Retail business leaders met June 24 to discuss the business climate in Bedford, including how to balance growth with preservation of the town’s character and the possibility of a permanent economic development fixture to assist businesses. Those involved in the development side of things will have their turn on July 22.

The “outreach forum” was held by the Bedford Economic Development Commission, a temporary commission set up to gather information from business leaders and residents and offer recommendations to the Town Council, including whether the town should have a fixed entity, such as a permanent committee or town position, overseeing economic development.

Much of the discussion focused on development along Route 101, a state road that is already congested not just with Bedford traffic, but also with cars traveling east/west in southern New Hampshire.

“The risk of developing Route 101 more than it is now is it becoming Route 101A, in Nashua, which is just light after light,” said DeeDee Zgonis, who owns Pizza Bella. “Too much traffic is actually worse for our businesses,” she added.

The forum also touched on the possibility of a Bedford Chamber of Commerce. Bedford businesses can join the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce – 126 are members, Marcoux said – but many said Bedford’s interests get lost in the large organization.

However, many people at the meeting said starting a chamber would take more time, money and effort than Bedford businesses would really be able to give, and setting up a committee on the Manchester chamber would be more feasible.

“I don’t see that Bedford has enough business, separate businesses, to support a chamber,” Alan Goedecke said.

Some in attendance expressed frustration with the business climate in Bedford, especially surrounding zoning issues.

“What’s the business climate?

Well, it’s anti-business. We pay a lot of taxes and then we get told ‘no’ all the time,” George Munson, whose family owns Bedford Fields, said.

Bill Dermody, who serves on the Town Council, asked Munson to be more specific. Munson said because of his business’s zoning, he is unable to put up reader board signs advertising new products or specials, and his businesses cannot sell certain products, such as bark mulch, in bulk.

Munson said many owners of businesses in Bedford also live in town, and do not want to put up big or flashy signs.

Jon Lariviere, with RJ Morrow Communities, suggested there could be more flexibility regarding signs for businesses with a group reviewing requests and allowing reasonable, aesthetically pleasing signs that might not meet the standards in the town’s laws to be erected.

Russ Marcoux, the town manager, said signs are a zoning issue that would have to be decided by the town.

The commission will host a forum with representatives of the development community on Wednesday, July 22, from 8 to 9:30 a.m., in the McAllaster Room of the Bedford Library.

Those interested in attending on July 22 are encouraged to contact the Town Offices at 472-5242 to register by July 21. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., with refreshments available, and the program starts promptly at 8 a.m.

Anyone with questions about any of these events is encouraged to contact either Russ Marcoux, town manager, at 472-5242 ext. 300, or rmar coux@ci.bedford.nh.us; or Rick Sawyer, planning director at 472-5242, ext. 319, or rsawyer @ci.bedford.nh.us.