MONTACHUSETT REGIONAL STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PLAN PREPARED BY: Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) April 2011 Funding provided by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development’s 2010 RPA Regional Strategic Planning Initiative Montachusett Regional Strategic Framework Plan Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE ....................................................................................... 4 2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT .............................................................. 5 Adopted Local Innovative Planning and Zoning Tools....................................................... 11 Lot Sizes................................................................................................................................ 12 Rate of Development ............................................................................................................ 14 Cluster Development............................................................................................................ 14 Wind Energy Bylaws/Ordinance ......................................................................................... 15 Green Communities Designation ........................................................................................ 15 Low Impact Development (LID).......................................................................................... 15 Accessory Apartments.......................................................................................................... 16 Scenic Roads Bylaws/Ordinances ....................................................................................... 16 Earth Removal...................................................................................................................... 17 Signs ..................................................................................................................................... 17 Community Preservation Act (CPA) ................................................................................... 17 Transfer of Development Rights (TDR).............................................................................. 18 Form-Based Code ................................................................................................................ 18 43D........................................................................................................................................ 18 Water Supply/ Wetland Protection ...................................................................................... 20 Site Plan Review................................................................................................................... 20 Agricultural Protection Zoning........................................................................................... 21 Village or Downtown Area .................................................................................................. 21 Mixed-Use............................................................................................................................. 22 3. REGIONAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.......................................................................... 22 Housing .................................................................................................................................... 23 Economic Development .......................................................................................................... 23 Open Space Preservation ....................................................................................................... 23 4. FORECASTS OF REGIONAL GROWTH AND PRESERATION.................................. 25 Regional and Municipal Population Forecast ...................................................................... 25 Historic and Forecasted Regional Population Growth ....................................................... 26 Household Forecast................................................................................................................. 27 Regional and Municipal Household Forecast ...................................................................... 27 Employment Forecast............................................................................................................. 28 Historic and Forecasted Regional Employment Growth .................................................... 30 Regional Preservation Forecast............................................................................................. 31 5. REGIONAL STRATEGIC ELEMENTS............................................................................. 31 Assessment and Analysis ........................................................................................................ 31 Priority Housing and Economic Development Districts .................................................... 31 Local................................................................................................................................. 32 Regional ........................................................................................................................... 40 Priority Preservation Areas ................................................................................................. 40 Local................................................................................................................................. 40 Regional ........................................................................................................................... 51 Montachusett Regional Strategic Framework Plan 2 April 2011 Identified Regional Growth Centers and Recommended Priority Development and Preservation Area Maps....................................................................................................... 69 Land Use Partnership Act (LUPA) Assessment and Analysis ........................................... 70 Compliance with standards of the Commonwealth’s land use objectives:................ 70 Eligible Locations............................................................................................................ 71 Adopted Eligible Actions for Certified Plan Communities......................................... 71 Actions Required for Certified Plan Communities...................................................... 72 Local Communities Status ............................................................................................. 72 Economic Development Element................................................................................... 72 Housing Element ............................................................................................................. 72 Open Space Protection Element .................................................................................... 73 Water Management Element......................................................................................... 73 Energy Management Element ....................................................................................... 73 LUPA Guidance ................................................................................................................... 73 Eligible Location Guidance .............................................................................................. 73 Criteria for Waivers .......................................................................................................... 73 Review Process for Certified Community Land Use Plans.............................................. 74 6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND OUTREACH ................................................................ 79 7. CONSISTENCY WITH COMMONWEALTH’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES .............................................................................................................................. 80 8. IMPLEMENTATION AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES........................................... 82 9. ADOPTION PROCESS ......................................................................................................... 83 10. CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................... 83 APPENDIX.................................................................................................................................. 84 Montachusett Regional Strategic Framework Plan 3 April 2011 1. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE There is a very strong need for a Regional Plan for the Montachusett Region and the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) has been attempting to locate funding to accomplish this for some time. MRPC is thankful to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) for its financial assistance of $40,000 from the 2010 RPA Regional Strategic Planning Initiative to prepare a regional strategic framework plan which will benefit the entire Montachusett Region. The Montachusett Region is made up of 22 municipalities, located in “North Central Massachusetts” and consists of portions of both Worcester and Middlesex Counties. The region is comprised of the cities of Fitchburg, Ashburnham, MA Leominster and Gardner and the towns of Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Clinton, Groton, Harvard, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Shirley, Sterling, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster and Winchendon. The purpose of the Montachusett Regional Strategic Framework Plan is to take a regional view of planning for housing, economic development and open space in