Chester residents raise issues, ideas on economic development

By Shawn Cunningham
© 2016 Telegraph Publishing LLC

Business leaders said they see vast opportunities in Chester but told the Chester Planning Commission they are frustrated in their efforts to move forward with new ideas and plans.

The commission was holding an information gathering session on Monday, Feb. 1, as part of the process of writing a state-mandated economic development chapter for the Chester Town Plan, which will continue for at least several months and possibly longer.

Facilitating the meeting at Town Hall, Bob Flint, of Springfield Regional Development Corp., and Jason Rasmussen, of the Southern Windsor County Regional Development Commission, laid out the process, then asked for comments from the 20 people in attendance. The Chester Economic Development Committee submitted seven pages of comments for the board.

Town Manager David Pisha told the commission that the town needs to work as part of a region, noting that a factory doesn’t have to be in Chester to hire Chester residents. “The plan should encompass a very broad view of economic development,” said Pisha, who advocated for  zoning and land use policies that will “enhance development. … We need to prepare to seize opportunities as they arise.”

Rick Paterno, owner of the Free Range restaurant, said that with so many definitions of economic development, he is as concerned with the execution of any plan as he is with what’s in the plan itself.

“There’s a lot of energy in town right now,” said Paterno, “and we need to keep that energy going by getting some ‘wins’ from the plan early on.” Paterno said that this could be done by looking for the “low hanging fruit” of more tourists, whether regional or from afar.

“Success begets success and we can attract companies by building our economic base,” said Paterno.

Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce director Marji Graf told the gathering that she was there to hear what people had to say and to see how she could help.

“South Central Vermont has to work together or we are going to lose market share to Jay Peak and their EB-5 money,” said Graf, referring to the resort’s use of the federal program that gives green cards to foreign nationals for investing in job creating projects in the United States.

Chester Hardware owner Julie Pollard said that her business, and others in the community, would be helped if people understood what is available in local stores and shopped “Chester first.”

Calling themselves a “tag team,” local artists/businessmen Michael Alon and Barre Pinkse bemoaned the lack of signs that tell visitors what’s in town and how to get to it. Both asserted that Chester can be an arts destination and that the Route 103 corridor through the Depot could be developed by artists who have a business in their homes, such as they do.

Alon said that a home business in such a district helps young people who are starting out and are unable to get a business loan but can get a mortgage.

Each also told a story of having an idea or plan to help develop more business for the town, and being frustrated by the lack of support from government.

Alon wanted to put up a sign at Routes 11 and 103 and felt “stonewalled” by the town. Pinske told of his frustration in moving forward with the Chester Festival Grounds next to the American Legion. “The lease is only $1,800 a year and I’m paying for it all myself,” said Pinske, pointing to his Big Buzz Wood Carving Festival that brings people to town each year and stimulates business in lodging, restaurants and retail. “I’m an example of economic development.”

Alon suggested that small steps – such painting parking lines along Main Street from the Inn Victoria to the east end of The Green – would change people’s perspective on the town. “It would say you can stop here,” said Alon.

Lee Whiting said that traffic patterns will change once the Jiffy Mart on Depot Street closes and the new one opens at Pleasant and Main. He asked the Planning Commission to take that into consideration as it writes the new plan. He also noted that if there’s something interesting happening in town all the time, people will come. Pointing to the festival grounds, Whiting said there could be something going on there every weekend.

“Events are a big deal,” agreed Pisha. “They bring people to the community. Chester needs a mechanism to produce events.”

Referring to the look of Chester, Paterno said, “Companies spend millions of dollars to fabricate what we already have.”

And a number of those attending agreed that the town, which, thanks to its fiber optic connection, has some of the fastest Internet speeds in the country, needs to take advantage of the Internet to market itself.

A number agreed that the town, which, thanks
to its fiber optic connection, has some of the fastest
Internet speeds in the country, needs to take
advantage of the Internet to market itself.

In ending the meeting, Flint and Rasmussen asked that people continue thinking and talking about economic development and Rasmussen told the gathering that a new website has been put up as a place to get information about this process. “Anyone who has not had a chance to speak here tonight can send me ideas that I can incorporate what we heard tonight,” said Rasmussen