Committee transmits economic development synopsis to master plan oversight group

Committee staff summarized results of the Economic Development Committee’s internal review of the 2016 economic development goals, objectives and policies. Staff presented feedback from committee respondents and identified recurring findings: general agreement that Town Center is the city’s economic core, concerns about slow permitting and insufficient business retention programs, and mixed views on marketing and incentives.

The staff memo recommended a shift from reactive to proactive economic development: a parcel‑level redevelopment map, clearer frameworks for acceptable use types, and better tools to support existing businesses. Staff also recommended tying capital project priorities (for example, Manchester and Main Street improvements) to development opportunities and infrastructure realities such as sewer and broadband capacity.

The committee moved to approve the Economic Development Committee synopsis and strategic direction summary as the committee’s formal feedback on the master plan’s economic development element and to transmit that document to the master plan citizen oversight group. The motion passed.

Committee members asked that staff include the committee’s discussion notes and suggested next steps when forwarding the synopsis, including requests for the citizen oversight group to consider parcel‑level guidance, drive‑through policy framing, and aligning infrastructure investments with the economic strategy.