Town officials will soon release a request for individuals interested in joining the new Economic Development Advisory Committee, but there is some debate over the process.
Town Board member William Hennessey, who spearheaded the effort, said he plans to have a formal request urging people to apply for the committee posted to the town’s website before April. Hennessey, at the board’s meeting on Wednesday, March 12, said the committee could provide recommendations on how to attract economic development and foster existing businesses.
Resident Saul Abrams questioned how the board could appoint the committee before amendments to the town’s comprehensive plan were completed. Abrams, who read comments from his wife, Edith, said the plan would be the vision residents have for the town and “blueprint” to follow.
“Aren’t we putting the cart before the horse?” asked Abrams. “Shouldn’t we set up our criteria before we set up the committee?”
Hennessey said the committee could be part of the process of determining what would work best for the town, along with getting input from residents. He said the plan, as it exists, recommends forming the committee and believed there was one previously in the town.
“All of those things are all part of the public information process that we could bring into it to determine what elements would work, what we are looking for and what fits,” Hennessey said.
Town Supervisor Tom Dolin said the committee could help determine what business would be interested moving to the town.
“We need to know what is available,” Dolin said. “We don’t really know if it’s realistic to have a certain kind of an enterprise. … The population density is so low that apparently retail is not going to happen here any time soon.”
Dolin said if a “vision is not realistic” then “it’s a waste of time.” He said often times a vision for a municipality is created in “vacuum” and isn’t realistic of what the community would support or attract.
“We need more than a vision; we need the regulations,” he said.
Crafting the zoning laws for commercial zones to encourage certain uses, possibly deterring unwanted uses, could be a better way to spur development, according to Dolin.
“We’ve spent too much time on the comprehensive plan and not enough on the actual zoning for the districts,” he said.
Dolin admitted the town already has trouble competing with neighbors because sewer and water infrastructure is not widely available. He believes the committee could urge the town to build out infrastructure to attract development.
Before focusing on businesses, Dolin said attracting affordable housing, such as apartments, is needed to attract young families and individuals. He said several years ago, the town turned down a proposal for apartments deemed too dense.
“If we had more people, we could probably attract some retail, and also those people would contribute to the community,” he said.
Sharon Boehlke, a town resident, said the board has “only promoted half-million dollar houses” and was surprised by Dolin’s statement. She added apartment renters “do not contribute to the community” and “are transit at best.”
Boehlke urged the town to continue addressing industrial areas in town and improve its impression with the business community.