Group discusses master plan, land redevelopment, neighborhood issues

Steve Montie, the mayor's aide, spoke about the city's master planning process and the Brownfield redevelopment and revitalization plan at the College Cultural Neighborhood Association meeting Sept. 15.

Montie said phase one of the $3 million master plan process started with a steering committee and the collection of documents and data. Funding came from a $1.5 million HUD grant and local matching grants.

"Mayor Walling has selected a planner whom he will appoint after the November election," Montie said.

Montie explained that Flint is home to acres of industrial brownfield properties that present tremendous opportunities for redevelopment. With an existing infrastructure of transportation and major utilities these properties could become wise investments to expand or establish a business. He said that with $30 million in cleanup funds for Buick city and another $6.5 million for restoring Chevy-in-the-Hole, the city could look forward to revitalizing these eyesores.

"We don't know what the new business climate is going to be like. There probably won't be any brownfield tax credits and corporations won't be getting the kind of incentives Diplomat Pharmacy got," Montie explained.

According to Montie the city's brownfield planning team identified two major areas of concentration for reinvestment — the institutional corridor that includes downtown and surrounding neighborhoods and the Dort Highway industrial district— that contains 2,400 acres of industrial land.

The goal of the redevelopment effort is to make a strong push to attract businesses that make up the new global economic market, he said

Dale Weighill (Ward 7) updated the group on leaf pickup, water rate increases and a new ordinance to punish scrap metal thieves.

"We did not fund leaf pickup in the budget city council approved," Weighill said. "Leaves must be bagged and put out on the same day as your garbage pickup. The city sanitation trucks will pick them up."

Weighill explained that the second water rate increase this year was made in order to catch up with the increases by the city of Detroit — Flint's water provider for the past 10 years. Under previous administrations the increases were not passed on to consumers which left a huge debt to be settled under the current administration.

Weighill said that according to a study by Rowe Engineering, pumping water from Lake Huron would be cheaper over time than buying water from Detroit or treating water from the Flint River. The most cost-effective option for the city of Flint would be to finance and build a new $300 million water pipeline with Genesee County and other areas, according to the report done for the city.

Weighill announced new ordinances in place to punish scrap metal thieves with a 90-day minimum jail sentence and seizure of the offender's vehicle. He said a hearing would take place soon to determine if a local junkyard's license should be revoked for purchasing stolen metal.

Jack Minore said the city uses about 19 million gallons of water a day and the current pipeline is 60 years old and needs to be replaced. He said that using the Flint River would severely stress it during summer draught times.

Other members agreed that this would be an opportune time to move forward with the pipeline considering the low interest rates and the jobs the pipeline would create.

Michael Kelly, spokesman for Mott Community College, estimated 12,000 students are enrolled in the new academic year. He also reported the college recently received the Aspen Institute's award naming the college as one of the top 10 community colleges in the country.

He invited members to visit the permanent 911 memorial at the school that was dedicated Sept. 11 with more than 400 people participating.

Matthew Jones provided a before and after presentation of his Eagle Scout beautification project at Woodlawn Park. Besides the Gilkey Creek cleanup, the bridge and playground equipment were repainted, debris removed and areas mulched.

"Fifty-one people showed up to help," Jones said. "We logged 239 man-hours."

Tim Collardey, a trained master gardener, announced a community organic garden at the east end of Pierce School and a food co-op are in the works for next year. His group is looking at the former video store as a possible site for the co-op.

Sen. John Gleason (District 27) talked about the possibility of the governor assigning an emergency financial manager for the city. He urged members to sign a petition against a state take-over. "I think our vote should count. Don't give up your voice. Vote," he said.

Vice President Mike Keeler updated members on the recycling trailer parked at Woodside church.

"We had some logistic problems this month, but they have been corrected. We'll have the trailer here for 11 days beginning Oct. 1," Keeler said.

Mike Harriman and Craig Wolcott informed members about the neighborhood watch program and crime statistics.

"We had 167 incidents in the Seventh Ward — 26 of them were in our area," Wolcott said.

The next neighborhood meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 17 in the RTC Auditorium. The next neighborhood watch meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at the RTC Room 1301.