Short-Term Recommendations: <br />5.1 Establish a subcommittee of the River Road Community Organization to take <br />responsibility for providing ideas, input and creative energy for future <br />proposals that develop for the lower River Road area. There are also <br />suggested activities that should be led by the subcommittee. <br />A. A subcommittee work plan should be developed that outlines how the <br />committee wishes to be involved, and whether sub-committees or <br />additional neighborhood/stakeholder participants need to be identified <br />and appointed. <br />B. As funds are available, the City should provide a planning grant in <br />support of on-going planning activities. <br />C. Also see Recommendation 2.1. <br />Mid-Term Recommendations: <br />5.2 Develop business/institutional recruitment strategies. Desirable public and <br />private uses including a branch library, plaza/farmer's market, community <br />gardens, and small grocery have been identified but individual institutions <br />and businesses need to be recruited and attracted to the Lower River Road <br />Area. The RRCO in partnership with the City and interested property owners <br />should identify specific uses to be recruited to the area and strategies for <br />prospect recruitment. <br />5.3 Prepare a recruitment plan. The RRCO in partnership with the City economic <br />development staff should prepare a targeted recruitment plan for each <br />desirable use and develop collateral materials, presentations, spokesperson <br />training, etc. needed to gain the interest of a prospect, support the lower <br />River Road area as a desirable location, and to offer assistance. <br />5.4 Consider adopting a Vertical Housing Development Zone. This is a State. <br />program which offers a 10 year property tax exemption for mixed-use <br />projects that include housing uses on upper floors. The zone requires local . <br />enacting ordinance and regulations, and is a financial incentive for mixed-use <br />projects. <br />