The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
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DDA plan approved by village council
Village council votes unanimously after hearing public input
By Brian A. Gougherty, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 25, 2006
After countless hours of preparations and presentations, Manchester's Downtown Development Authority's long-term plan for the village's commercial core was unanimously approved by council members last Thursday evening.
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The approval marks a major milestone for the DDA, who can now begin the initial projects in their 30 year and near $5 million plan to preserve and encourage growth in Manchester's downtown district.
On Thursday, before the council vote, a public hearing was held to address any concerns and questions residents had with the DDA plan.
One of the first to speak from the audience was attorney Susan Gistinger. She questioned some of the more ambitious projects listed in the DDA plan, such as dredging the mill pond and straightening the four corners intersection.
"Are those things that are in (the plan) for sure, or are they just suggestions?" Gistinger asked.
Village president Pat Vailliencourt explained that there are many projects listed in the plan that the DDA may not actually get to. These 'maybe' projects are included in the plan to keep the possibility for them open.
"Just because it's in the plan we're not committed to do it," Vailliencourt explained. "But if it's not in the plan, you can't do it."
Gistinger then asked if the public would have any influence over which projects the DDA did and did not do in the future.
"There will be an ongoing flow of information to the public," Vailliencourt assured. "We'll be having lots of public meetings to get people involved and to get input."
Other community members participated in the hearing, many asking for clarifications of various financial issues with the DDA. But one of the most poignant comments of the night came from Jeannette Stein, owner of the Village Tap on Main Street.
Stein pointed out that many of Manchester's new and younger residents have left other developing communities in favor of the Village's setting.
"They used to love Dexter and Chelsea," Stein commented. "They said it was just like Manchester, but now they're yuppie-villes."
Vailliencourt quickly picked up on Stein's concerns of Manchester becoming overly trendy or stylish.
"Throughout all of this we have to protect our uniqueness and the authenticity of downtown," Vailliencourt said. "We don't want to look like a cookie cutter community… That's a very high priority."
Manchester Township supervisor Ron Mann was also in the audience. He closed up the public hearing with some positive remarks.
"I think this is a real good plan," Mann said. "It's something that's needed … When you drive through the state, you can tell which towns are active, which towns want to live, and which towns are dying."
Mann said that despite any financial concerns over the plan he was fully in favor of Manchester being one of those 'active' towns.
Following the public hearing council trustee Kari Newman made a motion to approve the DDA plan. The motion was seconded by trustee Marty Way and then unanimously approved by all of the present council members.
Before the meeting was adjourned, Vailliencourt expressed the Village's gratitude towards the DDA commission members.
"I would like to thank those on the (DDA) for the countless hours they've put into developing the plan," Vailliencourt said, adding, "and their work has only begun."
A copy of the newly approved DDA Downtown Development and Tax Increment Financing Plan is available to the public at the Manchester District Library.
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