2017TOWNMEETINGECONOMICDEVELOPMENTCOMMITTEEPRESENTATION

TheEconomicDevelopmentCommitteehasbeenactivelyengagedinaplanningexercisehopingtoinitiatecommercialdevelopmentinContoocookVillage,theRoute89Exit6areaandthe202/9-127intersectionswhereDunkinDonutsis.OurCommitteebelievesthateconomicdevelopmentisnotjustaboutrevenueandtaxes.Eventhoughwehopetofavorablyimpactthetaxrate,avibrantcommunityisequallyimportant.Sowe’veembracedthe“Live,work,play”theme.Wewantmorecommercialpropertyandthejobsitbrings.Weadvocatefornewhousing,over55housing,condosfordownsizingandrentalforyoungerfolks.Wealsoareinfavorofrecreationprojects.Trails,parks,playgrounds,bridletrailsandaccesstotheriverareallonouragenda.

OurtaxrateisafunctionofthevalueofpropertytaxedandtheexpensesincurredbytheTownandtheSchoolDistrict.WebelievethattheTowniseconomicalinitsoperationsandameaningfulreductioninrateswouldimpaircriticalfunctionsofthetown.WealsounderstandthatHopkintonhascontinuallysupportedthecreationofanexcellentschoolsystemandthatmeaningfulreductionintheschoolbudgetisnotlikelyintheshortterm.AndsoweleavebudgetcuttingtotheSelectBoard,theBudgetCommitteeandtheTownMeeting.TheEconomicDevelopmentCommitteeisfocusedonnewrevenue.It’sahurdle.(Slide2)21%oftheTownisfederal,state,town,schoolornon-profitrealestate.(Slide3)28%isfarmlandorincurrentuse.Andthoughwebenefitfromthecurrentusepropertyinaestheticways,itgeneratesverylittleintaxes.Intotal49%ofouracreagegeneratesverymodestrevenue.(Slide4)Therevenuethatdrivesourtaxesisgeneratedbyresidentialrealestate.TorelieveresidentialtaxpayersweneedtoincreasetheamountofcommercialpropertyinHopkinton.(Slide5)

InContoocookanumberofnewprojectshavebeencompleted.TheEveryDayCafébuilding,theTrainDepotandtheFireStationrenovationsandtheLlewellynBandStandarenowcompleted.Theclimatefortheretailestablishmentshasimproveddramaticallyandmanybuilding’suseshavechanged.OverthenextyearwewillbestudyinghowtoenhancetheexistingbusinessenvironmenttopresentattheTownMeetingideasthatmeettheneedsofthecurrentbusinessesandshoppersandatthesametimecreateopportunityforgrowth.Wearehopingtoencouragehousingopportunities,recreationvenuesandmoreretailingallwithamindtowardcreatingatraditionalNewEnglandstyle,pedestrianfriendlyvillage.

WealsobelievethattheundevelopedpropertiesnearUS89offExit6andfurtheralongMapleStreetarevaluableopportunities.LastTuesdaythevotersapprovedamendmentstothezoningmapsthatexpandthecommercialareaaroundtheExit.(Slide6)ArticleFourrationalizedwhatwasoddzoningbymakingpropertythatwaszonedbothresidentialandcommercial;commercialonly.(Slide7)ArticleFiverezonedadditionalpropertytocreatelargerparcelsthatmighteventuallybedeveloped.Olderstudieshavereinforcedtheideathatbusinessthatkeyoffthehighwayaremostlikelytolocatethere.WeexpectmoredistributionfacilitieslikeMcLane’sorYBPcouldeasilyfindspacethere.WealsoplantostudywhatitmighttaketoextendwaterandsewerserviceupMapleStreetpastthehighway.ThismaysoundloftybutweonlyhaveacoupleofspotsintownthatcanactuallysupportdevelopmentandMapleStreetisourprimarytarget.

Weunderstandthatzoningchangescanbedisruptiveoralarmingandsowe’vebeenmeetingandtalkingwiththelandownersaffectedbythesezoningamendments.Mostofthesefolkshavebeenencouraging,somearecautious.We’vealsoworkedthroughthefactthatrezoningmayincreasevaluationoftheseproperties.NHstatestatutesallowresidentialownerswhosepropertiesarerezoned

thiswaytoapplyforaspecialtreatmentwhichallowstheirhomestocontinuetobeappraisedasresidencesnotascommercialproperty.Thesezoningchangeswillnotgenerateadditionalliabilitytothecurrentowners.Theamendmentswillonlyprovideforfutureownerstoestablishcommercialventuresthereandthenthepropertywillincreaseinvalue.Andwhat’smoretheEDChastakenontheresponsibilityforthefilingsthepropertyownerswillneedtomake.Theywillmerelyreceivethedocumentinthemail,signandreturnittomaintaintheircurrentappraisaltreatment.

Wearelookingseriouslyatthepropertyaroundthe202/9-127intersectionsi.e.DunkinDonuts.Wethinkthatwecancreateapublicprivatepartnershipthatwilloperatetodevelopparcelsforcommercialusearoundthatintersection.WeenvisionthistobeaHopkinsGreentypedevelopmentbutforcommercialuse,suchasfamilyrestaurants,professionalofficesorserviceoutlets.(Slide8)InanticipationthevotersrezonedfivelotsforthatusethispastTuesday.Weareworkingwiththecurrentlandowners,theStateofNewHampshireandFrancesHarttoaggregatethisproperty.We’vebeguntorefertoitasHart’sCornerandhopetobringareallyexcitingplantotheTownnextyear.

Wearemindfulofthecurrentresidentsandbusinessesandwillincludethosegroupsinourplanning.Wewillcommunicatetoallaffectedcitizens,holdandrecordpublicforumsandinvitepubliccomment.Weunderstandthatparkingandtrafficareofparamountimportance.Trafficon202/9isofaparticularworry.WehavebeenadvisedthatactivitysuchasthiswillbehelpfultoinfluencetheStatetobeginworkonmakingtheintersectionsafer.NealCassisorganizingameetingwithHennikerofficialstoplanforasaferroad.Throughallofthisweintendtoworktomaintainthecharacterofthevillageanditshistoricnature.Weappreciateyourattentionandwillwelcomeyourinputaswegofurther.