Committee raises displacement concerns as staff seeks to share Bayside tract data for Opportunity Zone nomination

City staff briefed the Development Committee on a staff recommendation to share information about Census Tract 6 (Bayside) with the state process that will inform the governor’s nominations for federal Opportunity Zone designation. Staff emphasized the city has no formal decision-making authority over the governor's nominations and said the state solicitation for municipal input closes on April 30; the governor will nominate 25 tracts to the federal government in July, with federal designation to follow later this year.

Several councilors expressed concern that Opportunity Zones primarily incentivize private investment and can accelerate displacement of residents and small businesses in the neighborhood the designation was intended to benefit. Councilor Phillips cited local history of clearance and displacement as a reason for caution; Councilor Sykes said the timing risks pre-loading private incentives before the committee’s community outreach and the social-housing task-force work conclude.

The mayor proposed a practical, low-key response: he offered to call the governor’s chief of staff to flag committee concerns and asked staff and corporation counsel to prepare a resolution if the committee decided to formally register opposition. Committee members agreed that an informal outreach by the mayor followed by a potential council resolution would be appropriate next steps if more information does not resolve their concerns.

Staff reiterated there was no required local submission and that the absence of municipal input would not prevent the governor from selecting or not selecting a tract. Committee members asked staff to share more information about how impacts would be tracked and whether local policy levers (inclusionary zoning and other affordability programs) could mitigate displacement.