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Ayer Master Plan 2017-2018

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Ayer Master Plan 2017-2018 The Great Junction Town of Ayer, Massachusetts Master Plan 2017 Prepared for: Ayer Planning Board Office of Community and Economic Development Prepared by: Community Opportunities Group, Inc. 1 Acknowledgments On behalf of the Town of Ayer, Community Opportunities Group, Inc. would like to thank the following individuals for providing information and guidance during the development of this Comprehensive Plan: Local Officials Economic Development Robert A. Pontbriand, Town Manager Alan S. Manoian, AICP, Ayer, Dir. of C&ED Carly M. Antonellis, Asst. Town Manager Annemarie Abdo, Nasoya Mark Archambault, AICP, Town Planner Brian Anderson, Anderson Funeral Homes Paul DiGeronimo, Geronimo Commercial Master Plan Steering Committee Properties Alan S. Manoian, AICP, Chair Teresita Encarnacion, Mount Wachusett Carloyn McCreary, Vice-Chair Community College Jane Morriss, Vice-Chair Lisa Grady Marino, Grady Research Inc. Carly Antonellis Melissa Feterhoff, Nashoba Valley Chamber of Susan Copeland Commerce John Ellis Edward Kelley, Business Owner & Resident Edward Kelley Alan Manoian, Ayer, Director of C&ED Jannice Livingston Ron Morrisson, RE/MAX Partners Robert Pontbriand Salvatore Perla, Nashoba Valley Medical Center Ruth Rhonemus Stephen Sugar, Main Street Bank Karin Swanfeldt Harry Zane, Resident Geoffrey Tillotson Susan Tordella Transportation Mark Wetzel Mark Wetzel, Ayer, Director Of Public Works Kevin Williams Brad Harris, Montachusett Regional Planning Harry Zane Commission Mohammed Khan, Montachusett Regional Transportation Authority Working Groups Paul Mucica, Catania Oils Chief Robert Pedrazzi, Ayer Fire Department Housing Karen Strickland, Ayer Moving & Storage Company Alicia Hersey, Ayer, CDP Manager Geoff Tillotson, Planning Board Pat Bagni-Latimer, RE/MAX Partners Mark Dohan, NewVue Communities Thomas Dufault, Main Street Bank Recreation Roger Kanniard, Kanniard Construction John Mayo, Parks Commission Jane Morris, Board of Health CJ Moore, Ayer Gun & Sportsman’s Club William Plunkett, ASRSD Hawk’s Nest Disc Golf Janet Providakes, Ayer Housing Authority, CPC John Sweeney, ASRSD Stephen Quinn, Resident Jeff Thomas, Ayer, Parks Director Karin Swanfeldt, Council on Aging Kevin Williams, Parks Commission Credits All photography by Community Opportunities Group, Inc. unless otherwise credited. The Great Junction logo provided by Nashoba Valley Technical High School Nathan Meharg, Design and Visual Communications Ceejay Gervais, Charlotte Dufresne, Hayden McCarthy, and Terrance Sigl Boards and Commissions Board of Selectmen Jannice L. Livingston, Chair Christopher R. Hillman, Vice-Chair Scott A. Houde, Clerk Gary J. Luca, Former Selectman Planning Board James Fay, Chair Economic Development Working Group, December 7, 2016 Geoffrey Tillotson, Vice-Chair Susan Kennedy, Clerk Resources Ken Diskin Elizabeth Ainsley Campbell, Nashua River Julie Murray Watershed Association Jo-Anne Crystoff, Ayer, Conservation Administrator Conservation Commission Maud Ayson, Fruitlands Museum William Daniels, Chair Jessica Gugino, Conservation Commission & Jessica G. Gugino, Clerk Community Preservation Committee Jon Schmalenberger Maryanne Lucht, Ayer, Library Bonnie Tillotson Ruth Maxant, Recycling Committee George D. Bacon, Jr. Carolyn McCreary, Master Plan Steering Committee Ruther Rhonemus, Ayer Historic Commission, Master Plan Steering Committee Beverly Schultz, OSRP Committee Beth Sudemeyer, OSRP Committee Patrice Todisco, Freedom’s Way Municipal Services and Facilities Robert A. Pontbriand, Ayer, Town Manager Susan Copeland, Ayer, Town Clerk/Tax Collector, Students performing at the Inter-board Invitational Event, Treasurer February 25, 2017 Lisa Gabree, Ayer, Finance Manager/Town Accountant Thomas Hogan, Ayer, Assessing Administrator Cindy Knox, Ayer, Information and Technology Kevin Johnston, Ayer, Benefits and Payroll Alan Manoian, Ayer, Director C&ED Chief William Murray, Ayer, Police Department Chief Robert Pedrazzi, Ayer, Fire Department Mark Wetzel, Ayer, Director of Public Works Karin Swanfeldt, Ayer, Council on Aging Jeff Thomas, Ayer, Parks Director Alan Manoian address a walking tour group, July 21, 2016 Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 1 Public Participation ................................................................................................................................... 2 Values ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 Mission Statement .................................................................................................................................... 5 Goals.......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Plan Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Land Use ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Existing Conditions .................................................................................................................................... 8 Future Land Use Issues ........................................................................................................................... 18 Formative Issues ..................................................................................................................................... 22 Recommendations .................................................................................................................................. 23 Housing .......................................................................................................................................... 24 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 24 Demographic Profile ............................................................................................................................... 25 Housing ................................................................................................................................................... 29 Formative Issues ..................................................................................................................................... 41 Recommendations .................................................................................................................................. 42 Economic Development ................................................................................................................... 43 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 43 Existing Conditions .................................................................................................................................. 46 Economic Resources ............................................................................................................................... 54 Formative Issues ..................................................................................................................................... 56 Recommendations .................................................................................................................................. 57 Resources ........................................................................................................................................ 58 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 58 Historic Resources ................................................................................................................................... 69 Cultural Resources .................................................................................................................................. 73 Formative Issues ..................................................................................................................................... 75 Recommendations .................................................................................................................................. 76 Transportation and Circulation ......................................................................................................... 77 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 77 Specific Transportation Issues ................................................................................................................ 88 Formative Issues ..................................................................................................................................... 89 Recommendations .................................................................................................................................
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