2019-2024 Economic Development Strategic Plan

ASSESS MUNICIPAL CODES & POLICIES (Phase 1b) The goal of this Phase was to determine if there are any structural or procedural obstacles the City has created or is creating which negatively impact the City’s economic development opportunities. To complete this Phase of the project, the Consultant conducted a detailed review of the City’s zoning code, as well as the City’s policies and procedures related to economic development. Additionally, two meetings were held with the City’s Planning Department on August 13 th and September 19 th to discuss the zoning code and comprehensive plan. The Consultant completed an exhaustive review of the following items (in addition to other information provided by individuals and stakeholders):

 Title 9 Zoning Regulations  Land Use Comprehensive Plan

 Green Industrial Center Covenants  Technical Park South Covenants  Sewer Capital Facilities Planning  Tax Increment Financing Districts  2017 City Planning Session Notes  Riverfront Plan  McClure Study Scope of Work  Buxton Retail Recruitment & Retention Project

Based on this analysis, the Consultant has prepared findings and recommendations for the City, which were presented in letter from the Consultant to the City. Certain recommendations presented by the Consultant have been included in the work plan. A copy of the Consultant’s memorandum on planning, zoning and land use is attached to this report. PHASE 2 The primary objectives in Phase 2 were to complete a community assessment and conduct community and stakeholder interviews. COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT The assessment was based on a standard series of questions the Consultant uses in other community assessments (strengths, weaknesses, future goals, most active groups in economic development, etc.) along with questions that the Consultant specifically designed for Spencer based on early interviews that identified unique community characteristics requiring further exploration. Consultant circulated draft questions on August 27 th in advance of a conference call with the Grow Spencer Commission on August 30 th . In the August 30 th conference call, Consultant reviewed vision and mission statements with the Commission, answered questions and requested final comments on assessment questions before September 6 th when the Consultant would finalize the assessment. The online community economic development assessment went live on September 7, 2018 and was closed on October 29, 2018. Aggregate and individual responses to the assessment, along with key stakeholder interviews, were used by the Consultant to identify Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (S.W.O.T.), complete a stakeholder’s asset inventory, gauge the community’s vision, identify barriers to plan implementation, organize responses into goals and themes, and explore the community’s support for economic development.

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