Business View Civil and Municipal | September 2022

122 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 The first priority is focusing on reworking the town’s current zoning. Dracut is currently going through a complete rezoning process with an ultimate goal of increasing the overall size of the industrial zone and adding more mixed-use zones to the area as well. “We do have a pretty good industrial sector of businesses and we’re looking to improve that and expand it,” Phelps says, “and mixed-use has become a big thing, so we are trying to increase areas where we can have retail with housing in the same building or the same complex.” Part of the rezoning has included adapting former mill buildings to be used for retail and office use. One of the old mill buildings, which was originally built in the 1800s, was recently repurposed into a cannabis growing facility. “It’s a great use for it,” Phelps says. “They’ve done really amazing things to the inside and have plans to beautify the outside of the building, too. It’s right along Beaver Brook, which is a really picturesque brook that runs through town.” One of the major business sectors Dracut is hoping to attract is more entertainment. The town is currently in talks with a developer who wants to build an indoor recreation facility that would include batting cages, tennis courts, pickleball courts, and a soccer pitch. Designs are in the works for a 23-acre parcel of land that will be centrally located for access from most of the town’s neighbourhoods. “Entertainment to me is a key at this point for AT A GLANCE DRACUT, MASSACHUSETTS WHAT: A charming, progressive New England town; population approx. 33,000 WHERE: Middlesex County, MA WEBSITE: www.dracutma.gov