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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-09-20 Board of Selectmen HandoutTOWN MANAGER'S REPORT Tuesday, September 20, 2005 ♦ I'd like to introduce Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Robert LeLacheur o The Board had a suggestion at it's Forum that the Memorial Park deed restrictions may have expired after 50 years, as is the case in private transactions. Town Counsel has replied that this is not the case. ♦ The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen is asked to sign amendments to correct deed riders for 3 of the transactions at the Maplewood Village development. ♦ The Board of Selectmen has an up-to-date chart of water use to-date, and the chart also tracks rain events. We will prepare this as part of the monthly reports from now on. ♦ I have resigned my membership on MIIA Board of Directors. I have done this so there is no perception of any conflict as the Town of Reading bids its Health Insurance this fall. This was an unpaid position, and I believe my membership has been beneficial to both the MIIA program and the Town over the past several years. Town employees including the entirety of the DPW, Police, Fire, and RMLD, as well as selected positions within the remainder of Town government have been going through Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS) training related to security. This is being done by Lt. Rick Nelson of the Reading Fire Department under the command of Chief Burns. The Town has received a grant from Underground Storage Tank program in the amount of $10,125 for the removal of the oil tank at RMHS. We will get those funds directed to the school project. Chief Burns has processed the paperwork for this project and we got the maximum we were able to receive. ♦ The Board of Selectmen conducted site walks on September 10 of the Chute Street neighborhood, and of potential sites for a new water treatment plant site. Follow-up on each will be scheduled for the Board of Selectmen as soon as adequate follow-up by staff can be achieved. Additional input has been received and is in the Board of Selectmen reading material. e The Board of Selectmen Forum was held on September 13, 7:30 PM, and there were 9 calls. A summary has been produced for the Board. I have conducted a "Sole Source procurement" for phone service for Town and School phone systems. The Board of Selectmen has the material on this matter attached. This is necessary in order to get caller ID available on Town phones. There is only one company operating in Reading that can provide that service. ♦ The Police Department is moving a crossing guard form Main and Franklin to Emerson and Franklin. We will continue to monitor the need for crossing guards at various positions in the community. ♦ We are investigating the possibility of a cell site at Library? The first issue is the feasibility and impact on library space, and whether the Library feels that would be worthwhile balanced against the income that would be generated. ♦ Flu Clinics: Wednesday, November 2, 2005 Killam School - 2pm-4pm (for residents 65 and older) ♦ Monday, November 14, 2005 Coolidge Middle School 5pm77pm s Wednesday, November 16, 2005 Parker Middle School 5pm-7pm 6) ♦ The Board of Selectmen has asked that we preview future agendas, and get material to the Board longer ahead of time than the weekend before the meeting at which the issue is to be addressed. October 4, 2005 Highlights jAppraiser/Assessors Report on Hospital Development Committee (Follow-up - 75 Pleasant Street lApproval of local Water Resource Management. Plan (Review Goals JOctober 11, 2005 - (Review action status reports I "old" Sanborn Lane 10/18/2005 WORKSHOP MEETING lReport on I-93 Containment 'Follow-up on Dangerous Dogs ITraffiic Issues - Avalon Stop sign I lOctober 25, 2005 Adopt an Island Reception - Sr. Ctr. Review action status .reports (Review Wood End School area operation (3) Board of Selectmen Trackinq Loq for Current Issues/Proiects Date Issue/Project/ Identified Problem Resp. Select. Action Needed Follow-up Dent. Liaison Date Traffic Issues Determination of status of street. 1/1/85 Old Sanborn Lane Private road - new school traffic Installation of stop sign. Speeding 1/5/05 Louanis Dr. at Avalon in neighborhood with children Traffic assessment - ease of pick- 7/1/05 Wood End School up/drop-off at 4 access Points DPW Bonazoli Neighborhood meeting 10/11/05 Review by PTTF. Scheduled for Police Duffv Board of Selectmen discussion 10/18/05 Review by staff and school following Town Mgr. Anthony Period of operation 10/25/05 Development Proiects Overflow of detention basin - flooding has occurred in 1/1/90 Gazebo Circle neighborhood durina severe storms Engineer Bonazoli Condo Assoc. to talk to develooer Release of State Funds - State has funded in previous park/recreation 1/1/00 Pitman Bike Path bond bill Planner Tafoya Need for Town to access funds Traffic study submitted 9-14-05; Peer review complete by early October; Then schedule Board of Selectmen 1/1/05 Addison Weslev Comolete Traffic Presentation - Planner Tafoya meeting with notice to public 11/15/05 Lighting has impacted neighbors I Jordan's Furniture due to height of fixtures Town Mar. Anthonv Town to hire a liqhtinq consultant Status of 100% design submission and approval; determination of what if any items will not be funded by 1/1/85 Downtown Improvements the State Engineer Anthonv Completing 100 % Design Water Issues Skateboard Park No Options appear to be available ' Downtown Parking lack of Parking Draft regulations Rt. 128/1-93 1 n tercha nae Imaaination Station Needs to be refurbished Recreation 1-93 Containment 9/20/2005 3 Board of Selectmen Tracking Loa for Current Issues/Proiects Date Issue/Project/ Identified Problem Resp. Select. Action Needed Dent. Liaison I Memorial Park Controversv over allowed uses 9/20/2005 Find heirs and get approval or file a petition for a Cv Pres Follow-up Date I If AN Still Time to Register MMA's 8th Annual Joint Conference for Aldermen, Councillors & Selectmen Date: September 23-24, 2005 Location: Worcester Crowne Plaza Hotel Conference Highlights: • Secretary of Environmental Affairs Stephen Pritchard • Making it in Massachusetts • Worcester Mobile Workshop • Secretary of Transportation John Cogliano • Youth Intervention • Citizen Communication Featured Speaker Marjorie Clapprood, Radio and TV Personality Phd E3 For a full agenda with workshop descriptions, visit www.mma.org. Please share this with your colleagues. To Register, complete form below and return to MMA by fax 617-695-1314 Name/Title: Municipality: Phone Number: E-Mail: ❑ Full Conference ($$5) ❑ One-Day - Friday only ($60) ❑ One-Day - Saturday only ($60) Guests: Attendees may pay an additional flat fee of $30 per person for any guest attending meals. "Guest" refers to significant others/ children. Guests will not receive conference materials. Name: Please check off all meals your guest will be attending: ❑ Dinner ❑ Breakfast ❑ Lunch Please look on the back for a schedule of events 0 Friday, September 23 2:00 p.m. Coffee and Registration 3:00 p.m. Welcoming Remarks 3:15 p.m. Economic Development Initiatives - Secretary Pritchard 3:45 p.m. Making it in Massachusetts! 4:30 p.m. Worcester Mobile Workshop 6:45 p.m. Reception 7:.15 p.m. Dinner 8:30 p.m. Featured Speaker: Marjorie Clapprood Saturday, September 24 .7:15 a.m. Breakfast (until 8:30 a.m.) 8:15 a.m. Registration 8:30 a.m. Welcoming Remarks 8:45 a.m. MMA Legislative Review & Forecast 9:15 a.m. Local Responses to Global Challenges 10:00 a.m. Transportation Priorities - Secretary Cogliano 11:00 a.m.. Municipal Responsibility to Youth Actions 12:00 p.m. Getting the Word Out: Communicating with Citizens 1:00 p.m. Lunch and Closing Remarks 0 Hechenbleikner, Peter From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Hi Peter, Sally Hoyt [sallyhoyt@hotmail.com] Sunday, September 18, 2005 12:34 PM Town Manager sallyhoyt@hotmail.com B.O.S. Meeting Tues. Sept. 20, Master Plan Thanks again for your great help. I should be filed the petition Monday. I would appreciate being granted sufficient time to speak at the Board of Selectmen's l meeting on Tuesday evening after the presentation of the Master Plan. I have input to present that may take a few minutes. I understand that CPCD shall present its plan for the "mixed use" bylaw on Monday evening. I may attend to listen to what is being proposed, for information only. How many appointees on the Zoning Board of Appeals have Engineering degrees? We need to consider having people on this Board who are knowledgeable about developments and the inpact on abutters. Thanks - I shall see you on Tuesday evening. Sally Hoyt 1 t6S 9.20' Schena, Paula From: phil@rctv.org Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2005 3:37 PM To: Hechenbleikner, Peter Cc: Schena, Paula; Domenic LaCava; Marcel Dubois Subject: Re: Read: Selectmen Room cameras To the Reading Board of Selectmen: I would like to express my support for the proposed resolution urging our representatives in Congress to reject H.R. 3146 (Blackburn-Wynn) and S. 1349 (Smith-Rockefeller) and S. 1504 (Ensign-McCain). All of these bills impact the ability of this community to effectively negotiate cable television licenses which directly benefit the people of this community. Through the current structure, Reading is able to sit down with representatives from our cable television company and decide what is important to us. Under the proposed legislation, this becomes a thing of the past. Reading has received franchise fees which help to support and maintain our public rights of way. Reading also uses funding for communications systems, the cablecasting of meetings like this one, and for the support of Reading Community Television. At RCTV, we have strived to create programming which focuses on the positive aspects of our community. Our members produce programming, about Reading issues and Reading people. Local residents can join in and learn new skills or sharpen old ones in television and media production. People have been involved in projects providing information to veterans, senior citizens, adults and most recently, media education at RMHS. Our members also tape and share high school varsity sports, youth games, school concerts, and other town events. It is not required for anyone to have their own camera or computer to participate. RCTV provides training and equipment to those who wish to serve the community through this media. We also provide the opportunity for internships in a real television environment to local college and high school students. While with us, they do a lot more than get coffee. They practice skills which translate into experience to launch their careers. RCTV provides free postings to all nonprofit organizations, schools and churches via the community bulletin boards on channels 9, 10, and 22. This service helps organizations connect to the people they are trying to reach.. Local churches use the station to get services to people who are unable to attend.. Proponents of the proposed bills in Congress say that they are trying to encourage competition. The reality is that the cable TV business, like many others, has consolidated to just a few large media conglomerates. Only the large telephone companies have the resources to enter the market. They are doing so anyway without the help of these bills. Thank you again for'proposing this resolution to stop H.R. 3146 (Blackburn-Wynn) and S. 1349 (Smith-Rockefeller) and S. 1504 (Ensign-McCain). It is important for our local elected officials to do what they can to protect the public rights of way and the public space on cable television systems. Philip Rushworth Executive Director Reading Community TV This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program. 1 0 READING, MA MASTER PLAN_ ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MPAC) Current members: Chairman Richard Howard, Secretary Jonathan Barnes, John Sasso, Susan DeMatteo, Neil Sullivan, Ben Tafoya, Jack Russell, Janet Allen, George Katsoufrs, Peter Smargon, Virginia Adams, Tim Kelley Town Planner: Chris Reilly (781)-942-6612 crei lly&i.reading. ma.us FAX: 781-942-9071 MASTER PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE CITIZEN OPINION QUESTIONNAIRE REGARDING FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN READING To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following master plan objectives or action strategies: 1. Introduce mixed use zoning in the Downtown and around the Train Depot which would allow residential units on upper floors and retail on the first floor. Strongly agree DAgree CDNot sure C1Disagree D Strongly disagree [B 2. Examine business properties along South Main St with regard to re-zoning with particular attention to relocating parking to the rear to allow beautification in the front. Strongly agree (i Agree DNot sure f'1 Disagree D Strongly disagree D 3. Construct a multi-level parking garage in the municipal lot behind CVS funded by a combination of state and federal grants, developer contributions and other funding sources. !Strongly agree DAgree DNot sure DDisagreeEl Strongly disagreeE 4. Reading has need for more varied retail businesses in Town Strongly agree D Agree DNot sure El Disagree D Strongly disagree D 5. Protect the historical village pattern in the Town by the balance of it constituents: buildings, streets and natural elements. Promote this balance as a prerequisite for developments to a size familiar and c6mfortable to people. Strongly agree D Agree F1 Not sure El Disagree D Strongly disagree 6. In already developed residential neighborhoods, promote the design of new construction or renovation to be compatible with their surroundings. t ;Strongly agree DAgree DNot sure DDisagreeD Strongly disagree 7. Promote the preservation and enhancement of Reading's existing uplands and wooded areas and public access to these areas, particularly in new developments. Strongly agree D Agree DNot sure D Disagree D Strongly disagree D 8. Create path systems connecting schools, open space, and neighborhoods, by developing walkingibiking trails between open spaces. !Strongly agree El Agree DNot sure DDisagree [I Strongly disagree 12 9. Acquire more open land for playing fields, family picnic areas and small neighborhood parks. 1 of 4 9/20/2005 5:36 PM Strongly agree 1 Agree (.';Not sure E Disagree d'; Strongly disagree C l 10. Develop a comprehensive Town-wide parking plan to address employee parking and alternate locations for garages to create more parking options. Strongly agree U Agree ONot sure El Disagree El Strongly disagree El 11. Develop a pedestrian safety priority list for completing all needed sidewalk extensions and improving crossings, including pedestrian lights, where safety is a concern. Strongly agree MAgree nNot sure [D Disagree El Strongly disagree El 12. In cooperation with neighboring communities, promote initiatives to address the increase of traffic and limited transit options. ;Strongly agree 0 Agree O.-Not sure LJ Disagree El Strongly disagree CI 13. Develop a multi-faceted housing plan to produce the required number of state-mandated affordable housing units throughout the Town so as to minimize the impact of large 40-B developments. Strongly agree `j Agree []Not sure E] Disagree El Strongly disagree 0 14. Provide a range of housing options to meet the requirements of singles, starter families and the elderly. Strongly agree L7 Agree ,,Not sure ElDisagree El Strongly disagree ED 15. Overall, the Town conveys a friendly atmosphere, which is comfortable and familiar to the individual. 'Strongly agree n Agree E]Not sure El Disagree El Strongly disagree 0 16. Existing, remodeled or newly built, single-family houses substantially larger in size than the Town's traditional capes, ranches and colonials have a negative effect on the Town's character. Strongly agree r -iAgree EiNot sure CIDisagree 0 Strongly disagree El 17. Require that new large projects, residential, commercial or mixed use, blend in with the street network and types of houses adjacent to them. !Strongly agree El Agree DNot sure El Disagree El Strongly disagree 18. Establish an official Town commission to plan, encourage, and control economic development activities town-wide consistent with the Town's character and identity. Strongly agree n Agree Not sure El Disagree Q Strongly disagree Ei Check your preference for the options listed: 119. Since there is no market in the foreseeable future for an office/hotel development at the former Addison-Wesley site (Rt. 128 & 28), which type of development would be most compatible with the neighborhood and the Town's character and identity? Boutique retail shops 0 (400,000 sf) Town purchase 0 Townhouse/Condo El (200 units) 55+ Housing 0 120. Select the term which bests describes your perception of Reading. F 40B Apartments 0 (600 units) Other Mixed Use El (Shops plus 75 housing units) of 4 9/20/2005 5:36 PM Small-town feel El New England El Bedroom ED Other El Village town community 121. Indicate whether Reading has too few (Too F), the right amount (R Amt) or too many (Too M) of the following ;types of businesses to meet the needs or its residents over. the next five years. i a) Banks © b) Fast Food Restaurants Ic) Gas Stations/Garages 0 d) Extended Stay Restaurants Ei le) Supermarkets El f) Exercise/Health Clubs K g) Drug Stores D h) Clothing Stores (E i) Appliance Stores CI j) Other Retail Stores Cl Tell us about yourself: 22. Are you a resident of Reading? Yes El No El '23. How old are you? I Under 20 R 20-40 40-60 El Over 60 El 24. Where do you work? Reading rBoston O Other 1771 .25. Do you work at home? Yes r No 5 If yes, how many days per week? 126. How do commute to work? i Public transportation O Carpool E] Car (single occupant) Ej At home Ej Please mail this questionnaire to Town Planner, 16 Lowell St., Reading, MA 01867, fax to the Town Planner at 781-942-9071, drop off at Community Services, Town Hall or if you can print to a PDF file complete online at www.ci.reading.ma.us/planning/masterplaiii.htm and e-mail to creilly@ci.reading.ma.us . Submit I Reset I i 3 of 4 9/20/2005 5:36 PM MASTER PLAN 2005 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - DRAFT 7 - GK/Ih The summary that follows illustrates the main issues and proposals included in the 2005 Master Plan, as approved by the Planning Board (Community Planning and Development Commission, or CPDC) in January 2006. The Master Plan continues the tradition of thoughtful, responsible planning that Reading has demonstrated throughout the years, especially since the issuance of the last Master Plan in 1991. The completed 2005 Master Plan addresses issues about Boston's regional growth and issues on .smart growth for sustainable communities, thus moving Reading forward into the 21 st century. 1. PLAN ROLE FOR TOWN/BOARDS This Master Plan will be used by Town administration while defending legal challenges to Board or Commission decisions, guiding land use through zoning amendments, directing administrative priorities and management, enabling state-sanctioned housing and economic development plans, and accessing state funding to promote ongoing capital projects. More important, the true value of the Plan lies in providing a vision by which the community as a whole can share in the management of Reading's future. This Master Plan will be used by Town Staff, various boards, community volunteers, local businesses, and civic organizations-and possibly by organizations. Many, if not all, of these individuals and organizations have been part of the development of the Master Plan. Their input, coupled with validation from the public, forms the basis for the plan, and has driven the advisory committee to adopt those items that are seen as a priority by these constituents. The guidance contained in the 1991 Master Plan has steered the town's boards, committees and staff to pursue items such as the downtown improvements, finalization of the capping of the landfill and development of the site, increases in affordable housing, and numerous changes to town by-laws consistent with the prior plan's goals and objectives. A similar level of planning effort is expected with regards to the 2005 Master Plan. 2. ROLE OF THE VISION STATEMENT During the last decade, several large new developments were introduced in Reading, generating substantial public participation in crucial CPDC and Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meetings. This involvement illustrates a high level of resident interest in the future of the Town. The Town-Wide Visioning Workshop held on April 9, 2003 under the public process of the Community Development (CD) Plan, established the following set of seven visioning themes, which were then combined into one "Vision Statement." • Protect the sense of Community: in the neighborhoods, in the small-town feel, in the scenic ways and in the volunteerism of the residents. • Retain and enhance the natural resources and the open space of the Town. • Provide housing for a diverse range of incomes and ages, while expanding the infrastructure necessary to support it. • Generate a business-friendly atmosphere throughout the Town and initiate changes so as to create a more vibrant downtown. • Maintain Reading's connections to the regional interstate/highway network and to public transportation, while promoting other necessary local road improvements. • Improve walking and bicycling within the town, with a focus on safety and access of open/natural spaces. • Protect the excellence of the Reading School system. The development of the Vision Statement was open and all-inclusive, and the issues brought forward were diverse, rich and inspiring. Additional issues and themes have been tested, distilled and enhanced in relationship to the seven main themes. Throughout the process, the Plan has remained aware of the issues brought forward by Reading residents. The key elements of the Vision Statement not only provided guidance for the development of the goals and objectives for the Plan, but also for the prioritization of action items based on effective short-term impact criteria. 3. PLAN'S STRUCTURE The Plan is divided into three parts, with a total of thirteen chapters. Part I includes a letter from the Master Plan Advisory Committee (MPAC), the Executive Summary and the Introduction. Part II contains the following seven themes/land-uses, each of which is developed with background material, an analysis of conditions, and proposed goals/objectives. • Character and Identity - This chapter elaborates on what the Town means to its residents and the image it conveys to visitors. Reading's New England Village structure (center-residential neighborhoods-business corridors-natural environment) requires that it be protected from abrupt changes even as its ability to absorb its share of the region's growth is enhanced. The housing crisis in the Boston region has required and will continue to require continuous planning for growth within the Town's environment of balanced land-uses, human scale neighborhoods and excellent school system. • Housing - Since the 1991 Master Plan was developed, a great deal of housing development has occurred, primarily in large farm tracts that could not sustain themselves under the real estate market pressure to develop. The Town has failed to meet a state criterion of having 10% of all housing units affordable, thereby allowing developers to circumvent local zoning and build iri Reading with state permits, a process known as 40B developments. (As of August 2005, Reading had 7.3% of its units labeled as affordable under state standards.) Because the community lacks affordable units for its family-starters, seniors and moderate- income families, the character and identity of the community has been threatened. Based on demographic projections, those three groups are expected to grow in the next decade, so higher demand for less expensive homes is forthcoming. The community will not be complete without the ability to offer options for our children and our seniors, for households on a fixed income, for long-time residents, and for those who do not drive. Affordability and diversity in housing types and in household demographics are fundamental to maintaining Reading as an open, motivated and proud community. The quest for innovative funding mechanisms and the planning for housing strategies are high-level goals which will continue to require a great deal of effort by the Town. Economic Development - During the last decade, Reading has seen a tremendous increase in housing valuation, similar to other communities in the region. As a result, the commercial/industrial sector in Reading, although showing a 6% gain between from 1990 to 2003, has been contributing a decreasing percentage to the town's taxes. To address the heavy reliance on residential property taxes, this Master Plan recommends that the Town establish a new Economic Development Commission whose purpose would be to solicit the development of new businesses in Reading. In parallel, the Downtown and South Main Street areas need to undergo zoning enhancements that will allow their image to improve. Natural, Historic and Cultural Resources -The quantity and quality of public water supply and the seasonal drainage of Ipswich River has been a major concern for many years, resulting in a year 2005 approval for a summer-time connection to the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA). Further conservation planning for uplands and wooded areas, enforcement of wetlands protection through current zoning bylaws, containment of storm water runoff and flooding, all of the above are current environmental concerns that affect Board/Committee decisions for new developments. The impacts of future residential and business growth can be mitigated by an increased effort in environmental planning from the Town. In parallel, the Historical Commission, with a Demolition Delay Bylaw and Scenic Roads Program as tools, will protect buildings of historical significance and establish historic districts where appropriate, as a reflection of how much the Town values its architectural heritage and character. Open Space and Recreation - The 2001 Open Space Plan has been a valuable resource for the 2005 Master Plan. The Town is facing the challenge of maintaining and increasing open spaces and recreational resources, which are elements that contribute to the Town's quality of life, without appropriate funding. The Community Preservation Act (CPA) can be pursued again to allow state funding for open space protection and acquisition, this time with a better program definition and timeframe. While open spaces and places for recreation are necessary to have, it is also important to design a network that connects them, a safe system by which pedestrians and bicyclists can move around town. Services and Facilities - The document used by Town Meeting to appropriate the Fiscal year budget, the 10 Year Capital Plan, contains the state of community services and public facilities and the expenditures for building, infrastructure and service improvements. This chapter is largely based on the Capital Plan and reflects the goal and objectives set forth in that document. Transportation - Since 1990, the ease of acquiring and maintaining a. car has contributed substantial congestion to interstates, highways and to streets throughout the region. Reading residents have followed the trend of automobile dependency, driving more miles per day and owning more cars per household. With the MBTA on limited funding, current trips to work are unlikely to change in mode in the near future. For non-work related trips, local shuttle opportunities will likely arise for seniors and for shopping/recreation purposes. To obtain funding for transit projects, the Town will need to support area-wide organizations (such as Transportation Management Associations) and state agencies. The current Town-wide Traffic Study, supplemented with a new Town-wide Parking Study, will be a valuable tool as the Town attempts to provide parking options in the Downtown area, satellite employee parking options, and sidewalk improvements where safety is paramount. Participation in the Massachusetts Highway Department 1-93/1-95 Interchange Task Force planning initiative should continue in order to ensure Reading's interests in the project are well advocated. Part III sets forth action items for the implementation of priority objectives. Responsibility for the implementation of each action item has been assigned to a specific Town administrative body or Town board. However, MPAC realized early on that a realistic implementation effort would not be able to cover all the objectives and action items in the Plan. Chapter 9 presents a set of 21 objectives that topped a priority list produced between May and August 2005. These high-priority objectives are as follows: Character and Identity • Protect the Town's historical village pattern: its buildings, streets and material elements. Promote this balance as a prerequisite for developments to a scale familiar and comfortable to the individual. • Promote the design of new construction so that it seamlessly blends in with its surroundings. Housing • Pursue an increase in Town involvement with housing goals, and investigate additional funding vehicles to improve them. Communicate housing goals to residents. • Encourage new developments and th6 rehabilitation and reconstruction of existing buildings not only that are consistent with the Town's character and identity but also that meet state-mandated affordable housing goals. • Introduce mixed-use development in the Downtown area and around the depot. Economic Development • Study the various options available and recommend to the Board of Selectmen the type of official commission or standing committee needed to best meet the development needs of the Town and to better obtain state and federal development grants. • Examine properties with regard to re-zoning with particular attention to reducing the front setback requirements and expanding the use of the PUD-B overlay district. • Pursue all possible state and federal grants to hire consultants to generate a detailed streetscape beautification plan for Main Street from Washington Street south to 195/128, similar to the plan recently completed for the Downtown area. Natural and Cultural Resources • Promote the preservation and enhancement of Reading's existing uplands and wood areas and public accessibility to these areas-particularly in new developments-through appropriate amendment to the Zoning By-Laws and ! subdivision regulations and through other measures such as impact fees. • Encourage the development of a regional resource protection plan (Aberjona, Saugus and Ipswich watersheds, Cedar Swamp) and of regional efforts to reduce water, groundwater and air pollution. • Protect well fields and water recharge areas, and strengthen enforcement of the Aquifer Protection Zoning By-Law. • Maintain and add to the Town's inventory of historical and architecturally significant buildings. Open Space and Recreation • Create path systems connecting schools, open space, and neighborhoods, e.g. develop walking/biking trails between open spaces. • Acquire more land for playing fields, a family picnic area and pocket parks. • Make public aware of the importance of public and private conservation land and open space. • Reconsider the Community Preservation Act. • Develop new sources of recreation funding, apply for grants and self-help funds and create a Friends or Stewardship program to help maintain open spaces. Services and Facilities • Execute the 10-year Capital Plan for the Town. Transportation I • Develop a comprehensive Town-wide parking plan to address satellite employee parking, provide alternate locations for garages in Downtown with required zoning amendments, and revisit public parking regulations. • Develop a sidewalk improvement priority list, complete all needed sidewalk extensions, and improve crossings where children safety is a concern. • Develop a Town and/or a regional transportation organization to address increased transportation needs via car pooling, van pooling, HOV/transit dedicated highway lanes and other forms of local/regional commuting measures. As of August 2005, several objectives found in the Plan have already been included in the Boards' agendas, and thus are not found in the above high-priority list. This plan is a living document, and as such reflects the realities of today as well as the results of prior work done in the last MPAC. 4. TYING IT ALL TOGETHER The planning process envisioned for each chapter of the Plan can not be fully understood without emphasizing the importance of a common thread binding all land- uses of Reading together: the character of the Town and the identity of the community. Especially in a region as old as New England, character and identity are vital facets of traditional communities, communities that offer choices and human-scale qualities in daily activities. In several occasions during the development of this Plan, the MPAC discovered that the qualities found in the residential neighborhoods in Town are the cornerstones sustaining the unique character and identity of the community. With housing being the dominant land-use element of Reading, it has been imperative to document, understand and illustrate the current land-use balance and how it came out to be this way. In simple terms, how residential areas interrelate and interact with all other uses such as transportation, retail, offices, opens pace and natural environment. Reading housing policies and strategies are fundamental in defining the Town's character in the future, as stated by several participants in the Housing Forum of January 2004, conducted under the CD Plan public process. The community itself is the guardian of its character and identity. We all have a partnership to sustain Reading as a livable community, a place to be protected from but also adapted to the challenges of Boston's regional growth. 5. NEXT STEPS Although the CPDC is the board primarily responsible for the Master Plan, that board must work closely with all the other stakeholders identified in this plan, most notably the Board of Selectmen, to ensure these actions are undertaken. The CPDC will retain responsibility for updating the Town on its progress toward implementing these actions and achieving the objectives and, as items are completed, provide a forum to validate the remaining actions, add new ones as deemed appropriate, and assign them to the relevant board or organization to complete. It is the recommendation of the MPAC that these updates be provided to the Board of Selectmen at least on a semi-annual basis. This Executive Summary attempts to capture a top-level view and critical insight into the Master Plan. This Master Plan is owned by the community at large, and those responsible for its creation are only its caretakers. There was, however, a core team of volunteers and staff that shepherded the Master Plan through the process, and this group (the Master Plan Advisory Committee), deserves a great deal of credit and admiration for their diligence and perseverance. MASTER PLAN WEBSITE: WWW.CI.READING. MA.US/PLANNING/MASTERPLAN.HTM MASTER PLAN 2005 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY DRAFT The summary that follows illustrates the main issues and proposals included in the 2005 Master Plan, as approved by the Planning Board (Community Planning and Development Commission, or CPDC) in January 2006. The Master Plan continues the tradition of thoughtful, responsible planning that Reading has demonstrated throughout the years, especially since the issuance of the last Master Plan in 1991. The completed 2005 Master Plan addresses issues about Boston's regional growth and issues on smart growth for sustainable communities, thus moving Reading forward into the 21st century. 1. PLAN ROLE FOR TOWN/BOARDS This Master Plan will be used by Town administration while defending legal challenges to Board or Commission decisions, guiding land use through zoning amendments, directing administrative priorities and management, enabling state-sanctioned housing and economic development plans, and accessing state funding to promote ongoing capital projects. More important, the true value of the Plan lies in providing a vision by which the community as a whole can share in the management of Reading's future. This, Master Plan will be used by Town Staff, various boards, community volunteers, local businesses, and civic organizations-and possibly by organizations. Many, if not all, of these individuals and organizations have been part of the development of the Master Plan. Their input, coupled with validation from the public, forms the basis for the plan, and has driven the advisory committee to adopt those items that are seen as a priority by these constituents. The guidance contained in the 1991 Master Plan has steered the town's boards, committees and staff to pursue items such as the downtown improvements, finalization of the capping of the landfill and development of the site, increases in affordable housing, and numerous changes to town by-laws consistent with the prior plan's goals and objectives. A similar level of planning effort is expected with regards to the 2005 Master Plan. 2. ROLE OF THE VISION STATEMENT During the last decade, several large new developments were introduced in Reading, generating substantial public participation in crucial CPDC and Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meetings. This involvement illustrates a high level of resident interest in the future of the Town. The Town-Wide Visioning Workshop held on April 9, 2003 under the public process of the Community Development (CD) Plan, established the following set of seven visioning themes, which were then combined into one "Vision Statement." • Protect the sense of Community: in the neighborhoods, in the small-town feel, in the scenic ways and in the volunteerism of the residents. • Retain and enhance the natural resources and the open space of the Town. • Provide housing for a diverse range of incomes and ages, while expanding the infrastructure necessary to support it. ' • Generate a business-friendly atmosphere throughout the Town and initiate changes so as to create a more vibrant downtown. • Maintain Reading's connections to the regional interstate/highway network and to public transportation, while promoting other necessary local road improvements. • Improve walking and bicycling within the town, with a focus on safety and access of open/natural spaces. • Protect the excellence of the Reading School system. The development of the Vision Statement was open and all-inclusive, and the issues brought forward were diverse, rich and inspiring. Additional issues and themes have been tested, distilled and enhanced in relationship to the seven main themes. Throughout the process, the Plan has remained aware of the issues brought forward by Reading residents. The key elements of the Vision Statement not only provided guidance for the development of the goals and objectives for the Plan, but also for the prioritization of action items based on effective short-term impact criteria. 3. PLAN'S STRUCTURE The Plan is divided into three parts, with a total of thirteen chapters. Part I includes a letter from the Master Plan Advisory Committee (MPAC), the Executive Summary and the Introduction. Part II contains the following seven themes/land-uses, each of which is developed with background material, an analysis of conditions, and proposed goals/objectives. • Character and Identity - This chapter elaborates on what the Town means to its residents and the image it conveys to visitors. Reading's New England Village structure (center-residential neighborhoods-business corridors-natural environment) requires that it be protected from abrupt changes even as its ability to absorb its share of the region's growth is enhanced. The housing crisis in the Boston region has required and will continue to require continuous planning for growth within the Town's, environment of balanced land-uses, human scale r►eighbothoods and excellent school system. • Housing - Since the 1991 Master Plan was developed, a great deal of housing development has occurred, primarily in large farm tracts that could not sustain themselves under the real estate market pressure to develop. The Town has failed to meet a state criterion of having 10% of all housing units affordable, thereby allowing developers to circumvent local zoning and build in Reading with state permits, a process known as 40B developments. (As of August 2005, Reading had 7.3% of its units labeled as affordable under state standards.) Because the community lacks affordable units for its family-starters, seniors and moderate- income families, the character and identity of the community has been threatened. Based on demographic projections, those three groups are expected to grow in the next decade, so higher demand for less expensive homes is forthcoming. The community will not be complete without the ability to offer options for our children and our seniors, for households on a fixed income, for long-time residents, and for those who do not drive. Affordability and diversity in housing types and in household demographics are fundamental to maintaining Reading as an open, motivated and proud community. The quest for innovative funding mechanisms and the planning for housing strategies are high-level goals which will continue to require a great deal of effort by the Town. Economic Development- During the last decade, Reading has seen a tremendous increase in housing valuation, similar to other communities in the region. As a result, the commercial/industrial sector in Reading, although showing a 6% gain between from 1990 to 2003, has been contributing a decreasing percentage to the town's taxes. To address the heavy reliance on residential property taxes, this Master Plan recommends that the Town establish a new Economic Development Commission whose purpose would be to solicit the development of new businesses in Reading. In parallel, the Downtown and South Main Street areas need to undergo zoning enhancements that will allow their image to improve. Natural, Historic and Cultural Resources -The quantity and quality of public water supply and the seasonal drainage of Ipswich River has been a major concern for many years, resulting in a year 2005 approval for a summer-time connection to the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA). Further conservation planning for uplands and wooded areas, enforcement of wetlands protection through current zoning bylaws, containment of storm water runoff and flooding, all of the above are current environmental concerns that affect Board/Committee decisions for new developments. The impacts of future residential and business growth can be mitigated by an increased effort in environmental planning from the Town. In parallel, the Historical Commission, with a Demolition Delay Bylaw and Scenic Roads Program as tools, will protect buildings of historical significance and establish historic districts where appropriate, as a reflection of how much the Town values its architectural heritage and character. Open Space and Recreation - The 2001 Open Space Plan has been a valuable resource for the 2005 Master Plan. The Town is facing the challenge of maintaining and increasing open spaces and recreational resources, which are elements that contribute to the Town's quality of life, without appropriate funding. The Community Preservation Act (CPA) can be pursued again to allow state funding for open space protection and acquisition, this time with a better program definition and timeframe. While open spaces and places for recreation are necessary to have, it is also important to design a network that connects them, a safe system by which pedestrians and bicyclists can move around town. Services and Facilities - The document used by Town Meeting to appropriate the Fiscal year budget, the 10 Year Capital Plan, contains the state of community services and public facilities and the expenditures for building, infrastructure and service improvements. This chapter is largely based on the Capital Plan and reflects the goal and objectives set forth in that document. Transportation - Since 1990, the ease of acquiring and maintaining a car has contributed substantial congestion to interstates, highways and to streets throughout the region. Reading residents have followed the trend of automobile dependency, driving more miles per day and owning more cars per household. With the MBTA on limited funding, current trips to work are unlikely to change in mode in the near future. For non-work related trips, local shuttle opportunities will likely arise. for seniors and for shopping/recreation purposes. To obtain funding for transit projects, the Town will need to support area-wide organizations (such as Transportation Management Associations) and state agencies. The current Town-wide Traffic Study, supplemented with a new Town-wide Parking Study, will be a valuable tool as the Town attempts to provide parking options in the Downtown area, satellite employee parking options, and sidewalk improvements where safety is paramount. Participation in the Massachusetts Highway Department 1-93/1-95 Interchange Task Force planning initiative should continue in order to ensure Reading's interests in the project are well advocated. Part I I I sets forth action items for the implementation of priority objectives. Responsibility for the implementation of each action item has been assigned to a specific Town administrative body or Town board. However, MPAC realized early on that a realistic implementation effort would not be able to cover all the objectives and action items in the Plan. Chapter 9 presents a set of 21 objectives that topped a priority list produced between May and August 2005. These high-priority objectives are as follows: Character and Identity • Protect the Town's historical village pattern: its buildings, streets and material elements. Promote this balance as a prerequisite for developments to a scale familiar and comfortable to the individual. • Promote the design of new construction so that it seamlessly blends in with its surroundings. Housing • Pursue an increase in Town involvement with housing goals, and investigate additional funding vehicles to improve them. Communicate housing goals to residents. • Encourage new developments and the rehabilitation and reconstruction of existing buildings not only that are consistent with the Town's character and identity but also that meet state-mandated affordable housing goals. • Introduce mixed-use development in the Downtown area and around the depot. Economic Development • Study the various options available and recommend to the Board of Selectmen the type of official commission or standing committee needed to best meet the development needs of the Town and to better obtain state and federal development grants. • Examine properties with regard to re-zoning with particular attention to reducing the front setback requirements and expanding the use of the PUD-B overlay district. • Pursue all possible state and federal grants to hire consultants to generate a detailed streetscape beautification plan for Main Street from Washington Street south to 195/128, similar to the plan recently completed for the Downtown area. Natural and Cultural Resources • Promote the preservation and enhancement of Reading's existing uplands and wood areas and public accessibility to these areas-particularly in new developments-through appropriate amendment to the Zoning By-Laws and subdivision regulations and through other measures such as impact fees. • Encourage the development of a regional resource protection plan (Aberjona, Saugus and Ipswich watersheds, Cedar Swamp) and of regional efforts to reduce water, groundwater and air pollution. • Protect well fields and water recharge areas, and strengthen enforcement of the Aquifer Protection Zoning By-Law. • Maintain and add to the Town's inventory of historical and architecturally significant buildings. Open Space and Recreation • Create path systems connecting schools, open space, and neighborhoods, e.g. develop walking/biking trails between open spaces. • Acquire more land for playing fields, a family picnic area and pocket parks. • Make public aware of the importance of public and private conservation land and open space. • Reconsider the Community Preservation Act. • Develop new sources of recreation funding, apply for grants and self-help funds and create a Friends or Stewardship program to help maintain open spaces. I Services and Facilities • Execute the 10-year Capital Plan for the Town. Transportation • Develop a comprehensive Town-wide parking plan to address satellite employee parking, provide alternate locations for garages in Downtown with required zoning amendments, and revisit public parking regulations. • Develop a sidewalk improvement priority list, complete all needed sidewalk extensions, and improve crossings where children safety is a concern. • Develop a Town and/or a regional transportation organization to address increased transportation needs via car pooling, van pooling, HOV/transit dedicated highway lanes and other forms of local/regional commuting measures. As of August 2005, several objectives found in the Plan have already been included in the Boards' agendas, and thus are not found in the above high-priority list. This plan is a living document, and as such reflects the realities of today as well as the results of prior work done in the last MPAC. 4. TYING IT ALL TOGETHER The planning process envisioned for each chapter of the Plan can not be fully understood without emphasizing the importance of a common thread binding all land- uses of Reading together: the character of the Town and the identity of the community. Especially in a region as old as New England, character and identity are vital facets of traditional communities, communities that offer choices and human-scale qualities in daily activities. In several occasions during the development of this Plan, the MPAC discovered that the qualities found in the residential neighborhoods in Town are the cornerstones sustaining the unique character and identity of the community. With housing being the dominant land-use element of Reading, it has been imperative to document, understand and illustrate the current land-use balance and how it came out to be this way. In simple terms, how residential areas interrelate and interact with all other uses such as transportation, retail, offices, opens pace and natural environment. Reading housing policies and strategies are fundamental in defining the Town's character in the future, as stated by several participants in the Housing Forum of January 2004, conducted under the CD Plan public process. The community itself is the guardian of its character and identity. We all have a partnership to sustain Reading as a livable community, a place to be protected from but also adapted to the challenges of Boston's regional growth. 5. NEXT STEPS Although the CPDC is the board primarily responsible for the Master Plan, that board must work closely with all the other stakeholders identified in this plan, most notably the Board of Selectmen, to ensure these actions are undertaken. The CPDC will retain responsibility for updating the Town on its progress toward implementing these actions and achieving the objectives and, as items are completed, provide a forum to validate the remaining actions, add new ones as deemed appropriate, and assign them to the relevant board or organization to complete. It is the recommendation of the MPAC that these updates be provided to the Board of Selectmen at least on a semi-annual basis. This Executive Summary attempts to capture a top-level view and critical insight into the Master Plan. This Master Plan is owned by the community at large, and those responsible for its creation are only its caretakers. There was, however, a core team of volunteers and staff that shepherded the Master Plan through the process, and this group (the Master Plan Advisory Committee), deserves a great deal of credit and admiration for their diligence and perseverance.