At the Dec. 21 Cambridge City Council meeting, the council voted to create a new development district with a tax increment financing plan and approved a private development contract for the district.
The district includes three properties located at the corner of highways 95 and 65. The development of the TIF district will allow the project to be completed without a burden on taxpayers.
The council heard from Drew Johnson, developer at Oppidan, the property development firm that will be overseeing the project. The project will include new commercial buildings, updates to McKinley Street and a right of way extension on Second Avenue. It is expected to significantly raise the tax base of the district.
Council Member Tiffany Kafer, who voted against the district creation, argued that because the developers cannot provide information on the specific businesses that will come to town in these properties, she believes it unfair to ask other business to pay for the TIF plan. She also voiced concerns of having too many of the same type of business in the area when there could be room for new businesses the city does not have.
“I think, as a city council, it is our responsibility to control who comes in under TIF,” she said.
Mayor Marlys Palmer said when Fleet Farm opened, she feared the similar businesses would be affected but said it happened the opposite.
“We do want to increase the tax base of the city. It’s the only way we can have the amenities we desire,” Palmer said.
“This country is competition,” Council Member Howard Lewis said. “Whether we get another pizza place or not isn’t our decision. We already have empty buildings downtown, but we as a council really have a responsibility to economic development. It’s another investment we can make that can come back to us in monetary ways but also quality of life.”
City Administrator Lynda Woulfe said she does not see another purchase possibility of these properties in at least four to five years.
In other news:
• Deputy Fire Chief Will Pennings updated the board on the Fire Department tender truck purchase. A tender truck is a tanker that carries water for use when fire hydrants are not accessible. The current tender truck was targeted for replacement in 2016 and scheduled to be updated from a 2,000 gallon tank to a 3,000 gallon tank.
Pennings notified the board that the Braham Fire Department was also looking to purchase a tender truck at the same time. With the two departments requesting trucks at the same time, both were able to save some money.
“We know there’s going to be significant savings with building the trucks together,” Pennings said.
The new truck will also have added axle capabilities and oversized brakes. Since the truck will be holding significantly more water than the old one, Pennings said the extra measures are needed for the safety of the firemen.
• A check was received from Todd Blank, city engineer, to purchase playground equipment for a city park. Blank represents SEH, the city’s engineering firm.
“I saw the desire to have a swing set at Watertower Park,” he said. “I thought it was a good idea, and I saw it was something SEH could help with.”
Palmer thanked Blank for his donation, adding that the addition of swings to the busy park will be perfect.