The Town of Hope is backing away from a proposal that would ease economic development for property owners in the area around the Town Square.

Susan Thayer-Fye, head of the Hope Main Street organization, asked the Town Council this week to take the first steps toward creating an economic revitalization area in the blocks surrounding the Town Square. Thayer-Fye explained that the zone would allow developers to apply for incentives such as tax abatements. She asked the council to set up a future public hearing to consider the proposal — a first step toward approval.

However, tax abatements are not available for shops and restaurants, which make up a majority of the businesses around the square. Town Council members balked at the idea of giving preferences to offices or manufacturing facilities in the area.

Instead, Town Council members turned down the Main Street request for a future public hearing. Council members said they would prefer to take such requests for revitalization area status on a property-by-property basis. Each individual property owner could ask for the status, and if that were approved, then come back to ask for tax abatements.