[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Glocester 3-21-2019, effective 3-21-2019. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
As established by the Glocester Town Council, pursuant to Glocester Home Rule Charter § C13-10, there is hereby established a Glocester Economic Development Commission.
A.
The charge of said Commission shall be as follows:
(1)
To formulate and recommend to the Town Council a comprehensive economic
development program to achieve the goals as stated in the Comprehensive
Plan, entitled "Glocester 2040," Section VI, Economic Development,
Goal 1.
(2)
Encourage economic development that aligns with the Town's rural
character and also expands and diversifies the Town's tax base
B.
The Glocester Economic Development Commission will concentrate its
efforts on ways to accommodate/attract business to the Town of Glocester
that is conducive to our environment, Comprehensive Plan, and overall
character, as well as improving and securing tourism/retail opportunities
for the Chepachet Historic District. The Commission is encouraged
to work with and include input from the Glocester Business Association
and Historic District Commission when presenting proposals to the
Town Council. When completed, proposals to implement actions will
be submitted to Town Council for approval.
C.
Guidelines of the Glocester Economic Development Commission. The
GEDC will examine, formulate and recommend economic development programs
to the Town Council. These programs should be consistent with the
policies stated in Glocester's 2018 Comprehensive Community Plan:
(1)
Broaden and diversify the Town's economic base to reduce the
residential sector's property tax burden.
(2)
Encourage the growth of economic activities that have a market focus
at the neighborhood or local levels.
(3)
Recognize, preserve, protect and enhance the historical pattern of
Town development by concentrating on properly scaled and designed
economic activities in designated, commercially zoned areas.
(4)
Prevent highway strip development from occurring within the Town. (NOTE: Subsection C(4) (guidelines) is not intended to prohibit responsible development but to help mitigate high-traffic retail strip development, through planning and zoning processes, to achieve a balanced and appropriately scaled commercial development with a balanced tenant mix which includes retail, professional, medical and general business uses, and is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
(5)
Prevent the negative effects of economic growth, including environmental
degradation and dramatic changes to community character, from occurring
in the Town.
(6)
Allow for alternative means of employment opportunities to be available
to citizens, such as home occupations that are technology-dependent
and which cause no noticeable disruption to the living environment
of residential areas.
(7)
Support tourism initiatives that promote the historical, environmental,
aesthetic and cultural aspects of the Town particularly in Chepachet
Village.
(8)
Support appropriate regional economic development initiatives that
complement the Town's economic development goals.
(9)
Support the efforts of the Glocester Business Association to attract
business to the Town.
The Glocester Economic Development Commission shall consist
of seven voting members and two ad hoc nonvoting members (Ad hoc members
may be nonresidents.) for two-year terms concurrent with the term
of the Town Council.
