Faced with a recent denial of financial assistance by county officials, the Commission to Promote Business and Industry decided last night not to push its request for a $22,000 engineering study of the Norwood Arena area at the upcoming September 17 special town meeting. Commission member Albert P. Nelson announced the disappointing news that the Norfolk County Development and Tourism Council had refused to help finance the arena area master plan. The exact same $22,000 proposal, originally sponsored by the selectmen, had previously been defeated at the annual town meeting in May.
Commission Chairman Robert L. Rizzo commented that the newly revamped commission had hoped the study plan might stand a better chance at town meeting if matching county funds were secured, but concluded it would be wiser to hold off on the request. Expressing his disappointment, Rizzo noted that the commission had been led to believe ample county funds were available for such municipal projects. Nelson suggested that the commission instead lay the groundwork for a future town meeting request by gaining support from the finance commission, consulting with residents in the affected districts, and refining a detailed proposal.
In a related discussion regarding developer A. Zuker’s controversial proposal to rezone the 70-acre arena land for a shopping center and 540 apartments—as well as a thrice-defeated condominium proposal for the Route I-95 and Neponset Street area—the commission agreed to adopt a “hands-off” posture and let Zuker stand on his own at town meeting without taking an official position. Nelson pointed out that the most crucial element of an engineering project would be establishing a reliable road network connecting the Route I-95 and Neponset Street area to Route 1, ensuring that Zuker’s development plans would not obstruct vital roadway routes. Nelson added that Zuker was not opposed to the broader area master plan, noting that Zuker had previously offered an easement for any proposed roadways along the perimeter of his proposed shopping center and apartment complex. (Reporting by local archives).
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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