The North Adams planning board will decide tonight whether to adopt a master plan for the city three years in the making.
The comprehensive plan will be the city’s first since the 1970s. More than 15 public meetings and comment periods formed initiatives ranging from recreation and land use to housing and the economy. Mackenzie Greer is the city planner.
“We were originally developed as a city for some 25,000 people,” Greer said. “We now are just under 14,000 so how do we strategically look at the infrastructure that we have, where our neighborhood centers are and are there ways where we can be a little more efficient.”
The Planning Board will also seek endorsement from the city council. Greer says one of the immediate action items will be reviewing outdated zoning and permitting regulations.
“What is our permitting flow, how do we make it easier for businesses to get to the regulatory process that they need?” said Greer.
The plan recommends the city designate a specific point of contact for business recruitment to work with the recently reorganized North Adams Chamber of Commerce and other economic agencies. Lisa Blackmer is the president of the city council.
“I don’t think we’re focusing on bringing in a large manufacturer that’s going to save us,” Blackmer said. “That’s not going to happen. It’s the small manufacturing, more technological, advanced manufacturing with smaller number of employees and more highly trained manufacturing. If anything comes those are going to be the kind of jobs that we’ll be creating.”
The Vision 2030 plan works side by side with a downtown branding and economic development strategy unveiled by the Partnership for North Adams in January as well as the countywide Sustainable Berkshires plan released in March. Greer emphasizes the need to enhance gateways into the city via Route 8 and closer to downtown.
“The Greylock Market at Heritage State Park…you’ll see that referenced quite a bit in the economic section,” Greer said. “We see that whole area as a way of bringing together a lot of interests. It’s right next to Noel Field Athletic Complex where theSteepleCats play. The park itself has some really great bones and is historic asset, but needs some reviving. The city is positioning it to be privatized.”
The plan also highlights the importance of education, utilizing anchor institutions like MASS MoCA and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and enhancing all modes of transportation.
“The Ashuwillticook trail that runs from Lanesborough to Adams and they’d like to see that extended into North Adams and run west to Williamstown,” said Greer.
Greer says creating downtown housing for young adults is key, as is addressing the city’s aging homes.
“In our neighborhoods there are some issues of blight,” she said. “Can we work on a city program? Some communities use a receivership program, where we ‘re able to facilitate the rehabilitation of housing and get it back to the folks living there.”
Planners did have to readjust their focus due to the March closure of North Adams Regional Hospital. Instead of drawing upon the hospital’s resources, the plan outlines ways to maximize residents’ access to healthcare and potential areas of growth. North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombrightsays the plan is a roadmap to success, making it easier to pursue grants and opportunities.
“There has to be some visionary document that helps guide your processes day-to-day,” Alcombright said. “It can’t be in hard-cover. It needs to be in soft-cover so its bendable, pliable and subject to change. I really think that it was just way too long that we didn’t have any seemingly written direction here in the city.”
If the plan is adopted, the city will create subcommittees to focus on specific areas and prioritize the goals.
