Rule-loosening at Brockton Fairgrounds could spark major development at 66-acre site

BROCKTON — The future of the old Fairgrounds is back in the spotlight.

Starting Monday, city council will mull big changes to the rules on what can be built there. The sprawling 66-acre area is widely considered the last major undeveloped piece of the city.

Before the city's school budget crisis became the talk of the town last August, arguably Brockton's biggest political issue was Mayor Robert F. Sullivan's proposal to buy the fairgrounds from the Carney family for $55 million . The idea was for the city to set development guidelines and flip the properties to developers who would carry out that vision.

The new approach would radically change zoning to jump-start major redevelopments. It's called a "Fair Grounds Overlay District," a dry name for a wide-ranging set of changes. These seemingly technical tweaks will likely be music to the ears of developers who expect to be hemmed in by red tape.

"The Fair Grounds Overlay District is created to provide for the flexible redevelopment of the Brockton Fair Grounds in order to promote a blended development of mixed-use residential, commercial and light industrial uses," the proposal reads in part. Specific changes could include:

• Allowing residential buildings up to 7 stories (or 85 feet.)
• Allowing commercial development up to 70 feet tall for just about anything except funeral homes, gas stations, drive-in theaters, car washes or tattoo parlors.
• Allowing technology, research and development and light industrial uses in buildings up to 85 feet tall.
• Anything that could be built there now would be grandfathered in, unless it's to expand an existing building.

You can read the whole proposal on the city's website . City council takes up the fairgrounds proposal at its regular meeting Monday at 7 p.m. at Brockton City Hall. Don't expect much discussion then. Councilors will likely refer the item to a subcommittee to work on the proposal. It would eventually come back to the full council for a vote.

Mayor seeks $48M more for public safety building

That's not the only blockbuster item that Brockton leaders will take up on Monday. We've known for months that the new public safety building would cost millions more than the original $98M cost . Councilors will be asked to approve the city taking out a $48 million loan to complete the signature project. Project costs soared because the ground contained more bedrock than expected, amid other construction challenges.

The transformative project would bring police, fire and two other city departments under one roof on land where Brockton High once stood.

Sewer rate hike goes to committee

If you follow this space, you know the city has proposed hiking sewer fees by 18% . That'd be about $96 for the average user. City councilors dig into the details of the plan on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at City Hall. If you can't make it in person, Brockton Community Access records most public meetings .

Know of a Brockton issue that's flying under the radar? Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@enterprisenews.com or connect on X at @HelmsNews .

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Rule-loosening at Brockton Fairgrounds could spark major development at 66-acre site