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 Local news and information from Castine and Penobscot, Maine. |
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News Feature
by Sharon Bray Members of the Economic Development Subcommittee of the town’s Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee are asking for citizen input on how to help existing businesses and encourage development of new businesses. At a special town meeting February 6, citizens will be asked to vote on whether to hire a part time economic development consultant. Click here for more information on the special town meeting. The subcommittee has been meeting weekly since November. At its January 18 meeting, Bucksport Town Manager Roger Raymond was invited to talk about his town’s economic development success and rough spots. One of Raymond’s points, noted Castine Town Clerk Susan Macomber, was the need to have specific assignments for a consultant should the town decide to hire one. “We don’t want to hear after four months on the job that a consultant recommends something we already know we need to do,” Macomber said, specifically in reference to marketing the harbor as a key asset of the town. Ideas from the two meetings held to gather public input extended from more “upscale” businesses to attract wealthy visitors to a thrift shop and other lower cost attractions. At both meetings, participants and committee members broke up into smaller groups. Using a newsprint and marker method, subcommittee members Susan Adam and Brooke Tenney made lists of recommendations. Then they asked which ideas people felt most strongly about. Wednesday morning On Wednesday morning, January 25, 20 people, mostly business and downtown property owners, gathered at Emerson Hall to fill pages of newsprint with ideas. At the end of the meeting, leaders Pat Bishop, Susan Adam and Sue Goodson decided to schedule a second gathering with emphasis on all kinds of residents and people who work in Castine. To reach more working people, they decided to hold it Monday night, January 30. Suggestions that drew strongest support Wednesday morning included zoning changes and affordable housing, both of which have committees already working on them. Other favorites among the group were an all-town festival, harbor “branding,” working with Maine Maritime Academy in several ways, and creating “fertile ground” for business development. Although some points were more philosophical and vague, promoting the harbor drew specific suggestions. As a sheltered location, the harbor should be advertised as a good place to bring boats during a storm, noted one participant. The harbor could be the focus of educational programs. People who arrive by boat could rent golf carts or use other ground transportation around town. A number of people suggested using the town’s history as a marketing point, including outreach to Maine schools to encourage field trips to Castine. To make the town more welcoming, Sara Leighton suggested an invitation for visitors to “invade Castine again.” Monday night Forty people showed up on the evening of Monday, January 30, most having heard the invitation in e-mails from committee members, the town office, and other active citizens. Groups reported their collective ideas about “what needs to happen…to develop new and existing businesses in Castine.” They did not focus only on businesses, but stretched across many facets of daily life. Making Castine a better place to live seemed to be essential to economic survival and growth. While some groups suggested ways to attract and keep younger residents (something “not necessarily a bar” that stays open later at night), others proposed services to help the town’s increasing population of older people remain in their own homes. Retired people who visit were also listed as important supporters of local businesses. One woman noted, however, that none of Castine’s inns has an elevator. As it had at the Wednesday session, affordable housing topped the list of priorities. Second in popularity Monday was parking, which did not come up strongly from the previous group. The third-most-popular heading of “market ourselves to shift perceptions in town and for visitors to create a ‘yes’ environment” was underwritten with “sidewalks—lighting—parking—trails.” Each of those had been listed elsewhere but gained stronger support as part of a package. Waterfront development and tax breaks for new businesses came in at fourth and fifth. A number of specific development suggestions related to the harbor: open clam flats, encouraging aquaculture and shuttle transportation for boaters. A suggestion to create a research and development facility as an incubator for new business drew strong support, as did several ways to work more closely with Maine Maritime Academy. Folks talked about summer programs, such as the miniaturists at the academy, and ways to get participants to do business in town. A few people noted that Castine’s public events are seldom listed in the community calendars of the larger media. Emphasis on historic architecture and the town’s whole history came up as it had Wednesday. Adam said the committee plans to report back to the community, including the numbers of people supporting various ideas. Other subcommittee members said the community input would be especially useful to an economic development consultant should the town vote to pay one. |
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