With its vast amount of open space, Rochester seems ideal for further commercial development.

To entice businesses to move in, town officials have a few key plans to benefit both the business owners and the residents.

When the Concord Nurseries land on Route 28 went up for silent auction last month, Selectman Naida Parker said the Board suggested the property might be purchased for commercial development.

Farm Credit bank purchased the land, but officials haven’t given up hope that the property might attract a big-box store.

“It would be good for Rochester,” Parker said.

“The area is right near the highway so people wouldn’t have to drive through town to get to it. I hope the Planning Board would be open and receptive to anyone looking to come in. You want to see it being used and being a resource for surrounding communities.”

The idea was first brought before the Selectmen in 2009 by then-owner, Richard Canning.

At the time, Canning, former owner of R.F. Morse and Son Inc., was looking for advice before putting the land up for bid hoping to attract big-box stores.

Since then, Parker said the Selectmen have rezoned the area as general commercial allowing for larger businesses to move in.

Given its location on Cranberry Highway, she said the area would be ideal for many stores such as a supermarket, retail store, restaurant or even a fast food place.

“If I want to go to McDonald’s, I have to take a trip,” she said. “There’s no place for someone who wants something quick.”

Other than big-box stores, the Planning Board has been busy revising the home-business bylaw, which would make the process of starting their own small business less restrictive to residents.

Planning Board member Susan Teal said the board is getting closer to finalizing its revisions to the bylaw, which it will discuss at the next meeting on Tuesday, July 10.

“We want to make it a lot easier for people to work from home,” Teal said.

“We want to make certain that all home business is done in a way without having a negative affect on the neighbors.”

Being able to work from home can be advantageous for residents, Teal said.

“Telecommunicating has only been in place 10 or 15 years. Before then, people couldn’t work from home. Now it’s a real advantage. It’s less time commuting and a more comfortable place,” she said.

Taxpayers would also reap the benefits, as more businesses would help offset the burden on property owners.

“We want to encourage people and make it easy for people to have home businesses in this economy. We don’t want to discourage anyone,” Teal said.

The Planning Board is also working on a draft of a Village District Overlay in the center of town allowing for both residential and limited commercial development.

If the plan is approved by a Town Meeting, Selectman Naida Parker said she is confident it could drive more businesses into town by making it easier for residents to go through the permitting process of starting their own business.

“If the area was limited commercial, it would facilitate more business coming into town,” Parker said.

“Without this, people would have to go before the Zoning Board of Appeals because it’s not allowed. That’s discouraging. We should be encouraging to the Planning Board to restructure the center.”

Teal agreed, but added that the plan is still in progress and is not ready to be presented before a Town Meeting at this time.

“We want to protect the feel and the spirit of the center of the Village while allowing more diverse development under less restrictive bylaws,” she said.

“Rochester has it’s own style. We’re blessed with a lot of open space.”