County planners will draft Hammond’s community plan

By AMANDA PURCELL
JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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HAMMOND — The St. Lawrence County Planning Office is devising a plan for the community’s future after hearing residents hope to promote tourism while preserving the community’s quaintness.

At Thursday’s meeting, county planners presented the community plan’s layout and asked residents to form groups to share ideas and develop a vision statement.

“Our goal is to find ways that we can hold on to all the community’s strengths and minimize the threats and weaknesses,” said county planner Mathilda M. Larson.

At least 40 full-time and seasonal residents attended the meeting.

“Some seasonal residents were concerned about the level of service they get in return for paying property taxes, and how tax revenue is spent,” Ms. Larson said.

Overall, most residents agreed tourism was the key to the ensuring growth within the community.

Mayor Shelly M. Youngs said forming a chamber of commerce might be a good way to promote tourism.

“We would need one person that is dedicated,” Ms. Youngs said.

“It involves a lot of work and time to take it on. It’s something that we could look into our budgets to fund.”

The chief concern among residents was how to preserve the community’s quaint characteristics, but still promote tourism, Ms. Larson said.

They also want to generate customer loyalty at locally owned businesses, she said.

Ms. Youngs said she agreed with residents who suggested a farmers market could promote local businesses and customer loyalty.

“We have many local people who make local goods in the area and smaller businesses that people didn’t even know about,” she said. “A farmers market would be a great way to introduce them to the community.”

Planners said they will work throughout the next months to develop the plan’s “meat and bones.”

The plan will be presented to the public in the fall.