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MANSFIELD — A handful of residents spoke Monday when the City Council for the first time invited public comment on efforts to build a school auditorium at a planned major retail complex.
For nearly two months, the council and the Mansfield school board have separately deliberated in closed session about a proposal to build the $39 million facility at The Shops at Broad Street.City officials hope that it will jump-start development of the 1.2 million-square-foot complex at U.S. 287 and East Broad Street, which has stalled during the economic downturn. The school board has set a Nov. 17 deadline to reach an agreement. Otherwise, the district will build the facility behind the Ben Barber Career Tech Academy on Debbie Lane. Tom Eastman, president of Discover Historic Mansfield Inc., said the retail location is a "highly visible place" that would mutually benefit the school district and the retail development by drawing more patrons. But two residents of Carlin Road on the east side of the development said they’re worried about anything that could add to traffic already expected for the shopping center. Four people submitted cards stating support for building the auditorium at the shops and one opposed the location. The council’s closed-door discussions Monday caused a nearly one-hour delay of the public meeting.Mayor David Cook said a special council meeting may have to be called before the Nov. 17 deadline to continue working on many remaining issues, including a land swap between the city and school district and construction of roads and other infrastructure.Rate increaseIn other action, the council voted for the second in a series of water and sewer rate increases to fund a $24 million expansion of the water-treatment plant and other system improvements, and protect the city’s high bond ratings. The action, which requires two more council votes, would raise rates 7.7 percent. It would boost the average monthly utility bill, based on 10,000 gallons used, to $72.37 per month, a $5.17 increase.
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