TOWN OF ACTON EAST ACTON VILLAGE PLAN East Acton Village Planning Committee Acton Planning Department January, 2004 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………………………………..1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……….....………..……………….………………………………..5 ACRONYMS LIST AND GLOSSARY……………………………..…………………………6 EAST ACTON VILLAGE (EAV) PLAN SUMMARY - "THE PLAN AT A GLANCE"....11 CHAPTER 1: HISTORY OF EAV AND THE PLANNING AREA………..…..………….30 Introduction and Summary..................................................................................30 1500 - 1619.........................................................................................................31 1620 - 1674.........................................................................................................31 1675 - 1774.........................................................................................................32 1775 - 1829.........................................................................................................32 1830 - 1869.........................................................................................................33 1870 - 1914.........................................................................................................34 1915 - 1949.........................................................................................................35 1950 +.................................................................................................................36 EAV Historic Resources - Draft Proposed List, January 25, 2004............. ......….37 Figure 1. - East Acton Rail Station (c. 1909).…………….…...…………………….45 Figure 2. - East Acton Village Green (pre-1939)……...….…...……………………46 CHAPTER 2: EXISTING CONDITIONS.......................................................................47 The East Acton Village (EAV) Planning Area......................................................47 Topography and Soils.........................................................................................47 Groundwater.......................................................................................................47 Surface Water.....................................................................................................48 Drainage and Stormwater Runoff........................................................................48 Wetlands and Floodplain....................................................................................48 Vernal Pools........................................................................................................48 Wildlife................................................................................................................49 Endangered Species...........................................................................................49 Scenic Roads......................................................................................................49 Chapter 61, 61A, and 61B Lands........................................................................50 Conservation Land..............................................................................................50 Zoning and Land Uses........................................................................................50 Buildout...............................................................................................................51 Map 1. - East Acton Village Planning Area.........................................................52 Map 2. - Soil Series in the East Acton Village Planning Area.............................53 Map 3. - East Acton Village Planning Area Drainage Basins..............................54 Map 4. - East Acton Village Planning Area Wetlands Setbacks..........................55 Table of Contents Page 1 Map 5. - East Acton Village Planning Area Current Zoning……...……………….56 CHAPTER 3: PLANNING EAST ACTON VILLAGE (EAV).........................................57 Why there is an East Acton Village (EAV) Plan..................................................57 How the EAV Plan Relates to Other Acton Plans...............................................57 The Planning Process.........................................................................................58 Surveys and Public Input Meetings.....................................................................59 The EAV Plan Format (explains how the EAV Plan is organized).................60 Strategies Tables Key............................................................................61 CHAPTER 4: VILLAGE CHARACTER AND HOUSING..............................................62 Goal V1………...…………………………………...……….………………………….64 Issues.................................................................................................................65 Recommendations..............................................................................................65 Goal V1 Recommended Strategies Table...........................................................67 Implementation...................................................................................................69 Figure 3. - An Example of a New England Village Streetscape….…………….…70 Goal V2...............................................................................................................71 Issues.................................................................................................................71 Recommendations..............................................................................................71 Goal V2 Recommended Strategies Table...........................................................73 Implementation...................................................................................................75 Goal V3...............................................................................................................77 Issues.................................................................................................................77 Other Ideas Considered......................................................................................78 Recommendations..............................................................................................78 Goal V3 Recommended Strategies Table...........................................................80 Implementation...................................................................................................84 Map 6. - Proposed Zoning Change - EAV-2 Zoning District………………………88 Map 7. - Proposed Zoning Changes - EAV Green & 8 Wetherbee Street… .……89 Figure 4. - Existing Streetscape in East Acton Village…….……….……………….90 Figure 5. - Proposed Streetscape Improvements for East Acton Village ..…….....91 Figure 6. - Example of a Gateway / Entrance Sign……………… ....…..…………...92 Goal V4...............................................................................................................93 Issues.................................................................................................................93 Recommendations..............................................................................................93 Goal V4 Recommended Strategies Table...........................................................94 Implementation...................................................................................................96 Map 8. - TDR Sending Properties Bordering Nashoba Brook in EAV & EAV-2…99 Table of Contents Page 2 Goal V5.............................................................................................................100 Description of Existing Housing in East Acton..................................................100 Issues...............................................................................................................102 Recommendations and Implementation............................................................102 Goal V5 Recommended Strategies Table.........................................................103 CHAPTER 5: TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE.................................104 Goal T1.............................................................................................................105 Issues...............................................................................................................105 Recommendations............................................................................................105 Ideas Considered But Not Recommended........................................................106 Goal T1 Recommended Strategies Table.........................................................107 Implementation.................................................................................................112 Map 9. - Proposed Sidewalk System................................................................114 Goal T2.............................................................................................................115 Issues...............................................................................................................115 Recommendations and Implementation............................................................116 Goal T2 Recommended Strategies Table.........................................................117 Goal T3.............................................................................................................119 Issues...............................................................................................................119 Recommendations and Implementation............................................................119