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Acton adopts Economic Development Strategic Plan; resident raises questions about census assumptions
Summary
The Select Board adopted an economic development strategic plan presented June 3; public comment raised differences between the town clerk's census returns and US Census data used in the consultant report.
The Select Board voted to adopt the town’s Economic Development Strategic Plan as presented on June 3, 2025. Staff said the plan — produced with state grant funding and consultant support — will guide economic development, inform the economic development committee, and feed into the next comprehensive community plan alongside housing, climate and open space studies.
During resident comment, Scott Sullivan presented a data review and said his analysis of currently available local population data shows different age-band distributions than those in the consultant report; he argued those differences could affect assumptions on housing turnover and market segments used in the plan. The Town Manager and staff replied that the RKG study relied on US Census datasets, while Sullivan’s numbers were drawn from the Town Clerk’s annual census returns, which are a different source and not a substitute for American Community Survey/Census population figures used by the consultant.
Board members noted the plan includes survey results and recommendations that will be reconciled with other town planning documents in the comprehensive plan process. After discussion, the board adopted the economic development strategic plan, noting that staff and the economic development committee can revisit specific assumptions or projections if new data warrants revisions.
