Policy Order O-9

WHEREAS: On January 7, 2014, City staff informed the Planning Board that Sarah Woodworth, an economic consultant, had been hired to look at the assumptions underlying the planning involved in the Central Square Final Report of 2013 (a.k.a. the "C2 Study"); and

WHEREAS: It was further stated at this meeting that this economic analysis for the C2 Study would be presented to the Planning Board in the near future; and

WHEREAS: It is not clear that this work was ever presented to the Planning Board or made available to the City Council or members of the public; and

WHEREAS: The City Council is now considering a proposal from Normandy Real Estate Partners and Twining Properties to rezone a parcel of land in the vicinity of Columbia Street, Mass Ave, and Main Street; and

WHEREAS: In the context of the debate over the Normandy Twining proposal, members of the Planning Board, members of the City Council, and members of the public have expressed a desire to better understand the financial conditions that apply to new development in Central Square; now therefore be it

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council with an update on the analysis that has been done to understand the finances of new development in Central Square, including the report by economic consultant Sarah Woodworth.