2019 Open Space and Recreation Plan December 2019 Submitted by: The Town of Tewksbury Open Space and Recreation Committee Prepared by: Northern Middlesex Council of Governments Table of Contents Page No. Section 1: Plan Summary . .. 1 Section 2: Introduction . .. 3 A. Statement of Purpose . .. 3 B. Planning Process and Public Participation . ... 3 C. Accomplishments since 2009 . 7 Section 3: Community Setting . 13 A. Regional Context . 13 B. History of the Community . 15 C. Population Characteristics . 17 D. Households and Household Types . .18 E. Population Age Distribution . .19 F. Race and Ethnicity . .22 G. Residents with Disabilities . 23 H. Household, Family and Per Capital Income . 24 I. Labor Force . .30 J. Place of Work . .. .30 K. Employers . .30 L. Industry Composition . .. 32 M. Land Use Development Patterns . 33 N. Zoning . 34 O. Sewer Capacity . 39 P. Water Supply and Protection . 39 Q. Transportation Network . 40 Section 4: Environmental Inventory and Analysis . 43 A. Geology, Soils and Topography . 43 B. Landscape Characteristics . .48 C. Water Resources . 49 D. Vegetation . 55 E. Fisheries and Wildlife . 56 F. Scenic Resources and Unique Environments . .61 G. Environmental Challenges . .64 H. Environmental Equity . 78 Section 5: Lands of Conservation and Recreation Interest . .79 Section 6: Community Vision . 86 Section 7: Analysis of Needs . 88 A. Summary of Resource Protection Needs . 88 B. Summary of Community Needs . 89 C. Management Needs and Potential Changes of Use . .103 Section 8: Goals and Objectives . .105 Section 9: Seven-Year Action Plan . 109 Section 10: Public Comments . 126 Appendix A: Public Input Survey Instrument . 127 Appendix B: Survey Results . 134 Appendix C: Inventory of Lands of Conservation and Recreation Interest . 225 Appendix D: ADA Assessment and Transition Report . 239 Appendix E: Review Letters . 258 i List of Tables Table 1: Historic Buildings and Landmarks . .16 Table 2: Actual and Projected Population (2000-2040) . .18 Table 3: Total Number of Households (2000-2040) . .19 Table 4: Household Types (2010 and 2011-2015) . .. .19 Table 5: Age Distribution of Tewksbury Residents-2000, 2010 and 2011-2015. .. ...20 Table 6: Projected Age Distribution of Tewksbury Residents . .22 Table 7: Racial and Ethnic Diversity of Residents . .. .23 Table 8: Characteristics of the Disabled Community in Tewksbury . .. 24 Table 9: Median Household Income for Selected Geographies (1999 and 2011-2015) . 25 Table 10: Median Family Income for Selected Geographies (1999 and 2011-2015) . .. .26 Table 11: Per Capita Income for Selected Geographies (1999 and 2011-2015) . .27 Table 12: Income Distribution for Households (1999 and 2011-2015) . 28 Table 13: Federal Poverty Level Guidelines for 2017 . 28 Table 14: Characteristics of the Population Living in Poverty (2011-2015). 29 Table 15: Labor Force and Unemployment Rate for Tewksbury, 2010-2016 . 30 Table 16: Place of Work for Tewksbury Residents . .31 Table 17: Major Employers in Tewksbury . 32 Table 18: 2016 Employment and Wages by Industry . 33 Table 19: Existing Land Use . 34 Table 20: Land Area by Zoning District . 35 Table 21: Allowed Residential Uses by Zoning District: 2016 . 37 Table 22: Plant Species Considered Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern . 55 Table 23: Tewksbury Wildlife . 57 Table 24: Wildlife Species Considered Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern . ..