Hopatcong to Focus on Economic Development

Hopatcong Mayor Sylvia Petillo said Saturday she's planning organizing an economic development and revitalization committee to help grow business in the borough.

The committee would be comprised of council members and residents, Petillo said. Councilmen Howard Baker and Michael Francis are expected to be on the committee, she said.

"It would be business owners, residents—we would take ideas from all those interested in the town and in the county," Petillo said.

Petillo said the committee would focus on short-term and long-term economic planning. Jumpstarting the borough's business climate won't happen overnight, though, she said.

"It's going to take time," Petillo said. "It's not something we're looking at for only now, but as how you're going to use your land and how you're going to bring economic development in for the future. You're looking five, 10 years out."

Petillo said the borough would first consult with the county about economic development and hammer out several issues, including whether to conform to the Highlands regional master plan, before creating the committee. Revitalizing the River Styx area would be among the committee's many goals, she said.

Petillo said Hopatcong's economy was already looking up, citing the opening of and a number of business approvals the borough has recently granted.

"People are starting to put money into their own properties to restore the image of the town," she said.