NORTHFIELD — The Planning Board held a “preliminary and informal” meeting Thursday night on The Moody Center and Clockwork Architecture’s proposed renovation of the historic Moore Cottage and old bookstore on Moody Street, and the construction of housing units and a new welcome center.
“Today is the initial step in what is a longer process of due diligence for us as a Planning Board, and for us as a community,” said Vice Chair Margaret Riordan.
During the virtual meeting, which about 60 people attended, James Spencer, vice president and chief operations officer with The Moody Center, and Christian Arnold, of Clockwork Architecture, presented the plans for the two projects.
“While we can view them as separate projects, we may not be able to pursue one without the other,” said Spencer. “We’re trying to figure out some ways we can preserve the historic buildings on the Northfield campus. … And one of the ways we considered doing that is by developing what we would call for-profit enterprises — as the residences would be — that would help to subsidize the restoration and preservation of some of the historic properties, like Moore Cottage.”
He said the audiences for the projects would include tourists to Massachusetts, as well as travelers with a particular interest in Dwight L. Moody, the famed evangelist who founded the campus in 1885. The residences would be available to people who would like to live in Northfield, including teachers at Thomas Aquinas College.
“We’ve had somewhere between 15,000 to 20,000 visitors (to the campus) each year, over the last three or four years, and that’s been growing,” Spencer said.
Speaking to the town’s Master Plan, Spencer said the project is in line with three of the goals — promote economic development; expand housing opportunities and support neighborhoods; and promote Northfield’s history and culture.
“Our intent is for it to be a taxable project,” he said. “Obviously, that is not fully up to us. The Board of Assessors comes in … and determines which part of our properties are exempt from taxation and which are not exempt. … We want to contribute to the town.”
Following the presentation, which included an overview of the floor plans for the proposed projects, Spencer and Arnold took questions from the Planning Board, several of which addressed questions raised by the public in the group chat function of Zoom or prior to the meeting.
Opening the discussion, Planning Board Chair Steve Seredynski, who noted the board received more than 130 questions prior to the meeting, said it would be difficult to look at both projects as one, as one would require a site plan review, while the other would require a special permit.
“We’re not asking … that you combine these from a procedural perspective,” Spencer said. “From a procedural or policy perspective, we would envision these as breaking up within the policies and procedures as appropriate. … What I wanted to communicate is from a fiscal and financial perspective, it’s going to be very difficult for us to renovate the bookstore and Moore Cottage as envisioned, without the new construction.”
Riordan asked Spencer and Arnold if they see the project as “compatible” with the neighborhood and with Northfield, and who would manage the residences once they were “up and running.”
Arnold addressed this, noting the new structure, in terms of building height, is compatible with other structures in the area, particularly the three-story Moore Cottage. He also emphasized the focus on walkability for residents of the proposed row homes.
As for management of the site, Spencer said it would be speculative at this point to address that.
Other questions included the impact on town utilities and the cost of the residences that would be available.
“I believe when I mentioned the ‘affordability,’ it was to address a variety of sizes because often the size of the residence is directly proportional to the cost of the residence,” Arnold said, clarifying his use of the word “affordable” in his presentation. “This isn’t subsidized housing. This isn’t any type of an affordable housing program.”
On the subject of utilities, he noted that tax revenue from the individuals who live in the row homes would be used to support the cost of water and sewer, for example.
Riordan asked a question that a few individuals in the chat room had raised, on the issue of The Moody Center’s relationship with Signatry, a “donor bank” that manages donor-advised funds and has members of its board involved with The Moody Center.
“We’re not getting any special treatment, any kickbacks,” Spencer explained. “The way donor-advised funding works … is complicated. … Signatry is not The Moody Center’s bank, so to speak.”
Seredynski and other board members, who ultimately requested The Moody Center submit an application for a special permit for the construction project, also encouraged Spencer to connect with the Northfield Community Action Network (CAN) — several members of which were in attendance Thursday and have voiced concern about the proposed plans — to work collaboratively and to address more specifically the questions and concerns the group has.
On Friday, Christopher Sykes, a spokesperson for Northfield CAN said he thought the Planning Board did a “terrific job” handling the meeting.
“That was a lot to handle, with over 100 questions,” he said. “I think the chairman really pushed the collaborative process between the residents and The Moody Center. I think that’s a key piece to this.”
He said the group isn’t necessarily opposed to the construction.
“We want to work with them to find something that really works for everybody, and stay away from this concept of winners and losers,” Sykes said.
Seredynski also suggested that Northfield reinstate the town/campus coordinating committee, which would open the line of communication between residents and The Moody Center for a more collaborative experience.
“It would be a venue for all the folks who submitted 130 questions to get together and resolve disputes before it comes to a public hearing,” Seredynski said. “Because I guarantee the Planning Board is going to make the decision and what comes before us is what comes before us.”
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne