2026-09-16 - Economic Development Committee
Summary
Chair Morris A. Bergman, Kathleen M. Toomey and Satya B. Mitra met from 5:06 to 6:30 PM with Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn and his assistant Paul Morano. Every vote was 3-0. The committee approved its June 25 minutes and recommended approval of the GreenTech Park TIF Zone resolution and of the Lakeside and Garland Avenues UCH-TIF agreement for 16-32 Lakeside Ave. and 18-20 Garland Ave.; during the second, Bergman and Mitra questioned the investment, tax revenue after the 18-year period, savings over the 20-year term and what happens if the project is sold, and Bergman proposed an order asking for a glossary of Economic Development program terms. It then recommended approval of three Planning Board zone-change reports: 455 Grove Street Zone Change, the Belmont Street / Plantation Street corridor amendment (Toomey asked about 370 Plantation St.), and, after the longest debate, Jonathan Finkelstein's petition for Centro Las Americas Zone Change covering Charlton, Hermon and Beacon Streets, which had been held twice. Two residents opposed the Centro item, citing traffic and parking on Hermon St., and Bergman added an order asking for a traffic review near 42 Hermon St. and increased parking enforcement. The minutes list one speaker as favoring item 4b but the text places him under 4a, so the item attribution is ambiguous.
Summary written from the official minutes; no transcript yet.
Issues discussed: GreenTech Park TIF Zone, Lakeside and Garland Avenues UCH-TIF, 455 Grove Street Zone Change, Belmont Street and Plantation Street Corridor Zoning Amendment, Centro Las Americas Zone Change
Official Minutes
Committee minutes posted on PrimeGov (summary of actions, not verbatim). Page footers removed.
CITY OF WORCESTER
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Esther Howland (South) Chamber
Convened: 5:06 P.M.
Adjourned: 6:30 P.M.
MAYOR
Joseph M. Petty
COMMITTEE MEMBERS CLERK OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Chairperson Morris A Bergman Nikolin Vangjeli
Vice Chairperson Kathleen M Toomey
Councilor Satya B Mitra
www.worcesterma.gov
City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts
Present Were: Chairperson Councilor Morris A Bergman
Councilor Kathleen M Toomey
Councilor Satya B Mitra
Also: Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn
Assistant Chief Development Officer Paul Morano
Deputy City Clerk AJ Pottle, clerk
1. Virtual Attendee Call-In Information/Important Notice to Petitioners
a. Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public
engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote
participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the
meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the
below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated. If you join a Zoom
meeting by dialing in with a phone number, you can raise your hand by dialing *9.
Economic Development Committee Zoom Link :
https://worcesterma.zoomgov.com/j/1603823487
Economic Development Committee Zoom Phone Number: +1 646 828 7666
Economic Development Committee Zoom Access Code: 160 382 3487
Chairperson Councilor Bergman read the item and recognized the following Speakers:
1. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to item #3a
2. Rich Mazzocchi, North Andover resident, spoke in favor of item #3b
3. Roberta Bryan, No residence given, spoke in favor of item #3a
4. Stephen Madaus, No residence given, spoke in favor of item #4b
5. Jonathan Finkelstein, No residence given, spoke in favor of item #4c
6. Luis Reyes, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #4c
7. Helen Raptis, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #4c
b. Important Notice: Please be aware our office has been notified of an ongoing scam
involving the impersonation of city officials and departments. Scammers are fraudulently
requesting payments be made for planning and zoning permits, as well as City Council
petitions. All official emails regarding your petition will come exclusively from an
@worcesterma.gov email address (such as clerk@worcesterma.gov), or via physical mail
on the City of Worcester’s official letterhead. Any legitimate hearing letter will always
include your specific application details, along with the scheduled hearing date, time,
and location. The City of Worcester will never request payments via wire transfer.
2. Approval of the Minutes
a. Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Economic Development hereby
approves the minutes of the Economic Development Committee meeting on June 25,
2026.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item.
Order adopted on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays
3. Tax Increment Financing (TIF/UCH-TIF) Items
a. Communication of the City Manager recommend adoption of a resolution establishing a
Tax Increment Financing Zone for GreenTech Park.
# 10.4B CM July 21, 2026
Chairperson Councilor Bergman read the item and recognized
the Chief Development Officer, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Councilor Toomey, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Councilor Mitra, who discussed how exemption
percentages are determined with the Chief Development Officer.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman moved for a roll call vote to recommend item be approved.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays
b. Communication of the City Manager recommending adoption of a resolution to approve
an Urban Center Housing - Tax Increment Financing (UCH-TIF) Agreement for 16 - 32
Lakeside Avenue and 18 - 20 Garland Avenue.
# 11.4B CM August 18, 2026
Chairperson Councilor Bergman read the item and recognized the Chief Development Officer,
who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed the Responsible
Development Ordinance contract and the percentage of local employees for the project with the
Chief Development Officer.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Councilor Mitra, who discussed the timeframe, the
total investment amount and amount of taxes the city will receive for the project with the Chief
Development Officer.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman then discussed the estimated taxes the city will receive after the
18-year period with the Chief Development Officer.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City
Manager request Chief Development Officer provide City Council with a glossary of frequently
used terms related to Executive Office of Economic Development programs.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Councilor Mitra, who discussed the estimated savings
to the project over the 20-year term of the agreement with the Chief Development Officer.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman then discussed what happens if the project gets sold during the
TIF period to another entity with the Chief Development Officer.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman moved for a roll call vote to recommend item be approved.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays
Chairman's Orders
Request City Manager request Chief Development Officer provide City Council with a
glossary of frequently used terms related to Executive Office of Economic Development
programs.
4. Zone Change Hearing Items
a. Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Meletios Chacharone request to
amend the City of Worcester Zoning Map by changing the zoning designation of the
property known as and located at 455 Grove St. (MBL: 20-030-46+47) owned by CP 58
Gardner Street, LLC from the current split zoning designation of partially RL-7,
Residence, Limited, and partially BG-3.0, Business, General, to be entirely BG-3.0,
Business, General, as shown on the attached plan.
# 16b CC July 21, 2026
Chairperson Councilor Bergman read the item and recognized Councilor Mitra, who discussed
the intent of the petition and the Planning Board hearing for the item with Speaker #4.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Speaker #4, who discussed whether there was
opposition at the Planning Board hearing for the project.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman moved for a roll call vote to recommend item be approved.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays
b. Report of the Planning Board Upon the Amended Communication of the City Manager
recommend adoption of a zoning map amendment relative to Belmont Street / Plantation
Street Corridor.
# 14a CC June 2, 2026
Chairperson Councilor Bergman read the item and recognized the Chief Development Officer,
who provided an overview of the item and discussed whether there has been any opposition to the
item and communications with the abutting residents regarding the amendment request.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed the zoning
designation for the property located at 370 Plantation St. with the Chief Development Officer.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman moved for a roll call vote to recommend item be approved.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays
c. Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Jonathan Finkelstein on behalf of
Centro Las Americas, Inc, request the Zoning Map be amended by extending the BG-3
zoning district and CCOD-E overlay district to wholly encompass 9, 15 and 25 Charlton
St.; 26, 38, 42 and 46 Hermon St.; and 0 Beacon St.
# 13a CC December 16, 2025
In Committee February 17, 2026 - Held
In Committee June 25, 2026 - Held
Chairperson Councilor Bergman read the item and recognized Speaker #5, who discussed whether
there was any opposition to the item at the Planning Board hearing.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman then discussed the impact of zone change on traffic and property
usage in the area with Speaker #5.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed plans related to
building more residential housing and flooding issues in the area with the Chief Development
Officer.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Councilor Mitra, who discussed how changing the
zoning district will allow for more businesses to open, the current businesses that are already in
the area and the impact of changing the zoning district for the area with Speaker #5, Speaker #6
and Speaker #7.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Speaker #6, who discussed the grandfather clause for
the property and issues related to traffic and parking on Hermon St.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Councilor Mitra, who discussed the Planning Board
hearing for the item with Speaker #5.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed parking challenges
on Hermon St. with Speaker #5.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman then discussed issues related to traffic on Hermon St. and impact
from new residential buildings in the area with Speaker #5.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Councilor Mitra, who discussed the needs to address
issues related to traffic on Hermon St. with Speaker #5.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized the Deputy City Clerk, who discussed types of motion
that can be made in committee.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City
Manager request the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility review the area in the vicinity
of 42 Hermon St. to determine appropriate traffic improvement measures that can be installed to
reduce traffic congestion at the area. Further, request City Manager request Police Chief provide
increased enforcement of parking regulations at the location.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed the importance of
improving issues related to traffic in the area.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays
Chairman's Orders
Request City Manager request the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility review
the area in the vicinity of 42 Hermon St. to determine appropriate traffic improvement
measures that can be installed to reduce traffic congestion at the area. Further, request
City Manager request Police Chief provide increased enforcement of parking regulations
at the location.
Transcript
Transcript pending: YouTube captions can't be retrieved yet (see the Worcester playbook).