Pepperell Mill Site Meeting 10-25-08

Vision Session Notes- SWOT Analysis

1st priority = Red

2nd priority = Green

3rd priority = Blue

4th priority = Yellow

Strengths

            Town

·        Nashua & Nissitissit Rivers – Red = 4, Green = 1

·        Nashua River Rail Trail – Red = 2, Green = 1, Blue = 1

·        Services: Sewer & Water Infrastructure – Yellow = 1

·        Balance between youth & senior activities, age groups – Red = 2

·        Access to Routes 111 & 113 – Yellow = 3

·        Strong Cooperation between property owners – Green = 1

·        Pepperell is relatively affordable – Red = 1, Green = 1, Blue = 2, Yellow = 1

·        Amenities – Blue = 2

 

Mill Site

·        Location – Red = 7, Green = 1, Blue = 4

·        River proximity – Red = 1, Green = 2, Yellow = 1

·        Large Parcel – Red = 1, Green = 2, Blue = 2

·        Historical significance – Yellow = 1

·        Tremendous potential – Red = 4, Green = 2, Blue = 2

·        Infrastructure already in place – Green = 2, Blue = 1

 

Railroad Square

·        Historical

·        Infrastructure

·        Parking – Red = 1

·        Access to Rail Trail – Red = 1, Green = 1

·        Restaurants – Green = 2

·        Business concentration

·        Marketability as downtown – Blue = 1, Yellow = 1

 

Nashua River

·        Water quality

·        Mecca for recreation – Red = 1, Green = 3, Blue = 1, Yellow = 3

Nashua River (cont.)

·        Variety of uses

·        Covered bridge – Green = 1, Yellow = 2

·        Source of renewable energy – Yellow = 1,

·        Attracts wildlife

·        Pristine setting – Red = 1

·        Parks & trails – Green = 1

 

Weaknesses

·        Traffic patterns, lack of signals, mill site access – Red = 1,Green = 1,Yellow = 1

·        Lack of access to major highway – Green = 2

·        Lack of cultural venues – Red = 1

·        Flooding at the Mill site – Red = 2, Blue = 2, Yellow = 2

·        Small commercial/ industrial tax base – Red = 4

·        Environmental regulations (state) – Blue =  1

·        No ADA compliance for businesses

·        Lack of public transit

Mill Site

·        Blighted appearance – Green = 2, Blue = 1

·        Safety conditions – Green = 2

·        Almost no salvageable buildings – Red = 1, Yellow = 1

·        Deeded access for hydro plant

·        Unknown unknowns (environmental issues, subsurface conditions)  – Red = 6, Green = 2, Blue = 1

·        Lack of liquor license – Green = 1, Blue = 1, Yellow = 1

·        Noise from power generation – Yellow = 2

·        Residents spend money in other towns, lack of critical mass – Red = 2, Blue = 1, Yellow = 3

·        Sales, income, payroll taxes vs. New Hampshire

Railroad Square

·        Parking (lack of spaces to accommodate growth) – Red =2, Blue = 1

·        Restaurant have limited hours/ limited dining experiences – Green = 2, Yellow = 1

·        Small buildings can’t accommodate shoppers

·        Population density not sufficient to attract major chains – Yellow = 1

·        Lack of sidewalks – Red = 1, Blue = 1

·        Technical development issues (river Issues, grade) Red = 1,Green = 1,Blue = 2

·        Traffic access/ circulation

·        Lack of “walkability”/ no pedestrian accommodations – Red = 3, Green = 2, Blue = 1

·        Lack of uniform character, need visual cohesion- Red = 1,Green= 2,Yellow= 2

·        Not enough of the correct businesses to attract people-Blue=3, Yellow=1

Nashua River

·        Public access very limited, access is not promoted or widely known – Red = 1, Green = 1

·        Dam prevents canoeists from going up/down river – Green = 1

·        Flooding – Green = 1, Yellow = 1

·        Too much wildlife – Yellow = 1

 

Opportunities

·        Brewpub/restaurant at the Mill site – Red = 4, Green = 1, Yellow = 2

·        Economic vitality – Red = 2, Green = 2, Blue = 5, Yellow = 1

·        Park at Mill site , open up riverfront – Red = 6, Green = 3, Blue = 2

·        Connecting trails

·        Connect open space, park & covered bridge – Red = 1, Green = 2, Blue = 1, Yellow = 3

·        New town common – Blue = 1

·        Quality restaurants – Green = 1

·        Additional parking – Yellow = 2

·        Senior housing – Red = 1, Blue = 1

·        Cottage neighborhood, small homes – Red = 1, Blue = 1

·        Address traffic issues at Dunkin’ Donuts intersection – Blue = 1

·        Historic preservation (tied to Mill site/ Railroad Square) Green = 1, Blue = 1, Yellow = 1

·        Highlight/focus natural area (kiosk) – Red = 1, Blue = 1

·        Teenage activities – Green = 2, Blue = 1

·        Professional office space – Green = 1

·        New municipal center

·        Wellness center

·        College extension – Yellow = 2

·        “Green” building practices/ technology – Red = 1, Green = 1, Yellow = 4

·        Maintain rural character – Green = 3, Blue = 2

·        Land swap

 

Threats

·        Overdevelopment – Red = 8, Green = 1, Yellow = 1

·        Unfriendly developer – Red = 1, Green = 2

·        Polluting industries – Red = 1, Blue = 2

·        Undesirable businesses – Green = 1

·        Tax revenue/ generating threat of residential development – Red = 1, Green = 1, Blue = 2

·        Traffic generation – Red = 2, Green = 1, Blue = 1, Yellow = 1

·        Construction impact on hazardous materials on Mill site – Green = 1, Blue = 1

·        Additional crime – Yellow = 2

Threats (cont.)

·        Drain on town services/ increase in taxes – Green = 1, Blue = 1, Yellow = 1

·        Conflicting uses with existing residents – Green = 1, Blue = 2

·        Flooding - Red = 1, Blue = 2, Yellow = 1

·        Being overly dependent on one industry – Yellow = 1

·        Losing control – Green = 1, Blue = 2, Yellow = 1

·        Losing access to waterfront – Red = 1, Green = 1

·        Cost of site vs. real value – Green = 1

·        Former proposal too big/too dense/excluded public access –Green=1, Blue=1

·        New development might fail – Blue = 2, Yellow = 3

·        Rising construction costs, could cause denser developments for economic viability – Green = 1

·        “Do nothing”, a threat – Red = 4, Yellow = 1

·        Time – Green = 1, Yellow = 1