Last modified: Thursday, November 20, 2008 1:55 AM EST Officials gather for high-tech launch BY FRANK MORTIMER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF FOXBORO - A major announcement is expected today regarding the Kraft Group's aim to build a 1.6 million-square-foot high-tech office park across Route 1 from Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place. The development, which would include some retail space and two parking garages, would be an economic boon to the town, selectmen Chairman Mark Sullivan said. "I look forward to it coming to Foxboro. It's nothing but a positive. The Kraft organization and the town have worked hard to bring this to fruition and I think it's coming," said Sullivan, who is scheduled to speak at a 1 p.m. news conference in the McGinty Room at the town's Public Safety Building. "It's just going to be a positive situation in a bad economy for our area," Sullivan said. Undersecretary of Business Development Gregory Bialecki and the state's permitting ombudsman, April Anderson Lamoureux, planned to join local officials to announce the creation of Gov. Deval Patrick's Growth Districts Initiative for the stadium area. "Growth districts are hubs for planned areas of economic growth and housing development across the commonwealth," Bialecki said. "By identifying these districts and focusing our collective resources on making each one development-ready now, we are creating the conditions for business growth and community vitalization for years to come." The local growth district is the Foxboro Economic Development Overlay District along Route 1. The Kraft Group is proposing a mixed-use development consisting of 1.5 million square feet of office space plus 150,000 square feet of retail space that is intended to complement Patriot Place and Gillette Stadium. "The Growth Districts Initiative is yet another way to coordinate state resources, build relationships with local government and work with regional economic development planning councils to stimulate long-term growth in areas like Foxboro," Lamoureux said. Legislation in 2006 created the Massachusetts Permit Regulatory Office to streamline the state permitting process. "Working under the Growth Districts Initiative, the state will partner with the town to further the town's efforts to create the conditions for business and housing growth within their economic overlay district," Lamoureux said. Dan Murphy, vice president of business development and external affairs for the Kraft Group, said Wednesday the proposed mixed used project could include high-tech office space, which may or may not be bio-tech. He said the office buildings would be about four stories. Murphy said the state would seek the tenant as part of the partnership. Building Commissioner William Casbarra said Bialecki considers the large size of the Kraft's Route 1 parcel to be a strong selling point. "Foxboro has an advantage in that its a large parcel with potential room for expansion that makes it more appealing for a tenant," Casbarra said. Dan Krantz, director of site development, will represent the Kraft Group at today's news conference. Others invited officials include Sen. Jim Timilty, D-Walpole, Rep. Jay Barrows, R-Mansfield, Town Manager Andrew Gala, planning board Chairman Kevin Weinfeld and Casbarra. Casbarra said Kraft Group leaders at the stadium displayed a conceptual plan for the project in a meeting with Weinfeld, Sullivan and himself. Through the Growth Districts Initiative the Patrick Administration is partnering with municipalities that have identified one or more areas for significant commercial, residential, or mixed-use growth. The initiative offers a focused approach to work with each community ensuring that all required permits are secured, site preparation is completed, infrastructure improvements are identified, and marketing resources are made available. Each district will be put on a fast track for groundbreaking, according to the agency. Growth Districts are selected by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development in collaboration with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The Foxboro site is the 14th of 16 communities being announced during this initial round.