ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR REPORT 1/11/07

Submitted b= y Joe Seacrist 1/11/07

1. &n= bsp; In discus= sions with an interested party who would like to build a 40,000sf indoor soccer/sports arena in Waterto= wn. So far this is just in the concept phase. Put him in touch with Mark Tedesco for potential use of his property= in the Business Park. For an example of the type of building and use he has in mind, please check this website: riseindoor.com<= o:p>

2. &n= bsp; Talked wi= th William Carter, Managing Director of Tamarack Energy which is proposing a bio-mass (burns wood) power plant in Watertown. He reports that he has filed with the DPUC a final draft of a 15 year contr= act between Tamarack and CL&P for purchase of power. When that is approved by the DPUC,= then Tamarack will go ahead with the other permitting processes to get the plant built. Their hope is to be generating power by 2009. Carter would like to be on the agenda for the February EDC meeting, to update us further.

3. &n= bsp; An applic= ant had a pre-planning meeting with P&Z for the potential use of the Bungal= ow property. Lots of potential problems with parking, stacking, traffic flow, prohibition of a drive-through so close to another drive through and a requirement to downsize the proposed building.

4. &n= bsp; On Decemb= er 18 Joe McGrail and I attended a zoning pre-planni= ng meeting with the real estate representatives from Stop and Shop concerning their properties in town.

a. &n= bsp; On the fo= rmer State Dairy property they would like to erect 35,000sf of commercial/retail space. They propose to mimic = the architecture and appearance of the new Dunkin Donuts plaza.

b. &n= bsp; On the 10= acre property across the street from State Dairy (between Labonne’s and Hylie) they propose to build either commercial/retail space, or moderately priced active adult living units.

c. &n= bsp; On the pr= operty at the corner of Bunker Hill and Straits Turnpike (less than an acre) they have options to build a 2 family dwelling= , or a two story 4,000sf office building, or they could donate the property to t= he town for open space in return for some consideration by Inland Wetlands on potential wetlands on the State Dairy property.

5. &n= bsp; We have j= oined CT Main Street and paid our dues for one year. The next step should be a wa= lk through of the town with M= ain Street officials and representatives of the to= wn, and then discussions on how to proceed based on their findings. I have been= in contact with the Thomaston First Selectperson, Maura Martin, about how Thomaston, also a member of CT Main Street, is progressing.

6. &n= bsp; Continue = to refine the inventory of available properties in Watertown, including working with Tighe&Bond on GIS overlays.

7. &n= bsp; Met with representatives of Capitol Flooring and Supplies to help them locate wareho= use space in town with between 7,000-10,000sf of space as well as with high ceilings. Talked with Bob San= tamaria concerning his property on Northfield Road which might be suitable. Put Bob in touch with the principa= ls from Capitol Flooring.

8. &n= bsp; Continue = to have discussions with Charlie Luke of Farmington Valley Power Equipment abo= ut opening a new branch of his John Deere dealership in = Watertown. He is interested in possibly being= a tenant of the development of the Stop and Shop properties.

9. &n= bsp; Will meet= with the occupants of the Oster building across from the old Drive in property.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> There is some indication that the = property might become available in the future.

10. Talked with an interested party in the Winches= ter Property at 400 Park Road<= /st1:address> and forwarded them a “cut sheet” on the building, listing all of its facilities. They are inte= rested in “light manufacturing” Will obviously follow up.

11. Starbucks has proposed to build an entirely new store with a drive-thorough on the vacant land next to their current locati= on. They were originally approved at their present location for retail not a restaurant, and they would like to add ovens, which is not a permitted usage for retail.

12. McDonald’s has applied for permission to change their drive-through facilities to include a new “cash booth”.

13. Will contact an individual who is looking for a space for a car stereo installation business.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS=

a. &n= bsp; Attended = with Jack Traver and his son, a seminar by the Wate= rbury Chamber of Commerce, on Brownfields and their remediation.

b. &n= bsp; Will atte= nd CL&P’s largest customer meetings in late January with some of the= ir largest customers in Watertown= .

c. &n= bsp; Met with = Peter Dorpalen, Executive Director of the Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley and his staff for a briefing on economic developments by the COG.

d. &n= bsp; Met with = Ed Godin of Matthews Commercial Properties to get acquainted.

e. &n= bsp; Have cont= acted Tom Hill of Tom Hill Realty to get acquainted and see what properties he has available.

f. &n= bsp; Will atte= nd the Waterbury Chamber of Commerce legislative breakfast tomorrow, and also the = Watertown legisla= tive breakfast on the 18^th at the Siemon Company.