By Dolores Sauca Lorusso

As the Hull Redevelopment Authority (HRA) explores modifications to its draft Urban Renewal Plan (URP) they are “stepping back” to invite Hull residents to submit their unique “visions” for the land. The HRA’s goal with their call for ideas is to “gather more information” to offer additional “choices” for community consideration.

The HRA is “committed” to actively expanding their research on “suitable alternatives” to the existing draft URP. However, they do want people to understand the goals of the HRA are the same ones the redevelopment authority was founded on.

“We are just looking to meet those goals in another way than already proposed…highest and best use is often spoke of in terms of dollars and cents, but there is a greater picture,” said HRA Clerk, Adrienne Paquin.

Open space has been a major focus of the dialogue in the HRA public forums. “I want to see ideas that generate economic development beyond the four concepts in the current plan…provide overall quality to the community for our children and grandchildren; a centerpiece for the town to create a net benefit for Hull,” said HRA Vice-Chair, Dan Kernan.

“Community wants open space; we (HRA) need to determine how we get there and fund continuously to maintain…no matter what we do there will be a cost associated,” said Bartley Kelly, long-time HRA board member and current Treasurer.

“I am all for hearing alternate visions that will work, accomplish the goal, and are good for the community…will get behind that 100%,” said Kelly, also reminding everyone “the economic piece is not etched in stone.”

Citizens are encouraged to get their ideas in during the next couple of weeks. In August the HRA will begin to invite those who have made submissions to come to an HRA Board meeting to make their “pitch.” After the presentation there will be time for discussion and questions. Ideas sent in will also be reviewed and put on HRA02045.com for people to read.

Patrick Finn, Chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals, has already submitted his personal vision for the land for review by the HRA and it is likely he will be the first to present.

SOS, Save Our Space, has been working on their vision for the HRA property and will be submitting it to the HRA as soon as it is complete.

“It is important to give a lot of thought to how to address this important piece of land in the heart of our community,” said Liz Kay, who has been a member of the core SOS team since its inception.

“I am encouraged that the HRA Board is supporting looking at other options…it is hopeful,” she said.

Dennis Zaia, HRA Chair said, “We are not going to make any decisions, but the board and others can understand more fully different points of view to come to an understanding of how to best use the property for the community at large.”

The HRA board is considering all the ideas that have been voiced so far about open space, as well as other alternate uses of the land. Zaia explained that all notes from the breakout sessions at the public forums are on the HRAO2045 website and those who would like to read them can find all the “granular detail” there.

Steve Cecil, consultant from Form and Place, is working with his team to categorize the comments gathered at previous public forums. Zaia expressed “some of these comments may be the beginnings of ideas and visions, which will be presented.”

Kelly prompted those who have said they “do not like the plan” to help identify the “sweet spot” that creates “connection and sense of space” while also achieving the goals. “It is going to take compromise on all sides,” he said.

As interested parties submit their “dreams” for the HRA land, the HRA board would like them to think about how much of the land should be dedicated to open space, the best types of open space for the town, as well as costs of funding, operations, and future maintenance.

Zaia said “Ideas should have some meat on them…for example a person may say a performance center; that is not enough. Need something more to firm it up. What does it look like? What are the costs and expenses? How can we make it happen?

“We need to listen more to each other, not just the four of us (HRA Board) but all who attend the meetings…have awareness there are other ways to achieve what we all want.”

The HRA board and the consultants will organize all ideas to assist in the development of alternative Urban Renewal Plan concepts.

“We want all ideas on the table; come share how it will work, the pros and cons…in the end it all comes down to whether it is implementable,” said Kelly. “Whatever is brought to the table must provide economic development to the town; how it provides it is the thing that can be debated.”

“To improve the space, we have to take into consideration the rest of the town and what will be good for all,” said Kernan.

The HRA challenges everyone to “imagine what is possible” when submitting their ideas to Contact@HRA02045.com. A