Over 10 years ago, I was a city councilor who eagerly voted to change zoning on the French King Highway to allow for commercial development. More than a decade has passed and this area has seen zero new commercial development. This despite the fact that the city granted a permit for over 100,000 square feet of commercial development. There are many things at play as to why there has been no development but one thing is for sure: The retail market has changed. The internet has slowed brick-and-mortar retail development and will continue to do so.

Industry is where we should turn our focus. As the former chair of the Greenfield Redevelopment Authority, the owner of the Industrial Park, I can tell you affordable and buildable industrial land is virtually non-existent in Greenfield. It is one reason why an industrial business left Greenfield in recent years and another who wanted to move here couldn’t find the necessary space to build. The second business broke ground elsewhere a few weeks ago. Today, we know we have a hometown business wanting to expand in Greenfield but they cannot find space to do so. Do we want to lose that business and the possibility of hundreds of new jobs?

I commend City Councilor Penny Ricketts for using the motion to reconsider process to keep the French King rezone conversation on the table. This process is often used on major decisions when a second look is worth the time. I urge councilors to use this time to take a deeper look at the needs of this community and the realistic future of the development of new taxable property and job creation. There are no sure things but from where I sit industry now seems like the right play for Greenfield on the French King Highway.

Tim Farrell

Greenfield

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