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Shrewsbury Open Space & Recreation Plan Shrewsbury, Massachusetts 2012 With Assistance from 2 2 Washington Square Union Station Worcester, MA 01604 www.cmrpc.org Approval granted through July, 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1 PLAN SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 1 SECTION 2 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 3 A ‐ Statement of Purpose .......................................................................................................................... 3 B ‐ Planning Process and Public Participation ........................................................................................... 4 SECTION 3 ‐ COMMUNITY SETTING ...................................................................................................... 9 A ‐ Regional Context .................................................................................................................................. 9 B ‐ History of Community ........................................................................................................................ 11 C ‐ Population Characteristics ................................................................................................................. 13 D ‐ Growth and Development Patterns ................................................................................................... 20 SECTION 4 ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS ............................................................. 33 A – Geology and Soils .............................................................................................................................. 33 B – Topography and Landscape Character .............................................................................................. 35 C ‐ Water Resources ................................................................................................................................ 37 D ‐ Vegetation .......................................................................................................................................... 44 E ‐ Fish And Wildlife ................................................................................................................................. 46 F ‐ Scenic Resources And Unique Environments ..................................................................................... 49 G ‐ Environmental Challenges ................................................................................................................. 57 SECTION 5 INVENTORY OF LANDS OF CONSERVATION & RECREATION INTEREST .......................... 65 A ‐ Private Parcels .................................................................................................................................... 71 B ‐ Public and Non Profit Parcels ............................................................................................................. 74 SECTION 6 COMMUNITY VISION ................................................................................................... 79 A ‐ Description of Process ....................................................................................................................... 79 B ‐ Statement of Open Space and Recreation Goals ............................................................................... 80 SECTION 7 ANALYSIS OF NEEDS .................................................................................................... 83 A ‐ Summary of Resource Protection Needs ........................................................................................... 83 B ‐ Summary of Community’s Needs ....................................................................................................... 85 C ‐ Management Needs, Potential Change of Use .................................................................................. 97 SECTION 8 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................ 101 SECTION 9 SEVEN YEAR ACTION PLAN ........................................................................................ 105 SECTION 10 PUBLIC COMMENTS ................................................................................................... 117 SECTION 11 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 131 2012 Shrewsbury Open Space and Recreation Plan Page i LIST OF MAPS (folded at the end of the document) Map 1 ‐ Regional Context Map Map 2 ‐ Zoning Map Map 3 ‐ Environmental Justice Map Map 4 ‐ Soils and Geologic Features Map Map 5 ‐ Water Resources Map 1 Map 6 ‐ Water Resources Map 2 Map 7 ‐ Habitat Features Map Map 8 ‐ Scenic Features Map Map 9 ‐ Open Space Inventory Map Map 10 ‐ Action Plan Map LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix A ‐ Soil Classification Descriptions Appendix B ‐ Potential and Recorded Wildlife Species Appendix C ‐ NHESP Species Fact Sheets Appendix B ‐ MACRIS Search Results Appendix C ‐ Privately‐owned parcels with open space or recreation significance Appendix D ‐ Publicly‐owned parcels with open space or recreation significance Appendix E ‐ Survey Summaries Appendix F ‐ Summary of Community Forum Appendix G ‐ Resources and Grant Programs Appendix H ‐ ADA Grievance Procedure, Access Self Evaluation, Transition Plan and Employment Practices 2012 Shrewsbury Open Space and Recreation Plan Page ii Acknowledgements The following individuals and organizations have contributed to this and/or earlier drafts Open Space and Recreation Plan for the Town of Shrewsbury: (The authors apologize for any unintended omissions.) 2011/2012 Shrewsbury Open Space and Recreation Plan Committee Larry Barbash, At Large Member James Brown, Parks and Cemetery Commission Representative Martha Gach, At Large Member Mindy McKenzie‐Hebert, Planning Board Representative Kenneth Polito, Conservation Commission and Lake Quinsigamond Commission Representative. Consultants and Town Officials Megan Diprete, Former Manager, Community Development and Planning, Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) Matt Franz, Geographic Information Analyst, CMRPC Trish Settles, Principal Planner, CMRPC Kristen Wilson, Principal Planner, Economic Development Coordinator, Town of Shrewsbury Jack Perreault, Town Engineer, Town of Shrewsbury Angela Snell, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cemetery, Town of Shrewsbury Bradford Stone, Conservation Commission Agent, Town of Shrewsbury Master Plan Consultants, Daylor Consulting Group, Inc., LandUse, Inc., Bluestone Planning Group, and Bruce Campbell and Associates, Inc. 1999 Shrewsbury Open Space Planning Committee and Consultants Don Gauch, Ed Holland John Ostrosky Fred Litchfield Robert Jacques Gary Hardenbrook Patricia Banks, William Scanlan, CMRPC Dorbert Thomas Karl Dinkelspiel, CMRPC 2012 Shrewsbury Open Space and Recreation Plan Page iii SECTION 1 PLAN SUMMARY Shrewsbury has changed significantly since the last half of the twentieth century. Starting as a mostly rural and agricultural community with farms and scattered settlements, the Town then experienced phases of growth which first made it a streetcar suburb and a resort community. During the baby‐boom it was transformed into a thriving residential community. Finally, in the latter part of the century, with interstate highways common, open land became a valuable asset. Residential development occurred in nearly all corners of the Town. New phases of development have brought large industry to town. The Town now hosts a vibrant and diverse economy near attractive residential settings and open landscapes. Community members value the balance of development and preservation. The 1999 Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) established the following five (5) goals. 1. Acquire, through appropriate means, key open space parcels. 2. Plan and develop greenways in the Town. 3. Preserve and enhance the Town's recreational facilities. 4. Protect the Town's potable drinking water sources. 5. Protect surface water resources. This plan has refined those goals to make them applicable to the Town’s current conditions. 1. Protect and preserve open space parcels. 2. Protect and enhance habitat 3. Plan and develop greenways in the Town with consideration to appropriate regional connections. 4. Maintain and enhance the Town's recreational facilities. 5. Protect the Town's potable drinking water sources. 6. Protect surface water resources. This plan identifies those special places and spaces that town residents enjoy and sets out a strategy for improving open space and recreation opportunities in a manner that is sustainable for future generations. The Town contracted with the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) to assist in the development and submission of an OSRP that would meet the requirements of the Commonwealth. In July 2011, the Town of Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen appointed an Open Space and Recreation Plan Committee (OSRPC). This plan will provide substantive updates to the 1999 Shrewsbury Open Space and Recreation Plan. Strong community involvement has been an integral part of creating this plan. Through regular meetings and surveys, the OSRP Committee identified many opportunities to improve and enhance the Town’s open space and recreation resources. This 2012 Town of Shrewsbury Open Space and Recreation Plan was completed with guidance from the Division of Conservation Services