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Oswego economic development director outlines site-selection process, priorities and upcoming retail projects
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Summary
Kevin Lighty, Oswego’s economic development director, described the department’s role in supporting site selectors, cited power and restrictive covenants as key constraints, and highlighted priorities including downtown redevelopment, industrial recruitment at Kendall Point and planned retail projects (Trader Joe’s, Dutch Bros, HomeGoods).
Kevin Lighty, the village’s economic development director, presented to the commission on how the department supports business attraction, retention and site selection in Oswego. He said the department’s work is to understand market conditions and help private site selectors navigate zoning, entitlements and infrastructure constraints rather than to unilaterally place businesses.
Lighty listed what drives location decisions: traffic counts, co-tenancy and physical infrastructure needs. He used HomeGoods and recent quick-service openings on Route 34 as examples and said second-generation restaurant spaces (sites with existing kitchen infrastructure) are often the most feasible for new restaurateurs. “If they don't have power, they're not gonna locate in your community,” Lighty warned when discussing power-intensive users such as data centers, identifying utility capacity as a limiting factor for certain industrial targets.
He outlined the department’s two major economic-development priorities—downtown development and revenue diversification—and previewed several projects he is marketing or tracking: a Benderson project that includes an expected Trader Joe's, Dutch Bros (mid–late 2026), HomeGoods (late 2026/early 2027) and a Harrison Street streetscape project to beautify downtown. He said the village is also working on industrial recruitment at Kendall Point and noted available infill and outlot opportunities on Route 34 and Orchard Road.
In Q&A, commissioners raised restrictive covenants and anchor-tenant controls that limit who can lease certain centers; Lighty used the Anchor Bar example to explain how landlord and anchor-tenant restrictions can exclude independent operators. He also noted a large Lot 6 (about 90 acres) on Route 34 whose owner prefers to sell the parcel intact, which complicates retail frontage assembly and may require creative solutions.
Lighty said the department plans business retention and expansion outreach, small-business seminars, and a business-concierge effort to smooth permitting and inspection for downtown businesses. No approvals or new incentives were adopted at the meeting; the commission adjourned after the presentation.