SECOND DRAFT – FINAL TOWN PLANNER 2AUG EDITS INCORPORATED – AUGUST 8, 2019 north reading master plan 2018-2028 1 of 111 SECOND DRAFT – FINAL TOWN PLANNER 2AUG EDITS INCORPORATED – AUGUST 8, 2019 technical assistance provided by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) prepared for: TOWN OF NORTH READING COMMUNITY PLANNING COMMISSION DANIELLE MCKNIGHT, AICP, TOWN PLANNER/COMMUNITY PLANNING ADMINISTRATOR 235 NORTH MAIN STREET NORTH READING, MASSACHUSETTS 01864-1298 prepared by: METROPOLITAN AREA PLANNING COUNCIL 60 TEMPLE PLACE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02111 TEL 617.933.0700 WWW.MAPC.ORG north reading master plan 2018-2028 i of 111 SECOND DRAFT – FINAL TOWN PLANNER 2AUG EDITS INCORPORATED – AUGUST 8, 2019 LETTER FROM TOWN PLANNER & MASTER PLAN ADVISORY GROUP Summer 2019 The Town of North Reading has embarked on its first Master Plan since 2004 in order to gather input from participating community voices, and help shape how and where the Town might grow moving toward the year 2028. The North Reading Master Plan for 2018-2028 gathers community ideas for improving the Town’s future in general, various ideas and options for transforming Main Street, and presents a series of potential Town decisions, actions and investments that could be pursued in order to achieve various desired goals. It is hoped that the Master Plan report, and its abbreviated visual executive summary will serve as a guiding tool during future Town board, committee and Town Meetings. Respectfully submitted, Community Planning Commission Warren Pearce Ryan Carroll Jon Cody Bill Bellavance David Rudloff (served May 2016-January 2019) Christopher Hayden Town of North Reading Master Plan Advisory Group Michael Houle Rich Wallner Suresh Rao Sara Harrington Dan Mills Art DiNatalie Will Birkmaier Diane Downing Kathleen Roy Chris Herrick Danielle McKnight, AICP, Town Planner / Community Planning Administrator north reading master plan 2018-2028 ii of 111 SECOND DRAFT – FINAL TOWN PLANNER 2AUG EDITS INCORPORATED – AUGUST 8, 2019 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The North Reading Master Plan 2018-2028 was developed based on feedback from advisory group meetings, community workshops, an extensive online survey, and feedback from Town staff. Thank you to all who participated throughout the process. The planning process and analysis was conducted with Town of North Reading funding supplemented by MAPC. The Metropolitan Area Council (MAPC) is grateful for the opportunity to work with the Town of North Reading on assisting it to develop goals and ideas for how to shape its future. Supplemental funding was provided from the MAPC Planning for MetroFuture Technical Assistance (PMTA) program. Such funding enables the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to achieve its mission in providing towns and cities with assistance in achieving equitable local smart growth that also benefits the greater Boston region. MAPC is grateful to the Governor and the Legislature for their support and funding of this program. MAPC Officers President, Keith Bergman, Town of Littleton Treasurer, Taber Keally, Town of Milton Vice President, Erin Wortman, Town of Stoneham Executive Director, Marc Draisen, MAPC Secretary, Sandra Hackman, Town of Bedford Thanks for the assistance of the following individuals: MAPC Staff Carlos Javier Montañez, Principal Planner and Project Manager Mark Racicot, Land Use Division Director Karina Milchman, AICP, Chief Housing Planner Josh Eichen, Economic Development Planner Alex Koppelman, AICP, Regional Housing and Joe Sacchi, Regional Land Use Planner Land Use Planner II Rachel Marx, Administrative Assistant Courtney Lewis, Regional Land Use Planner Joshua Weissman-LaFrance, Administrative Intern Raúl González, Economic Development Planner Elise Harmon, Digital Communications Specialist Town of North Reading Michael P. Gilleberto, Town Administrator Danielle McKnight, AICP, Town Planner / Community Planning Administrator Community Planning Commission Warren Pearce Ryan Carroll Jon Cody Bill Bellavance David Rudloff (served May 2016-January 2019) Christopher Hayden Master Plan Advisory Group Members Michael Houle Rich Wallner Suresh Rao Sara Harrington Dan Mills Art DiNatalie Will Birkmaier Diane Downing Kathleen Roy Chris Herrick Workshop Participants and Community Stakeholders Special thanks to the workshop and other participants who provided feedback. north reading master plan 2018-2028 iii of 111 SECOND DRAFT – FINAL TOWN PLANNER 2AUG EDITS INCORPORATED – AUGUST 8, 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS VISION & EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................... 1 PURPOSE – SETTING THE STAGE ................................................................................. 1 VISION STATEMENT ........................................................................................................ 1 OVERARCHING CONSENSUS GOALS ........................................................................ 2 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 4 TOWN CONTEXT .......................................................................................................... 4 WHAT IS A MASTER PLAN AND WHY? ....................................................................... 4 PLANNING PROCESS, OUTREACH & PARTICIPATION ............................................. 6 COMMUNITY INPUT & CONSENSUS ........................................................................... 7 PLANNING CONTEXT ..................................................................................................... 9 SUMMARY OF PAST STUDIES & DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS .................................... 10 LAND USE & ZONING: DIRECTING GROWTH ........................................................ 13 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 13 LAND USE & ZONING .................................................................................................. 14 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................... 21 HOUSING: OPTIONS FOR ALL AGES ....................................................................... 24 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 24 PREVIOUS RESEARCH .................................................................................................... 25 HOUSING NEEDS SUMMARY ...................................................................................... 27 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................... 30 TRANSPORTATION: MOBILITY FOR ALL ............................................................... 39 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 39 EXISTING CONDITIONS ............................................................................................... 39 PUBLIC / MASS TRANSIT .............................................................................................. 40 PEDESTRIAN & BICYCLE FACILITIES............................................................................. 42 TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ................................................................................... 44 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................... 46 OPEN SPACE ................................................................................................... 49 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 49 EXISTING CONDITIONS ............................................................................................... 50 CONSERVATION LAND ................................................................................................ 52 OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT ...................................................................................... 54 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................... 55 PUBLIC FACILITIES & SERVICES ....................................................................... 58 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 58 EXISTING CONDITIONS ............................................................................................... 58 north reading master plan 2018-2028 iv of 111 SECOND DRAFT – FINAL TOWN PLANNER 2AUG EDITS INCORPORATED – AUGUST 8, 2019 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................... 66 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER ................................. 69 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 69 KEY INTERRELATED CHALLENGES AND GOALS ....................................................... 71 FISCAL CONDITIONS .................................................................................................... 74 INDUSTRY PROFILE ........................................................................................................ 74 EMPLOYMENT PROJECTIONS & OPPORTUNITY SECTORS ................................... 76 WORKFORCE ................................................................................................................