Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council hears six proposals for Customs House and Derry Gold sites, names guiding principles and directs staff to analyze top choices
Summary
Staff presented six regional development proposals in response to an RFEI for the Customs House (12–23 units) and Derry Gold (60–120 units) sites. Council discussed AMI targets, tenure (ownership vs. rental), design compatibility, and parking; Councilor Davis moved and Councilor Mozzarella seconded a directive that staff conduct comparative analysis of the proposals.
Community Development Director John Roberts told the council the RFEI produced six submissions (five covering both sites, one each for a single site). He summarized ranges and design elements: Customs House concepts ranged from about 12 to 23 units with cottage and rowhouse typologies, while Derry Gold proposals ranged roughly 60–120 units with studio-to-three-bedroom mixes. Staff estimated Customs House projects could cost roughly $8–10 million and Derry Gold roughly $20–30 million depending on scope and noted financing stacks varied across proposals.
Councilors debated priorities: Mayor Fitzpatrick and others favored mixed tenure and cottage-cluster ownership options at Customs House to enable community land-trust opportunities; several councilors raised parking constraints tied to county-owned spaces at Derry Gold and the need to confirm exact counts; Councilor Davis emphasized financial feasibility and team experience as top priorities. After deliberation Councilor Davis moved "to direct staff to conduct additional analysis for each of the proposals... identifying strengths, limitations, funding viability, site compatibility, and alignment with council's named guiding principles" and Councilor Mozzarella seconded; the motion carried.
