2009 Master Plan Is an Update the Town’S 2000 Master Plan
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Leicester Master Plan 2009 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The members of the Leicester Planning Board would like to extend their gratitude to the many people who contributed their knowledge, time, and energy to the completion of this project. LEICESTER PLANNING BOARD: Debra Friedman, Chair John McNaboe, Vice Chair William S. Wright Jason Grimshaw Patricia Dykas-Gonet Scott Broskey (Associate Member) LEICESTER PLANNING BOARD STAFF: Michelle R. Buck, AICP, Town Planner Barbara Knox, Department Assistant LEICESTER MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE: Debra Friedman, Planning Board (Chair) Sharon Nist, Capital Improvement Committee Scott Broskey, Planning Board Darlene O’Connor, Board of Health David Connolly, Advisory Board Kurt Parliment, Moose Hill Water Commission James Gonyea, School Department Dianna Provencher, Board of Selectmen Jason Grimshaw, Historical Commission Laurence Todd, Zoning Board of Appeals Thomas Lauder, School Department Glenda Williamson, Conservation Commission Adam Menard, Conservation Commission Thomas Wood, Highway & Fire Departments John McNaboe, Planning Board William S. Wright, Planning Board CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION: Rosemary Scrivens, Associate Planner (Economic Development Chapter) Matthew Franz, GIS Analyst, (Leicester Base Map & 2008 Zoning Map) SPECIAL MENTION: Leicester Business Association, for support of the Economic Development Public Forum Bill Griffin, for setting up the Master Plan web page Cover: Portion of Historic USGS Map, Quinsigamond, MA-CT-RI Quadrangle USGS 30 Minute Series (northwest corner), 1908, Reprinted 1930 (surveyed 1885 & 1886), from UNH DIMOND LIBRARY, Documents Department & Data Center. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................. 1-1 The Master Plan Process in Leicester .................................................................................... 1-1 Goals & Objectives................................................................................................................ 1-2 How the Plan is Organized .................................................................................................... 1-6 2. LEICESTER OVERVIEW...................................................................................................................2-1 History of the Community ..................................................................................................... 2-1 Leicester Population Characteristics...................................................................................... 2-4 Regional Location.................................................................................................................. 2-6 3. HOUSING..............................................................................................................................................3-1 General Housing Characteristics............................................................................................ 3-1 Housing Affordability/Needs Analysis.................................................................................. 3-3 Housing Issues & Opportunities ............................................................................................ 3-6 Housing Goal, Objectives, and Recommendations.............................................................. 3-10 4. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ......................................................................................................4-1 Employment, Tax Base, and Regional Economic Trends ..................................................... 4-1 Community Preferences......................................................................................................... 4-7 Economic Development Opportunities & Impediments........................................................ 4-8 Economic Development Goal, Objectives, and Recommendations .................................... 4-14 5. TRANSPORTATION ........................................................................................................................5-1 Transportation Trends & Data ............................................................................................... 5-1 Transportation Issues & Opportunities .................................................................................. 5-7 Transportation Goal, Objectives, and Recommendations.................................................... 5-10 6. FACILITIES & SERVICES .................................................................................................................6-1 Overview of Leicester Facilities & Services ......................................................................... 6-1 Facilities & Services Issues & Opportunities ...................................................................... 6-12 Facilities & Services Goal, Objectives, and Recommendations.......................................... 6-16 7. NATURAL & HISTORIC RESOURCES .....................................................................................7-1 Natural Resources .................................................................................................................. 7-1 Historic & Cultural Resources............................................................................................... 7-3 Natural & Historic Resources Community Preferences ...................................................... 7-10 Natural & Historic Resources Goal, Objectives, and Recommendations............................ 7-11 8. LAND USE............................................................................................................................................ 8-1 Land Use Trends.................................................................................................................... 8-1 Zoning & Planning Laws & Regulations............................................................................... 8-5 Land Use Issues & Opportunities ........................................................................................ 8-11 Future Land Use................................................................................................................... 8-14 Land Use Goal, Objectives, and Recommendations............................................................ 8-15 9. IMPLEMENTATION .........................................................................................................................9-1 Future Action Plan ................................................................................................................. 9-1 Conclusion/Next Steps...........................................................................................................9-9 Leicester Master Plan i BIBLIOGRAPHY MAPS 2-1: CMRPC Western Sub-Region ................................................................................ 2-7 2-2: Blackstone Valley Corridor.................................................................................... 2-8 4-1: Economic Development Analysis Map ..................................................after page 4-16 5-1: Worcester Regional Airport Development Plan .....................................after page 5-12 5-2: Worcester Regional Mobility Study Area...............................................after page 5-12 6-1: Water....................................................................................................... after page 6-17 6:2: Sewer....................................................................................................... after page 6-17 7-1: Historic Resources & Proposed Districts................................................after page 7-13 7-2: Central Business District and Surrounding Area.................................................... 7-7 7-3: Leicester Heritage Landscape Inventory ................................................after page 7-13 8-1: 1999 Land Use ........................................................................................after page 8-18 8-2: Zoning Map (2008)................................................................................. after page 8-18 8-3: 2000 Future Land Use Map .................................................................... after page 8-18 8-4: 2009 Future Land Use Priorities Map..................................................... after page 8-18 APPENDICES A. Summary of Survey Results B. Open Space Plan Five-Year Action Program (Chapter 9) C. Capital Improvement Plan D. Public Forums & Comments E. Status of 2000 Master Plan Action Items F. Resources ii Leicester Master Plan 1 INTRODUCTION The 2009 Master Plan is an update the Town’s 2000 Master Plan. The Town’s first Master Plan was prepared in 1971. Master Plans are described in Massachusetts General Law (Chapter 41, Section 81D) as the “basis for decision making regarding the long-term physical development of the municipality.” Master Plans must address the following elements: goals, land use, housing, economic development, natural resources (natural, cultural, and historic resources), open space and recreation, services, transportation, and implementation. These required elements have been reorganized in this plan to reflect planning efforts already completed by the Town of Leicester. For example, the 2007 Open Space & Recreation Plan will serve as the Open Space and Recreation Element and much of the Natural Resources element. For each required element, or chapter, this plan provides data and background information, identifies issues and opportunities,