2012 AUGUST-MASHPEE EDIC Plan for Executive Park

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a B Economic Development For many years, Mashpee was a little known natural gem that escaped the earlier waves of development on Cape Cod. To say that Mashpee has been discovered is an understatement. Mashpee has had the fastest rate of population and housing growth of any town in the Commonwealth for over a decade. How Mashpee will combine its history with the newer additions of second home communities and upscale retail development is still an unfolding story. This rapid population growth and the related construction boom have not brought equal prosperity to Mashpee residents. Between the vacation homes lie pockets of poverty that highlight the gaps between rich and poor. Relative to other communities on Cape Cod, Mashpee suffers from high rates of unemployment and the lowest level of per capita income. The seasonality of employment, a problem in any summer community,only compounds economic problems for some of Mashpee's residents. B Mashpee's natural resources are a treasure to be preserved, but at the same time, we wish to provide jobs and increased income to meet the needs of our residents. The Town recognizes the need to support and channel its growth so that our neediest citizens benefit from the expansion of the local economy and our B natural resources are not threatened. Toward that end,we have undertaken a number of steps leading to the adoption of this economic development plan. In 1992 the Board of Selectmen appointed an Economic Development Committee and, under the Commonwealth's Local Partnership Program, subsequently formed a Local Economic Development Partnership Committee which included representatives of the Wampanoag Tribal Council, the Mashpee B Historical Commission, the Conservation Commission, the Executive Secretary and the Town Planner in addition to the members of the Economic Development Committee. A Local Partnership grant secured consultant assistance in developing an economic development strategy for the town that would also serve as the Economic Development element of our Comprehensive Plan. The consultant's report and the work of the Partnership Committee served as the basis of this section of the Comprehensive Plan. Goals & Objectives Based on the 1985-86 work of the Committee on Mashpee's Goals & Priorities, a 1992 public opinion survey and "issues forums," comments received at the February 1, 1995 public hearing, and input from the Partnership Committee and Local Planning Committee (Planning Board) members, the following community goals and objectives were adopted by the Local Planning Committee on December 6, 1995. GOAL#L TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A BALANCED AND SUSTAINABLE LOCAL ECONOMY WHILE PRESERVING AND ENHANCING MASHPEE'S ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE. GOAL#2.TO INCREASE THE INCOMES OF MASHPEE RESIDENTS. GOAL#3.TO PROVIDE OUR RESIDENTS WITH A FULL RANGE OF COMMERCIAL FACILITIES AND SERVICES IN KEEPING WITH THE COMMUNITY'S SIZE AND POTENTIAL MARKET AREA. GOAL#4.TO INCREASE THE TOWN'S INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL TAX BASE WHILE MINIMIZING INCREASED MUNICIPAL SERVICE COSTS, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND OTHER ADVERSE IMPACTS ON THE COMMUNITY. 1