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Jarett Companies proposes 402,500‑sq‑ft warehouse; council leaves tax‑exemption measure on first reading
Summary
Jarett Companies presented a proposed 402,500‑square‑foot warehouse and requested a 10‑year, 75% enterprise‑zone tax exemption. Councilors discussed economic benefits, utility and site constraints and process questions; the ordinance was introduced but could not be suspended for final passage and remains on first reading.
Councilors discussed a proposed large logistics and warehousing development from Jarett Companies during the March 17 meeting. The sponsor introduced an ordinance to authorize an enterprise zone agreement that would grant a 10‑year, 75% tax exemption to support construction of a 402,500‑square‑foot warehouse and logistics facility.
City staff and the Worcester Growth Corporation described the project as a roughly $19.5 million investment that the company says would create about 30 full‑time jobs and about $1 million in new payroll. Staff said the parcel is being purchased from Worcester Growth at approximately $28,000 per acre and that the site is being marketed as a single, large authenticated site suitable for this scale of project.
Councilors and staff discussed multiple points: the enterprise‑zone/CRA mechanics; a recusal by one councilor who said his employer had involvement with the project; the difference between owner‑occupied and speculative warehouse development and the city’s practice of using exemptions to retain basic‑sector employers; and the site’s utility constraints — in particular, staff said extending sanitary sewer to the eastern portion of the site would require about a 3,700‑foot sanitary extension and could cost roughly $400,000 if the growth authority had to fund it.
A letter from a competing entity expressing interest in a portion of the site arrived the weekend before the meeting and was described by staff; the growth authority said it has marketed the property as a single site because of topography and utility challenges on the eastern half.
The ordinance was introduced (first reading). Councilors noted they did not have the votes to suspend the rules for immediate final passage—partly because one councilor recused—so the measure will return for further consideration at a later meeting. Several council members said they support the project in principle but wanted additional time to review process questions, fiscal figures and neighborhood impacts.
