Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pleasant Street Urban Renewal topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Authority waits on state environmental review change before spending $1.7M on Pleasant Street work
Summary
Fall River Redevelopment Authority staff told the board June 25 they are delaying additional spending on Pleasant Street infrastructure until a state environmental-review office clarifies whether it will adopt a special‑review procedure for urban renewal plans.
Fall River Redevelopment Authority staff told the board June 25 they are delaying additional spending on Pleasant Street infrastructure until a state environmental-review office clarifies whether it will adopt a special‑review procedure for urban renewal plans.
Staff said the authority currently has about $1.7 million available for infrastructure work on Pleasant Street and is developing strategies for how to use those funds. Staff also said they have presented a brochure and a multi‑year budget to state officials and requested $4 million from a bond appropriation included in a state bill; staff said state officials asked for a specific multi‑year spending plan before committing the funds.
Sarah Page, executive director, described recent outreach: authority members and the governor's office had urged the review office to reconsider the standard review process. Page said the office is now “suggesting using that process for urban renewal plans” via a special‑review procedure that could avoid some steps of the full review. Page said a meeting with the agency is scheduled Monday to learn whether the new special‑review approach would apply to the authority’s plan and, if so, what steps would follow.
If the agency adopts the special‑review procedure, Page said it could materially shorten or alter environmental review for the authority and other urban renewal plans in the state. If the agency does not change its approach, staff said they will proceed with the next phase of Pleasant Street work using grant funds; the authority has until about 2030 to spend the $1.7 million, staff said.
The authority also confirmed a storefront-improvement approach: the board previously agreed to match a storefront improvement with a $10,000 grant intended to pair with $50,000 in state tax credits; staff said the state tax credits are applied to encourage occupancy and are not restricted by strict usage strings.
Next steps: staff will report after the scheduled meeting with the state review office and continue planning options for how to deploy the $1.7 million.
