Scituate Economic Development Study
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Woburn Plan for Progress Economic Development Goals and Strategies GOAL 1: Encourage Desired Industries and Businesses to Locate in Woburn Promote Woburn as a biotechnology and life sciences hub Encourage new businesses to locate in “priority development areas” Target marketing to industries in which Woburn has competitive advantages Explore opportunities to pursue advanced manufacturing GOAL 2: Use Land Use Policies, Design Standards, and Public Investment to Create Mixed Use Commercial Districts in Key Development Areas Allow housing units on upper stories in the downtown area by right Create a capital improvements plan for Commerce Way Consider targeted use of Tax Increment Financing or District Improvement Financing for selected parcels to stimulate investment that results in high paying jobs and/or significant tax revenue not otherwise captured Woburn Plan for Progress Economic Development Goals and Strategies GOAL 2 continued… Pursue transit-oriented development at the Anderson Woburn Regional Transportation Center and Mishawum station Continue to pursue funding sources to rebuild needed infrastructure like the New Boston Street Bridge GOAL 3: Work with Key Property Owners in Priority Development Areas to Foster New Development consistent with the Master Plan. Work with property owners in the Commerce Way and New Boston Street areas to assess potential for future redevelopment Identify under-utilized or dilapidated properties and work with owners to incentivize redevelopment and/or reinvestment of those properties Work with current owners of the Kraft’s property on Hill Street to ensure redevelopment consistent with the City’s vision Develop a website promoting Downtown Woburn Establish downtown activities that complement existing businesses and help businesses gain more customers Target and recruit retail establishments in the downtown according to opportunities outlined in the downtown market analysis conducted by MAPC. Woburn Plan for Progress Economic Development Goals and Strategies GOAL 4: Provide Woburn Residents with Access to High Quality, Well-Paying Jobs. Identify local businesses and companies with workforce training or recruitment needs Partner with higher education institutions to provide programs needed to develop a highly- skilled and educated workforce Partner with educational institutions, including vocational schools and the public schools to create linkages to jobs for graduates Connect local businesses with Woburn Public Schools Work to attract industries with jobs that match the skills of the Woburn workforce Woburn Plan for Progress Transportation Goals and Strategies GOAL 1: Improve access to transit Study and establish a shuttle service between Anderson RTC and major employment areas Investigate feasibility of establishing or partnering with a transportation management organization or association Construct Foot Bridge between Anderson RTC and Merrimac Street Improve MBTA bus stops GOAL 2: Improve roads’ safety, comfort, and access for all users Adopt a Complete Streets Policy Update the City’s Traffic Code, with particular emphasis on ensuring all street signs are authorized by ordinance Identify & prioritize the City’s transportation needs and pursue appropriate funding opportunities Examine signal timing and other short term solutions to traffic issues on high volume roadways Woburn Plan for Progress Transportation Goals and Strategies GOAL 3: Manage Truck Traffic Evaluate truck traffic and establish formal routes throughout the City Reconstruct the New Boston Street Bridge Design improvements to Commerce Way to address existing design deficiencies for truck movement GOAL 4: Manage Parking in the Downtown Install meters or other parking management mechanism(s) and implement policies identified in the 2012 study by Nelson Nygaard Consider the need to establish a permit parking program for commuters and/or employees and residents of the downtown Establish a clear enforcement policy Implement a parking signage and pedestrian wayfinding program Woburn Plan for Progress Transportation Goals and Strategies GOAL 4 continued… Improve access to downtown off-street parking lots by designing and constructing needed infrastructure Reduce the number of parking spaces required for new developments Continue current efforts to secure more off-street parking by negotiating public use agreements with private lot owners and maximizing use of appropriate City-owned parcels for off-street parking Explore the feasibility of constructing structured parking to address any shortfall in parking needs GOAL 5: Implement relatively low-cost improvements that improve safety and congestion Design and construct low-cost infrastructure improvements for selected problem locations City wide, using existing City personnel where available Woburn Plan for Progress Housing Goals and Strategies GOAL 1: Work to Preserve & Advance Housing Affordability Add affordable housing units to the Subsidized Housing Inventory to achieve the 10% requirement outlined in M.G.L. c40b Ensure existing and future deed-restricted housing units are preserved to the greatest extent possible GOAL 2: Adopt Zoning Changes to Promote Development of Affordable Housing & Diverse Housing Types Adopt an ordinance that encourages the creation of accessible and/or adaptable units in new developments Explore State-sponsored zoning tools to advance mixed-use development and mixed-income housing development goals Amend Section 11.11 of the existing zoning ordinance (Affordable Housing Requirement) to encourage creation of an adequate number of units in new projects to meet the requirements of M.G.L. c40B Adopt an Accessory Dwelling Unit bylaw Woburn Plan for Progress Housing Goals and Strategies GOAL 3: Build Community Awareness of Housing Issues & Activities Increase public awareness of unmet housing needs and demand Provide fair housing education/training opportunities to City staff GOAL 4: Address Unmet Housing Needs through Programming Provide opportunities for aging in community Promote existing programs aimed at helping people stay in their homes, particularly those programs, including grant opportunities, targeted at seniors and those with disabilities Encourage home ownership opportunities by promoting available resources to renters and first-time homebuyers Explore whether the City’s affordable housing stabilization fund should be a formal municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund instead Woburn Plan for Progress Open Space Goals and Strategies GOAL 1: Protect Woburn’s Natural Resources Protect additional land adjacent to Horn Pond for protection of water quality and BioMap core habitats Meet with owners of selected parcels adjacent to conservation land to evaluate value of parcels as potential buffers and for access to conservation lands GOAL 2: Provide Active and Passive Recreational Opportunities For All Residents Undertake improvements to public parks identified in the City’s Open Space and Recreation Plan Investigate feasibility of creating a dog park Update tot lot equipment in public parks, where needed Develop multi-use paths on the MBTA right-of- way that runs from Cross Street (at the Winchester town line) north through Woburn Center to just south of Route 128 Include funding for development of the Western Greenway trail system from Whispering Hill to Winning Farm, including Shannon Farm Woburn Plan for Progress Open Space Goals and Strategies GOAL 3: Manage Existing Recreation & Conservation Lands for Maximum Benefits Develop a schedule of capital improvements for the most heavily-used facilities that will improve handicapped accessibility Create lighting and landscaping plans for Leland Park, Ryan Park and Library Park to minimize impacts to abutters GOAL 4: Acquire New Open Space Lands Adopt the Community Preservation Act* Acquire or otherwise protect properties identified in the City’s Open Space and Recreation Plan Meet with owner(s) of remaining agricultural land(s) under Chapter 61A to review the status of the parcels and any future plan(s) for their sale Protect a portion of Shannon Farm as open space, either through direct acquisition or via permitting conditions *The Community Preservation Act is on the ballot for this November Woburn Plan for Progress Open Space Goals and Strategies GOAL 5: Protect Cultural & Historic Resources Continue City participation in restoration of the Middlesex Canal Renew the preservation restriction on the Middlesex Canal at Alfred and Main GOAL 6: Consider Regional Connections in Open Space Planning Efforts Continue participating in the construction of the Tri-Community Bikeway Establish regular communications with the City of Boston regarding the status of the Cummings property Distribute copies of the final Woburn Open Space and Recreation Plan to conservation and planning boards of surrounding communities Woburn Plan for Progress Land Use Goals and Strategies GOAL 1: Re-codify and Update Development Codes and Regulations & Amend Zoning Map As Needed Review, update, streamline, and simplify the Zoning Code and the Planning Board’s Land Subdivision Rules and Regulations Consider creating design guidelines for business and mixed use districts Allow commercial and industrial uses by right in commercial and industrial zones Consider establishing a “Smart Growth District” at the Anderson Woburn RTC. Review and revise current zoning of Commerce Way Overlay District, New Boston Street area and former Kraft site Review zoning district boundary lines City-wide and amend where advisable to coincide with lot lines