Westford Comprehensive Master Plan Final Report Westford Planning Board Westford Comprehensive Master Plan Committee April 2009 Westford Comprehensive Master Plan Westford Comprehensive Master Plan April 2009 Adopted by the Westford Planning Board on April 21, 2009 Westford Planning Board Westford Comprehensive Master Plan Committee Project Advisors: Norman Khumalo, Assistant Town Manager Ross Altobelli, Planner Northern Middlesex Council of Governments Community Opportunities Group, Inc. BSC Group, Inc. Community Planning Solutions Cover Photo: Parker Village, Westford, Massachusett s Report Photography: Judi Barrett , Patricia C. Kelleher, Michael Pingpank, Community Opportunities Group, Inc. GIS Data and Mapping Support: Community Opportunities Group, Inc., BSC Group, Inc., and John Mangiaratt i, Town of Westford GIS. For providing data, other plans and studies, editorial assistance, and guidance to the consulting team, special thanks go to the following Westford town department heads and staff : Norman Khumalo, Assistant Town Manager; Ross Altobelli, Town Planner; Kaari Mai Tari, Town Clerk; William Turner, Conservation Department; Patricia Savage, Parks, Recreation, and Cemetery Department; Nancy Lima, Administrative Assistant, Building Department; Sandy Collins, R.N., Health Department; Joanne Sheehan, Council on Aging; Chip Barrett , Highway Superintendent; Warren Sweetser, Superintendent, and Jessica Cajigas, Environmental Compliance Manager, Westford Water Department; Pam Tebbett s, Human Resources Manager; Ellen Rainville, Director, J. V. Fletcher Library; Katherine Pouliopolous, Executive Director, Roudenbush Community Center; Everett Olsen, Superintendent of Schools, Westford Public Schools; Suzanne Marchand, Finance Department; John Livsey, P.E., former Town Engineer, Engineering Department; John Mangiaratt i, Westford GIS; and other staff , members of town boards, commissions, and committ ees, residents, and business owners who assisted with this plan. Special thanks also to Beverly Woods and Jay Donovan, Northern Middlesex Council of Governments. Contents PART 1: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ELEMENTS .................................................................................................1 1. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ...........................................................................................................................................................3 2. COMMUNITY VISION ................................................................................................................................................................5 3. NATURAL RESOURCES & OPEN SPACE ...............................................................................................................................9 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................................9 Natural Resources ......................................................................................................................................................................10 Open Space .................................................................................................................................................................................19 Issues & Opportunities ..............................................................................................................................................................26 Comprehensive Plan Goals .......................................................................................................................................................27 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................................................................27 4. CULTURAL & HISTORIC RESOURCES .................................................................................................................................31 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................31 Historic Resources ......................................................................................................................................................................32 Preservation Planning in Westford .........................................................................................................................................43 Issues & Opportunities .............................................................................................................................................................45 Comprehensive Plan Goals .......................................................................................................................................................46 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................................................................47 5. LAND USE & ZONING .............................................................................................................................................................49 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................49 Land Use Patt ern .......................................................................................................................................................................50 Zoning ..........................................................................................................................................................................................54 Issues & Opportunities ..............................................................................................................................................................64 Comprehensive Plan Goals .......................................................................................................................................................70 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................................................................70 6. HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOODS ..........................................................................................................................................73 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................................................73 Housing Inventory ....................................................................................................................................................................74 Neighborhood Public Realm ...................................................................................................................................................79 Development Trends .................................................................................................................................................................79 Housing Needs ..........................................................................................................................................................................82 Issues & Opportunities ..............................................................................................................................................................88 Comprehensive Plan Goals .......................................................................................................................................................90 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................................................................90 7. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................................................93 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................93 Economic Statistical Profi le .......................................................................................................................................................94 Economic Development Assets and Liabilities ....................................................................................................................101 Issues & Opportunities ............................................................................................................................................................110 Comprehensive Plan Goals .....................................................................................................................................................113 Recommendations ....................................................................................................................................................................113 8. TRANSPORTATION & PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION.....................................................................................................117 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................117