Medfield02052's Blog

The town administrators circulated the draft charge that appears below, for the Board of Selectmen to give to the new committee to make recommendations for the redevelopment of the Medfield State Hospital.  Seven individuals have expressed an interest to date in serving on that committee.  If you are interested in serving on that committee, please get your expression of interest in to Michael Sullivan, Kristine Trierweiler, or Evelyn Clarke before tomorrow evening.

Medfield State Hospital
Redevelopment Master Plan Committee

Committee Appointments

• Committee to be comprised of 7-9 members
• Appointments should reflect expertise in Planning, Architecture, Affordable Housing, Building Trades, Finance and a Citizen at Large
• Committee Appointments should be committed and willing to see the project through to completion, be creative and open minded for all types of redevelopment
• Committee will engage the assistance of a multi disciplinary master planning firm as well as utilize existing town hall staff

Mission Statement

The overall goal of the Committee is to present to the Board of Selectmen a comprehensive and coordinated vision for the sustainable redevelopment and reuse of the former Medfield State Hospital.

The Committee is tasked with, but not limited to, the following considerations when developing the redevelopment plan:

• Redevelopment should build upon the vision process that was completed by SHAC, including public outreach
• Work cooperatively with existing MSH committees as well as town boards/staff
• Utilize the building conditions study by C3 to determine the potential reuse for any buildings on site.
• Preservation of the scenic and natural characteristics of the site
• Any construction should be designed to enhance the property
• Public enjoyment of the natural open spaces surrounding the redevelopment parcel
• New uses for the property should not negatively affect the natural resources surrounding the property
• Redevelopment should consider a complimentary mix of land uses, provide long range economic benefits to Town, and are sensitive to the character of the site
• Financial impact analysis for any/all redevelopment proposals
• Diversity of housing should be investigated to address the affordable housing needs as well as the need for over 55 housing in Town.
• Redevelopment strategies should take into consideration the impact on the surrounding neighborhoods.

Timeline

June—Appointment of Committee

July/August—Finalize the RFQ for Master Plan Firm

September—Issue the RFP once the Legislation has passed

November—Selection of the Master Plan Firm

November-May—Development of a Strategic Redevelopment Plan

May—Presentation of Redevelopment Plan to Board of Selectmen

June— Special Town Meeting for Redevelopment Plan

Role of the Board of Selectmen

• Medfield State Hospital Redevelopment Committee is appointed as an advisory committee to the Board of Selectmen
• The Committee is charged with creating a strategic redevelopment plan to bring to the Board of Selectmen for approval
• Board of Selectmen will work with the committee and other town boards to bring the redevelopment plan to the Town Meeting
• Committee will provide periodic updates to the Board of Selectmen at their regularly scheduled meetings

Rep. Denise Garlick assured me yesterday that Speaker DeLeo’s gun bill will actually be better for our chances to have the legislature pass our legislation, to approve the sale of the Medfield State Hospital to the Town of Medfield, because such different pieces of legislation are on such different tracts that they will not impede one another, and the Speaker’s interest in his gun legislation will actually create more days of legislative session in which we will have an opportunity for our legislation to get acted upon.  I was afraid that the gun legislation would consume the legislature and leave no time for anything else.

Convoluted, but good for us in the end.