Medway Redevelopment Authority Seeks Public Comment on Oak Grove Urban Renewal Plan

The Town of Medway Redevelopment Authority worked with BSC Group, Inc. over the past year to develop an Urban Renewal Plan for the Oak Grove area consistent with the requirements set forth under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 121B. Urban renewal is a tool to assist communities to revitalize decadent, substandard or blighted open areas and to encourage sound growth in specific areas. An Urban Renewal Plan is an application submitted by the municipality through its urban renewal agency, such as the Medway Redevelopment Authority, to the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development requesting its approval of a redevelopment project.

The Oak Grove area is comprised mainly of small lots known as the “Bottle Cap lots” and has been expanded through this process to include some properties located within the adjacent business park. This area is sometimes called the “Medway 495 Business Park” which is bordered by Milford Street to the North, Milford town line to the West, Alder Street to the South and West Street to the East. The Bottle Cap lots derive their name from a 1920’s marketing promotion by Clicquot Club, which awarded small parcels to customers with winning bottle cap lots.  There were originally approximately 1,018 Bottle Cap lots with an average size of approximately 1,600 square feet and dimensions of approximately 80 feet by 20 feet. The ownership of many of the lots has been consolidated over the years, but the configuration of many small, irregularly shaped lots with multiple owners remains a significant obstacle to redevelopment of the area.

The state must approve the Plan before any activities are undertaken by the Redevelopment Authority. Public participation has been a key part to the Urban Renewal Plan process. The Medway Redevelopment Authority convened a Steering Committee, which included a cross section of stakeholders to be a sounding board and to review activities as may be needed. Two public forums were also held in March and September. The Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing on the Oak Grove Urban Renewal Plan on Monday, April 3, 2017.

More information including the draft Oak Grove Urban Renewal Plan may be found at http://www.townofmedway.org/redevelopment-authority. The draft Oak Grove Urban Renewal Plan is available for public review and comment from Friday, March 17, 2017 beginning at 10:00am through Monday, April 3, 2017 at 5:3pm during normal Town Hall business hours.

Any person who desires to comment may do so in person at the Community & Economic Development Department or submit written comments using one of the following methods: (1) by e-mail to smercandetti@townofmedway.org; or (2) by postal mail to the address below.

Comments must be clearly marked Oak Grove Urban Renewal Plan and must be received (not postmarked) by the end of the comment period in order to be addressed.

Medway Redevelopment Authority
Town of Medway
155 Village Street
Medway, MA 02053

Any questions may be directed to Stephanie Mercandetti, Director, Community & Economic Development at (508) 321-4918.