Town of Hudson Master Plan November 2014 Prepared by: VHB Hudson Master Plan Hudson Massachusetts Prepared for Town of Hudson Hudson, Massachusetts Prepared by Watertown, Massachusetts November 2014 Table of Contents 1 Introduction, Vision and Goals ................................................................................. 1-1 Introduction and Vision Statement .......................................................................................... 1-1 Community Engagement ........................................................................................................ 1-2 Housing and Economic Development Forum ......................................................... 1-3 Open Space, Recreation, and Historical Resources Forum ................................... 1-4 Energy and Transportation Forum .......................................................................... 1-4 Social Services and Public Health Forum ............................................................... 1-5 Community Services and Facilities Forum .............................................................. 1-6 Land Use and Community Design Goals ................................................................ 1-7 Housing Goals ........................................................................................................ 1-8 Economic Development Goals ................................................................................ 1-8 Natural, Historic and Cultural Resources Goals ..................................................... 1-9 Open Space and Recreation Goals ...................................................................... 1-10 Public Services and Facilities Goals ..................................................................... 1-10 Transportation Goals ............................................................................................ 1-11 Energy Goals ........................................................................................................ 1-11 Social Services and Public Health Goals .............................................................. 1-12 2 Land Use and Community Design ........................................................................... 2-1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 2-1 Land Use and Community Design Goals ................................................................................ 2-1 Hudson ................................................................................................................................... 2-2 Land Use and Community Design Issues and Opportunities ................................. 2-2 Downtown ............................................................................................................... 2-3 Route 85 Corridor (Washington Street) .................................................................. 2-6 Old Mill Reuse ......................................................................................................... 2-7 Land Use Patterns .................................................................................................................. 2-9 Historic Land Use .................................................................................................... 2-9 Current Land Use .................................................................................................. 2-14 Build-out Analysis ................................................................................................................. 2-17 Land Development Regulations ............................................................................................ 2-18 Overview of the Hudson Zoning Districts .............................................................. 2-19 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 2-25 3 Housing.......................................................................................................................... 3-1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 3-1 Housing Goals ........................................................................................................................ 3-2 Population and Demographic Profile ...................................................................................... 3-2 Households ............................................................................................................. 3-7 Housing Conditions ............................................................................................... 3-10 i Table of Contents November 2014 Housing Market ..................................................................................................... 3-12 Housing Affordability ............................................................................................................. 3-15 Issues and Key Findings ....................................................................................................... 3-18 Housing Policy and Zoning ................................................................................................... 3-20 Subsidized Affordable Housing ............................................................................. 3-22 Hudson Housing Authority .................................................................................... 3-24 Housing Recommendations .................................................................................................. 3-25 Housing Resources .............................................................................................................. 3-29 4 Economic Development .............................................................................................. 4-1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 4-1 Goals/Policies/Direction .......................................................................................................... 4-1 Labor Force Characteristics .................................................................................... 4-5 Business Establishments ........................................................................................ 4-8 Tax Base ............................................................................................................... 4-11 43D Priority Development Areas ........................................................................... 4-12 MetroWest Development Compact Priority Development Areas .......................... 4-13 Blight Target Areas ............................................................................................... 4-14 Mill Redevelopment .............................................................................................. 4-15 Resources ............................................................................................................................. 4-16 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 4-16 5 Natural, Historic, and Cultural Resources .............................................................. 5-1 Natural, Historic and Cultural Resources Goals ........................................................................... 5-2 Natural Resources Overview .................................................................................................. 5-2 Setting ..................................................................................................................... 5-2 Soils, Topography and Geology .............................................................................. 5-3 Water Resources...................................................................................................... 5-7 Land Cover and Wildlife .......................................................................................... 5-17 Natural Resource Protection ................................................................................. 5-18 Water Protection Planning Efforts ......................................................................... 5-26 Historic and Cultural Resources ........................................................................................... 5-32 Historic Resources ................................................................................................ 5-32 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................... 5-36 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 5-37 Resources ............................................................................................................................. 5-41 Town Resources ................................................................................................... 5-41 6 Open Space and Recreation ....................................................................................... 6-1 Accomplishments since 1999 ................................................................................. 6-2 Private Parcels ........................................................................................................ 6-4 Public and Non-Profit Parcels ................................................................................