Comprehensive Plan for Stevens School: Possible Adverse Consequences for Existing Neighborhoods

DRAFT of Hallowell's Comprehensive Plan calls for a New, High-Quality Development at the Stevens School Property. 

The Stevens School vision is well-intended. However, if implemented the plan could result in adverse consequences for existing neighborhoods.

The redevelopment of the former Stevens School property will be the single most important new development in Hallowell in the coming decade.  Based on community input in several public visioning sessions, here are the goals for redevelopment:

1. A residential development with a mix of housing, owner and renter, at a range of prices and rents. 2. The housing is one, two, three, and four unit; with an architectural style and density compatible with the historic homes in adjacent  neighborhoods. 3. The street grid of the residential development connects naturally to Pleasant and Page and Winthrop Streets.  This allows students walking to school, and neighbors visiting neighbors, to walk or ride to each other without going onto Winthrop Street.  But it does not encourage commuters to cut through the neighborhood as a short cut from Stevens School to the Capitol area.   4. There is open space along the back of the site for hiking and cross-country skiing.  There is no road connection through to Augusta.   5. Trails through the site connect the Vaughan Field neighborhood to the elementary school; Winthrop Street to the open space at the back of the site.  6. There may be City and School District facilities on the site: school administrative offices, fire and police services, and/or public works.   7. There may continue to be a pre-release center on the site – but it could be in different buildings than are used at present. 8. There is a mix of uses on the site, particularly centered around the historic buildings.  This development provides a setting for new jobs for the area, but does not have retail activities that would take business away from Water Street, nor any activities that are incompatible with residential neighbors. 9. The historic character of the central core of buildings is preserved.  Adjacent development is done in a way that respects the historic setting. 10. The development is a low traffic generator.   11. Ultimately, the development generates significant property tax revenues for the City. 12. The area is cleaned up, with all existing environmental issues taken care of, and future development is undertaken in a way that protects natural resources and contributes to the quality of life of the neighborhood and City.

Final Text of LD 905 -- From Representative Sharon Treat

Hi all,

LD 905 is on the House calendar to be voted on Tuesday.  I have pasted the text of the amendment below, as well as a link to it. I am told by the committee analyst that the date for the school lease was changed to September due to the removal of the emergency clause (there was a constitutional conflict requiring the emergency to be removed), but that Chip Gavin fulyl intends to honor the July 1 date anyway, Sharon

 

          (7-3)  (H.P. 623)  (L.D. 905) Resolve, To Require the State To Consult with the City of Hallowell prior to the Sale of Certain Real Property (EMERGENCY)  Committee onSTATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT reporting Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-358)

http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?ld=905&PID=1456&snum=124

Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting the following:

‘Resolve, Regarding the Sale of Certain Real Property in the City of Hallowell’

Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and inserting the following:

‘Sec. 1 Conditions of sale or transfer. Resolved: That the Department of Administrative and Financial Services shall, prior to the sale or transfer of any portions of the property authorized for sale by Resolve 2003, chapter 92, incorporate the following provisions into the conditions of sale or transfer. The sale or transfer must:

1. Reserve for the use or transfer to the City of Hallowell a portion of the parcel agreed to by the State and the City of Hallowell for municipal uses. This right for reservation or transfer may be surrendered by the City of Hallowell;

2. Reserve for the use or transfer to the City of Hallowell or any school administrative unit that includes the City of Hallowell whatever portion of the parcel as agreed to by the State, the City of Hallowell and the school administrative unit for purposes of education, educational administration or educational services to be provided by the school administrative unit. This right for reservation or transfer may be surrendered by the City of Hallowell and the school administrative unit. The State shall by September 30, 2009 enter into a lease to extend the current terms of School Administrative District 16 or any successor school administrative unit that includes the City of Hallowell as a tenant at the site through September 13, 2011, subject to existing laws and with the additional provision that such lease must survive any transfer of ownership prior to that date until the expiration of the lease;

3. Reserve a portion of the parcel for public open space or public recreation either by the developer retaining ownership but reserving the parcel or by transfer to any qualified governmental or qualified nonprofit entity; and

4. Condition sale or transfer on the preservation and rehabilitation of the 5 buildings and surrounding grounds known as the Industrial School for Girls Historic District consistent with the “Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties” as interpreted or otherwise determined appropriate by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission.

 

The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services, prior to issuance of any request for qualifications associated with the transfer of the site, shall establish and convene a stakeholder group to guide reuse, assist in crafting a request for qualifications to be issued by the Department of Administrative and Financial Services and review qualifications of developers. The stakeholder group must have representation from interested parties, unless they decline to participate, including City of Hallowell officials, any school administrative unit that includes the City of Hallowell, the members of the Legislature whose districts include the parcel, the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, the Department of Administrative and Financial Services and others as determined by the commissioner. A subgroup of the stakeholders may participate in whole or in part in interviews of qualified developers scheduled as part of the request for qualifications process and review parameters for development, recognizing that the selection decision is under the authority of the commissioner; and be it further

Sec. 2 Specific transactions. Resolved: That nothing in this resolve may be construed to prohibit or require parcelization or multiple real estate transactions within the spirit and intent of and conditions described in section 1; and be it further

Sec. 3 Report. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services shall provide a written report on the status of all efforts toward sale or transfer by February 1, 2010 to the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government.’

 

SUMMARY

The amendment replaces the resolve. It requires the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, prior to sale or transfer of any property in the City of Hallowell authorized for sale by Resolve 2003, chapter 92, to reserve a parcel agreed to by the State and the City of Hallowell for municipal use, reserve a portion of the property for use by School Administrative District 16 or its successor, reserve a portion for open space, condition sale of certain buildings on preservation and rehabilitation according to the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and establish a stakeholder group prior to any transfer of the site. The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services shall provide a report to the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government on efforts toward sale or transfer by February 1, 2010. The amendment also removes the emergency preamble and clause and changes the title.

LD 1098 -- Hearing Scheduled

A hearing is scheduled for May 6th at 3:00 p.m. in Room 216 of the State Office Building.