Questions about massive development at Brockton Fairgrounds? Now's your chance to weigh in

BROCKTON — City councilors who represent the old Brockton Fairgrounds area have called a public meeting to hear residents' ideas and concerns about a bold new development proposal for the 66-acre property.

City Councilors Tom Minichiello (Ward 1), Maria Tavares (Ward 2) and Phil Griffin (Ward 3) will host the meeting, which is set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at West Middle School, 271 West St.

The would-be developer, Andrew Flynn of Boston-based Copper Mill development, will be there and do a presentation, Minichiello said.

"Everyone knows something's going to be built there," he said Friday. "I don't want it to hurt the other [existing] businesses."

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1,200 housing units, businesses and park?

Flynn has pitched a mixed-use future for the fairgrounds. It could include 1,200 units of housing, 600,000 square feet of commercial and light industrial buildings and a 3-acre park.

The public meeting will have a wider scope than a public hearing held two weeks ago at City Council . That meeting concerned the underlying rules for what, broadly, could and could not be built there. Brocktonians who showed up for that meeting were skeptical of the plan, but several said they support the idea depending on how it's carried out.

Critics, including the city's own top planner, have said the zoning rules on the table are too broad. From a government process perspective, the next step is for city council to hammer out a zoning package, which must be approved by a super-majority of councilors. Then developers would come back to the city to seek approval for particular projects.

Massive development Brockton Fairgrounds could be transformed into massive development with 1,200 housing units

All questions welcome Wednesday night

Minichiello said residents are welcome to talk about any aspect of the proposal they want at Wednesday's meeting.

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: Questions about massive development at Brockton Fairgrounds? Now's your chance to weigh in