Winchendon’s Draft Master Plan – A Deeper Dive (Part 3)
This is the third in a series of articles the Courier is publishing on the town’s draft Master Plan, which is currently open for public comment through October 15. Two weeks ago we introduced the Vision and Key Challenges of the Plan. Goals and strategies to effect change are categorized into a total of nine chapters. Last week we reviewed the Land Use and Open Space chapters. This week we will review the very substantial Economic Development chapter.
Looking at our many shuttered storefronts, it is obvious that Winchendon, like many rural towns, faces declines in manufacturing and local employment, compounded by competition in nearby tax-free New Hampshire. We are wealthy, however, in terms of our natural, historic and cultural resources, and our location in Central New England. Recreation and tourism can act as catalysts for commercial, economic, and community development. In addition, Winchendon’s position as a right-to-farm community creates an avenue for a food-based economy that can be an expansion of agriculture: added-value products, local food-based restaurants and agritourism.
The Economic Development chapter contains five major goals. Goal ED 1 focuses on communication with current and prospective businesses. It establishes an Economic Development Committee and local business association to solicit and better understand local business needs; improves website support services; provides clear guidance on permitting processes; and adopts Massachusetts Chapter 43D expedited permitting processes.
Goal ED2 rebuilds and rebrands downtown Winchendon as a vital New England small town. This goal addresses traffic safety signage and circulation, blighted downtown and gateway properties, high rents, and design guidelines for development. It also drives to better understand local business demands, increase business diversity and continue/develop downtown events to attract residents and visitors.
Goal ED 3 uses recreation and agriculture as new industries and catalysts for economic development. It includes building on initiatives such as HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) Winchendon to build a sustainable food system, benchmarking with other communities on food-based economies, and expanding the role of the Agricultural Commission.
Goal ED 4 focuses on our people – aligning education, vocational training and support services with employment opportunities, with special emphasis on artisans and craftspeople.
Goal ED 5 addresses our infrastructure: repurposed underutilized sites, brownfield remediation, and green development. It will explore regionalization of services and pursue installation of town-wide high-speed internet. It will also pursue funding for road and infrastructure improvements.
The Economic Development chapter is ambitious and broad-sweeping. It calls upon a wide variety of town boards and committees to be realized, and will likely call for the greatest amount of community support. Please direct your comments, questions and offers for assistance at any level to Tracy Murphy, Director of Planning and Development via email at tmurphy@townofwinchendon.com or 978-297-3537.
The entire draft Master Plan is posted on the town’s website at: www.townofwinchendon.com/home/news/now-soliciting-public-input-proposed-master-plan