Berlin Town Administrator Laura Allen confirmed this week that a series of planning meetings, originally set for Jan. 29-31, have been postponed indefinitely.
The town had hoped to use the sessions to set a long-term agenda for new development.
“In talking to the mayor and looking at our priorities for the year, he felt that quality was important over quantity in all things, and I agreed with him wholeheartedly,” she said. “There were a number of things that we had on our plate that dictated a different timing with regards to planning meetings and the planning discussion.”
Allen said that included a proposed excursion train, as well as town takeover of the former Tyson’s Chicken plant, now being called “Berlin Falls.”
“Our focus is really on taking acquisition of the Tyson property, moving it from its current state to a park,” Allen said. “That’s going to take a lot of our focus at the staff level.”
Allen said the town would likely take possession of the property in February. In November, the Town Council approved a $3 million general obligation bond to buy the 68-acre former industrial property. Of that total, $500,000 is earmarked for short-term redevelopment.
“One of the challenges that we’re going to have is creating direct, clear access to the property,” she said, adding that the town would explore converting several buildings on the site for other uses.
Berlin will also work on a list on recommendations, provided by an independent insurance firm, that would help bring Berlin Falls up to the same standards as the other town parks.
She added that the town would have to pay design firm Environmental Resources Management for several preliminary meetings, and that the town may continue to use the firm to help develop a new architectural standards, as well as help solve access and other traffic issues.
“We’re working on developing a scope of work with ERM to help us put some design guidelines together in collaboration with the planning commission, the historic district commission and the board of zoning appeals,” she said. “Because we included that as part of the [request for proposals] we are able to go ahead and come up with an estimate for them, for them to work on that piece.
“Rather than waiting for another year, we feel like that can be its own standalone item,” Allen continued.
The originally planned town-wide growth discussion, Allen said, could come later this year, or next year.
The town had hoped to use the sessions to set a long-term agenda for new development.
“In talking to the mayor and looking at our priorities for the year, he felt that quality was important over quantity in all things, and I agreed with him wholeheartedly,” she said. “There were a number of things that we had on our plate that dictated a different timing with regards to planning meetings and the planning discussion.”
Allen said that included a proposed excursion train, as well as town takeover of the former Tyson’s Chicken plant, now being called “Berlin Falls.”
“Our focus is really on taking acquisition of the Tyson property, moving it from its current state to a park,” Allen said. “That’s going to take a lot of our focus at the staff level.”
Allen said the town would likely take possession of the property in February. In November, the Town Council approved a $3 million general obligation bond to buy the 68-acre former industrial property. Of that total, $500,000 is earmarked for short-term redevelopment.
“One of the challenges that we’re going to have is creating direct, clear access to the property,” she said, adding that the town would explore converting several buildings on the site for other uses.
Berlin will also work on a list on recommendations, provided by an independent insurance firm, that would help bring Berlin Falls up to the same standards as the other town parks.
She added that the town would have to pay design firm Environmental Resources Management for several preliminary meetings, and that the town may continue to use the firm to help develop a new architectural standards, as well as help solve access and other traffic issues.
“We’re working on developing a scope of work with ERM to help us put some design guidelines together in collaboration with the planning commission, the historic district commission and the board of zoning appeals,” she said. “Because we included that as part of the [request for proposals] we are able to go ahead and come up with an estimate for them, for them to work on that piece.
“Rather than waiting for another year, we feel like that can be its own standalone item,” Allen continued.
The originally planned town-wide growth discussion, Allen said, could come later this year, or next year.