Master Vision Plan

Master Vision Plan

Bolton Village Center Vision Plan

Sustainable Village Center Planning: Town of Bolton, Massachusetts

Landscape Planning Studio II: LA 609/RP609under the instruction of

Robert L. Ryan, Associate ProfessorRick Taupier, Adjunct Professor

Evan Aird, Lianying Bao, Shemariah Blum-Evitts, Mike Cote, Tara Germond, Haidee Janak, Ryan Lundergan, Todd Lynch, David Maynes, Matt Medeiros, Laura Shaffer, Jennifer Siciliano, Gabrielle Whitcombe,

and Erin Wilson

Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional PlanningUniversity of Massachusetts at Amherst





Scope


To create a vision for a sustainable village center in Bolton.

Objectives:

• Assess existing resources • Establish boundaries for a village center

• Develop design and policy proposals for town

Master Vision Plan


Introduction to Bolton

• Located in Worcester County in central Massachusetts

• Situated in the 495 MetroWest corridor region

(Source: MetroWest Ecocomic Research Center, 2007)

Master Vision Plan



• Located in Worcester County in central Massachusetts

• Situated in the 495 MetroWest corridor region

(Source: MetroWest Ecocomic Research Center, 2007)

Master Vision Plan



• Background- Early American architecture- Orchards, farms, forest open space- Little commercial activity - Heavy traffic- Explosive population growth

• Community goals: - Protect water resources, natural features & habitat

- Conserve open space areas for public use- Preserve and encourage agriculture- Preserve historic character- Create a diversity of housing options

Elements of a Village Center


• Distinctive sense of place

• Variety of housing options

• Convenience

• Community gathering

• Balances public and private space

• Preserves open space

• Creates multi-function destinations (Mixed Use)

Village Center: Two Case Studies


Concord, MA and Dennisport, MA

•Focus on the process and strategies

•Created village center bylaws

•Active public participation

•Goals and constraints similar to Bolton

Midterm Summary


• Studied four areas specified by the Masterplan

• Narrowed areas to one most likely village center

• Created boundaries for overlay district

Midterm Summary





Midterm Summary





Midterm Summary





Public Participation


Multiple types of participation:

•Visual Survey•Online Survey•Community Charrette-Mental Mapping•Initial Design Presentation• Business Interviews

Public Participation – Group Composite of Village Areas


Town Hall



Town HallSmith Property




Senior Housing




Senior Housing

Country Cupboard

High-Scoring Images

Public Participation – Online Survey


Would you like to see the creation of a village district?

•81.4% Yes

If yes where should the village district be located?

•65.4 % indicated the intersection of 117 & Wattaquadock Rd.



How would you rate these features in a village center?

High rated:•Aesthetically pleasing buildings•Parks and open space•Walkability•Shopping/Dining Opportunities•Farmers Market•Social Gathering Spaces•Environmentally friendly infrastructure



• Newer residents and those with children were concerned with:

- Safety & Services

• Those who had lived in town longer were interested in:

- Town character, landscaping, cleanliness, signage

Public Participation – Business Interviews


• Broad support for village center • Business interests parallel to those in citizen

survey

Constraints identified by businesses:

• Zoning is not business-friendly• Parking & Traffic on 117• Water and septic infrastructure issues

Sustainability Concept for Bolton’s Center


• Community Gathering




• Infill




• Infill

• Walkability




• Infill

• Walkability

• Affordable Housing




• Infill

• Walkability


• Local Economy




• Infill

• Walkability


• Local Economy

• Green Infrastructure




• Infill

• Walkability


• Local Economy

• Green Infrastructure

Environmental Assets and Limitations


• Extensive Wetlands

• Hills and Steep Slopes

• Protected Open Spaces

• Active Agricultural Lands

• Wildlife Habitat

Existing Zoning Setbacks


I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.

Rt. 117


Village Center Vision

Rt. 117

I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.



Rt. 117

I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.



Rt. 117

I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.



Rt. 117

I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.



Rt. 117

I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.



Rt. 117

I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.



Rt. 117

I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.


Village Center Visualizations

I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.

Rt. 117



I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.

Rt. 117











I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.

Rt. 117



I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.

Rt. 117









I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.

Rt. 117



I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.

Rt. 117











I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.

Rt. 117



I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.

Rt. 117

















I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.

Rt. 117



I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.

Rt. 117



I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.

Rt. 117



I-495

Wattoquadoc Rd.

Rt. 117


















Key Recommendations

• Take control of Route 117• Improve infrastructure• Promote a diversity of housing types• Create local economic committee & draft

economic development plan• Revise zoning & implement design guidelines


Zoning Tools for Consideration

40R: Smart Growth Zoning

• Create dense residential or mixed-use districts• Requires inclusion of affordable housing• Community eligible for payments based on

density increase


43D: Streamlined Permitting

• Town designates appropriate areas• State helps promote the sites• Town reviews permit applications in 180 days



Form Based Code

• Zoning paired with design guidelines• Emphasis on building exteriors, siting, streetscape

and public spaces• Focus on form over use• Streamlined permitting



Transfer of Development Rights

• Encourages development in village centers• Increases density in exchange for farmland

preservation



• Sustainable Site Planning

Design Guidelines


• Sustainable Site Planning• Hydrology

Design Guidelines


• Sustainable Site Planning• Hydrology• Building use & form

Design Guidelines


• Sustainable Site Planning• Hydrology• Building use & form• Streetscape

Design Guidelines


• Sustainable Site Planning• Hydrology• Building use & form• Streetscape• Parking & circulation

Design Guidelines


• Sustainable Site Planning• Hydrology• Building use & form• Streetscape• Parking & circulation• Signage & lighting

Design Guidelines

Conclusion


• Plan proactively – growth is coming!

Questions & Comments


Thank you!

Documents

Master Vision Plan