Shaping the Future DRACUT MASTER PLAN Shaping the Future Prepared for the Dracut Master Plan Committee By Northern Middlesex Council of Governments Adopted by the Dracut Planning Board on May 27, 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 The Master Plan Development Process ................................................................................................... 2 Organization and Overview of the Master Plan .................................................................................... 6 Contents of the Master Plan .................................................................................................................... 6 The Master Plan Vision Statement ........................................................................................................ 7 Principal Goals of the Master Plan ........................................................................................................ 8 Land Use and Zoning .......................................................................................................................... 11 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 11 Background ...................................................................................................................................................... 12 Population Trends ........................................................................................................................................ 13 Land Use Trends ............................................................................................................................................ 14 Land Use Characteristics of Existing Parcels ................................................................................. 15 Residential Land Uses ............................................................................................................................. 16 Commercial Land Uses ........................................................................................................................... 16 Industrial Land Uses ................................................................................................................................ 16 Public Utilities ............................................................................................................................................ 19 Agricultural Lands .................................................................................................................................... 19 Conservation and Open Space ............................................................................................................. 19 Recreational Lands .................................................................................................................................. 19 Institutional Uses ...................................................................................................................................... 19 Municipal and State Land Excluding Conservation ..................................................................... 19 Vacant Land ................................................................................................................................................ 20 Zoning Overview............................................................................................................................................ 20 Residential Zoning ........................................................................................................................................ 24 Open Space Residential Development .............................................................................................. 25 In-Law Dwelling Unit .............................................................................................................................. 26 Residential Golf Course Planned Development ............................................................................ 27 Business and Industrial Zoning ............................................................................................................... 28 Business and Industrial Districts ....................................................................................................... 28 i | Page Multiple Principal Structures in the Business and Industrial Districts ............................... 33 Additional Structures for Business Use in the Business 4 (B-4) District ............................ 33 Overlay Districts ............................................................................................................................................ 36 Dracut Center Neighborhood Overlay District .............................................................................. 36 Mill Conversion Overlay District ........................................................................................................ 38 Flood Plain and Floodway District ..................................................................................................... 38 Wellhead Protection District ................................................................................................................ 39 Wetland and Water Conservancy District (WWC) ...................................................................... 39 Regulations and Renewable Energy ...................................................................................................... 40 Wind Energy Systems ............................................................................................................................. 40 Solar Energy Systems .............................................................................................................................. 40 Development Standards ............................................................................................................................. 40 Site Plan Review ........................................................................................................................................ 41 Signage .......................................................................................................................................................... 42 Parking and Loading ............................................................................................................................... 42 Public Input ..................................................................................................................................................... 43 Issues and Opportunities ........................................................................................................................... 46 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................ 51 Economic Development .................................................................................................................... 53 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 53 Characteristics of the Local Economy ................................................................................................... 54 Employment Levels and Unemployment ........................................................................................ 54 Employment Projections ....................................................................................................................... 55 Income ............................................................................................................................................................... 56 Median Family Income ........................................................................................................................... 56 Per Capita Income .................................................................................................................................... 57 Educational Attainment .............................................................................................................................. 58 K-12 Education Performance ............................................................................................................... 60 Employment Sectors for Dracut Residents..................................................................................... 60 Journey to Work and Commuting Patterns .................................................................................... 61 Economic and Business Conditions in Dracut .................................................................................... 62 ii | Page Business Patterns ..................................................................................................................................... 62 Industry Composition ............................................................................................................................. 65 Location quotients ................................................................................................................................... 66 Wages 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