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Ordinance committee backs rezoning of Bay State Road parcel for riverfront park
Summary
The committee recommended sending a zoning change for a portion of Bay State Road to the full City Council to rezone industrial land to Open Space/Recreation for a planned riverfront park and multi‑sport courts; staff noted flood‑plain and environmental constraints.
The Lawrence Ordinance Committee voted to send to the full City Council a favorable recommendation to rezone a portion of city‑owned land off Bay State Road and Jordan Street from General Industrial (I‑2) to Open Space/Recreation (OCR) to create a riverfront park and multi‑sport courts.
Why it matters: The parcel, adjacent to the Merrimack River and abutting a Boys & Girls club site, has been overgrown and used informally for camping and dumping. City staff and supporters said rezoning is the first step in reclaiming the site for recreation and neighborhood amenities in the Tower Hill area.
Details: Planning Director Dan McCarthy told the committee the site has a known industrial history and that an LSP (licensed site professional) is engaged to assess contamination. The city plans to merge parcels and dedicate the land as parkland; the package includes a petition to discontinue a portion of Bay State Road and a merger/park dedication request. McCarthy and planning board materials described a pedestrian riverwalk, multi‑sport courts and improved lighting to reduce illegal camping and vandalism.
Environmental limits: Staff cautioned that the area sits within the 100‑year flood plain and is subject to vegetated buffer setbacks; large buildings are not feasible without compensatory storage or state approvals. Committee members noted those constraints when discussing tax‑base tradeoffs versus public‑recreation use.
Action taken: The committee voted to forward the rezoning request to the City Council with a favorable recommendation and suggested combining related discontinuance and merger items into a single public hearing to save advertising costs. Councilor Filomena Santiago moved the favorable recommendation; Vice Chair Selena Reyes seconded and the motion carried.
Next steps: The package will proceed to the full council for a public hearing and final action; an LSP remains engaged to address any soil or contamination work required for safe public use.
