HILLSBOROUGH: Democrats speak in support of business development plans

Hillsborough candidates Thuy Anh Le and John Beggiato have vowed to make it a priority to get Hillsborough’s storefronts filled, its office space better occupied and its entire business and downtown plan thoroughly reviewed, when they are voted onto the Township Committee.
They discussed their plans for local business and economic development before a meeting of the Hillsborough Democratic Alliance.
The number of empty storefronts, the lack of new clean ratables and the difficulty of finding existing businesses because of poor signage were all points raised by members of the audience as being issues, according to the candidates.
Noting that local businesses have expressed concerns that current commercial sign restrictions hamper their ability to attract customers, the candidates suggested that the township could benchmark with other towns that have developed these ordinances in order to provide a balance between businesses competing with those in surrounding towns, while not allowing Route 206 in Hillsborough to look like Route 22 in other parts of Somerset County.
While Hillsborough’s commercial sign ordinance regulation includes the size, style and lighting of these signs, it needs to be revisited focusing on attracting visitors passing through or residents who are trying to find these businesses in town, the candidates said.
Several residents noted the number of stores that have closed up shop in Hillsborough, including some large storefronts like K-Mart and Cost Cutters that have been empty for quite a while. They asked what the current administration’s plan to bring businesses back to those empty stores while developers insist on constructing more commercial sites.
"You can’t have progress unless you plan for the future," said Mr. Beggiato. "There are too many vacant buildings with no compelling plans to attract businesses to fill them."
Since Duke Farms reopened its newly designed doors to the public in 2012, just more than a million visitors have enjoyed its natural beauty. Appropriate signage and an available list of local places to eat and visit could draw them to Hillsborough businesses, Ms. Le said.
The candidates said they suggested the town partner with Duke Farms and local businesses to increase business traffic, instead of losing these tourists to other towns. This partnership would create the catalyst for a downtown renewal for new and existing businesses. This is especially important with the new Route 206 Bypass diverting potential customers away from local businesses.
Le and Beggiato stated they would address this immediately when they are elected to the Township Committee. This includes a vision that involves linking the heritage of the farming community.
"Buying local comes naturally when residents get compelling information about the local businesses," Ms. Le said. "If people feel they can get good value locally, then they will be more than willing to stay in Hillsborough to do their shopping. And visitors who come to Duke Farms, the Sourlands, the D&R Greenway, or visit Hillsborough for other reasons, will shop here if they are well-informed and businesses are easy to find. Frankly, more people will want to live in a town where the businesses are doing well."