STANTON : Council to Consider Development Office

Faced with a glut of vacant retail and office space in the town, the City Council tonight will consider whether it can afford to establish an Office of Economic Development to improve the business climate.

The office would also be responsible for revitalizing the business community and attracting new businesses to the area.

The cost of setting up and staffing such an office would be between $62,205 and $111,790, depending on whether the office was inside City Hall, according to a cost analysis prepared by the city manager’s office.

“The cost is high, but if we can get the vacancy rate down, the office should pay for itself,” Mayor Paul G. Verellen said. He said the office “would allow us to be more competitive.”

While acknowledging the need to attract investment to improve the city’s economic condition, the report recommends that the council consider less costly means.

For about half the cost of establishing an Office of Economic Development, the report suggests, the city could get a promotional brochure with information about the city, its permit procedures and fee schedules. The brochure could also include site-specific inserts with information on zoning regulations, development plans and permitted land-uses targeted to potential developers.