Saying she didn't want to continue to play a ``Mickey Mouse game,'' the mayor Thursday night continued to press state officials for what development plans they have for the Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center.
``I would like to know at some point what is the commonwealth's goal for this property,'' Mayor Jeannette McCarthy said.
City and state officials who are on a 15-member committee charged with coming up with a reuse plan seem to be at odds on whether housing should go on the Trapelo Road property.
Fernald is used to take care of the developmentally disabled. The state has said it will close the facility in July.
Massachusetts officials have said they would like to see 250 to 300 units of housing and a medical facility with about 150 rooms.
Local members of the committee, however, have bristled at that idea, saying the numbers are too dense.
McCarthy said the city needs to know what part of the reuse plan the state will agree to and what details it won't. She said the committee needs to start drafting legislation that would be submitted the state regarding the reuse plan.
McCarthy asked how many of the existing buildings on the Fernald site would be demolished and whether the state would pay for that as well as the environmental cleanup of the land.
State officials last night said those costs would likely be the responsibility of a developer who successfully bids on a portion of the site.
``I can tell you right now there is no money in the capital plan to do any of that,'' said Dana Harrell, real estate services director for the state Division of Capital Assets.
On to the question of how much housing the state hopes to see at Fernald, Harrell said the 250-300 units were suggested as ``minimum numbers we felt made this economically viable for a developer to bid on.''
Harrell said the state is still trying to determine what development is possible on the site, given the city's position on housing and the fact the property isn't currently zoned for such residential use.
The Fernald property is zoned for conservation and recreation.
``We don't know either, because we don't have a comprehensive plan,'' Harrell said. ``It has no zoning for any economic use.''
City and state officials do seem to be in agreement over the several local uses recommended for the property, including farming, recreation, open space and a new city cemetery.
``We are wholeheartedly in support of the community uses,'' Harrell said.
Harrell said the reuse plan needs an ``economic engine'' to drive it.
Richard Conn can be contacted at 781-398-8004 or rconn@cnc.com.
WALTHAM —
