Department of Community Development
What is Community Development?
The Department of Community Development concerns itself with four "core" planning elements: Housing, Economic Development, Transportation and related infrastructure needs, and Open Space / Natural Resource Protection. Once located within the Executive Assistant’s office, Community Development has separated itself with the creation of new offices, located on the third floor of Town Hall, and the hiring of support staff.
Community Development has championed many activities to improve the business prospects for downtown, including streetscape improvements, developing parking lots, mixed-use/redevelopment overlay districts, acquiring land and developing the Cellucci Skate and Splash Park on South Street, redeveloping Town Hall, and advancing the Assabet River Trail into downtown. With continued renovation, investments in the downtown, and the expansion of businesses, Community Development looks forward to continued revitalization in its selection of new goals and projects for 2010.
Community & Economic Development
In addition, Community Development works closely with the Economic Development Commission in seeking out attractive business and industry for location in Hudson while simultaneously advocating for and supporting those already located in Town. A special area of attention within our overall economic development strategy is our downtown commercial district, our focus being to enhance and market this vital area within the Town. Taking advantage of our already approved Historic District, we have used state and local funds to reconstruct downtown roads and add trees and period lighting to nurture a special identity for this area. We are working on obtaining monies to turn South Street into a “second Main Street” by submitting the project for consideration as a Stimulus project and beginning to explore other funding
sources. To complement these strategies in the downtown, a clear need exists to expound the availability of off-street parking. We are currently working on potential solutions to this complex issue.
Community Development Block Grant Program
The Community Development Department has been successful in winning many Federally funded Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) over the past several years. In past applications, the Block Grant provided funding for such projects as the Downtown Business Facade Program, the Senior Center Design & Renovation, the Cellucci Skate and Splash Park & the reconstruction of the South Street Parking Lot. In total, the Town has received over $2.5 million dollars in CDBG funds for various projects. Please click on the links below for more information.
Before After
Transportation & Infrastructure
Consistent with the goal of economic development but necessary in its own right, is the upgrade of various aspects of the infrastructure within the Town. Community Development addresses projects that relieve congestion, improve road safety and expand walkability. As Hudson’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Contact, the Community Development Director routinely submits projects for funding on the TIP, and lobbies to advance those projects through the state funding process. Our largest transportation project, the widening of the Washington Street/Route 85 commercial corridor, has reached its 75% Design stage, soon to head to 100% Design. We believe this project will be ready to advertise in Fall 2010 or Spring 2011.
43-D Expedited Permitting Program
In Spring 2008, the Town opted in to the state’s 43-D Expedited Permitting Process. Nine sites over three parcels of land zoned for commercial or industrial development were chosen as Priority Development Sites. These sites are now guaranteed permitting decisions within 180 days. The Community Development Director was designated as the single-point-of-contact to act as the municipal intermediary between the developer and the many permitting boards. Not only does the 43-D program provide an efficient process for permitting, it gives the Town priority consideration for certain grants and funds, as well as online marketing of the priority development sites.
Other fun projects Community Development has been involved with:
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