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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMaster Plan Comm. 10/30/2019-V Master Plan Committee t ICE October 30, 2019 Present: Donald Cleary, Joe Cerretani, Michael McClanahan, Beth Asbman-C�ol4s4 tR�''�dsard LeBlanc, Sharon Friedman, Michael Feck, Frank DelVecchio, Jenn?�'alsh; Sara Walsh, Louis Amoruso, Diana Bren, Bill Clemmey, Mark Tartlon, Judy Foley, Ryan Maxwelt,,Alll h Bryer, Walter Jenkins, Peter Kortright, Brendan Roche Jennifer Goldson and Anna Callahan, JM Goldson Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and Development, Jennifer Davis, Administrative Secretary Jennifer Goldson, Anna Callahan and Barry Ms. Callahan said they are compiling data from the Open 1- a draft a vision statement and goals and objectives for the c November 20 meeting. Ms. Goldson thanked everyone for open house. Mr. McClanahan asked about the is Callahan said the summary will be that information. Ms. Callahan said c double the original including will provide a summary and to review prior to the in and helping with the the open house. Ms. will be a "snapshot' look at in the open house, more than Ms. Callahan went over the findings at the open house "stations." The key topic categories were: Town Governance and Financing; Downtown and Economic Development; Community Culture/Character; Transportation; Services, Activities, and Recreation; Building Development and Housing; Sustainability, Green Infrastructure, and Climate Resilience Mr. Jenkins asked if the housing discussion included affordable housing; Ms. Callahan said she thinks a lot of that discussion involved concerns about people not being able to afford housing in Mansfield. Station 1 - "Heart of the Community." Responses included: • Conservation lands, rec facilities, ponds, open space (including South Common and Fulton Pond) • Bike path/trails • Downtown/North Main Street • Train station • Schools • Library • Airport Master Plan Committee October 30, 2019 • Theater and museum, MMAS • Flint Farm, Country Store, faith communities Ms. Callahan said many of the responses were clustered around downtown, the train station and the bike path, along with conservation land and recreation facilities. Ms. Foley said the exercise brought up a lot of awareness of what the town has to offer. Mr. Roche said there were not many responses about the soccer or baseball fields. Mr. Bryer asked if people chose what they think is the actual heart place about which they felt most strongly; Mr. Amoruso said he th care about. Mr. Roche said he thought giving people multiple flag Station 3: Share your Concerns Participants were primarily concerned about: • Maintaining and growing local and industrial bu<. • Maintaining strong local and regional job market • Traffic; parking; commuter access/user experient local network • More community and recreational events/spaces; Celebrate culture and arts Station 4: Share your Vision for 2030 Participants are primarily hopeful about: • Lower taxes and fiscal sustainability • More enaaaement/connection to local 1 • Vibrant, active and e • Improved traffic ma electric train service • Supportive, inclusive • Thoughtful and visuall • Conserve open space/g • Downtown - room for • Mansfield Crossing • Xfinity Center • Town's overall locatio • Its residents • Its town eovernment E community, or the eople chose things they a good idea. and industrial parks) options iving downtown and industrial parks rig options, walk/bike paths and connectivity, high quality small-town feel for people of all ages; maintain and pment to fit the context of current community space access; green community and green energy growth access • Schools • Build on existing base of community spaces, events, history and culture • Strong public safety and services (PD, FD, Mansfield Electric, etc.) • Sense of place (Historic buildings/architecture) • Still have open space Master Plan Committee October 30, 2019 Dr. Amoruso said several people commented about how helpful it was to be able to come in and express their opinions in a non -confrontational atmosphere. Mr. Kortright said he thought it was a good exercise for people to find out about how the town is governed. Mr. Cleary said he was happy to see a lot of people he hadn't seen before at the open house. Ms. Friedman said she thought allowing people to have multiple discussions in a short time and learn a lot about what the community has to offer made the open house a wonderful opportunity for an exchange of ideas. Mr. DelVecchio said he thought the open house was a positive experience, but he also heard some comments about people's desire for more opportunities for input, possibly electronically. Mr. Kortright said he thinks there will be additional interest when the existing conditions report is available. Station 5: Existing Conditions • Housing affordability. Prices have risen rapidly over the last decade, making it tough for young families to purchase homes. • Seniors don't have a place to downsize. Whatever housing stock exists is too expensive to purchase and rents are too high. • Not much to do in Downtown. People go to Foxboro or Attleboro for more dining options. • Ambivalent about mixed -use development by the train station, High rents and ground floor retail is unappealing (want to see restaurants rather than T-Mobile). • I-495 Northbound Ramp at Rt. 140 SRPEDD Study. • Reduce truck traffic impacts to neighborhoods. • Number of off-street resident -only parking spaces at the train station. • Need more connections to bike path and bike/pedestrian facilities. • High number of crashes at Rt. 140/School St (signal timing issue). • Desire for roundabout at North Main/Church. Ms. Callahan said several people she spoke with were ambivalent about mixed -use development downtown. Mr, Clemmey said people spent a lot of time looking at the existing conditions information and had questions about the data. Mr. Cerretani said there was a lot of good information, but it may have been too much data for people to digest on the spot. Ms. Callahan said there were concerns about traffic, parking downtown and at the train station, truck traffic and recreation. Mr. Bryer said people were surprised Mansfield has so many recreation assets; Ms. Friedman said people were also surprised Mansfield has so much open space and want to ensure it remains available. Mr. McClanahan suggested having a Conservation Day; Mr. Cleary said the Conservation Agent has been hosting regular site walks in good weather. Mr. Bryer said it was interesting that some people saw the bike path as strictly a recreational site, while others saw it as a connection between Norton, downtown and the train station Master Plan Committee October 30, 2019 Ms. Goldson said their summary will include the responses to the "what would you do with $1 million" question asked at the open house. Mr. Cleary said he thinks people are interested in seeing the data, so it would be helpful to make it available. He said putting that information out could be a good way to keep people interested in the process. Ms. Callahan said they plan to post the existing conditions summary in the next two weeks. Dr. Amoroso suggested distributing something at Special Town Meeting; Mr. Clemmey suggested using social media. Dr. Amoroso said he did not hear much discussion about the library, but did hear discussions about the Council on Aging. Mr. Roche said quite a few people chose the library as the "heart" of the community. Mr. Clemmey asked if anyone heard comments about the reuse of old municipal buildings; Ms. Friedman said people discussed their concerns about preserving historical buildings. Ms. Friedman said she was surprised at the number of people who told her the open house was their first interaction with the community. She said there were new residents who hadn't participated much and who said it was a positive experience. Mr. Cleary said it would have been interesting to, see demographics of the people who attended. Mr. Jenkins said he thought was a good cross-section of new and long-term residents. Ms. Goldson said all residents are welcome to attend the Master Plan Committee meetings and participate in the process, Ms. Foley suggested the committee members could invite people. Ms. Goldson suggested brainstorming session about visions, goals and strategies. She explained a vision is how we want the community to be in the future - "In 2030, Mansfield will be..." Goals are a description of conditions we are aiming for, and strategies are how to get there. The strategies will be tied to an action plan. Ms. Goldson said goals should have specific meaning for Mansfield, should be realistic, and should consider the priorities to be considered in the Master Plan. She said she would like to get ideas from the committee based on their own goals and based on what they heard from people who attended the open house. The committee discussed some goals, including: • Create a defined traffic -pedestrian development plan for train station-downtown-TOD • Create pedestrian -bike friendly pathways • Improve bike path to connect to train station in a safe manner • Improved walking, running and bike paths to enable people of all ages, from all parts of town, to get downtown • Improve options to get to the train station • Make downtown a destination as a vibrant, walkable area, make it inviting for long-term stays, address empty storefronts, and look at a cultural district Master Plan Committee October 30, 2019 • Combine separate open spaces of South Common, Fulton Pond, vacant police station to create a multi -use space • Develop business parks and downtown • Encourage diversity of activities by and among different groups • Make room for the elderly so they can still have property and space • Tackle housing costs • Create new and support existing initiatives to increase value of existing buildings in the business park, increase commercial tax base by improving commercial properties • Encourage development of industrial parks by having IDC act as town's ombudsman in outreach • Increase visits to the Fisher Richardson House • Look at aging school buildings • Look at what schools are going to need in the future • Find a way to keep schools at their current high level, encourage youth -senior interaction • Keep schools at forefront of curriculum changes • Think about what kind of we want. Large houses exist because Mansfieldis on the commuter rail, so maintaining transportation and a good school system will help maintain the houses and affordability • Look at different types of housing options • Consider how the economic stability of the business park is connected to the town's economic stability • Build on the strengths we have, strengthen the assets, create a more accessible town that is easier to get around, create more choice for all ages Motion: To adjourn at 8,45 p.m. ( ) All in Next 20, 2019 Date of Approval Master Plan Committee October 30, 2019