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Littleton Economic Development Committee Report to Selectmen

Littleton Economic Development Committee Report to Selectmen. November - 2004. Our Charge. To create an economic development strategy in support of the community goals of the Master Plan Review Master Plan Examine Assessor data Use LELD data Investigate policies of successful towns

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Littleton Economic Development Committee Report to Selectmen

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  1. Littleton Economic Development CommitteeReport to Selectmen November - 2004

  2. Our Charge • To create an economic development strategy in support of the community goals of the Master Plan • Review Master Plan • Examine Assessor data • Use LELD data • Investigate policies of successful towns • Investigate the role of tax rate as a factor • Examine the role of regulatory process • Map current commercial climate • Investigate State Programs • Create Recommendations for Town Consideration

  3. The EDC Members • Representatives from various boards • Ron Caruso, Paul Glavey – Board of Selectmen • Gregg Champney – Planning Board • Brian Tarbox (appointed in Oct) - Finance Committee • Pamela Campbell – Board of Assessors • Savas Danos and Kevin Goddard - Light and Water • Representatives from the community • Joe Presti • Jeanine Wood • Jay Cross – resigned in August

  4. Activities to Date – April to October 2004… • Document reviews: • Assessor data • LELWD GIS (maps and data) • Master Plan • Massachusetts Economic Development Handbook • Created a map of undeveloped or under-developed parcels • Commercial and Industrial • Chapter lands • Large residential parcels

  5. …Activities to Date – April to October 2004 • Speakers on relevant topics: • Lexington, Mass – Mary Jo Bohart, Director, Chamber of Commerce, previously Economic Development Director • Development experience – Littleton vs. other communities -- Jim Coull • Office of Mass Development -- Kelly Arvidsen, Claire ONeill • Review of organizational options • Survey of surrounding communities • Drafted survey for commercial property owners

  6. Issues Facing Littleton • Commercial revenue has been shrinking • Residential growth places undue strain on services • Under current conditions, residential taxes will have to be raised or services will have to be cut • Master Plan has detailed goals that cannot be implemented under our current bylaw structure • Smart growth initiative with the state provides potential opportunities

  7. What is Economic Development? • What do we mean by Economic Development? • What it is NOT: • randomly lowering our standards to attract any kind of development, any where, at any cost • What it IS: • methodical • pro-active • enacting the town's development goals as expressed in the Master Plan (and other places)

  8. How do we Develop Proactively? • Active promotion of the town's assets • Cooperation with property owners and businesses • Creative thinking about our possibilities • Compete with other communities for the best end uses • Taking advantage of available opportunities, especially state aid • Streamline and update our regulatory processes to stay current • Above all it is the recognition that the choice is not between development and no development, it is between good development and poor development.  It is between choosing your future, or just letting it happen.

  9. Options Considered… • Smart Growth district/Village Centers initiative (40R) • Including infrastructure initiatives such as • Sewerage • Sidewalks • traffic calming • TIFFs & DIFFs • Financial incentives • Pursue state grant programs for consulting, infrastructure upgrades, marketing • Tax classification considerations • Linkage possibilities

  10. Options Considered… • Adopting state initiatives such as expedited permitting • Create single–point of contact (Town Planner, Economic Developer, etc) • Leverage Chapter 61 and 61A -- first-right-of-refusal, transfer of development rights • Involve all boards in a review of bylaws for consistency with Master Plan recommendations • Create a proactive marketing program including website outreach • Work proactively with property owners, developers, real estate brokers to promote Littleton • Use innovative technologies to maximize economic potential within zoning requirements

  11. Littleton Zoning

  12. Recommendations – Short Term • Survey the commercial/industrial/retail property owners • Conduct zoning innovation technology study • Begin immediate review of Smart Growth District-enabling legislation • Create a Web page and marketing plan promoting Littleton as a site for commercial development • Initiate bylaw review by all boards • Exploit additional grant opportunities beyond current work with State Revolving Fund and Commonwealth Capital • Capitalize on Office of Mass Development expertise • Continue work of Economic Development Committee

  13. Littleton Economic Development CommitteeReport to Selectmen October-2004

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