The Sandwich Local Comprehensive Plan Reflections & Directions
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Local Comprehensive Plan Town of Sandwich, MA LOCAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CONTRIBUTORS The Sandwich Local Comprehensive Plan Reflections & Directions Funding Sources The LCP Update project was made possible through a state grant from the Massachusetts Office of Transportation & Tourism received by the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Sandwich Chamber of Commerce, a grant from Barnstable County acting through the Cape Cod Economic Development Council, and the Town of Sandwich. Sandwich Local Planning Committee Robert Jensen, Chair Taylor White, Vice Chair Aleta Barton Kate Bavelock Tim Cooney Susan R. James Linell Grundman John G. Kennan Doug Lapp Trish Lubold Kevin O’Haire Marie Oliva Frank Pannorfi Glenn Paré David Sullivan Barbara Shaner Ralph Vitacco Sharon Gay, Grants Administrator, STG Consultants Sandwich Board of Selectmen Linell Grundman, Chair Frank Pannorfi John G. Kennan Randal Hunt Dana P. Barrette Tom Keyes, Past Chairman Sandwich Planning Board Amy Lipkind, Chair Taylor White, Vice-Chair Joseph Vaudo Daniel Marsters Ralph Vitacco Richard Claytor May 2009 Local Comprehensive Plan Town of Sandwich, MA Sandwich Town Departments George Dunham, Town Manager Doug Lapp, Assistant Town Manager Gregory M. Smith, Planning Director, Office of Planning and Development Marie Buckner, Director, Human Resources Susan Flynn, Tax Collector Doreen Guild, Town Accountant Donna Boardman, Building Commissioner Skip Tetreault, Buildings and Grounds, Sandwich School Department Rick Reino, Business Manager, Sandwich School Department George Russell, Chief, Fire Department Mike Miller, Chief, Police Department Craig Mayer, Town Treasurer John Johnson, Director of Golf, Sandwich Hollows Golf Course Richard Connor, Director, Sandwich Public Library Edward L. Childs, Principal Assessor, Assessor’s Office Janet Timmons, Director, Council on Aging Paul S. Tilton, P.E., Town Engineer, Department of Public Works David B. Mason, Health Agent, Board of Health Greg Fayne, Harbormaster, Sandwich Marina Mark S. Galkowski, Natural Resources Officer, Natural Resources Department Daniel M. Landesman, Other Contributing Boards, Committees, Organizations & Agencies Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce Cape Cod Commission Sandwich Chamber of Commerce Community Preservation Committee Conservation Commission Economic Development Committee Historical Commission Consulting Team Ted Brovitz, AICP, Senior Planner, Stantec Planning & Landscape Architecture Alan Mountjoy, AIA, Chan Krieger Sieniewicz Frank Mahady, FXM Associates May 2009 Local Comprehensive Plan Town of Sandwich, MA TABLE OF CONTENTS The Sandwich Local Comprehensive Plan Reflections & Directions Background, Purpose & Vision Background A Plan with a Purpose Key Features of the Updated Plan Community Participation Sandwich's Past Planning Efforts Overall Community Vision Statement Local Comprehensive Plan Elements Implementation and Funding Program Plan Certification and Consistency 1.0 Land Use and Growth Management 1-1 to 1-65 1.1 Introduction and Overview 1.2 A Brief History of Sandwich's Development 1.3 General Growth Trends 1.4 Existing Land Use Inventory and Trends 1.5 Strategic Planning Areas 1.6 Land Use Regulations 1.7 Developable Lands in Sandwich 1.8 Future Build Out Analysis 1.9 Smart Growth Center Concept Development Plans 2.0 Natural Resources 2-1 to 2-39 2.1 Background and Overview 2.2 Water Resources 2.3 Coastal Resources 2.4 Wetlands, Wildlife and Plant Habitat 2.5 Geology, Soils & Topography 2.6 Environmental Challenges and Recent Actions The Natural Resources Element fully integrates the Sandwich Open Space and Recreation Plan, 2006 prepared by Taintor & Associates, Inc., the Sandwich Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan, 2004 and the Sandwich LCP Water Resources Element Update, 2004 by the ESS Group. 3.0 Economic Development 3-1 to 3-20 3.1 Introduction 3.2 General Economic Conditions and Trends 3.3 Existing Land for Economic Development 3.4 Capacity for Economic Growth 3.5 Existing Economic Development Initiatives 3.6 Municipal Impact of Economic Growth 3.7 Challenges and Opportunities Table of Contents May 2009 Page i-1 Local Comprehensive Plan Town of Sandwich, MA 4.0 Transportation and Circulation 4-1 to 4-36 4.1 Background and Introduction 4.2 Local Trends and Regional Context 4.3 Existing Transportation Conditions and Trends 4.4 Future Conditions and Needs Using the 2002 Transportation Element of the Local Comprehensive Plan: Phase I and II by Vanesse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. as the foundation. 5.0 Community Facilities and Services 5-1 to 5-32 5.1 Background and Overview 5.2 Municipal Buildings and Administrative Services 5.3 Educational Facilities and Services 5.4 Public Safety Facilities and Services 5.5 Public Works and Transportation Services 5.6 Parks and Recreational Facilities 5.7 Health Care Facilities and Services 5.8 Town Boards and Committees 5.9 The Tax Base 5.10 Capital Improvement Planning 5.11 Municipal Facilities and Services Challenges 6. 0 Housing and Neighborhoods 6-1 to 6-20 6.1 Background and Introduction 6.2 Housing Inventory and Trends 6.3 Housing Needs Assessment The Housing and Neighborhoods Element fully incorporates and updates the 2003 Community Affordability Housing Plan prepared by Karen Sunnarborg for the Local Housing Committee. 7. 0 Open Space and Recreational Resources 7-1 to 7-30 7.1 Introduction and Overview 7.2 Scenic Resources and Unique Environments 7.3 Inventory of Lands of Conservation and Recreation Interest 7.4 Assessment of Needs The Open Space and Recreational Resources Element fully integrates the Open Space and Recreation Plan, 2006 prepared by Taintor & Associates, Inc. and the Recreational Fields Development Report, 2007 prepared by the Town of Sandwich. 8. 0 Historic Preservation and Community Character 8-1 to 8-28 8.1 Introduction and Overview 8.2 A Brief History of Sandwich 8.3 The Regulatory Environment 8.4 Overview of Existing Survey and Needs 8.5 Historic Resources 8.6 Challenges and Recent Accomplishments The Historic Resources Element fully incorporated and integrates the Sandwich Historic Preservation Plan, June 2002 prepared by Neil Larson & Associates. Table of Contents May 2009 Page i-2 Local Comprehensive Plan Town of Sandwich, MA 9. 0 Community Sustainability 9-1 to 9-63 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Community Sustainability Index (CSI) 9.3 Energy Conservation and Alternative Source Development 9.4 Planning for Climate Change 9.5 Hazard Mitigation Planning 9.6 Smart Growth and Sustainable Design 9.7 Community Sustainability Action Plan 10.0 Implementation Plan 10-1 to 10-65 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Land Use and Growth Management Goals 10.3 Natural Resource Protection & Enhancement Action Plan 10.4 Economic Goals, Policies & Action Plan 10.5 Transportation Goals and Action Plan 10.6 Community Facilities and Service Goals, Objectives and Action Plan 10.7 Housing Goals and Objectives 10.8 Open Space and Recreation Goals, Objectives and Action Plan 10.9 Historic Resources Action Plan 10.10 Community Sustainability Goals and Action Plan APPENDICES A. Sandwich Planning Studies and Reports B. Sandwich Build Out Analysis C. Sandwich Public Visioning and Design Charrette Results Table of Contents May 2009 Page i-3 Local Comprehensive Plan Town of Sandwich, MA Background, Purpose & Vision Background The Town of Sandwich has experienced enormous growth over the past several decades. The year-round population increased by 867 percent from 1960 to 2000 (second highest on the Cape), fundamentally changing the nature of the town. The population has continued to grow from 20,136 in 2000 to approximately 23,000 residents in 2007. To some degree, Sandwich was “discovered” by Boston commuters during the 1980s, accounting for a large part of the influx. According to the 2000 Census, 25.3 percent of the town’s residents commuted off-Cape to work, second only to Bourne. The population of school-age children skyrocketed during the 1990s, with growth rates between 30 and 60 percent depending on the age group. As the community grew, school enrollments increased along with greater demand for police, fire, public works, and other municipal services. At the same time and despite the region’s relatively low tax burdens compared to the rest of the state, Cape towns have been under increasing pressure to limit the degree of tax burden falling to the resident population. Recent population trends have demonstrated a flat population growth of about 1.8 percent for the town, compared to 1.2 percent for the county, and a slight reduction in student population. To address local growth and plan for future development, cities and towns in Massachusetts are encouraged to prepare local comprehensive plans. The Sandwich Local Comprehensive Plan was last updated in 1996. This process began in the spring of 1992 with a grant from the Cape Cod Commission, and the Land Use Collaborative was hired to help the Sandwich Local Planning Committee (LPC) prepare the plan. Information was collected by the committee, and a series of workshops were held beginning in July of 1992. Initially, draft elements were prepared by the consultant; however, the final draft was prepared by the Director of Planning & Development and the LPC. Other committees and department heads provided significant contributions in preparing the plan. In updating the Local Comprehensive Plan (LCP), the Town of Sandwich set out to prepare growth management strategies that preserve and enhance the community’s historic character and cultural heritage, protect natural resources,