Franklin Open Space Summary Presentation

2008 Open Space & Recreation Plan2008 Open Space & Recreation PlanSummary Summary

November 18, 2009

Public Land Use CommitteeLiz Festa

James EsterbrookTimothy Twardowski

Phyllis MessereRaymond Willis III, Conservation Commission Representative

with assistance from

Department of Planning & Community DevelopmentBryan W. Taberner, AICP, DirectorBeth A. Dahlstrom, Town Planner

Public Land Use Committee Department of Planning and Community Development September 16, 2009

2008 Open Space & Recreation Plan2008 Open Space & Recreation Plan

OverviewOverview

Statement of Purpose:The purpose of this plan is to help ensure that the open space and recreation resources of Franklin are protected as the Town continues to face rapid development pressures and the impacts of sprawl.

Planning Process and Public Participation:The 2008 update of the OSRP was conducted by Franklin Public Land Use Committee in conjunction with the Department of Planning and Community Development.

Input was solicited from a large number of Franklin residents via two public hearings (March 13 & 20, 2008) and a questionnaire, as well as from Town personnel and non-profit organizations.



On June 11, 2009 the Town of Franklin received notice from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs that the Town’s Open Space and Recreation Plan was approved.

The final approval allows the Town to participate in DCS grant rounds through February 2014.

The approved OSRP will be utilized to form the Open Space and Recreation element of theTown’s Master Plan update, expected to be finished in 2010 calendar year.

Approval of PlanApproval of Plan



Goals and ObjectivesGoals and ObjectivesPRIORITIESPRIORITIES

All the information gathered from the various sources was assessed and used to formulate the Town’s goals and objectives. The four goals and numerous corresponding objectives, formed as a result of the public input process, are meant to be cohesive and complementary of each other and served to address the desires, needs and concerns of the residents of Franklin regarding open space and recreation in the Town of Franklin. The four goals that were formulated as a result of the public input process are as follows:

GOAL 1: Increase public awareness of open space and recreation opportunities in Franklin.

GOAL 2: Preserve, protect and enhance existing Town open space resources.

GOAL 3: Maximize recreational opportunities to meet the community’s evolving needs by maintaining current inventory of facilities and programs and by providing new facilities and programs.

GOAL 4: Protect natural, historical, and cultural resources and maintain Franklin's New England character.



Goals, Objectives and Action ItemsGoals, Objectives and Action ItemsPRIORITIESPRIORITIES

Once the four goals were established, objectives were created related to each goal. Action items were then developed, which once implemented, will carryout the objectives of each goal.

Within the OSRP’s 5-year Action Plan (Section 9), each action item was assigned a responsible implementation party and a year in which each item should be carried out.

The following slides are a list of the top priorities that the Public Land Use Committee believes should be addressed over the course of the next year:




GOAL 1: Increase public awareness of open space and recreation opportunities in Franklin.

Objective 1.1: Install signage at open space and recreation areas, including but not limited to walk/hiking trails, bike paths and bike lanes that states the name of the area and the areas allowed usage.

• Action 1.1b: Identify open space and recreation areas where signage is needed.

• Action 1.2a: Use list of open space and recreation areas compiled under objective to create a map/guide of all open space and recreation areas in Town. Create topographic map of each area. Write brief descriptions of each area.




GOAL 2: Preserve, protect and enhance existing Town open space resources.

Objective 2.1: Provide access to open space and conservation areas throughout own for residents of all ages and levels of ability.

• Action 2.1a Assess ADA compliance of conservation areas and other Town ownedopen space parcels as part of the OSRP development process.COMPLETED

• Action 2.1b Prioritize list of non-compliant land.

Objective 2.3: Identify and prioritize unprotected open space properties and work with property owners to protect these important resources from over development.

Action 2.3d Transfer Town owned tax title and unresolved parcels to Conservation Commission for designation as conservation lands.





Objective 3.1: Maximize recreational opportunities to meet the community’s evolving needs by maintaining current inventory of facilities and programs and by providing new facilities.

• Action 3.1a Assess ADA compliancy at all recreation areas. - COMPLETED

• Action 3.1b Prioritize list of non-compliant recreation areas.Objective 3.2: Increase usage of existing recreational space and modify existing recreational space

as the needs of the Town require and evolve.

• Action 3.2a Establish a dog park

• Action 3.2d Create passive recreation area out of a portion of the Town-owned Pond Street Property (former sewer beds), including a portion of its wooded area along Pond Street.





Objective 3.4: Increase connectivity to and between Franklin’s recreation areas, conservation areas and open space. * AS RELATED TO SNETT TRAIL

Objective 3.5: Increase access to SNETT trail and State Forest Trails.

• Action 3.5a Limit/restrict use of motorbikes (at SNETT trail).




GOAL 4: Protect natural, historical, and cultural resources and maintain Franklin's New England character.

Objective 4.1: Preserve natural resources for the protection of priority habitats.

• Action 4.1a Review Natural Heritage Resource Atlas for estimated rare habitat for wildlife and plant species.

• Action 4.1b Request information from Division of Wildlife and Fisheries regarding priority habitats in Franklin.

Objective 4.3: Implement growth management techniques that will help to preserve the Town’s natural, historic and cultural resources..

• Objective 4.3 Implement growth management techniques that will help to preserve the Town's natural, historic and cultural resources. **As it relates to Green Communities Initiative



NEXT STEPS NEXT STEPS TIMELINETIMELINE

The Public Land Use Committee has regularly scheduled meetings on Monday’s at 6:30 PM in Room 205.

A portion of each meeting will be used to work on implementingaction items. Between each meeting, Public Land Use Committee members, with the assistance of DPCD staff and relevant Boards and Committees responsible for completion of specific actions will work to create materials and contact the appropriate responsible party to assist in completing the identified task. This information will then be utilized by the Public Land Use Committee to complete the implementation items.

It is the goal of the Public Land Use Committee and the DPCD tocomplete as many of the priority action items in the as possible by July of 2010.



NEXT STEPS NEXT STEPS TIMELINETIMELINE

In October, DPCD was informed by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) that communities are allowed to extend the eligibility period of the Five-Year Action Plan component of the OSRP.

An extension would describe the next seven years of open space and recreation activities in Franklin and would make Franklin eligible for Division of Conservation Services grant programs for seven years instead of five.

Members of the Public Land Use Committee have agreed to expand the OSRP action plan by two years and submit the revision to the EOEEA by the February 28, 2010 deadline to gain an addition 2-years worth of grant eligibility.

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Franklin Open Space Summary Presentation