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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMPIC Minutes 12.8.20 DRAFT MINUTES: MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE: December 8, 2020 In Attendance (via Google Meet and telephone): Members Kelly Cormier (Chair), Stan Limpert (Vice- Chair), Meredith Barnes-Cook, Sean McDonough,Jon Strauss, Hollie Williams, and George Koehler Absent:Jay Dowd and Chris Nobile Staff: Andrew Shapiro (Director of Community and Economic Development),Jean Enright (Planning Director), and Dan Beckley(Staff Planner) Immediately prior to calling the meeting to order at 6:00pm, Kelly Cormier read aloud the following statement: Pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, and the Governor's March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place,this meeting of the Master Plan Implementation Committee will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. Specific information and the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting can be found on the Town's website, at .n o r--th a n d o ver.m.a..ggy. For this meeting, members of the public who wish to watch the meeting may do so on their televisions by tuning to Comcast Channel 99 or Verizon Channel 28 or online at .n rth n rc m. r . No in- person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time,via technological means. In the event that we are unable to do so, despite best efforts,we will post on the Town of North Andover website an audio or video recording,transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting. If the public would like to participate in public hearings please email your question m..comment prior to or during the meeting to............. ..............p®....!........................... .............. . ............. ............................................. . ..!�!! ........ ......................... ....... .The question/comment will be read during the proceedings and responded to accordingly. Public Comment Kelly Cormier called the meeting to order and said that the meeting will focus on prioritization of Master Plan strategies. Ms. Cormier asked Andrew Shapiro if he had received any comments. Mr. Shapiro said that no comments had been submitted yet and reminded the Committee that they are on a tight schedule. Ms. Cormier turned the meeting over to Stan Limpert. Discussion regarding prioritization of strategies Stan Limpert thanked members for their work on prioritization. Mr. Limpert had sent out a spreadsheet with prioritized Master Plan strategies. Previously,the Committee had been divided into pairs to set priorities and identify most beneficial Master Plan goals. Mr. Limpert described having shared a spreadsheet with the prioritized strategies. Mr. Shapiro offered to find and share the spreadsheet, as not all members had it available. Mr. Limpert asked that members take turns briefly describing the Master Plan strategies that they had listed as priorities and their reasoning. Mr. Limpert noted that he had not received prioritized strategies from Meredith Barnes-Cook or Jonathan Strauss, who addressed transportation strategies, but that they would be able to speak to the strategies they prioritized. Ms. Cormier discussed prioritized strategies related to the Land Use Master Plan Element.The prioritized strategies identified by Ms. Cormier were to review the Osgood Smart Growth Overlay District, update zoning for Downtown, and review zoning for alignment with the Master Plan. George Koehler discussed prioritized strategies related to the Housing Master Plan Element.The prioritized strategies identified by Mr. Koehler were to review the recommendations from the Merrimack Valley Regional Housing Production Plan and utilize Community Preservation Act to offset housing costs at lowest income brackets. Mr. Koehler stated that the Affordable Housing Trust Fund has already made use of Community Preservation Act funds. Ms. Cormier described the third prioritized Housing strategy,which is to review the impact of new housing on public infrastructure and services. Sean McDonough discussed the approach he and Mr. Strauss took to prioritizing strategies as giving consideration to strategies that work in conjunction with each other. Mr. McDonough listed the prioritized strategies for the Economic Development Master Plan Element as being:identify opportunities for development and creating a database of opportunity properties and work with large land owners of important properties in town to attract various uses. Mr. Strauss described the ongoing planning activities for the Downtown Improvement Master Plan, noting that this is an opportunity to tie Master Plan goals into other planning activities, stating that investing in infrastructure for the downtown area is a third prioritized Economic Development strategy. Mr. McDonough described planning and developing a rail trail in town as being a high priority for the Open Space and Recreation Master Plan Element. Hollie Williams further discussed wanting to focus on strategies for the Open Space and Recreation Master Plan Element that have not been given much attention through other work in town. Ms. Williams identified the top priorities as being: plan the development of a rail trail and expand youth service programs. Hollie Williams noted the trend towards outdoor recreation and high demand on youth services due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that supporting recreation and youth programs should be given increased attention in the short-term,while a rail trail would be long-term. Ms. Williams listed the third prioritized strategy as improving and building new recreational facilities. Ms. Williams went on to discuss prioritized strategies related to the Historic, Cultural, and Natural Resources Master Plan Element, which were identified jointly with Mr. Limpert. Ms. Williams stated the top priority is to acquire and protect open space in town, describing development pressures as a risk to open space. Ms. Williams continued to state a second priority strategy was to create a Historic Preservation Master Plan. Mr. Limpert noted that another version of the spreadsheet included responsible persons or entities for leading each Master Plan goal, encouraging people to consider who has jurisdiction over each strategy as they are discussed. Meredith Barnes-Cook stated the first priority strategy for the Public Facilities and Services Master Plan Element was to increase senior services, but noting that with plans underway for a new senior center this strategy already had traction. Ms. Barnes-Cook described considering connecting more neighborhoods to sewer infrastructure, but noted risks of return on investment. Ms. Barnes Cook described setting mental health and substance abuse services as an another priority, as well as considering which communities to look to for reference. Mr. Limpert noted that a Public Facilities Master Plan is being actively worked on, suggested that related strategies were not given priority yet, while the Plan is still being worked on. Ms. Barnes-Cook discussed the importance of proactively working with cell providers and other technology companies to better address cell, internet, and other needs, identifying this as a high priority Master Plan goal. Mr. Strauss discussed identifying overarching themes in the Transportation Element of the Master Plan, not just standalone strategies. Mr. Strauss identified adopting a Complete Streets Policy as a priority, relating this strategy to other strategies that address connectivity. Mr. Strauss identifies that we have an opportunity to improve connectivity with the potential to have strategies come from the upcomingRoute 125 Corridor Plan. Mr. Strauss stated identifying more consistent funding sources as a priority, noting that the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission can be a funding source.Mr. Limpert asked if these strategies can be addressed as a group. Mr. Strauss confirmed this as the intention. Mr. Limpert stated we have gone through all the identified priority strategies, recommended revisiting all Master Plan goals and making an effort to identify which strategies are completed or underway. Mr. Limpert reviewed projects he was aware of that have been discussed or are underway related to the priorities that have been discussed, including previous discussions of the rail trail and consideration of buildings to use for youth services, such as the Historical Society building. Ms. Cormier noted that the prioritized goals in many cases were not necessarily those that ranked the highest as identified by a formula weighing costs and benefits. Mr. Limpert noted it is hard to take independent action as a municipality for transportation projects, asked how we can get a handle on the timing of projects and keeping people engaged to make projects happen. Mr. Strauss mentioned attending the Downtown Improvement Master Plan public meeting the previous week, discussed that some Committee priorities are already being actively pursued or considered in the Downtown Improvement Master Plan. Mr. Strauss asked how we can account for actions already being pursued and how we can address areas not being addressed. Ms. Barnes-Cook agreed with Jonathan's support for streetscape improvement projects, notes that pandemic experience can change minds of the public. Mr. Limpert noted that now would be a good time to engage the public or seek support for a rail trail, mentioned there's an opportunity for a rail trail via an old rail bed that runs from Stevens Street to Blue Ridge Road Mr. Koehler asked if there is a reason the rail trail cannot go all the way to the Middletone line. Stan Limpert said portions of the old rail Right of Way have been sold. Mr. Strauss noted the rail corridor also runs behind Sutton Street and the downtown area. Mr. Limpert expressed support for this location as a path. Ms. Williams noted that there are opportunities to identify other entities to lead on certain Master Plan goals, suggested the potential to include the School Department as a leader in addressing mental health. Mr. Limpert agreed that there will need to be clarification and should be discussed further in the future. Mr. Limpert inquired if anyone has further comments on this discussion. No one provided comments. Mr. Limpert then requested prioritization spreadsheets from Ms. Barnes-Cook, Mr. Strauss, and Ms. Williams. Ms. Cormier asked what the plan is for utilizing these prioritization lists and if we should continue to prioritize remaining goals. Mr. Limpert suggested the Committee should move towards meeting with leadership groups associated with each strategy, noted some strategies also would involve many groups and early engagement would be important. Mr. Limpert stated that the Committee will want to note goals completed and underway, so that efforts are not duplicated and new priorities can be identified. New Business Ms. Cormier inquired if the next steps should be to schedule meetings with leaders identified for priority Master Plan strategies.Jean Enright asked for clarification if the Committee would provide a list of people or if staff were being asked to come up with the list. Ms. Cormier and Mr. Shapiro discussed that the listed leadership from the Master Plan would be used. Mr. Shapiro states that staff can put together briefs on current progress for strategies and projects and went on to discuss ongoing projects. Ms. Cormier asked if action should be taken in the next month.The members discussed their availability and agreed on the next meeting date to be 5pm Monday January 4th, 2021. Ms. Cormier conducted a roll call: Stan Limpert (present), Sean McDonough (present), Chris Nobile (absent), Meredith Barnes-Cook(present),Jay Dowd (absent), Hollie Williams (present), George Koehler (present),Jonathan Strauss (present), and Kelly Cormier(present). Adjournment Motion: Mr. Limpert made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr.Strauss. Motion approved by a vote of 7-0.