HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002 Comprehensive Plan Town Meeting 2002The Comprehensive Plan
First Four Elements:
*Land Use
*Natural and Cultural Resources
*Housing
*Economic Development
• Implementing Actions
What is a Comprehensive Plan?
• Massachusetts General L Chapter
4 Section 81 -D vests authority for the
plan with the Planning Board
• The Local Process
- Public Process
- Goals and Objectives
- Data Collection and Analysis
- Policy Formulation
- Narrowing to consensus action items
• A Blueprint for Lexington's Future
What does the law require in a
Comprehensive Plan?
• Goals and Policies Statement
• Land Use Plan
• Housing
• Economic Development
• Natural and Cultural Resources
• Open Space and Recreation
• Services and Facilities (Public Facilities)
• Circulation (Transportation)
• Implem en ta tion
What Were the Strategic Wellsprings
of the Comprehensive Plan?
Long Range Planning Committee
Selectmen's Vision 2020 Strategic
Planning Initiative
Public Concerns Expressed at Ongoing
Planning Venues (not ComPlan)
How Did the Comprehensive
Plan Proceed?
• 2000 Town Meeting begins the
process in earnest, authorizing all
seven elements and providing
assistance for first four.
• Fall 2000, Initial Public Planning
Board meetings
• Staff and Board issue RFP and
conduct procurement
• Consultant for first phase hired
• CPAC (Comprehensive Planning
Advisory Committee) appointed,
November 2000
continued
How Did the Comprehensive Plan Proceed
(continued)
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Report of Initial Findings to Town
Meeting 2001
• Town Meeting authorizes further
funding to continue Comprehensive
Plan process
• Public Process and Themed Workshops
• Resource (Focus) Group Meetings
• Draft Elements Issued
• Consensus Building Meetings
• Implementation Plan Crafted
How Did the Project Work?
Planning Board
worked with
the input from
numerous
sources
Drafting done
by the staff
and consultant
What Was the Public Process?
• Planning Board
• C PAC
• Resource Groups
• Other Participants,
Interested Parties
• Therned, Structured
Workshops
• 22 Public Meetings
and Hearing
COMPLEX CHOICES FOR
LEXINGTON'S FUTURE
Illustrative Examples by
Planning Element or Key Issue
LAND USE CHOICES: Examples from
Lexington Center
• Can the Center again be of primary
service to local residents or are tourism
and /or nighttime activities the sectors
to promote?
• Will added residential uses in the
central business district boost economic
vitality?
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CHOICES:
Examples Highlighting the Degree of
Commitment To Economic Diversity
• Obstacles to Affordability /Diversity:
- Resistance to siting.
- Fear of density increases.
• Options for addressing the Issue
- Siting in remote /mixed /busy
locations.
- More accessory apartments
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHOICES:
Examples for Understanding Growth
in a Broader Context
• Why Expand Businesses in Town?
- Help the tax base and tax rate
- Control the burden on homeowners
- Increase low -or -no commuting o
options to residents.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHOICES:
Examples of comp /ex trade-offs
with business expansion
• Expand Businesses if Town Receives Such
Benefits as:
- help in trip reduction /traffic
mitigation.
- occasional provision of pubic benefits,,
where appropriate.
CULTURAL PRESERVATION CHOICES:
Examples of Alternatives for Enhancing
Community Character
• Preserving Architectural /cultural Resources
and Settings:
- Further recognition of historic resources
( e.g. Moon Hill).
- Preservation via CPA, grants, private
resources,etc.
• Trade -offs in Such Initiatives:
- Property value increases.
- More individual property regulation.
What Initiatives Can Result From a
Comprehensive Plan?
• The Plan can provide a clear impetus
and direction for any of the following
future actions:
- Zoning Amendments
- Changes to Regulations
- Special Programs and Initiatives
- Other laws or public policies
- Legislative Initiatives
What a ComPlan is Not
• It is not law and is not binding.
• It in no way precludes parties taking—
or not taking —other initiatives.
• It in no way limits or constrains full
debate over initiatives (opposite is
true).
A Comprehensive Plan Provides:
• A rational basis for short -term
community decision making
• Along -term strategic underpinning for
future town actions
• A baseline for future updates and
changes in policy directions
Follow- Through on the ComPlan
• Direct outreach to boards, departments,
committees, external interest groups
• Working w/ Vision 2020
Implementation Committee
• Ongoing reminders to Initiators, Key
Actors identified in Implementation.
• Public information efforts