Finance Committee - 04/21/2021 Page 5
Alderman Harriott-Gathright
| just have a question actually because as | was reading this (phone ringing) and | am sorry | don’t know how to
turn my phone off, so it'll be ringing in the background. Is 4.75 acres of land, is this land that cannot be
developed like say for housing? Because | am not familiar with that area so | am just asking because we have
such an issue here.
Ms. Chizmas
Sure it currently is not considered suitable for housing. It is in a wet area, flood plain, so its uses for
commercial or housing residential is somewhat limited; definitely limited, | shouldn’t say “somewhat” it is
limited. Tim I’ve seen you’ve turned on, do you want to speak to that, | Know you have looked at this as well.
Tim Cummings, Director of Economic Development
| have.
Mayor Donchess
| think we have new developments from today on this subject, so please Director Cummings, go ahead.
Director Cummings
Yes. So just first to the question at hand. It is not only within the “flood plain” it is at a higher degree of
environmental sensitivity. It is referred to as the “flood way”. So that is another categorization that makes it
even harder to do any sort of development or penetration into the wetlands. So | just want to make sure folks
are aware of that. And then Mayor, did you suggest that | continue on with the developments of today?
Mayor Donchess
Yes.
Director Cummings
OK and as the Mayor alluded to, earlier today | delivered to him some good news. | was able to successfully
negotiate a P&S on the land and it was approved by the Mill Yard Associates that owns the piece of property. It
is subject to approval by the Board of Aldermen so Legislation will be forthcoming to you in speaking with the
Deputy Corporation Counsel Leonard earlier today, it sounds like we would be looking to file it for the first
meeting in May. But we are going to try to get it closed; we have a closing date of June 30" of 2021. So we
hopefully will have the property tied up in short order for folks to be able to use as they wish.
Alderman Harriott-Gathright
Mr. Mayor, | do have a question through you.
Mayor Donchess
Alderman Harriott-Gathright.
Alderman Harriott-Gathright
Ok did you say flood wet — w-e-t.
Mayor Donchess
