MIDDLEBOROUGH MASTER PLAN Report on Findings and Alternatives Prepared for the Town of Middleborough Prepared by The Cecil Group, Inc. with Bonz/REA The BSC Group March 23, 2001 - Revised February 11, 2002 MIDDLEBOROUGH MASTER PLAN Report on Findings and Alternatives March 23, 2001 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1 A. Purpose of the Findings and Alternatives Report .................................................... 1 B. Vision Statement ........................................................................................................ 2 C. Summary of the Master Planning Process ............................................................... 3 D. A Guide to the Use of this Report ............................................................................. 3 II. FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES............................................................................. 5 A. Land Use .................................................................................................................... 5 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 5 2. Goals and Objectives for Land Use ........................................................................ 6 3. Key Findings ........................................................................................................... 7 5. Land Use Alternatives ........................................................................................... 32 B. Natural, Historic and Recreational Resources ...................................................... 47 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 47 2. Goals and Objectives for Natural, Cultural and Recreational Resources ............. 48 3. Key Findings ......................................................................................................... 49 4. Existing Environmental Conditions ...................................................................... 50 5. Alternatives for Natural, Cultural and Recreational Needs .................................. 73 C. Demographics and Housing ................................................................................... 81 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 81 2. Goals and Objectives for Housing ........................................................................ 81 3. Key Findings ......................................................................................................... 82 4. Existing Conditions and Trends for the Future in Demographics and Housing ... 84 5. Housing Alternatives .......................................................................................... 101 D. Economic Development ........................................................................................ 107 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 107 3. Key Findings ....................................................................................................... 109 4. Existing Economic Conditions and Trends ......................................................... 110 5. Alternatives for the Economy of Middleborough ............................................... 136 E. Traffic and Circulation ......................................................................................... 143 Middleborough Master Plan Report on Findings and Alternatives March 20, 2001 Page ii 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 143 2. Goals and Objectives for Traffic and Circulation ............................................... 144 3. Key Findings ....................................................................................................... 144 4. Summary of Existing Conditions and Issues for the Future ............................... 146 5. Traffic and Circulation Alternatives ................................................................... 166 F. Public Services, Facilities, and Capital Investment ............................................. 172 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 172 2. Proposed Goals and Objectives for Services and Facilities ................................ 173 3. Key Findings ....................................................................................................... 174 4. Review of Existing Conditions and Future Issues .............................................. 175 5. Alternatives for Public Services and Facilities ................................................... 191 III. CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................... 195 IV. APPENDIX: SOURCES OF INFORMATION ....................................................... 196 Middleborough Master Plan Report on Findings and Alternatives March 20, 2001 Page iii List of Figures Figure A1: Zoning............................................................................................................. 12 Figure A2: Land Use ......................................................................................................... 21 Figure A3: Community Character .................................................................................... 22 Figure A4: Open Space ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Figure A5: Residential Uses ............................................................................................. 25 Figure A6: Residential Issue Areas ................................................................................... 25 Figure A7: Commercial and Industrial Uses .................................................................... 27 Figure A8: Commercial Issue Areas .................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. Figure A9: Mixed Use Corridor: Route 28/I-495 North .... Error! Bookmark not defined. Figure A10: Mixed Use Corridor: Route 28/I-495 South .. Error! Bookmark not defined. Figure A11: Land Uses in the Downtown ......................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Figure B1: Soils Associations ........................................................................................... 51 Figure B2: Watersheds ...................................................................................................... 53 Figure B3: Environmental Constraints: Surface Waters and Wetlands ............................ 58 Figure B4: Environmental Constraints: Groundwater ...................................................... 61 Figure B5: Habitats ........................................................................................................... 62 Figure B6: Scenic Roads ................................................................................................... 66 Figure B7: Existing and Proposed Lands for Preservation ............................................... 68 Figure B8: Open Space ..................................................................................................... 70 Figure B9: Tax Exempt Land ............................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. Figure C1: Housing Distribution as a Use ......................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Figure C2: Census Tracts .................................................................................................. 95 List of Tables Table A1: Land Use Classifications and Areas ................................................................ 19 Table A2: Land Use Change, 1971 to 1991 ...................................................................... 31 Table C1: Distribution of Housing by Ownership ............................................................ 88 Table C2: Local Permit History ........................................................................................ 89 Table C3: Number of Single-family Homes Sold ............................................................. 91 Table C4: Home Sale Price Trends ................................................................................... 92 Table C5: Comparison of Building Permits, Sales and Price of Homes .......................... 93 Table C6: Households and Property Values ..................................................................... 94 Table D1: Median Household Income Statistics and Trends .......................................... 113 Table D2: Percent Unemployment .................................................................................. 114 Table D3: Indicators of Change: Population/Job Comparison: 1996-1997 .................... 116 Table D4: Fiscal 2000 Recommended Town Budget ..................................................... 128 Table D5: Fixed and Variable Municipal Costs ............................................................. 129 Table D6: Portion of Town Budget Affected by Commercial Development ................. 130 Table D7: Portion of Town Budget Affected by Residential Development ................... 130 Table D8: Variable Residential Costs Per Capita and Per Pupil .................................... 131 Table D9: Demographic Estimates for New Residential Development ......................... 132 Middleborough