The Master Plan Implementation Committee (MPIC) on a remote meeting recapped a December joint forum of the Select Board, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals that produced a ranked set of economic-development priorities and opened the door to further technical assistance from the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission.

MPIC Chair Rick Leaf said the joint meeting had “full attendance by all of the 3 board members” and that Carrie Salwa of CMRPC “did a good job” presenting survey results and facilitating the discussion. The CMRPC presentation included an online survey completed by the three boards; MPIC members said the boards returned a 100% response rate to that survey.

The joint meeting produced a ranked list of economic-development actions. MPIC member Laurie summarized the priorities as: creating a Northborough economic-development committee; focusing attention on 4 West Main Street and preparing a reuse plan; concentrating on town gateways (downtown and Routes 9 and 20); exploring hospitality uses along Route 9; activating the Aqueduct Trail for connectivity; hiring an economic-development coordinator; and commissioning an industrial-property study. Laurie noted the follow-up survey distributed at the end of the workshop captured whether participants changed their views after discussion.

Why it matters: MPIC members said the joint meeting was intended to move several master-plan priorities from suggestion toward implementation. Laurie said the CMRPC director offered the commission’s services to do additional technical work and MPIC members said they plan to request technical assistance to refine action steps and develop a scope of work.

Committee members debated whether to hire a dedicated economic-development staffer. Julianne Hirsch said opportunities for “ecotourism” tied to local trails and waterways and the region’s “hotel desert” presented potential growth sectors. She and other members said a coordinator who could secure grants might offset the cost of the position.

MPIC members discussed a potential regional grant: Southborough and Westborough intend to apply for a Route 9 corridor study through a “one-step-stop” grant program due the first week of June; Laurie said Northborough staff had been asked whether the town would join that regional application. MPIC members supported exploring collaboration with neighboring towns to evaluate Route 9 as a shared gateway and to align sewer, transit and zoning considerations.

No formal MPIC action was taken on these items at the meeting. Members said the next steps are to request a CMRPC scope of work for technical assistance and to bring any regional grant participation to the Select Board for a formal support letter.