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The town of Lee has been streamlining its application approach for new businesses and developments. (Photo courtesy Semperdrone)
In an effort to become more welcoming to new businesses, the town of Lee is adopting a “Friend-Lee” approach to economic development and is seeking to demystify the application process for residents and developers.
Over the past year, Lee has been redesigning its intake approach to help business applicants and developers navigate the permitting process more smoothly. Dovetailing with efforts to shape the future of the Berkshires community and its overall development ecosystem, the changes are aimed at fostering greater coordination within Town Hall, and helping applicants, who often need multiple approvals before they can open for business.
“Everyone was kind of operating in a silo,” said Town Administrator R. Christopher Brittain. “You’d come up and you’d get your building permit, you’d go see somebody else for your common victualler license, and then someone else for your health license. So that’s where the idea came from — why not … help them out and get everyone together in one room, and sort of do it all in one shot?”
Town officials could tell that applicants were confused about the process, but the streamlining effort gained momentum after the arrival of Brooke Healy, Lee’s first town planner, in December 2024. A new standardized system could “at least alleviate some of these back-and-forth frustrations” applicants face when working with multiple departments and boards for approvals, she said.
“We don’t expect people to come in knowing exactly how to get stuff done, because it’s not their job,” Healy said. “It’s our job to know that. It’s our job to help them.”
Last June, town officials met with business owners, business organizations including the Lee Chamber of Commerce, and community members to gather feedback on the existing process and potential improvements.
Under the new “Friend-Lee” approach, applicants are able to fill out an online form to describe their plans and arrange for an initial meeting with Healy. The process will also feature a roundtable meeting with representatives from relevant departments.
From there, the town will develop a list of next steps for the project, with Healy as the point person helping the applicant navigate the process. (Under the old process, applicants needed to approach different departments on their own and try to decipher the requirements and the sequencing of various steps.)
“The idea is to just be clear in the process and the direction of how somebody should go,” Healy said.
The new process will formally come online with a town website overhaul that’s nearing completion, Healy said.
The town has undertaken other projects to bolster economic growth, including addressing vacant storefronts downtown, reviewing and modernizing zoning bylaws, and considering renovating a former historic fire station into a community center to inject more vibrancy into downtown.
Town officials have been studying Lee’s remaining vacant mills to promote reuse. The redevelopment of one of those mills is expected to add about 200 new housing units near downtown, and bring more people downtown, within the next few years, Healy said.
“Working on improving our main streets, improving what we offer, and making it the gateway to the Berkshires is good for all of those involved, whether you’re a weekend tourist, second homeowner, or you live here,” Healy said. “We want to make sure that people have what they need and what they want in a town, and we can accurately and adequately support that.”