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HomeMy WebLinkAboutComprehensive Plan Framework - 2017-11-20 The Planning Office, in conjunction with the Land Use, Health& Development Department, received a Program Improvement Request(PIR)to update the Town's comprehensive Master Plan.The development of the Plan will be a dynamic process and may require several iterations to complete. While we are requesting funding for the full project, it is important to note that it may be phased— provided it's done properly. Staff considers the items included under Part i of this framework as prerequisites for any of the items contained in Part 2 of the process. It is expected that these items will be separately bid, such that the most appropriate private-sector expertise in these subject areas can be procured. The Planning Office will play a key role in the implementation of the process and will serve as the primary Town contact to any consultants throughout the master planning process. PART i PRE-PLANNING ACTIVITIES The Planning Office has identified several action items that require the following steps or studies to be conducted to begin moving forward. i. Community Education& Engagement Plan Staff desires to make the update process as community-based as possible, providing opportunities for learning as well as engaging community discussion. The credibility and utility of the Master Plan update process and the prospect for its adoption and implementation will rest heavily on strong public participation. The outreach process must be organized in such a way that the public's time is not wasted. The selected Consultant for this element must provide evidence of their experience in consensus building and negotiation among interest groups. As the work of the Plan proceeds, results should be frequently communicated to residents via multiple mediums,the Planning Office intends to solicit consultant help to prepare a Community Education and Engagement Plan using both traditional and forward-looking methods of public contact to ensure broad participation and community awareness of the planning process. This would likely include (but is certainly not limited to)email lists, social media,the Town's website, local papers, in-person events, and surveys. 2. Initial Data Gathering The planning process will require a thorough review of previous planning documents and a detailed analysis of current conditions. Staff has identified three discrete tasks that should be completed prior to engaging the public. -I.of1, Comprehensive Plan Framework Summary For Transmission_2017-11-20 Revised:May 24, 2017 2.1.. Buildout Analysis The buildout analysis is a key component for understanding where the Town is, in terms of current land uses, and how those uses and patterns could possible change, grow, and develop over the next decade. Several recent and potential developments have brought to light the fact that many Lexingtonians had thought the town had little in the way of potential development. Preliminary analysis from the Planning Office has shown that the town may not encounter"full build-out"for many decades to come. In order to plan for this potential growth, we need a better understanding, both spatially and temporally, of growth areas. 2.2. Socio-Economic& Demographic Reports In concert with the Community Education& Engagement Plan, producing reports outlining the community's statistical profile is key to ensuring that participants in the process have a solid understanding of the numbers that describe the Town. Envisioned for this aspect of the process area community profile report covering general demographics, income, labor force and employment,transportation, land use, and housing. The report can serve as both a general introduction to the make-up of the Town's population and as a reference document. This task will also include a housing market profile, providing information on market rate housing sales costs, rents, as well as affordability indexes. 2.3. Public Facilities and Financial Analysis Understanding and disseminating all aspects affecting the tax base and the effects felt by a potential, even modest, increase in growth is another key to understanding the future land use and physical development in Lexington. Clearly, having an outstanding educational system affects both the tax base, in funding those facilities,and the desire for the limited resource that is housing in Lexington. We need to understand the interplay between these resources and the competition for them, both within the Town's borders and externally,to inform future growth and a vision for Lexington over the next five to ten years. 2.4. Prior Study Review Various products, in the form of demographic studies,transportation analysis, and other socio- economic factors are considered when developing a comprehensive plan.The State of Massachusetts requires several of these items, and more,to be included in any comprehensive plan that seeks to comply with the State's standards. However, as Massachusetts is an unplanned state, it is not necessary to comply with all of the requirements laid out by the State.The products that come out of this analysis will inform the overall vision created through this process by explaining,through a thorough and rigorous analysis,the current state of affairs within the town.These elements have the potential to respond to questions on the past and current demographic make-up of the town, economic realities within the town and the broader region, etc., in a rational and factual manner. The analysis will also contribute to a broader understanding of where Lexington is in the Greater Boston region and the wider world. Understanding the influence of these otherwise uncontrollable areas of the globe and how they impactthe physical development within Lexington is yet another, but not an unimportant factor, in preparing for future growth in Town. 2 Of to- Comprehensive Plan Framework Summary For Transmission_2017-11-20 Revised:May 24, 2017 3. Advisory Committee To help oversee the update,the Planning Office recommends the establishment of a Master Plan Advisory Committee with a diverse membership representing Town Boards, Committees, and the general public. The purpose of the Master Plan Advisory Committee is to provide valuable input in guiding the staff through the subject areas of the Master Plan. 4. Project Initiation Meeting The phase of the process concludes with a public kickoff meeting. This session will be crucial for setting the stage for future meetings, analysis, conclusions, and visioning,which will occur throughout the planning process. Ensuring that participants,the general public,town staff, and volunteers are all starting from the same place, in terms of the physical development and demographic characteristics of the town, is critical. The information developed for this meeting will be rolled into future analysis and possible master plan elements. PART 2 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ELEMENT DEVELOPMENT Throughout all of these elements,the implementation of the Community Education& Engagement Plan created in Part 3.continues. 3.. Vision, Goals, & Implementation Building off the work of Part 3., determining a vision forthe community's approach to land use and development over the next decade will become critical. 2. Land Use This element will identify all present land uses and recommend a future land use plan for areas where change should be guided toward realizing the Town's goals ratherthan reacting to unpredictable, uncoordinated change. Specific tasks will include identifying priority redevelopment areas(where well designed increased density is desired and appropriate, based on community preferences and surrounding land uses), priority preservation areas(where no development is appropriate, based on community preferences and surrounding land uses), recommendations for future land use and redevelopment reflecting the goals established in the visioning process, and suggest changes to the Zoning Bylaw. 3. Housing As the Town published a Housing Production Plan in 203.4,the development of this element should be less work than many of the other elements. Given the information gathered in Part 3., updating the data should be straightforward. 4. Economic Development This component reviews the Town's economic status, plans, and strategies, inventories and identifies programs and policies for expanding and diversifying the Town's economic base with sustainability in mind. An evaluation of existing commercial vacancies and the identification of strategies, which will encourage businessto locate within the Town,will be required. An analysis of 3 Of 4 Comprehensive Plan Framework Summary For Transmission_2017-11-20 Revised:May 24, 2017 the recommended changes to the Zoning Bylaw to enhance desired commercial growth, as established through the visioning process,will also be conducted. 5. Natural, Cultural,& Historic Resources& Open Space While Massachusetts law considers these two distinct elements,for this project, our proposal combines them. Lexington regularly publishes an Open Space& Recreation Plan which is generally considered adequate for this element. Most of the work on these elements would likely focus on incorporating an analysis of Lexington's natural and cultural resources into a summary document and the incorporation of the current Open Space& Recreation Plan. 6. Public Services& Facilities As much of the data behind this element is expected to be produced in Part i, staff is not budgeting a significant allocation to the drafting of this element. This element of the Plan will address the future needs for public services and facilities under existing conditions and future development and population growth scenarios. 7. Transportation Overthe last decade, much has changed within the organization, as have the Town's awareness and sensitivity to transportation issues. This component will analyze the Town's current and proposed future transportation circulation system,focusing on major streets and roads, public transportation, pedestrian circulation, parking, bicycle circulation, and the coordinated interaction of all modes. 8. Supplemental Elements Many in the community have inquired about including elements not required by state law, but are nonetheless, commonly incorporated in comprehensive plans or are important to the community. Below is a list of items the community has suggested be incorporated into the update. As this has grown since the Program Improvement Request was filed, it is important to note that the cost estimate remains unchanged. It should be noted that some of these concepts represent themes that run across all the included elements of the plan and are not necessarily stand-alone elements. This will be further defined during the outreach efforts associated with the plan. 8.1.. Energy-Resiliency 8.2. Healthy-Livable Communities(e.g.,Age-Friendly Community) 8.3. Zoning Concepts(e.g., Compact Development, Steep Slope Protection, Site Coverage) 8.4. Design Guidelines 8.5. Strategic Planning Areas(e.g., Lexington Center, East Massachusetts Avenue) ru oaf ru.