By Dolores Sauca Lorusso

As part of its ongoing exploration of development ideas for its property, the Hull Redevelopment Authority on Monday night heard Chair Dennis Zaia’s ideas to build some housing units, a new public safety building, a shuttle bus network, art installations, a mobile stage, and event space.

In July, the HRA began accepting citizens’ ideas for the land with the goal of assembling “more options and information for community consideration which may become part of the draft Urban Renewal Plan.” Presentations were heard from most of the 21 groups throughout the fall; now each HRA member is making his or her pitch.

Pieces from many of the citizen’s concepts captured Zaia’s interest and made their way into his vision, including QR codes on signs to provide a historical and nature narrative, artist installations and events, contour seating, a mobile stage, gardens, and honoring those from whom the land was originally taken.

Zaia did not include changing the traffic pattern to a two-way road in his plans because he wanted to “exhibit what can happen with the existing reality.”

In the long-term, he sees the HRA land having sustainable park land, but for the time being would like to explore having pollinator gardens and other indigenous plants that will grow well on the land. Julie Richberg of the Trustees of Reservations assisted in the development of a list of arborists and horticulturists in the area.

In addition to sustainable park land, Zaia suggested deed-restricted housing to create a “new neighborhood in Hull that looks like single-families, but are apartment buildings…six structures, each has eight units of varying sizes.”

“Based on data and general sense, Hull needs housing to allow many folks… to stay in town,” Zaia said. “I don’t know how 48 units translates to profits for developers, but the park must be driven by available resources.”

He cited “a cycle of movement classic in many locations…younger home buyers upgrade to a larger home, seniors downsize to something more affordable with less maintenance and upkeep, allowing seniors to stay in their beloved community of Hull.”

Zaia would like the authority to consider making land near the light plant available to the town for a public safety building providing a “unified place for fire and police.” He also expressed his desire to invest in a demonstration of small helix wind turbines as a “beautiful homage to the light plant.”

Transportation and parking around Hull, especially during the busy summer months, has repeatedly come up at the HRA meetings. In the short-term, Zaia would like the HRA to arrange for a free shuttle bus from the DCR parking areas to the HRA lot on Saturdays and Sundays beginning June 1, as well as shuttles from the MBTA commuter rail stations at Nantasket Junction and Cohasset.

“People will have a chance not to move their vehicle and go to another spot in town,” he said, adding that it “will expand the economic vitality of the whole region.”

A few areas to be addressed currently are the cost-effective improvement of the safety and security of the present HRA property, develop parking signage, and learning more about the Nantasket Beach Reservation Trust Fund.

Possibly in conjunction with the Weir River Watershed Association, Zaia would like to institute a program to enhance the eel grass on the bay side of the Weir River. He invited Alex Berkowitz, founder of Coastal Protection Solutions, and developer of wave breakers, to walk the property. According to Berkowitz, wave breakers are “an innovative solution designed to reduce the height and velocity of ocean waves to protect coastal property and lives.” The Harvard University graduate student is testing the concept in hopes of sparing coastal communities from the fate her hometown, of Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York, suffered after Hurricane Sandy.

As the board has said previously, the HRA is more than a parking lot, and with this in mind, Zaia would like to continue looking into events like Stars Above from the Hideaway Circus which will be coming to the HRA land the beginning of July, as well as opportunities for a mobile stage. Other events Zaia would like the HRA to begin investigating to promote “engagement, entertainment, and collaboration” are winter ice sculptures, a bonfire on a barge on the bay side, an event like Providence’s Water Fire to be held on the bay at high tide, winter surfing, and artist events.

Zaia would like to reach out to Blue Bikes, a public bike-share program sponsored by Blue Cross of Blue Shield of Massachusetts to improve the “health and wellness of the community.”

Zaia supports the use of the word “improvement” as members write the draft URP and move toward “collaboration and eventually compromise.” Some improvements for his long-term vision are contour seating that provides vistas from the ocean to the bay, slightly raised walking paths, and a transportation hub for buses. A simple improvement for the intermediate timeframe Zaia would like to research is the placement of stone tables to play checkers and chess.

Zaia requested members of the select board watch the recording of Monday’s meeting to offer feedback to bring everyone closer to consensus on the Urban Renewal Plan.

“I hope my ideas, both crazy and simple, might be heard by those who have similar thoughts…it is my dream and hope we can come to some compromise that will work for more of us than we think,” said Zaia.

The pubic is encouraged to submit questions and comments on the HRA website, www.hra02045.com, but the board will hold correspondence until all HRA members have made their presentations.

On March 18, Joan Senatore and Bartley Kelly will present their concepts for the land, followed by Dan Kernan and Adrienne Paquin on March 25.

A video recording of the meeting is available on Hull Community Television’s website, www.hulltv.net.

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion on this issue? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.