore Taco Guy and two other businesses in town, told the Hull Redevelopment Authority that he is working with a group of other local business owners and residents to host community events on the HRA property – with the board’s approval – to give back to the community and also to support local businesses.

“It’s challenging at this time of year running a business, and we’re trying to attract people to Hull and not just to visit the beach,” he said at the HRA’s meeting on Feb. 10. “I had a meeting in November with the town manager [seeking her support].”

Bowman suggested a number of event possibilities, including farmers markets, craft beer festivals, flea market, Christmas fair, pizza festivals, and a harvest fest, among others.

“We have a well-organized group of about 20 different business owners and residents, and I keep getting calls and texts from new ones,” he said. “We have people to help the group organize and implement these events, and we want to collaborate with the HRA and the town. We’re not looking to profit as business owners, but want to make it work for all of us together.”

Bowman said the idea is to follow the “Gillette Stadium/Robert Kraft model,” referring to a partnership with numerous nonprofit organizations to operate the concession stands and to benefit from the profits.

In this case, volunteer groups would be invited to participate, with the proceeds benefiting them.

‘We want to better the community through these events’

“We’re literally trying to do something for the community and being fully transparent,” Bowman said. “We want to better the community through these events and also support businesses in attracting new customers in the winter.”

Bowman lives in Hull, owns three businesses here, and loves the town. “I want to see more happen here,” he said. “It’s limitless what we can do.”

He said he wanted to present the group’s ideas to the HRA in the hopes of working together to bring them to reality. “Let’s make something happen that everyone will remember.”

This is the first time in years that the middle HRA lot won’t have cars on it, HRA member Charlie Richardson noted, because it was decided at an earlier board meeting to keep that space open, partly to start acclimating beachgoers to the possible day when the property will be redeveloped and offer less parking than visitors have grown accustomed to.

“This is a great opportunity we have, this open canvas,” he said.

HRA Chair Bartley Kelly expressed support for the concept floated by Bowman, contingent on knowing more specifics. “I applaud you for your efforts,” he said.

Bowman will present more specific information about proposed events and dates at an upcoming meeting.

Zoning changes might be necessary down the road

During the public comment period, Susan Vermilya, who chairs the town’s economic development committee, brought up an issue that has been mentioned before: that the HRA property may not be zoned for holding certain events. “Is there something you can do to change that?” she asked.

Kelly noted that the zoning bylaw committee recommended to the planning board potential changes related to places of assembly. “After we see [suggested] uses from the responses to the [upcoming] survey, we will have to look at [potential necessary] zoning changes.”

The events that have taken place so far on the HRA property have been temporary, “so it hasn’t been a problem so far, but once we get down to developing the property under the urban renewal plan, if any zoning changes are needed, they would have to go before town meeting” seeking approval, according to Kelly.

“So far, it’s not been a problem,” he said. “If someone complains, we’ll deal with it… A permanent structure like a [concert] shell would require a zoning change.”

Donation requested for 250th celebration

In other business at the meeting, Kelly read correspondence from the town’s USA 250th (Semiquincentennial) Committee – which is planning special events to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, as part of a nationwide effort – asking the HRA for a $10,000 donation to help fund some of the planned events.

The committee also asked that the lights on the gazebo on the HRA property from the holiday season remain in place and that they be switched to red, white, and blue during the 250th celebration.

The committee also asked for approval to hang banners on the gazebo letting the community know about upcoming 250th events.

HRA member Dan Kernan wants to know more about the banners before voting on whether to accommodate that request, with the board supporting the idea in concept.

‘What percentage would the town be contributing?’

Kernan also would like to know what the total 250th celebration budget is and “what the committee is asking [the town to contribute], to know what percentage we would be contributing.”

Kelly said he thinks the town has a line item in the budget for the celebration, “and I think it’s more than $10,000,” to which Kernan responded, “Oh, I think so.”

It was noted that the HRA contributed $7,500 toward the celebration of Hull’s 375th anniversary in 2019.

HRA member Joan Senatore suggested inviting 250th committee chair John Reilly to attend an upcoming HRA meeting to answer any questions board members might have before making a decision about the requested donation and the banners.

The next HRA meeting – which will be on Zoom – is scheduled for Feb. 23. Check the town calendar for details.

A replay of the Feb. 10 meeting is posted on hulltv.net.