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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMaster Plan Comm. 11/20/2019V Master Plan Committee November 20, 2019 r;r_ i E Present: Donald Cleary, Joe Cerretani, Ralph Penney, Beth Ashman -Collins, _§haron Friedman, Frank DelVecchio, Lou Amoruso, Jenn Walsh, Sara Walsh, Diana Bren, Bill `Clemmey,, Mark 10: 51 Tartlon, Ryan Maxwell, Allen Bryer, Peter Kortright, Brendan Roche Anna Callahan, JM Goldson Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and Development, Jennifer Davis, Administrative Secretary Prior to the start of the meeting, Ms. Callahan presented asked the committee and visitors to place stickers on the the next ten years. Ms. Callahan said tonight's objective is to get the gr< Goals statement, which will wrap up phase 2 of the P Master Plan meeting, the Goldson team will develop Ms. Callahan explained vision is the overall pica future; goals are branches that support the vision; She said goals should be realistic and reflect the 1 DRAFT VISIONSTATEMENT In 2030, Mansfield is a vibrant, sustainable, and transit and pedestrian connections to adjacent cc development and businesses are integrated into I design and events, prof i a list of the draft goals and would like to prioritize over for the Vision and process. Before the January go along with the goals. of what we want the town to be like in the then than specific things we want to achieve arities heard from the community. `ordable mixed -use community with strong nunities and neighborhoods. New nsfield's existing fabric through harmonious residents are brought together through community identity. Ms. Callahan explained the six vision pillars, which are supporting key areas the community wants to focus on for the future; she said the Goldson team used the information gathered from the committee and the October 19 open house to draft the Vision and Goals. The group did an exercise to share members' personal vision, whether vision statement and pillars align with board members' vision and community members' vision heard at the open house. 1. Did the Vision Statement align closely with your personal vision? Mr. Bryer said he thought the statement was too downtown -centered; he said he doesn't think Mansfield will rise or fall based on what happens downtown. Mr. Penney said he thinks the downtown businesses will help one another. Mr. Kortright said he doesn't think Mansfield has experienced a thriving downtown, but said when a downtown is well -designed and well - managed, it can help the town. Mr. Penney said a lot of people told him the post office moving from North Main Street to Giles Place was detrimental to downtown. Ms. Friedman said she thinks Mansfield has a lot of length and breadth, not just downtown. She said we have to look at the whole area and its assets; she said she thinks Mansfield should define "affordable housing" more broadly than the state does. She said long-term, the town should look at things like autonomous vehicles looping through town. She suggested defining what "desirable development" means and said it should be very intentional so we can have some agreement about what we want. She said she has heard complaints about there being too many nail salons and hair salons, but said the town should figure out what it would rather have. She said we may need a development person to focus on and coordinate this issue. Adrian LeSaint, 125 Highland Avenue, suggested thinking about requiring lower density, but higher vertical in certain areas. Ms. Friedman said the Planning Board has been talking about TOD, what kind of changes that would bring, and what would those changes look like. Mr. Penney said Copeland Drive has become like a second downtown, with the post office and several banks. Mr. Kortright asked why Mansfield Crossing was built where it is; Ms. Ashman - Collins said that was not something the town went after, it was developer -driven. Mr. Burke said there had been a large industrial -business complex proposed on that site in the 1980s-90s, which went away when the economy turned. Mr. Kortright asked if there was a vision for that School Street area; Ms. Ashman -Collins said the properties across from Mansfield Crossing were owned and developed by three other developers. . 2. Does the Vision Statement represent what we have heard from the community? Ms. Friedman said she heard concerns at the open house about aging school infrastructure. Several members said they thought that concern was more about staffing than about physical buildings. Mr. Penney said a lot of families are involved in sporting events in town and people have mentioned the need for a teen center, Ms. Ashman -Collins said there has been discussion about multi -generational programming and space. Mr, Clemmey said Mansfield does not have a Y like Attleboro or Foxboro; he said those spaces are community gathering places. Dr. Amoruso said an inter -generational space may be the best option for Mansfield. He said there could be multiple uses in existing spaces at different times, like the COA, which isn't used as much on the Mr. Kortright said Mansfield is unique because the schools have a campus near the library/COA and Memorial Park. He asked if the young people in town think we need a teen center. Ms. Callahan said she has heard several comments about the need for a community center for multi - generational activities. Ms. Walsh said a space that brings different communities together would make a lot of sense. Mr. Kortright said the nature of gathering spaces has changed, so the spaces themselves may change. Mr. Cleary said the West Street police station could be reused for some type of public -private community gathering space. Mr. Clemmey said two of the six pillars mention the Xfinity Center, but he hasn't heard much discussion about Xfinity being a significant part of the community. Dr. Amoroso said we don't know how long that facility is going to last. Ms. Callahan said it was mentioned in the transportation piece as a place to connect to the train station on concert nights, which would allow people to park at the train station and reduce vehicular traffic. Ms. Friedman suggested calling MMAS and Xfinity "performance venues." Ms. Callahan tallied the votes for the goals the group would like to prioritize over the next ten years, and asked if there were any missing goals. She said the top vote -getting goal was 1 c), "promote and integrate smaller housing units, such as starter homes and cottages, to allow older adults to stay in place and to welcome young families to town;" #2 was 3d), "Activate empty retail and restaurant storefronts by working with property owners to identify barriers to filling vacant spaces;" three items tied for #3: lb), create opportunities such as community spaces, events, programs and other initiatives that foster residents of all ages, socioeconomic, and interest groups to interact and collaborate with one another;" 6d), "Maintain fiscal stability and self-sufficiency;" and 3b), encourage and pursue desirable development in Downtown to achieve economic vitality." Mr. LeSaint said he thinks the goal of smaller homes is important; he said the market price exceeds the ability of many young people to afford a home in Mansfield, and noted the young and older demographics are two different markets. He said there are different ways to accommodate both groups, including smaller lots and accessory apartments. He said people have different definitions of "desirable" downtown development; desirable could mean a certain building style, or businesses that bring in a lot of revenue. Ms. Friedman said she is interested in the items that got fewer votes. Ms. Callahan said one of those items was to make more opportunities to interact with, government. Ms. Walsh said there are a lot of board and committee meetings with no attendees, and people may not know how to get involved. Other items with low votes included'5c), "Continue to support, market and grow the burgeoning biotech and entrepreneurial cluster in the Ryan -Elliot Industrial Park;" and 2b), "Celebrate and publicize Mansfield's natural resources, open spaceand recreational facilities through an enhanced web presence, on -site events, publications and programs." Mr. Roche said he thinks people don't recognize how much conservation space Mansfield has. He suggested several of the conservation -related goals on the list could be combined. Mr. Kortright said people are most familiar with their own home and work areas, so the issues that are important to them tend to be related to those things. He said one of the questions is how to make people aware of the rest of the community. Mr. Cleary said no one knows anything about the Ryan -Elliott Industrial Park, which is transforming into a biotech area. Mr. Bryer said the town has generated policies to help that industrial park; Dr. Amoruso said he agrees that most people don't know about it. He said with that industrial park so close to the train station, it could be a chance for reverse commuters. Ms. Ashman -Collins said some of the other low -scoring items are either "low -hanging fruit" or are already being worked on. Dr. Amoruso said he thinks it is important to try to coordinate with the MBTA, but he understands it can be difficult to work with them. He said it is important to find a way to get people from the train to the Cabot Business Park; Mr. Cleary said GATRA has begun running a ride service from the train station. Mr. Roche said if the priority is to decrease traffic, a solution may be busses with a set route, so people could plan on when they can use it. He said a goal should be to reduce traffic with a more consistent, better way to move people around town and to coordinate with the MBTA. Mr. DelVecchio said the MBTA is looking at running more, smaller trains through Mansfield, which he said will be good, but which may not solve the problem of people getting where they are going after they get off the train. Ms. Callahan asked if there are goals that have not been discussed. Mr. Cleary said TOD isn't specifically mentioned, but said there is another group working on that issue, the Town Manager's Strategic Development Committee. Mr. DelVecchio said that has been put on hold pending the Master Plan. Mr. Cleary said BETA has been involved with that committee, as well as with the Master Plan. Ms. Friedman said TOD could be a strategy, and action step for the train station/downtown area. Mr. Clemmey said the TOD area is part of downtown. The group discussed the fact that "millennials" are moving out of the city as they are starting families, and looking for more affordable housing options. Mr. DelVecchio said the school population has been trending down, but has started to creep back up. Strategies Ms. Callahan asked the group to think about how strategies and goals fit together. The following issues were discussed: Have a dense, walkable area without developing the whole town too densely Connect town groups virtually Work to "de -silo" community groups Multi -generational community center Annual juried art festival Events that bring community groups together Reuse West Street police station or land Zoning By -Law changes to allow density increases by right Zoning By -Law changes to allow alternate forms of housing Develop open house process for potential developers Consider other kinds of housing models: co -housing, smaller houses, subdividing large single - Identify areas for apartments with a higher vertical limit Rework Over+55 housing regulations, allow cottage -style development with open space Create better community forum for events and opportunities to educate citizens about community topics Engage in dialogue with citizens; inter -board meetings, open house style meetings Ms. Friedman said the Cultural Council has been working to establish a Cultural District. She said it may be time to think about adopting the Community Preservation Act as a way to help protect natural, cultural and historic resources. Mr. Bryer said he thinks the town should present citizens' petitions. Mr. Burke said the Planning Board is required to report to Town Meeting with a recommendation on any zoning article. Mr. Bryer suggested thinking about middle housing. Mr. Burke said the Zoning By -Law allows every style of housing except single -room occupancy, and said the market drives what gets built. Ms. Ashman -Collins noted not all uses are allowed in every zone. Mr. Bryer said middle housing addresses different types of housing stock, not just single family or large multi -family developments. Ms. Callahan said the next meeting will be January 8, which will kick off Phase 3. Motion: To adjourn at 9:15 p.m. ( ) All in favor. Next Master Plan Committee meeting: January 8, Signature of Clerk of