From: Michael Behrendt Sent: Friday, June 09, 2017 8:11 AM Subject: Mill Plaza - email from Josh Meyrowitz To the Planning Board, Please see the email below. Michael Behrendt Durham Town Planner Town of Durham 8 Newmarket Road Durham, NH 03824 (603) 868-8064 www.ci.durham.nh.us From: Joshua Meyrowitz <> Date: Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 6:31 PM To: Todd Selig Cc: Michael Behrendt , Mary Ellen Humphrey , Patricia Sherman Subject: Enthusiasm for a Redeveloped Plaza Dear Todd, In an email you sent a while ago about discussions with the Mill Plaza representatives, you wrote: “Mr. McCauley expressed a concern on the part of Colonial Durham that no matter what the company offered the public, it felt it would never be enough with townspeople. This has made Colonial Durham mistrustful of the public’s intentions.” I know that the process has advanced considerably since you wrote that email. Nevertheless, in case you have not had a chance to see and closely review it before, I attach the June 8, 2016 “Report to the Durham Planning Board & Town Planner Regarding the ‘Input’ from ‘Members of the Public’ to the Mill Plaza Planners on Saturday, May 14, 2016.” This was also handed out to the Planning Board members and to the Plaza representatives and designers at the June 8, 2016, meeting and was posted on the Town’s web site. As is clear from our report, there is strong community enthusiasm for a redeveloped Plaza – as long as the plan does not violate Town regulations. Additionally, there was even strong enthusiasm for a particular plan proposed to a community group at the library by the Plaza team. But the plan that received enthusiastic response was not then presented to the Planning Board and public as we had been told it would be. Nevertheless, the Plaza team wrote a cover letter to a plan that disregarded all of our concerns suggesting the plan reflected community input at that library meeting. Additionally, there was community enthusiasm for aspects of earlier plans, including the January 2016 one that had beautiful pictures that were said to be the “inspiration” for the designers. (See pp. 5-6 here: https://www.ci.durham.nh.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/planning_board/page/218 51/color_architectural_plans_1-21-16.pdf) But then the community was understandably disappointed that none of those “inspiration” features were incorporated into the subsequent plans that were formally submitted. Personally, I do not know any Town resident who is not supportive of the idea of a redeveloped Plaza. But, to reverse Mr. McCauley’s statement, the community remains “mistrustful” of the Plaza’s intentions – but still hopeful that with a diligent Planning Board we will eventually achieve a plan that meets everyone’s needs to a reasonable measure and does not, in any case, violate Town regulations and conditional use criteria for housing in the Plaza – or that receives variances with the strong backing of the adjacent neighborhood and community. We all want a vibrant Town center. Moreover, the Cecil Group designers are clearly very skilled and very aware of community needs and desires. Thus, the possibilities for a winning plan are strong. Please feel free to share this email with any interested parties. Best, j m Joshua Meyrowitz 7 Chesley Drive