A group of 11 community members, half of them local business owners, and three town officials met recently for the first meeting of a town committee charged with developing a downtown revitalization plan.
At the Nov. 6 meeting of the Downtown Revitalization Plan Advisory Committee, members agreed to develop “a publicly supported vision for the downtown, and an action item list,” according to minutes provided by Denise Clavette, the town’s economic development director.
The revitalization plan will be developed in coordination with the town’s new comprehensive plan, which also is still being developed, she said.
Representatives from the Wright-Pierce Consultant group of Topsham, hired by the town to conduct a study that will guide the revitalization project, also attended.
Asked to brainstorm about the strengths of South Berwick, the committee listed “a strong sense of community; volunteerism; and a strong interest in historic preservation,” according to the minutes.
Among issues and weaknesses noted were the need to welcome new people and encourage those living here to stay; create a multi-generational community; strive to increase retail business; and work on balancing residential, business and historic concerns.
A meeting to get citizen input will be held in January. To get further public input, breakout sessions will be held on various issues, and a questionnaire will be circulated in town and online, the minutes indicated.
The council voted in September to hire Wright Pierce to develop the plan, which is the next step in seeking state approval of the town’s application for a Downtown Tax Increment Financing district, or TIF, allowing the town to keep all new tax money generated by increases in the annual state valuation of property in the designated area.
Members of the advisory committee, who were chosen by Town Manager Tim Pellerin, are Clavette, Town Councilors Jessica Cyr and Melissa Costella, Cynthia Gagnon, Deirdre Williams, state Sen. Mark Lawrence, Irene Bowen, David Whalen, Daniel Kenney, Ken Weston, Roxanne Poulin, Jaclyn Bousquet, James Flynn, and Carrie Portrie.
