Budget Amendment ID: FY2016-S3-24

OTH 24

An Update to Chapter 237 of the Acts of 2014

Mr. Montigny moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___, the following new section:-

"SECTION ____.  (a) mass development in consultation with the secretary of transportation, the secretary of energy and environmental affairs, the seaport advisory council, New Bedford harbor development commission and other appropriate public and private stakeholders shall, not later than December 31, 2015, submit a detailed report for expanding the use of the New Bedford state pier for water-dependent cargo, short sea shipping, marine transportation, cruise facilities, nonwater-dependant uses related to tourism and economic development, potential redevelopment and creation of a mixed use facility to include commercial uses, retail, restaurants, and public event space.

The report shall include an analysis of the following areas:

(1) Recommendations to expand water dependent uses, public uses and non-water dependent uses, with particular emphasis on increasing public access to the waterfront without significant interference to maritime industries;

(2) The marketplace for parties who may be interested in redeveloping the pier as a mixed-use facility;

(3) A breakdown of the current rents paid at the pier, a comparison to current market rates, and any reasons for discrepancies in the amount of rent paid for space;

(4) An in depth analysis of the redevelopment of other local, state and federal government owned maritime facilities into mixed use facilities while still maintaining a maritime presence, including, but not limited to, consideration of facilities in New York City, Boston, San Francisco, and areas with similar characteristics to the New Bedford state pier;

(5) Recommendations accompanied by a detailed analysis concerning the future governance of the state pier with possible options to include, without limitation, the feasibility of establishing a port authority structure that includes local and state appointees;

(6) Revitalizing the pier through the issuance of a request for proposals including a discussion of what should be included in proposals; and

(7) Information collected pursuant to subparagraph (b) of this section.

(b) In gathering information for report submission pursuant to subparagraph (a) of this section, mass development shall hold at least one community meeting in New Bedford regarding possible approaches for revitalizing the state pier. Such public forum shall be chaired by the state senator from the second Bristol and Plymouth district as well as the state representative from the thirteenth Bristol district.  Mass development shall provide adequate notice through public media to residents of New Bedford of a state pier community meeting at least 30 days prior to the meeting."