On July 21, 2014, the Planning Commission made a recommendation that the City Council approve, with suggestions, the
Commonwealth Corporate Center
project at 151 Commonwealth and 164 Jefferson Drive. The proposed
project is a 259,920 square-foot office and/or research and development
complex. As part of the recommendation, the Planning Commission deferred
the discussion of public benefit to the City Council as a policy issue.
In the proposal, the applicant is offering a number of public benefits,
including a minimum sales tax guarantee of $75,000 per year for a
10-year period after the building is occupied. The Commission indicated
they could not determine the appropriate amount, but thought the City
Council would best determine the optimal outcome for the community. The
applicant also offered to construct the building at the LEED (Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold standard or equivalent. The
Planning Commission recommends that the City Council consider greater
energy efficiencies for the project.
The City Council consider the Planning Commission’s recommendations (and
be the final decision-making body on the application) at its August 19,
2014, meeting. Since the proposal is requesting rezoning, the meeting
of August 19th would serve to introduce the ordinance and a second
meeting (tentatively scheduled for August 26) would be required to
formally adopt the rezoning of the property.
