Carving out space for a business park on the state trust land was an idea floated at the Town Council candidates’ forum July 21, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.

Participating in the forum were council incumbents Cecil Yates and Dennis Brown; Mike Archambault, a former council person and now chairman of Planning and Zoning Commission; Art Tolis, a mortgage lender, and Tim Rawlings, operational manager of Target.

Brown, a building contractor, said he is a proponent of designating a parcel capable of holding a 20,000 square foot building, “large enough to hold a small software company” on the town’s northern boundary.

Brown said Scott Cooper, town economic specialist, has had contacts with at least a dozen individuals looking for such a building.

Commercial real estate developer Yates later said he supported the concept along with a higher density for affordable residential units to attract young families.

Yates also said that Plat 208 provides opportunity for the construction of small commercial buildings.

In discussing what the town should do to encourage new employers, Tolis said “We (the town) don’t want a reputation that it is difficult to do business, and we do right now have such a reputation in town hall.”

He encouraged swift action in the Park Place downtown project.

“If we don’t get this development going quickly, you’re going to scarce away developers and we need them.”

Rawlings said the solution comes down to finding a developer who will invest in affordable housing to drive young families into town.

Both Yates and Brown said they voted in favor of the Park Place downtown project that will create apartments and retail space.

“This is going to set downtown on fire and I mean that in a good way,” said Yates.

The town’s commercial vacancy rate is about 30 percent, said Yates. Many vacant buildings are functionally obsolete.

The concept of apartments above retail is a development concept that appeals to Baby Boomers and millennials, he said.

“It’s not a trend. We can’t be afraid to take some chances,” said Yates.

Archambault said the Planning and Zoning Commission has discussed creating an outdoor entertainment district that would be included in the project.

Tolis said other properties ideal for apartment-type housing need to be identified and marketed to developers.

The candidates were asked their ideas on “bringing the town budget into the black”.

Brown said the town’s finances have “been riding on the backs of contractors and developers” who pay development fees.

Archambault said the council has to look at shaving expenses, particularly the public safety services that account for 52 percent of the budget.

Yates said the town operates under a consumption tax, meaning that “the more people buy stuff, the more we make.”

“It’s not enough; we need a sustainable revenue source.”

Other options would be bonds, a primary property tax and district-targeted areas, such as police, fire and infrastructure.

Tolis said rental tax is a large component of the budget. “More rental property we have the better,” said Tolis.

Rawlings, identifying himself as an advocate of a free market, said he would lean on the government to curtail services.

“As taxpayers, we don’t want more fees and taxation,” said Rawlings. He proposed more services and growing the population.

Retention of local businesses also drew responses. Tolis said he is a strong advocate of “Mom and Pop” firms who, in turn, support local events and donate to charities.

National franchises and local businesses should be part of a market mix, said Yates.

Instead of focusing on businesses leaving town, Archambault said the town should encourage businesses to utilize existing town resources for what they are attempting to accomplish.