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Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Plymouth Eagerly Embraces Movie Studio

From the CapeCodTimes.com:

By Sarah Shemkus
PLYMOUTH — Resounding cheers and a standing ovation greeted a pair of town meeting votes last night that effectively gave a green light to Plymouth Rock Studios. The vast majority of the 116 town meeting members present approved warrant articles creating special zoning and tax breaks for the proposed movie studio project....

Hundreds of spectators attended the meeting in Plymouth Memorial Hall.

The zoning article calls for the establishment of a new overlay district in which movie and entertainment production and related support activities will be allowed.

An amendment to the article was also approved that will allow the studio developers to move forward with construction without having to seek special permits for their traffic mitigation and site access plans.

Without this measure, some had feared, a few opponents could have tied up the project with legal appeals, driving the studio developers to seek a site in a different town.

"This means that the chances of Plymouth Rock Studio becoming a reality have increased exponentially," said Loring Tripp, a studio supporter and former chairman of the planning board. "We don't have to worry about frivolous lawsuits holding it up."

The tax increment financing agreement gives the studio a 75 percent break on property taxes for the first five years it is in operation. The tax exemption will then be reduced over time until it expires in 2030.

A long list of speakers — studio executives, municipal leaders, tourism officials — spoke in favor of the project....

In a memorandum of understanding signed before the town meeting, studio developers committed to significant infrastructure investment including the construction of sewer lines and traffic mitigation measures.

Studio planners have committed to investing $553 million in developing the project, according to the tax break agreement. The proposed studio would include 14 sound stages, office buildings, a hotel, post-production facilities, a 900-seat theater, restaurants, a visitors center and a 10-acre back lot.

The studio is to be built on 240 acres of land currently owned and occupied by the Waverly Oaks Golf Club. If construction proceeds according to schedule, groundbreaking will occur in spring 2009 and the studio will open for business in September 2010.

(This is not an RIFC Event)

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am elated to hear that Plymouth ROCK Studio's has been approved and warmly accepted by Plymouth!

I can't wait to see what's in store!

October 28, 2008 at 2:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I believe that plymouth rock studios is the best thing that could ever happen to Plymouth. We are americas hometown and whats better than having a movie studio that not only will make more tourists come, but to help our town alone, with jobs and money. Plymouth will never have to worry again about there childrens or grandchildrens not having a job when they are older. We are being prepared right from high school and nothing sounds better to me then to know that your family will always be able to have choice of hundreds of jobs right in there hometown

October 28, 2008 at 2:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Im a high school student from Plymouth South High School and have been extremely excited about the Plymouth Rock Studios idea that has been the word on the street hear in Plymouth. Last night the last vote passed and its finally coming! It is going to open up a great amount of jobs for the people of Plymouth and of Massachusetts. Also, it will bring in money to Plymouth's economy. The small town atomosphere will be perserved as well as perserving the environment. Plymouth Rock Studios will be the first fully LEED certified studios that is completely eco-friendly and sustainable. This is an AMAZING opportunity for not only Plymouth, but the entire east coast.

October 28, 2008 at 3:06 PM  

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