Panel Preps Outreach, Takes No Votes on MCI Site

In this report: Key decisions · Next dates · Full report · Sources

What happened

The MCI Communication Subcommittee addressed outreach strategy and FAQ updates ahead of November community meetings and a zoning hearing. The group assigned drafting work for slide presentations, revised outreach letters to approximately 100 community groups, and FAQ updates with sustainability and recreation language. One housing-related discussion was deferred to a future meeting; no votes were taken.

Key decisions

• 📜 Slide presentation development for outreach. The subcommittee agreed to create a 5-6 slide presentation for multiple audiences. Burton offered to work with Wendy to adapt materials from previous League of Women Voters presentations for the current round of outreach. (Next: Nov. 6, 10:30 a.m. to noon). Read case details
• 📜 Community group outreach letter campaign. The subcommittee agreed that Shannon would provide a contact list of approximately 100 community groups and share a previous outreach letter. Jeff, Burton, and Peter were assigned to each draft a revised version before the next meeting. West Concord groups were identified as priority for in-person outreach. Read case details
• 📜 Sustainability commitments for outreach materials. The subcommittee agreed to include sustainability commitments in outreach materials and slide deck: stricter "greener" building code, LEED-ND silver certification, required geothermal network feasibility study, low-impact stormwater management, solar photovoltaic allowances, and vegetated roof allowances. Read case details
• 📜 Messaging about project protective mechanisms. The subcommittee agreed to communicate to residents that the project includes multiple layers of protection: two separate MEPA environmental reviews, citizen participation requirements under site plan review, Planning Board regulatory plan review, and phased housing unit release tied to Route 2 and rotary improvements. Read case details
• 📜 Private recreational use in FAQ and bid package. The subcommittee discussed strengthening FAQ language to explicitly state that private recreational uses are allowed under the proposed zoning. When the state releases its developer bid package, the subcommittee indicated it should include note of Concord's more than 540 letters in support of private recreational use on the site. Read case details
• 📜 Housing alignment discussion deferred to future meeting. The subcommittee deferred substantive discussion of whether its housing recommendations align with housing advocacy groups' positions. The item was moved to a future agenda for resolution, rather than addressed during this meeting focused on communications planning. Read case details

Next dates

• Nov. 6: League of Women Voters forum on MCI site
• Nov. 10: Planning Board-Select Board hearing on draft zoning

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Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.