Shrewsbury Master Plan

Shrewsbury Master Plan April 2001 This Master Plan was developed by Shrewsbury’s citizens with assistance from: Daylor Consulting Group, Inc. in association with: LandUse, Incorporated Bluestone Planning Group Bruce Campbell and Associates, Inc. Shrewsbury Master Plan Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY....................................................................................................... E-1 CHAPTER 1: INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS......................................................................... 1 1. LAND USE............................................................................................................................ 3 1.1. Regional Context ......................................................................................................... 3 1.2. Existing Land Use Inventory and Analysis...............................................................4 1.2.1 Land Use Patterns..........................................................................................................5 1.2.2 Land Use Trends Since 1985.........................................................................................6 1.3. Existing Land Use Laws .............................................................................................7 1.3.1 Base Zoning Districts ....................................................................................................8 1.3.2 Overlay Districts............................................................................................................9 1.3.3 Other Provisions..........................................................................................................11 1.4. Buildout Analysis ......................................................................................................11 1.4.1 EOEA Methodology and Results ................................................................................12 1.4.2 Discussion of Buildout Results ...................................................................................14 1.4.3 Buildout Implications..................................................................................................14 1.5. Previous Studies......................................................................................................... 15 1.5.1 1972 Master Plan.........................................................................................................15 1.5.2 1986 Residential Development Study .........................................................................15 1.5.3 1986 Final Report on Commercial and Industrial Development.................................15 1.5.4 1997 Open Space and Recreation Plan........................................................................16 2. NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES................................................................ 17 2.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 17 2.2. Soils and Topography ...............................................................................................17 2.2.1 Soils.............................................................................................................................17 2.2.2 Topography and Landscape Character ........................................................................18 2.3. Surface Water Resources.......................................................................................... 18 2.3.1 Lakes, Ponds and Watersheds .....................................................................................18 2.3.2 Wetlands......................................................................................................................20 2.3.3 Groundwater Resources...............................................................................................20 2.3.4 Water Supply...............................................................................................................21 2.3.5 Existing Protection for Water Resources ....................................................................21 2.4. Habitats and Ecosystems ..........................................................................................22 2.4.1 Vegetation ...................................................................................................................22 2.4.2 Native Fish and Wildlife Species ................................................................................23 2.4.3 Rare and Endangered Species and Habitats ................................................................24 2.5. Environmental Problems..........................................................................................26 2.6. Historic Resources..................................................................................................... 26 2.6.1 Town History...............................................................................................................26 2.6.2 Historic Sites ...............................................................................................................27 2.6.3 Historic Structures.......................................................................................................27 2.6.4 Existing Historic/Cultural Resource Protections.........................................................29 Shrewsbury Master Plan Page i Table of Contents 3. OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION............................................................................... 31 3.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 31 3.1.1 1997 Open Space and Recreation Plan........................................................................31 3.1.2 Developed and Undeveloped Land .............................................................................32 3.2. Open Space Inventory............................................................................................... 32 3.2.1 Public Land..................................................................................................................32 3.2.2 Private Land in Active Use..........................................................................................33 3.2.3 Other Private Land ......................................................................................................34 3.3. Passive Recreation Inventory................................................................................... 35 3.4. Provisions for Open Space Protection..................................................................... 35 4. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.......................................................................................37 4.1. Shrewsbury’s Economic Profile............................................................................... 37 4.1.1 Labor Force and Unemployment.................................................................................37 4.1.2 Occupation of Shrewsbury Residents..........................................................................38 4.1.3 Industry of Shrewsbury Employees.............................................................................39 4.1.4 Local Employment Trends ..........................................................................................40 4.2. Shrewsbury Businesses ............................................................................................. 40 4.3. Business Zoning.........................................................................................................41 4.3.1 General Business Districts...........................................................................................41 4.3.2 Industrial, Office and Research Districts.....................................................................42 4.4. Tax Base .....................................................................................................................43 4.5. Needs, Issues and Opportunities..............................................................................44 5. HOUSING........................................................................................................................... 45 5.1. Summary of Existing Conditions.............................................................................45 5.1.1 Residential Zoning ......................................................................................................45 5.1.2 Existing Housing .........................................................................................................45 5.1.3 Availability..................................................................................................................46 5.1.4 New Home Construction.............................................................................................47 5.1.5 Low and Moderate Income Housing ...........................................................................47 5.2. Housing Costs and Affordability .............................................................................48 5.2.1 Cost of Homeownership Units ....................................................................................48 5.2.2 Cost of Rental Housing ...............................................................................................49 5.2.3 Affordability................................................................................................................49 5.2.4 Demographics..............................................................................................................49

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