PLYMOUTH’S LOCATION A CHALLENGING FACTOR IN ATTRACTING BUSINESSES TO TOWN.
In Plymouth, supporting economic development is an idea that is often put forth by politicians as the way to achieve lower taxes for residents. And this concept is often raised at meetings of the Select Board, again, as a way to increase the commercial and industrial tax base thus decreasing taxes on residential property. But how feasible is it?
Planning Director Lee Hartmann told Selectmen at their recent meeting on the 5th, that it’s a challenge.
Bobbi Clark has more:
Director of Planning, Lee Hartmann:
“The challenge we have in Plymouth is that we’re not on 128, we’re not on 495 and we’re not Boston. So there’s a certain niche area and certain niche types of businesses that will come to Plymouth, that are good and they’re successful, but trying to get a lot of other businesses to come, it’s the location.”
But, on the other hand, Hartmann says, we have a great location…
“…we’re by the water, but we’re not near some of those major transportation networks. We’ve done a good job—can we do better, definitely,”
Hartmann explains our bylaws are pretty flexible…
“…for a whole range of uses including offices, medical offices, warehousing, other types of light, lighter industrial uses. We call it mixed commerce. We call it highway commercial and both of those acknowledge that there are more uses than just simply retail.”
So, there is hope?
“There’s hope. It’s a balance, too, but, there is hope and there’s a balance. But, yes, I think we will continue to look at things, and again, there’s not a focus on retail, or high traffic generators, but, again, the types of office space, medical usage, things of that nature that can be beneficial to the town for jobs as well as the tax base.
The Select Board meets next on Tuesday, the 12th.
Open session begins at 5PM.
Photo: Planning Director Lee Hartmann addressing the Select Board
