Town of Millbury 2020 Open Space & Recreation Plan Update Prepared By: The Millbury Open Space Committee & Department of Planning and Development July 2020 Table of Contents Section 1 – Summary ................................................................................................................................. 3 Section 2 – Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 4 Statement of Purpose ............................................................................................................................ 4 History of Open Space Planning Activities ........................................................................................ 5 Planning Process and Public Participation ...................................................................................... 11 Section 3 – Community Setting .............................................................................................................. 13 Regional Context .................................................................................................................................. 13 History ................................................................................................................................................... 14 Population Characteristics .................................................................................................................. 20 Growth and Development Patterns .................................................................................................. 28 Section 4 – Environmental Inventory and Analysis ............................................................................ 37 Geology, Soils and Topography ........................................................................................................ 37 Water Resources ................................................................................................................................... 39 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................................. 44 Fisheries and Wildlife ......................................................................................................................... 45 Heritage Landscapes ............................................................................................................................. 48 Environmental Issues .......................................................................................................................... 49 Section 5 – Inventory of Lands of Conservation and Recreation Interest ........................................ 58 Protected Land ..................................................................................................................................... 58 Water Supply ........................................................................................................................................ 68 Unprotected Lands .............................................................................................................................. 69 Section 6 – Community Goals ................................................................................................................ 76 Description of Process ......................................................................................................................... 76 Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 79 Section 7 – Analysis of Needs ................................................................................................................. 80 Summary of Resource Protection Needs .......................................................................................... 80 Summary of Community Needs ........................................................................................................ 81 Summary of Management Needs ...................................................................................................... 86 Section 8 – Goals and Objectives ............................................................................................................ 91 Section 9 – Seven Year Action Plan ....................................................................................................... 93 Section 10 – Public Comments ............................................................................................................. 102 Section 11 – References .......................................................................................................................... 103 Millbury Open Space & Recreation Plan – 2020 Update | July 2020 1 Appendices Appendix A – Public Engagement Appendix B – Maps Appendix C – Millbury Water Quality Impairments Appendix D – DEP Waste Release Sites Appendix E – ADA Access Self-Evaluation Appendix F – Grant Resources Appendix G – Action Plan Table Appendix H – Review Letters Millbury Open Space & Recreation Plan – 2020 Update | July 2020 2 Section 1 – Summary The Town of Millbury’s Open Space and Recreation Plan 2020 Update reflects how the Town has changed since it last updated its plan in 2008 in regards to its open space planning and development. This plan identifies, describes and analyzes the many different open space, historic and cultural resources present in Millbury, and devises a strategy for protecting and enhancing them. The plan includes goals, objectives and actions targeting specific features as follows: Focus on the Blackstone River and its tributary streams as major components of the town’s open space system. Promote the redevelopment of brownfield properties and preservation of historic properties through the use of the Adaptive Reuse Overlay Bylaw and Bramanville Village Districts. Engage a forester to implement the forest management plan for the Brierly Pond Conservation Area. Develop and implement forest management plans for Stowe Meadows Conservation Area and Davidson Sanctuary. Develop capital improvement plans and management plans for Millbury’s largest parks and playgrounds (Washington Street Park, East Millbury Park, Greenwood Street Park). Launch a visioning process and update the Master Plan for Windle Field. Pursue the funding necessary to implement the vision. Enthusiastically support and implement efforts aimed at advancing the construction of the full extent of the Blackstone River Bikeway. Develop the abandoned railroad right‐of‐way, linking Millbury Center to the Mass Pike Park ‘N Ride facility at Exit 11, into a formal multi-purpose trail. Establish an informal parking lot on the parcel owned by the Conservation Commission that is located on Grafton Road, adjacent to the railroad right-of-way. Establish a monthly Farmer’s Market to be held on the Upper Common from May through October. Approach the new owner of the Cordis Mills about providing an easement over the canal remnant located on their property. Complete the remaining phases of the “Armory Village Green Infrastructure Project”. These items represent initiatives that the Town and the Open Space Committee see as critical pieces of the puzzle in moving Millbury’s open spaces forward. It is important to protect and enhance these spaces to help preserve Millbury’s character for future generations, while also continuing to plan for, evaluate, invest in, and prioritize the positive changes we want to see for our community’s open spaces and recreation areas. Millbury Open Space & Recreation Plan – 2020 Update | July 2020 3 Section 2 – Introduction Statement of Purpose The primary benefit of producing an Open Space and Recreation Plan is that it provides the opportunity for the town's residents and planners to identify and devise a strategy for protecting key natural, scenic and historic resources and the land that should be utilized for passive and active recreational activities before it is irrevocably lost to residential, commercial or industrial development. The astuteness of doing this is underscored by the fact that communities that experience healthy economic growth often have a diversity of recreation opportunities and natural/cultural areas. Potential employers, residents and visitors often consider the location, quality and quantity of attractive open spaces and recreation facilities when selecting a community in which to locate. The pace at which Millbury has developed since the Town’s last Open Space and Recreation Plan was developed in 2008 generally reflects the strength of the economy. The recession that began in 2008 resulted in a reduction of building permits issued and dwelling units constructed. However, since 2012 Millbury has experienced steady increases in the number of dwelling units created and building permits sought. 2018 saw the second highest number of dwelling units created in the town since 2000. Millbury’s status as a commuter and historic mill town underscores the importance of preserving the character that attracted these new residents in the first place, coupled with the need to satisfy the recreation demands of Millbury’s growing and aging population. Unfortunately, only a small portion of Millbury’s important landscapes, recreation facilities and historic buildings that are important to the Town’s community character are currently protected. Since 2000, Millbury has lost a number of cherished scenic, cultural and ecological resources to development