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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-09 Master Plan Implementation Committee Minutes Master Plan Implementation Committee Meeting Minutes September 9, 2024 Attending: (in person): Jon Strauss (Chair), Meredith Barnes-Cook (Vice-Chair), Al Manzi, Stan Limpert, Brian Roache, Sean Kevlahan, Hollie Williams, Peter Koesterherm, and Amy Mabley Staff: Andrew Shapiro (Assistant Town Manager/Director of Community and Economic Development) and Zach Melcher (Staff Planner) Call To Order Chair Jon Strauss called the meeting to order and noted those who were present for the meeting, consisting of a quorum. Introduction of new Member: Peter Koesterherm, representing the Affordable Housing Trust Mr. Shapiro noted that Peter Koesterherm joins the Committee for his first meeting as a member, representing the Affordable Housing Trust. Mr. Koesterherm provided a brief introduction of himself and noted his enthusiasm for joining the Committee and his interest in projects going on in town. All members present then introduced themselves, providing their respective professional backgrounds, their lengths of service on the Committee, some background on their involvement with the Town, and whether they represent another Town board committee or are serving in an at-large capacity. Mr. Shapiro and Mr. Melcher also introduced themselves and briefly described their roles administering the Committee. Public Comment David Kres (99 Meadow Lane) of the Select Board was present at the meeting and introduced himself. Mr. Kres noted that he was present to learn more about what the Committee does and works on; he expressed his appreciation of the members' service. Approval of June 10,2024 meeting minutes Stan Limpert motioned to approve the June 10, 2024 minutes as presented. Sean Kevlahan seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 with two abstentions (Koesterherm and Kevlahan). Andrew Shapiro introduced Brian Roache (new member representing the Select Board) to the Committee. Each member present then introduced themselves, noting their affiliation to a representative board/commission or their status as an at-large member. Old Business: Continued discussion of updates on Master Plan strategies that have been made on the MPIC Mr. Shapiro covered the following updates to Master Plan strategies: • Housing, Strategy 10: Review the recommendations from the Merrimack Valley Regional Housing Plan for consistency with the Master Plan. Prioritize recommendations that overlap both plans. o On June 17, 2024, the Select Board voted to accept/adopt the Housing_ELqduction , which will remain in draft form until approved by the State's Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC). • Housing, Strategy 19: Create an Accessory Dwelling Unit (AD U) bylaw that would allow small accessory residential units on existing residential parcels. o In August of 2024, Governor Maura Healey signed into law a Housing Bond Bill, which among other provisions, includes allowing accessory dwelling units under 900 square feet by right on single-family lots. Per a i Office: Often referred to as in-law apartments, accessory dwelling units can be attached or detached from a single-family home and often take shape as a basement or attic conversion, a cottage in a backyard or a bump-out addition to a home. This new policy replaces a patchwork of zoning regulations across the state with a uniform law that allows homeowners on single-family lots to add these small units without needing a special permit or variance unless they want to add more than one. Construction of ADUs is still subject to local building codes. On the issue of the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) mandate, Ms. Williams asked whether the State was superseding local zoning. Mr. Shapiro responded by saying that while by-right allowance of ADUs is now mandated, the Town still has an opportunity to implement local controls through a bylaw that would need to be accepted and passed at Town Meeting. The Town will have an opportunity to implement reasonable dimensional standards, restrict the number of ADU's that can be built on a property by-right, and restrict their use as a short term rental. Ms. Williams pointed out that the Town currently has a family suite bylaw that restricts unit size to 25 percent of gross floor area and requires discretionary approval by the ZBA; whereas the new mandate would make way for by-right units. Mr. Shapiro confirmed these details, but also stressed that the new ADU mandate would be more restrictive on the issue of size than the current family suite bylaw. Mr. Shapiro explained that the Planning Department is working with the Planning Board to develop a bylaw that will comply with the State mandate and be considered at Town Meeting in May of 2025. • Transportation, Strategy 34: Adopt a Complete Streets Policy and apply to MassDOT's Complete Streets Funding Program to secure Jundingfor a Complete Streets Prioritization Plan. And • Transportation, Strategy 41: Evaluate safety and congestion improvements along key roadway corridors and intersection improvements to promote safer travel speeds, improve safety at key intersections, and create a safer and more connected sidewalk network. This should include conducting/traffic counts on arterial roadways to ensure data is recent and relevant. o In July of 2022 the Town was J321,271 to reconfigure and improve the intersection of Sutton, Chadwick and High Street. Completed in summer of 2024, the project included removal of the west leg of Chadwick Street and realignment of the High Street northbound approach to create a standard T intersection with Sutton Street, creating a new T intersection with Chadwick Street intersecting High Street, and eliminating areas of conflict between pedestrians and a high-speed turning vehicles. The prior existing crosswalks were relocated across Sutton Street and High Street and new ADA-compliant wheelchair ramps were constructed. The existing sidewalk along the south side of Sutton Street through the project limits were reconstructed. A rapid flashing beacon was installed across Sutton Street. • Transportation, Strategy 57: Improve MVRTA circulator routes and frequency of those routes as a way to increase ridership. In May of 2024, McVa was awarded a MassDOT amount illion,which will fund extended service along Route 14. Service will come from the Ward Hill Industrial Park in Haverhill, stop at the Amazon facility at 1600 Osgood Street, and continue down Osgood Street(Route 125). It will take a right on Sutton Street and extend all the way to the Lawrence MBTA Station. - Updated 5/22/2024 m This service became effective startjng-Qn-Sg������. Ms. Barnes Cook inquired about whether MeVa plans to reinstate commuter bus service to/from Boston. Mr. Shapiro noted that there are no plans to do that given the apparent lack of demand coming out of Covid. But it could be explored. Mr. Kevlahan inquired about signage for bus stops. Mr. Shapiro explained that MeVa has traditionally been a"flag down" service, meaning people could flag down a bus to board it anywhere along a route. That system will remain in place, but the service has been gradually installing signs and shelters that demarcate specific locations where riders can wait for buses. North Andover will see these installed in the future. • Public Facilities and Services, Strategy 87: Work with local internet and cell service providers to proactively seek out new technology to expand access in North Andover and nearby communities o In April of 2024, the Town applied to the Massachusetts Broadband Institute's (MBI's) Muni��l�Di�ital�E�uit�P�lan�nin�P�ro�ra�m for a grant that would enable it to work with a qualified consultant on developing a digital equity plan. A digital equity plan would bring together relevant stakeholders and the public to identify areas or populations that do not have adequate access to the Internet/broadband, a provide a set of actions that the Town could take to broaden access to the internet. m In May of 2024, the Town was awarded the grant referenced above. It was then teamed with consultant ctc techn2lo & ener Zy to help it produce a digital equity plan for the Town. As part of the planning process, the Town engaged with a variety of relevant stakeholders in the community to understand ongoing initiatives related to digital equity and ideas for expansion. Additionally, the Town solicited feedback from residents through a digital equity survey, receiving over 400 responses regarding their experience accessing the internet in North Andover. The plan is slated to be complete in early fall of 2024. To learn more, click here. • Public Facilities and Services, Strategy 88: Complete the inventory of shade trees located throughout the Town in order to help identify locations where more might be needed. 0 In March of 2024 the Town issued a re-quest for-pro �osalsR-FP I �� to solicit proposals from qualified consultants who could assist the Town in conducting a tree inventory and producing a tree management plan. In May 2024, the Town selected and contracted with to perform this work. The project was kicked off in August of 2024 and the consultant team has already begun the tree inventory process. • Public Facilities and Services, Strategy 103: Continue to provide information on-line and explore additional ways to use technology to communicate with residents and snake the provision of services most efficient. o In July of 2024, the Town's Fire Department announced its adoption of Commuflily Connect: a free, secure, and easy to use platform that allows residents and business owners to share critical household/business information that will aid first responders and emergency response personnel when responding to emergencies at those locations. New Business 1. Discuss Open Space and Recreation Strategies 61 and 62: o Investigate establishing public recreational access to the Merrimack River via the Shawsheen River trail and boat ramp. o Consider how the Town can best make use of the Merrimack River's close proximity and recreational opportunities by establishing a riverfront trail system, waterfront parks, and/or public canoe or boat launch areas. Mr. Roache explained that he had requested that these strategies appear on the agenda to be discussed. He noted that the idea of redeveloping and/or enlivening downtown is always a topic of conversation at the Select Board and with Town leadership, and that the Town has significant frontage along the Merrimack River that is encumbered by a lack of public access. He wants to start a broader conversation about how to unlock this area for the public, invite more commercial activity and make it more of a"centerpiece" for the downtown area. Mr. Roache acknowledged it could take several years to realize something like this. The area is "split zoned"between R4 and IS (industrial), but Mr. Roache posited that the Town could look at potential overlay zoning to accommodate waterfront access and low density commercial development that would create a new focal point for the community. Mr. Koesterherm wondered whether the overlay could support mixed-use development, with a housing element. Mr. Kevlahan raised the issue of whether the river is navigable by boat. Mr. Shapiro raised the possibility of being able to connect a planned shared use path to the area, or even improving the Scholfield Mill property to include a pocket park. He then suggested that if this endeavor were to become a goal of the Select Board, that it could convene a working group to move the project forward. Mr. Roache confirmed that he would be discussing the idea of having this become a goal of the Select Board, with the Board and the Town Manager. He noted that it could be helpful to have the MPIC's support in the form of a letter, if it saw fit to provide one. Mr. Strauss pointed out that these strategies have yet to be addressed, and that this could be pointed out to the Select Board. Mr. Shapiro said that he would work with Mr. Strauss to draft a letter that would be directed to the Select Board about supporting ways to implement strategies related to furthering access to the Merrimack River. Mr. Strauss and other members voiced support of this approach. 2. Discuss ongoing projects of interest to Committee Members as time allows: o Accessory Dwelling Units o Tree Inventory and Management Plan o Wayfinding Master Plan o Complete Streets and other transportation infrastructure improvements Mr. Strauss and Mr. Shapiro noted that many of these topics had already been covered during other portions of the meeting. Mr. Shapiro provided a brief update on the Wayfinding Master Plan, noting that the consultant was in the process of identifying critical areas to demarcate and direct people to. Mr. Keosterherm requested to raise an issue. Mr. Strauss allowed him to proceed. Mr. Koesterherm asked Mr. Roache if the Select Board would consider adding to its upcoming goals for the year, to identify Town owned land that could be used for the purpose of developing more affordable housing, with an ultimate goal of reaching the required threshold of l0%, which would provide safe harbor status from Chapter 40B regulations. Mr. Roache said it has long been a goal of the Town's to achieve safe harbor status but that he would need to see where the conversation went in terms of specific goals for the upcoming year. The Committee Members then agreed to schedule the next meeting for Monday, October 7th at 6pm, to take place in the 2nd floor conference room at Town Hall. Adjournment: Sean Kevlahan moved to adjourn, and Stan Limpert seconded. The vote was 9-0 in favor.