Mandate for the
Business and Economic Development Planning Group
Revised 12/16/02
Introduction
The Working Vision for Belmont’s Future contains the following statements:
1. Thriving business centers contribute economic stability while offering places for residents to dine, shop and socialize.
2. We will work with neighborhoods and residents to identify and support retail needs and opportunities.
3. We will preserve our small-town community atmosphere.
4. [We will] foster and maintain an open and inclusive decision-making process.
In addition, we recognize that while Belmont’s tax revenues come almost completely from residential properties, the business community plays an important role in supporting the continued financial viability of our town.
Mandate
The mandate for the Business and Economic Development Planning Group will be to develop recommendations for:
1. Facilitating the opening of new businesses;
2. Attracting desirable new businesses;
3. Preserving and enhancing current businesses.
Composition
The group will include representatives of the following:
Vision Implementation Committee (VIC)
Planning Board
Zoning Board of Appeals
Long-Range Financial Planning Committee
Fair Housing Committee
Representatives of all the Town’s business areas
Belmont-Watertown Chamber of Commerce
Others, as recommended by the Planning Group and the VIC
Process
1. The Planning Group will study past (e.g., the South Pleasant St. Land Use Committee) and ongoing efforts in this area (e.g., the Belmont St./Trapelo Rd Corridor Study), as well as initiatives undertaken by other communities.
2. The Group will seek outside sources for funding recommended initiatives.
3. The process will continually seek public input, by open meetings and representation on the Group.
4. The first meeting of the Group will be convened by the representative of the VIC.
5. The VIC will have a continuing role in facilitating and overseeing the process, to ensure that objectives are established which are specific and measurable, with a stated time of completion of each objective.
Timeline and Communication
Within approximately one month of convening, the Group will meet with the Selectmen to review and clarify the scope of the mandate.
The Selectmen will be informed periodically of the Group’s progress.
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