COMMUNITY FORUM December 7, 2015 Ashland Comprehensive Plan
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COMMUNITY FORUM
December 7, 2015
Ashland Comprehensive Plan
Welcome:
Nat Strosberg, AICP, LEED AP
Town Planner, Town of Ashland
Preston Crow, Chair,
Comprehensive Plan Advisory
Group
What are we doing tonight?
Presentation
The Comprehensive Plan Process
Progress on Ashland’s Plan to Date
Review of Ashland’s Community Vision
Statement
Group Discussion:
Discussion of recommended goals
Prioritization of Goals
Report Back
Next Steps
The
Comprehensive
Plan:
Project
Overview
What is a Comprehensive
plan?
A Comprehensive plan is a
strategic policy framework
that guides the future
physical and economic growth of a
town or city based on the
community’s vision and goals.
A Comprehensive plan is not
just a document, it is a process
It’s an opportunity to envision your future
VISION: What do we want our community to be in 20 years?
It is a process to set town-wide priorities
PLAN: What do we need to do to get there?
It’s an action strategy to achieve positive change
IMPLEMENT: How do we get started? What is next?
What will be in the
Comprehensive Plan?
• Community Vision
• Land Use
• Housing
• Economic Development
• Cultural and Historic Resources
• Open Space and Recreation/Natural Resources
• Sustainability
• Public Services and
Facilities
• Transportation and
Circulation
• Implementation
PLAN ELEMENTS
Progress on the Plan
Plan input to date Six Lightning Polls – Summer and Fall 2014
Focus Groups – August 2014
Open Space, Recreation, + Natural Resources
Land Use, Housing + Development
Visioning Session - October 2014
Two Coffee Klatches – November 2014
Senior Center lunch - November 2014
Comprehensive Plan Committee meetings – 2014 + 2015
Housing Forums – January and May 2015
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Group meetings - 2015
Town Staff meetings – 2015
Planning Board and Board of Selectmen - 2015
PlanAshland Vision
A thriving community
Taking charge of our future
Committed to sustainability
Regional collaborator
Public schools are centers of
excellence
Resources and infrastructure
Engaged residents, business
owners, and leaders working
together to advance and
communicate common values,
goals, and priorities of the
Ashland Comprehensive Plan
PlanAshland Vision Continued
Our downtown, key
corridors and
neighborhoods are
sustainable and vibrant
PlanAshland Vision Continued
Ashland welcomes residents of
all ages and socio-economic
backgrounds by providing a
variety of housing opportunities
PlanAshland Vision Continued
Ashland maintains a strong
economic base and diverse
local economy with places for
people to live, shop, work and
gather. The town provides
prime access to key
employment centers in our
region.
PlanAshland Vision Continued
Ashland offers viable walking,
biking and public
transportation options.
PlanAshland Vision Continued
Ashland stewards open space
and recreational opportunities
and promotes an array of vital
environmental, natural,
historical and cultural
resources.
Land Use Goals
Accommodate key development and
preservation activities through Ashland’s Zoning
Bylaw
Implement land use policies that support and
encourage appropriately-scaled and mixed-use
developments in key areas of town
Consider form-based code
Ensure coordination and alignment among all
land use review and permitting entities
Housing Goals Work to preserve and advance affordability in town
Maintain high quality of life through sustainable
planning and housing production
Ensure affordability throughout town and target
affordable housing production to designated sites
Build community awareness of housing issues and
activities
Address unmet housing needs through programming
Adopt zoning changes to promote affordable
housing production and diverse housing typologies
Promote healthy housing
Economic Development Goals
Plan for, stimulate and maintain viable, well-
designed and vibrant development along key
corridors and downtown
Provide comprehensive and site specific
planning and technical assistance to advance
economic development at key locations
Plan for and implement public facilities and utility
improvements along key corridors and
downtown
Attract and retain a range of businesses in town’s
commercial areas
Economic Development Goals
Provide and promote incentives
Build town’s reputation as an energy-efficiency
leader
Leverage open space, natural resources and
recreational opportunities as an economic asset
Ensure organizational capacity to lead in and
implement economic development activities
Leverage regional business leadership and
organizations to promote the town and expand
resources
Transportation Goals
Commission a parking study and ensure
adequate parking is provided downtown,
address space availability, management, and
accessibility
Continue to advocate for and advance roadway
improvements along key corridors
Create sidewalk connectivity and linkages
between neighborhoods and key amenities
Advocate for and implement Complete Streets
Transportation Goals
Provide consistent wayfinding and signage to
showcase and connect people with town
amenities
Ensure local and regional development does not
adversely impact traffic in neighborhoods, along
key corridors and downtown
Expand and improve public transportation
options
Ensure adequate resources for Town operations,
street and sidewalk maintenance and
reconstruction.
Small Group Discussions
Setting the Stage: Small group introductions
(5 mins)
Recommended Goals: What do you think of
the Comprehensive plan draft goals? Should
anything be added or changed? Which goals
would you prioritize? (50 mins)
Wrap-Up: Designate reporter to present
highlights from discussion to larger group
(2 mins)
Next Steps:
Preston Crow, Chair,
Comprehensive Plan Advisory
Group
Thank
you!
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