METHUEN — Officials are helping an office park appeal to biotechnology companies, which could bring new jobs to the city.
The City Council recently approved a resolution designating Branch Street as a "priority development site" under the state's Chapter 43D law, which says businesses that go into areas with that designation can get permits in 180 days or less.
Branch Street is home to the Brooks Properties office park. The park has four buildings and is about 70 percent occupied, said Karen Sawyer, the city's director of economic and community development.
Branch Street is off North Lowell Street, near the Route 110/113 rotary and Interstate 93.
The city already grants commercial permits quickly — 90 days on average — but having the designation for Branch Street would allow the office park to get on the state's list of priority development sites, Sawyer said after a City Council hearing last night.
"It's marketing for them," she said.
The park wants to accommodate biotechnology companies looking for office space and "clean" labs, meaning nothing hazardous. Any company that moves in will need permits and will be subject to city oversight, Sawyer said.
Officials also want to consider moving the Department of Public Works' yard on Lindbergh Avenue and turning that land — about 14 acres — into a priority development site. The City Council has not voted on that matter yet.
Officials plan to apply for a $60,000 technical assistance grant from the state. If the city receives the grant, $30,000 to $35,000 will be used to hire a consultant to analyze the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of relocating the DPW yard and redeveloping the land, Sawyer said.
The city would use $10,000 to $15,000 to buy software to help with permitting, and the remaining $10,000 to $15,000 for a legal review of the city's rules and regulations to make sure they can accommodate expedited permitting, Sawyer said.
"I'm concerned about traffic issues," Edgewood Avenue resident Doris Mohs said about the prospect of replacing the DPW yard with a business.
Mohs also asked about what type of business would move there.
Officials would use the results of the consultant's study to decide whether they want to do something new with the DPW property, but there's no immediate plan to redevelop the site.
"There's nobody slated to go there," said Councilor John Cronin.
