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The Town
of Hatfield is actively seeking commercial and/or light industrial
organizations to help complement our small community of 3500 people
and enhance funding for current and future town services. So that we
do this intelligently and maintain the character of our town,
Hatfield has developed and approved a comprehensive growth master
plan to include an overhaul of its zoning regulations. The town has
also completed its first
Economic Development Plan (PDF,
3.40 MB) and is in the process of forming an economic development
entity to facilitate the plan’s implementation and to work with
interested developers and/or businesses. |
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Location! Recent studies of northeast commerce reported that the
Connecticut River Valley in Western Massachusetts was the most
central business location for future development. Hatfield is
ideally located at the center of this area, just west of the
Connecticut River, about halfway between Connecticut and Vermont.
• Access! A major north-south interstate, I-91, and railroad
both pass through the western part of town. The Hatfield area has
three highly desirable exits off I-91, with Route 5/10 running in
parallel. I-91 Exit 21 on the Northampton line has seen the most
commercial development. Only a small portion of property in that
area remains available for future development. I-91 Exit 23 in
Hatfield and I-91 Exit 24 in south Whately offer excellent access to
commercially zoned land in north Hatfield. Railroad runs parallel to
I-91, accessible both from the north and south.
• Available Land! The town has identified several key
opportunity areas within the community that consist of numerous
acres that are now open land and zoned light industrial or
industrial. While not the only economically developable sites in
Hatfield, these parcels and parcel groups comprise a set of
locations in town that either currently or may in the future support
full economic development.
• Existing assets! As part of the economic development
planning process, the Town of Hatfield has also identified several
key vacant or underused buildings. While not the only economically
developable existing structures in Hatfield, these buildings present
opportunities through their re-use.
• Infrastructure! Hatfield offers most of the required
services for commercial development such as proper water volume and
pressure, electric supply, piped natural gas, broadband cable,
modern phone service. Town sewer is either available or within a
reasonable extension distance to most opportunity areas in town. The
town also has its own fire, police and ambulance departments.
• Incentives! While recognizing that existing and planned
community assets alone are not the only draw for businesses seeking
a home for operations, Hatfield also has taken further measures to
make it even more attractive to interested businesses. The town is a
member of the Massachusetts Economic Target Area (ETA) West whereby
certified development projects take advantage of special tax
assessments resulting in ongoing local property tax and state income
tax relief. To further expedite and enhance the certification
process of in-town projects, Hatfield’s recent actions to put in
place a master plan, updated zoning, an economic development plan,
ETA membership and an economic development entity will help position
its development projects high on the State’s “Smart Growth Criteria”
approval list. |
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More
details of what Hatfield has to offer are available to interested
developers and/or businesses. We also have a team of people ready
and willing to work with you on your location needs. As a next step,
feel free to contact either one of the individuals below for more
information and/or a tour of available sites.
Thank you
for your interest in how Hatfield can help satisfy your
organization’s location needs. |
