ROCKPORT — Citizens of Rockport are invited to a public meeting June 8, at the Rockport Opera House, to review conceptual plans for the town-owned former Rockport Elementary School parcel on West Street.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m.

At the meeting, contractor NewHeight Group will present renderings for the possible redevelopment and use of the 7.5 acre lot.

The RES Development Committee plans to convene June 1 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom to look at the plans. For more information about that meeting, contact Thomas.

Following approval by voters (791 to 569) at the 2021 Annual Town Meeting, Rockport contracted with the NewHeight Group for $35,000 to provide a market survey to evaluate development feasibility, develop a conceptual site program, and work with professionals to create conceptual renderings for the former Rockport Elementary School site, “on terms and conditions that the Select Board determine to be in the best interests of the Town to maximize the value of the property to benefit Rockport taxpayers,” per the town meeting warrant article.

NewHeight’s proposal anticipates a vote to made on the sale of the land in November 2022, and any necessary zoning changes to the property completed prior to then. Located at the corners of routes 1 and 90, the 7.4 acre property is owned by the town, and a public vote is required to authorize the transfer of such land to a developer. 

NewHeight Group worked with Aceto Landscaping to create conceptual renderings based on opinions and thoughts expressed in the public engagement survey and meetings held by both NewHeight Goup and, the RES Task Force and Economic Development Committee.

“With all the data collected, NewHeight Group and Aceto were able to produce these renderings to give a visual representation of what the public really wants to see at this site,” said Thomas.