The Town of Northwood, New Hampshire - EDC Meeting Minutes

Present: Kristen Kiernan, Chair; David Tousignant, Vice-chair; Kevin Ash; Judy Burke; Hal Kreider; Babette Morrill; Ken Rick; Scott Bryer; and Town Administrator David Stack.

Absent: Pete Jones

III. Meeting

Family Dollar Store Project Representatives

Developer Mark Lopez and his consulting engineer, Chris Berry, met with the Committee to discuss the proposed Family Dollar Store project. Mr. Lopez is proposing to construct a 9,200 square foot commercial building on Rochester Road (Rtes. 202/9) next to the Northeast Credit Union. Approximately 8,200 square feet of the building will be leased to Family Dollar Stores, Inc. for a retail store and the remaining 1,200 of retail space will be leased to another business. Mr. Lopez stated that he has constructed one building for lease
to Family Dollar in Bridgton, Maine and he is working on possibly developing some other sites for Family Dollar. He and Mr. Berry showed the Committee pictures of the building that was built in Bridgton. It is colonial in style and has a cupola. The building was designed to fit in with the community.

Chair Kristen Kiernan asked questions that had been developed by the Committee. She asked how many employees will work at the store. Mr. Lopez answered approximately seven. Mr. Lopez was asked what attracted Family Dollar to this site in Northwood. He stated that it was demographics. There is a Hannaford’s store located nearby that draws in business and generates potential customers. Mr. Berry was asked how long reviews typically take. Mr. Berry said that a project of this type normally takes 3-4 months from the time the plan is filed with the planning board though approval. He said that a lot depends on the developer working with the planning board and staff and providing required information. Mr. Lopez stated that he hoped to receive approval for the project and start construction sometime in the spring of 2010.

IV. New Business

1. Acceptance of Minutes - 9/2/09

Dave Tousignant moved to accept the minutes of the 9/2/09 meeting. Judy Burke seconded. The motion passed with Scott Bryer and Kevin Ash abstaining.

2. Review list of Northwood businesses - Business Directory

The Committee discussed the Business Directory project. The Committee has been compiling a list of businesses for publication in a business directory. The Committee discussed ways to ensure that the directory is as complete as possible. Judy Burke said that she would be in Concord soon and she would stop by the Secretary of State’s office to see if the Committee can get a list of the Northwood businesses that are registered with the State. David Stack will place an announcement on the Town website that the Committee is compiling a business directory and that it is seeking out information from interested businesses. He will also coordinate the compilation of the information and Babette Morrill volunteered to help him with that task. The Committee also reviewed the current draft list of businesses. It was agreed that the Committee would still like to have the directory published by Town Meeting.

3. Committee brainstorming/planning

At last month’s meeting the Committee agreed to brainstorm at this meeting and create a list of tasks/projects and develop short, medium and long term goals. Dave Tousignant distributed an outline of ideas and projects that he had put together for this meeting. Two priorities at this time are the development of a Town economic development website and the publication of the business directory. Kevin Ash agreed to do a mock version of a website for the Committee to take a look at. Kristen Kiernan suggested that anyone having ideas as to what should be on the site to contact Kevin via e-mail. Kevin will have something ready for the next meeting. Dave Tousignant recommended that the resource links from REDC be included. Hal Kreider would like the Committee to look at analyzing the potential and actual economic impact of commercial development on the Town’s finances, tax rate, etc. Ken Rick recommends that the Committee take a look at past economic development efforts in the Town to see what may or may have not worked. He agreed to do some background research on this topic.

V. Adjournment

Dave Tousignant moved to adjourn. Ken Rick seconded. Motion passed and the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

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