Canton Junction Visioning Forum

March 27, 2019 Agenda

Presentation

OVERVIEW STUDY AREA The plan, the Description + initial process, and thoughts to inform 1 deliverables 2 community input

Small Group Exercises

VISION STATEMENT VISION IMAGERY DISTRICT CONCEPT Craft a vision statement Select images of various Apply the Vision to for the study area, elements consistent with create an illustrative focusing on goals and the Vision plan for the area 1 priorities 2 3 Historic photograph of Canton Viaduct (Steelways of New England, 1946) Presentation

OVERVIEW The plan, the process, and deliverables Plan goals

Community-driven process

Develop a vision for the area • Land uses • Building form • Public space

Draft recommendations and zoning reflective of the vision Goals for tonight

1 Provide information 2 Get input and feedback

Things to think about . . .

What does Canton What makes a place How will people get need more of? What inviting for a range of to and from the study is the Town lacking? people (residents, area? What would What would you like workers, and visitors)? make this place safe to see in this area? What street elements and comfortable for What do you want to and amenities would everyone? keep? you like to see here?

LAND USE LOOK + FEEL CONNECTIVITY Why Canton Junction area?

• Potentially under-utilized land • Opportunity for “equitable transit-oriented development” – Provide access to jobs for people who rely on transit – Helps meet town housing needs* – Lower vehicle traffic than typical suburban development – Positive fiscal impacts – Can create a sense of place and walkable neighborhood • Opportunity to better connect area to Paul Revere Heritage site and Canton Center

*More on this in the Town Context section Presentation

STUDY AREA Description + initial thoughts to inform community input Town context

Canton Population Current: 22,560 (Source: US Census/ACS) 2030 Projected: 26,270 (Source: MAPC)

Housing Canton has been successful in creating affordable housing (12.5% subsidized) and new housing in general.

However, challenges remain: • 2/3 of renters are “cost burdened” (i.e., paying > than 30% of income on housing) • Most of these people are seniors • Nearly 1/3 of households had incomes < 80% of area median income • Housing prices are rising (7% 2013-2017) • Rents are among the highest in the area ($1,473 per month) • By 2035, the Town is projected to drop below 10% of units affordable • Subject to 40B development • Puts further strain on maintaining affordability for residents Town context

Canton Jobs Jobs-to-residents ratio: 1.04 (Source: EMSI)

Employment Unlike most communities in the region, Canton has more jobs than residents. Neponset Street/Canton Junction is one of six areas in Town where employment is clustered. • Construction is the top employment sector in Town (18% of jobs) • Canton’s high commercial tax base (33%) helps keep residential tax burden low

Canton Transportation Transit options: 2 commuter rail stations in town, nearby Westwood Station, and Bus Rt 716 Providing multiple ways to get around can improve an area’s economic vitality, lower traffic congestion, and spark private investment. • 14% of residents take public transportation (up 4% from 2010) • 25% take transit, walk, or carpool to work • Driving alone dropped from 79% to 75% between 2010-2014 Study area location

Town of Canton

Study Area (shaded) Study area boundaries

Study Area Sub-Area 1

T

Study Area Sub-Area 2

Paul Revere N Heritage site Study area boundaries

Paul Revere Heritage site Sub-Area 1 • 43 acres • 39 parcels (excluding MBTA parcels) • 37 buildings (excluding secondary structures) • 47 housing units Sub-Area 2 • 13 acres • 13 parcels • 12 buildings (excluding secondary structures) • 6 housing units

Paul Revere Heritage site Zoning |Districts

Single Residence C General Residence

INDUSTRIAL

Single Residence C

GENERAL RESIDENCE General Residence Economic Opportunity Overlay District Zoning |Selection of allowed uses

Industrial General Residence • Research • Single family • Manufacturing • Two-family (with restrictions) • Light manufacturing (SP) • Multi-family (SP) • Warehouse (SP) • Conversion of single to 2-family (SP) • Parking lot • Childcare (SP if home care) • Wholesale office • Hospital (SP) • Showroom • Library, museum, community center • Child care center • Home occupation (by right or SP) • Library, museum, community center • Municipal uses • Nursery • Theater (SP) • Restaurant (SP) • Office • Medical office

*SP = Special Permit Zoning |Dimensional standards INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT A Height: 40’* *Height can reach a maximum of 52’ with B Frontage: 100’ restrictions, including min 8 acre parcel A C Front setback: 60’ size, which is not E present in study area. D Side setback: 20’ C E Rear setback: 10’

D Min lot size: unspecified Lot coverage: 50% B GENERAL RESIDENCE DISTRICT A Height: 25’** **Height can reach a maximum of 40’ B Frontage: 100’ through additional setback restrictions. A E C Front setback: 30’

C D Side setback: 10’ E Rear setback: 35’ D B Min lot size: 10,000 sf Lot coverage: 30% Land Use

Commercial (office)

Commercial (retail)

Industrial

Residential (2+)

Residential (single) Existing conditions |Building footprints

Sub Area B

14%

Sub Area A 7% Existing conditions |Driveways and impervious surfaces

Sub Area B

44%

Sub Area A

50%*

*60% when including the commuter lots Existing conditions |Commuter lots • Approximately 760 parking spaces Sub Area B • 80% utilization

0%

Sub Area A

10% Existing conditions |Open Space and permeable surfaces

Sub Area B

27%

Sub Area A

20%

*Note: These figures do not refer to publicly available open space Existing conditions |Streets and sidewalks

Sub Area B

15%

Sub Area A

12% Building types

Commercial: traditional

Commercial: contemporary

Utilitarian

Residential (2 family)

Residential (single family) Building types

Commercial: Commercial: Residential: Residential: traditional contemporary Utilitarian 2 family units single family Floor Area Ratio

Moderate FAR (1.0+)

Low FAR (0.3 – 0.9)

Minimal FAR (0 – 0.29)

*Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is a measure of density Property utilization

Building value > land value

Building value < land value

*Property utilization analysis identifies parcels that may be considered underutilized where the building’s value is less than the parcel’s land value. (Source: Town of Canton assessor’s data) Challenges + Opportunities

MAPC Initial Observations • Strong opportunities for redevelopment • Parking is a dominant feature in parts of site, hindering pedestrian experience • Hodgepodge of land uses and building types • Pedestrian “pinch points” on Revere Street at railroad overpass and on Neponset Street at viaduct • Revere Street at study area lacks sidewalks. Opportunity to connect with Paul Revere Heritage Site walking paths • Lack of bicycle accommodation Small Group Exercises

VISION STATEMENT Craft a vision statement for the study area, focusing on goals and priorities 1) Craft a vision statement 20 Minutes Facilitator Notes – questions to help draft the vision • Consider adjectives and other descriptors; 1. Use a few sentences to e.g., will this be a “neighborhood”? If so, what does that mean to the participants? describe a shared group • What types of uses would they like to see. Where? If retail, what types of retail? • How will people get around? Is it walkable? vision Bikeable? What does that mean? • What will the “feel” of the area be like? 2. Use a few bullets to • Is it an extension of the downtown? Is it a new neighborhood? outline goals or • Is it modern or traditional? • Is it lively or more quiet? priorities for the vision • Urban or small town? Small Group Exercises

VISION IMAGERY Select images of various elements consistent with the Vision 2) Select vision imagery 15 Minutes Facilitator Notes – • Suggest participants take each category at a With your vision established: time but not required • Try to facilitate conversation among why participants like or dislike various photos 1. Select images that the • If possible and relevant, try to tease out if certain pictures apply more to certain areas (e.g., townhouses closer to single family group agrees are residential) consistent with the vision

2. Tape images onto the board according to category Small Group Exercises

DISTRICT CONCEPT Apply the Vision to create an illustrative plan for the area 3) Develop a district concept 25 Minutes Facilitator Notes – • This is intended to be an iterative process; participants should feel comfortable testing With your vision established: an idea and then moving if needed. • If participants feel stuck, ways to proceed: 1. Select investments or • Focus first on low-hanging fruit, e.g., improved pedestrian connections • Guide the conversation with improvements that the questions, e.g., would you prefer parking along the street or concealed behind buildings? Does Mixed-Use group agrees are make sense by the train station? consistent with the vision

2. Tape diagrams where desired on district map Closing and Next Steps

CONTACTS:

Chris Kuschel, AICP Senior Regional Planner [email protected] 617 933-0731

Laura Smead, AICP Town Planner of Canton [email protected] 781 575-6575