Members of the RES Redevelopment Task Force decided Aug. 3 to move forward with development firm NewHeight as the group to develop the former Rockport Elementary School (RES) site at the corner of routes 1 and 90.

The consensus among task force members, liaisons to the Economic Development Committee and Select Board was that the town should ask NewHeight for a detailed timeline of next steps for the development of the 7.4 acre property, with the project ultimately going before Rockport voters in November of 2022.

A public vote is required to authorize the transfer of the town-owned property to a developer.

NewHeight made a presentation to the Task Force in June, at which time company principal Erin Cooperrider said NewHeight would: “design, build and deliver the plan in partnership with the Town. NewHeight Group will act as master developer, securing financing for the overall project, guiding the team and serving as liason to Town staff and stakeholders.”

New Height was one of two companies which sent letters of interest (LOIs) to the town about the RES site; Allen Mitchell, of Rockport-based Almar Inc. ,proposed developing the property into five lots, each containing a two-bedroom home. 

“After we met with the NewHeight group I thought this is the type of team that’s going to force us to get our act together...because they’re going to walk away if they have the impression that we’re not on the same page,” said Town of Rockport Economic Development Director Brian Dancause on Aug. 3.

“I did email Erin Cooperrider about a week after [the June meeting] and her response was that they were willing to learn more, so I don’t think they have any preconceived notions about what should be done there and they know how to get that [input] from a community or a neighborhood for a project,” said Dancause.

NewHeight did not submit renderings of potential development or structures to be placed on the property, but discussed a range of options which included leasing a portion of the site from the town, building an “ownership structure” which is partially owned by the town as well as constructing office buildings.

“[The development] can be a mix of the things the town wants for town uses and the Town would continue to own and support, and development that’s appropriate in size and scale and use to that site. So we were most attracted to this opportunity because the Town reached out, and for the town to already be behind development in this location is hugely attractive,” said Cooperrider on June 16.

In a unanimous vote Aug. 3, the Task Force authorized members of the town’s Planning Department to move forward in communications with NewHeight to make a list of next steps and a potential timeline for the project. The Task Force will submit review their findings from NewHeight with the Economic Development Committee (EDC,) and then a proposal will be put before the Select Board for approval before being placed on a future ballot for a public vote.

“The idea was that the RES Task Force was supposed to be a subgroup of the EDC to make sure that whatever is done at RES is consistent with whatever the overall economic development goals of the town are, which ultimately rest with the EDC with approval by the Select Board. There are some people on the EDC who are with some of this stuff too in terms of people with planning backgrounds or municipal law and development,” said EDC member and Task Force liason Debra Hall.

The “principles of development” for the property outlined on the Town of Rockport website include that a development project must “make a significant contribution to Rockport’s tax base...be aesthetically pleasing and attractive as it welcomes both residents and tourists alike...”green space” must be maintained...and the Town must be an active participant in the development of the property so decisions are not simply ones of ‘dollars and cents.’”

Selectman Eric Boucher, who is the board’s liason to the RES Task Force, said that there had been discussions with the Select Board which involved relocating the athletic field on the property which is used for activities such as softball.

“The Select Board is aware that the ball field is an issue and we are going to start looking at alternative locations. So we will not forget about the ball field and we plan on hopefully have a newer, upgraded more viable location. It will take some doing, but we do have some thoughts in process,” said Boucher.

The Task Force asked Dancause to contact NewHeight this week to submit project information which could be reviewed at a joint meeting of the RES Task Force and the Economic Development Committee, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 12, at 8:30 a.m. at the Rockport Opera House.