Each year, the Concord City Council meets to discuss their priorities for the coming year. This year, the Chamber’s Local Government Affairs Committee established a list of topics to share with the Council prior to their meeting—allowing the Council take into account important issues related to commerce and quality of life that will impact businesses in the coming year. This list included:
· Creating a subcommittee to make recommendations on changes to the zoning ordinance. Relatively minor changes to the zoning ordinance, which have been delayed while the City has been considering a zoning overhaul, could incrementally improve the development process and remove some unnecessary obstacles.
· Address issues around homelessness that are creating a growing impact on commerce, public health and public safety. This recommendation includes working with established community partners that provide resources to unhoused individuals, creating win-win solutions that meet the needs of everyone.
· Increase housing inventories at all levels. The tight housing market has created major challenges for anyone relocating to Concord, and increased difficulties for businesses trying to recruit talent.
· Address infrastructure investment cost issues. Evaluating these issues, and how those costs are paid, will allow us to expand our tax base.
· Grow the tax base to keep up with increased cost pressures, and provide relief to property taxpayers. Improving our tax base will provide immediate results, and make a long-term impact on our City’s economic landscape.
After proposing these issues to the Council, our committee was pleased to see that the City identified many of these concerns at their official meeting. This is a small example of the ongoing work by our Local Government Affairs Committee to ensure that Concord’s economic landscape continues to grow. If you are interested in joining this volunteer committee, contact Chamber President, Tim Sink, at tsink@concordnhchamber.com or (603) 224-2508. The Local Government Affairs Committee meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. at the Chamber office, and is Chaired by Chamber Board Member and former Mayor, Jim Bouley, Dennehy and Bouley, LLC.