Representatives from the Springfield and Bellows Falls chambers said amending the proposed downtown bill to include an Act 250 exemption for downtown businesses, a proposal that has been discussed in the Legislature, would stimulate growth.
Downtowns are very difficult things to have.
If you were to say you're exempting downtowns from Act 250, that perception would be incentive. Cota said many times Act 250 criteria are duplicated by town zoning restrictions adopted by designated downtowns. Rather than face strict downtown zoning hurdles and Act 250, potential businesses might go elsewhere, they said. Bob Flint, vice president of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, said the downtown bill, which was approved by the House and is now before the Senate, provides incentives for businesses to move to a downtown area, but those incentives might not be sufficient. Tax credits and some funding are fine, but frankly, I'm not sure that's going to be enough.