Council Wants to Develop Worth Lot

Three months after the City Council voted not to consider the Worth Lot again as the site for a new parking garage, councilors narrowly decided Monday night to entertain future development ideas.

The council voted, 5-4, at the end of their meeting at City Hall to approve a motion made by City Councilor Anthony Coviello, which directs City Manager John Bohenko to report back to the council on options to ground lease the site for development with no loss of parking.

Coviello said the Worth Lot is “the missing tooth” in the downtown’s smile and the city should be more aggressive on trying to redevelop the site without sacrificing parking spaces that the public and businesses need.

“This is not meant to be a garage in sheep’s clothing,” he said.

The council voted 5-4 on Dec. 3 not to consider the Worth Lot as a future parking garage site after dozens of business owners and city residents came out against that plan.

City Attorney Robert Sullivan said city’s rules of order state that any action taken by the council cannot be reversed or revisited until a new council is seated in January 2014.

Lister said it is important for the council to hear back from the city’s Parking and Traffic Safety Committee’s report on the parking garage issue.

Councilor Nancy Novelline Clayburgh agreed with Coviello the Worth Lot is an eyesore for the downtown.

“It doesn’t look pretty in our pretty city,” she said.

Councilor Brad Lown said he is willing to support the motion because he thinks the city “should take this to the next level” and explore other potential development for the lot.

Councilor Ken Smith said he would not support the motion. He argued that any development would require more parking. Also, the Parking and Traffic Safety Committee that he chairs is currently working on a report regarding the overall issue of where the city could build a new parking garage.

“Why not let us do our job?” he said.

Smith said that in the city’s proposed Capital Improvement Plan, “we have talked about cleaning up these parking lots and redesigning them to get additional spaces in there. “

Councilor Jack Thorsen said the motion is not necessary because the city manager already has the ability to explore potential uses of city owned land.

“We don’t have to do a motion to put anything in motion,” he said.

Councilor Esther Kennedy went even further with her objection to Coviello’s motion.

“I think the idea smells," she said.

She also questioned why the city is so determined to cover every space.

“I find it every upsetting that this is being brought up now,” Kennedy said.

On the final vote, City Councilors Lown, Chris Dwyer, Novelline Clayburgh, Coviello and Mayor Eric Spear voted in favor. Councilors Kennedy, Lister, Smith and Thorsen voted against it.