Planning and Development Committee Meeting
The committee voted to send Order 2024-164 (to rescind Bill 2019-042 and accept a portion of Elm Street as a City public way) to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.
The Planning and Development Committee met to consider two items: an ordinance to expand the Renewable Energy Development Overlay District (2024-096) and an order to rescind Bill 2019-042 and accept a portion of Elm Street as a City public way (2024-164). Public commenters asked about opportunities for civic engagement and requested clarification on schematic changes tied to the Elm Street bill. Council members directed the resident seeking involvement to posted vacancies and the mayor, and noted upcoming opportunities on the reconstituted Amesbury Energy Committee.
On 2024-096 the committee noted the Planning Board has not yet made a recommendation and the matter was continued to the committee's next regular meeting. For 2024-164 the committee heard from the DPW Director who explained the state had taken on maintenance previously and asked to retain a short section of Elm Street near Route 110 as a technical matter; discussion clarified the term "discontinuous gap" refers to the bridge over I-495 and that MassDOT has no current plans for the area. The committee voted unanimously to send 2024-164 to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.