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City Council adopts Lovett Brook urban renewal plan after amendment delaying displacement until 2032
Summary
After debate and a late amendment, the Brockton City Council voted to adopt the Lovett Brook Urban Renewal Plan. The amendment delays any anticipated displacement until Jan. 1, 2032 and conditions redevelopment authority actions on appointments and MEPA filing requirements.
The Brockton City Council voted to adopt the Lovett Brook Urban Renewal Plan as amended, moving forward a multi-year effort to redevelop the Lovett Brook area.
Councilor Thompson urged adoption, saying the plan had been in development for roughly five years and that the city’s prior urban renewal districts produced significant private investment. He introduced an amendment to push any anticipated displacement actions from 2028 to Jan. 1, 2032 and to require the Brockton Redevelopment Authority (BRA) to meet specified staffing and appointment conditions before beginning certain redevelopment activities.
Legislative Council read the amendment aloud, which also adds a requirement that the BRA submit MEPA-related documentation (appendices and an environmental notification form) and that appointments — including four BRA members and an executive director and project manager — be made and, where applicable, confirmed by the council. The amendment also cites changes in 301 CMR 11 (MEPA rules) and clarifies circumstances under which future projects in the URP area would require only an ENF rather than a full EIR.
Councilor Farwell raised a parliamentary objection to offering substantive amendments after a public hearing, noting residents might have attended if they had seen the amended language; legislative counsel responded that amendments can be made on the floor and proceeded to read the new text. The council then took a hand vote on the amendment; the amendment passed.
The council proceeded to a roll-call vote on adoption of the order as amended; the clerk recorded a mix of yes and no votes and the order carried. The adoption includes the updated relocation date, the MEPA appendix additions and the procedural conditions on BRA actions described in the amendment.
The council did not receive in-person testimony during the hearing portion for the plan; the public hearing was opened and closed earlier in the meeting with no public commenters signed up.
Next steps: the order as adopted anticipates a subsequent MEPA filing and EOHLC (Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities) consideration as required by M.G.L. Chapter 121B and 301 CMR 11; the amendment text requires those steps before certain redevelopment actions proceed.
