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April 8, 2010 Bangorbiz

Planning propels Hermon's development

Photo/Tom Weber Ron Harriman, Hermon's economic development director, at the town's new shopping center
By Tom Weber

About three years ago, the people of Hermon embarked on an ambitious campaign to define the geographical heart of their town and make it stand out from the otherwise undifferentiated commercial look of Route 2.

The town has been experiencing a reliable growth in recent years, both commercially and residentially. Its population has increased more than 16% since 2000 and is approaching 6,000 people. Freedom Park, the town's first economic development initiative, is now home to more than 70 businesses in 55 buildings. At the Coldbrook Business Park, which opened 10 years ago, 15 of the 17 original lots are occupied. The town recently was awarded a $200,000 state grant to assist Snowman's Printing in its plans for the construction of a 7,500-square-foot addition to its existing facility in the business park.

With one of the lowest tax rates in the region, its proximity to I-95 and Bangor International Airport, as well as a rural quality of life that is increasingly attracting families from neighboring communities, Hermon seems poised to continue that steady development.

The critical questions for those who live and work there were what that growth would resemble in the decades to come and what influence they might have over its scope and direction.

"Everyone knew from the start that you only have one shot at doing this, so you've got to do it right the first time or live with the consequences," says Ron Harriman, the economic development director for Hermon and one of the leaders in the effort to create a master plan for the town's central village.

The town formed a planning committee, composed of six community members, who worked with residents, business leaders and civil engineers to devise a village concept that would identify the town's center of activity and community life.

"At the public hearings, we asked people what they wanted their community to become," Harriman says. "Overwhelmingly, they said they wanted to retain the town's rural charm, and to guide and shape future development so it stays that way. They're definitely not interested in creating a busy commercial strip."

The master plan, designed by the engineering firm Wright-Pierce of Topsham, with assistance from Kent Associates Planning and Design of Gardiner, was adopted by the town last fall. The report defines Hermon village as roughly that half-mile stretch along busy Route 2 from the high school entrance and the site of the town's new shopping center to the Billings Road intersection.

The shopping center was an obvious boundary marker because of the activity it has generated as the town's newest retail hub. The shopping center, which now includes a grocery store, pizza restaurant, doughnut shop and a credit union, has created more than 80 jobs since it opened last year, Harriman estimates.

When completed, he says, the second phase of construction at the site is expected to add 30 more jobs and another 30,000 square feet of space for a hardware store, dollar store, home design center and other retail uses.

In an effort to create an attractive, pedestrian-friendly town center, the master plans calls for gateway signs to be installed at both ends of the village, sidewalks along Route 2, crosswalks at busy areas such as the shopping complex and Billings Road intersection, new decorative street lights and bicycle paths.

The long-term goal is to enhance the look of the area with trees, landscaping, benches, banners and other adornments that would create an inviting, safe atmosphere for pedestrians.

Harriman is quick to point out, however, that such an ambitious plan will take many years to accomplish and lots of careful prioritizing along the way. And paying for improvements without overburdening town taxpayers, he added, will no doubt require a creative exploration of federal, state and local funding mechanisms.

"It took a lot of give and take, but the local support is there and that's the important thing," Harriman says. "It comes down to liveability, and a community's sense of pride."

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