Hopkinton EDC proposes developing Burnham Intervale, BioEnergy site
The Economic Development Committee (EDC) came before the board of Selectmen on Monday night with ideas on developing Burnham Intervale and Bio Energy’s West Hopkinton power plant site.
Committee member Glen Ohlund presented the findings of the EDC’s investigation into the cost-effectiveness of various rental options in Burnham Intervale – either renting to a single large user, multiple tenants in an office or industrial park setup, or mixed-use tenants including retail, housing, and office or industrial space.
Ohlund estimated that the area could bring in $122,000 in real estate taxes, but cautioned that it might be difficult to secure tenants in this economy. Ohlund predicted a 5 to 10 year build-out phase before a multiple-tenant space would begin returning revenue, and 3 to 5 years in the case of one large tenant because of needed upgrades to the site.
Chairman Tom Congoran prompted Ohlund for his recommendations on prioritizing work to be done on the site: “If we could do something to help, where would you go with it?”
Ohlund advised that some initial soil removal and creating access to Rt. 202-9 would make the site more appealing to businesses.
Earlier in the meeting, Ohlund emphasized the importance of highway access to economic growth in Burnham Intervale, saying the EDC has “tried for 3 years to meet with landowners around the access,” with indefinite results. As an illustration of direct highway access benefiting the growth of commerce, Ohlund pointed out, “all you need to do is look at exit 9 in Warner.”
Ohlund later reported on the progress of efforts to find a suitable use for the site of Bio Energy’s power plant in West Hokpinton. He summarized his committee’s contact with Dialogic, Inc., a company that is interested in setting up greenhouses on the site. These would be used to grow flowers and produce for sale year round.
The EDC has met with Dr. Richard Rosen, a principle figure with Dialogic, who, according to Ohlund “claims to have an end market for cut flowers and produce.” The EDC drafted a letter as follow-up to that meeting and are awaiting response from Dialogic.
The letter includes questions on the company’s similar
projects, their corporate structure, source of fuel for the site, as well as emissions and light cycle of the greenhouses, which are proposed to be as large as 1 acre each and number up to 20. The proposed facility’s impact on job creation, in Ohlund’s opinion, “could be real positive,” bringing to town jobs ranging from entry level to management positions.
Ohlund said the EDC advised Dialogic that dismantling and replacing the current incinerator might be in their best interest, “considering the history of Bio Energy in Hopkinton,” and would put Dialogic’s development costs into the range of $60 to $80 million.
In 2005, the state revoked Bio Energy’s solid waste permit for including a false statement on its application. This move came on top of intense, prolonged opposition from Hopkinton against Bio Energy for burning waste debris that could be tainted and emit dangerous levels of toxins.