FREEPORT- Some 40 people took on issues including commercial development along the Route 1 south corridor and promoting Freeport as “an international outdoor recreation destination,” during round-table discussions Aug. 15, as part of the Freeport Economic Development Corp.’s Vision 2025 project.

Sande Updegraph, the executive director of the economic development organization, said that Vision 2025 is intended to work in concert with the town’s comprehensive plan, which was passed in 2011. Updegraph said while the comprehensive plan provides some guidance on the direction of the town’s future, the intent of Vision 2025 is to use that guidance to come up with some tangible goals. Work on Vision 2025 began in September 2011 and the group’s plan is to take the input it receives at the public meeting and use that to help further refine its plans for the future. The final Vision 2025 study is expected to be released in October.

The bulk of last week’s meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn was spent with tables of eight people taking part in a moderated discussion, with the entire group sharing their thoughts for the final portion of the meeting.

When it came to the discussion of branding Freeport as an outdoor recreation destination, there were mixed opinions, with some residents being hesitant to promote activities that would drive traffic through residential areas on its way to the water or hiking trails.

“I’m not sure we can be all things to all people,” said Freeport resident Linda Voigt.

However, Dave Herring, the executive director of Wolfe’s Neck Farm, said that while problems of increased traffic through residential areas and parking do need to be considered, there are large economic benefits to promoting outdoor recreational possibilities. “Increasing the access to outdoor recreation can increase the amount of time people spend in Freeport,” Herring said.

Joyce Veilleux said she felt the town needed to do a better job promoting its recreational areas, saying that even some residents don’t realize how much Freeport has to offer in the way of outdoor recreation.

“We need to educate the residents and tourists to what we have,” she said. “This town has hundreds of miles of hiking trails, good hiking trails and there needs to be a directory (of those trails.)”

Regarding the Route 1 south corridor, Freeport Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debora King said she believed that was a key piece in the future economic development of the town.

“I would like to see more development along Route 1 south,” King said. “A lot of small businesses who would like to have storefront that are perhaps not capable of paying the rents that are afforded downtown still want to be able to be accessible with good parking, good visibility, and I’m thinking south Freeport certainly lends itself to that.”

However, resident Drew Sachs said just saying the town wants development in that area doesn’t mean it will be successful.

“There needs to be a destination significant enough to draw people down the Route 1 South corridor,” he said.

Another issue is the question of how to bring people from the village to potential businesses in that area. There is no public transportation system in the town, though several residents at the meeting said the arrival of the Amtrak Downeaster and its car-less passengers could be a reason to look into some sort of shuttle to move people around.

King said the idea isn’t as simple as it seems.

“Public transportation is certainly an issue, but the question remains, who pays for it?” King said. “It’s very expensive to run.”

King said it was vital that the public be involved in forward-looking projects such as Vision 2025.

The public process is such a vital component to the whole visioning process because there are pockets in the community that have a different perspective on things and we need to hear from everyone,” she said. “I commend FEDC for constantly reaching out and making everyone part of this process.”

While retail sales will always be a big part of the town’s economic development, King said, it’s important to make people realize that isn’t the only thing going on in town.

“Freeport is more than just a shopping experience,” King said. “We really need to capitalize on our location, our historical significance to this state and to New England. We have so much to offer.”