TEWKSBURY MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE MEETING

September 15, 2003

[Note: The September 15, 2003 Master Plan Committee meeting occurred within the Tewksbury Planning Board meeting]

Planning Board Chairman Vincent Spada called the Planning Board meeting to order at 7:00 P.M at the Town Hall Auditorium. Present at the meeting was Vice Chairman Robert Fowler, Clerk Nancy Reed, Frank Sweet, David Plunkett, Director of Community Development Steve Sadwick and Recording Secretary Dawn Cathcart.

(A) Master Plan Committee

Mr. Spada stated that the only item on the Planning Board’s agenda was the Master Plan and due to this he turned the meeting over to Mr. Sweet, Chairman of the Master Plan Committee.

Mr. Sweet called the Master Plan Committee meeting to order at 7:05 PM. Mr. Sweet introduced the members of the Master Plan Committee. They are Salvatore Torname, Vice Chairman, Stephanie Wilkie, Joseph Gill, Susan Duffy and Planning Board member Nancy Reed.

MOTION - Mr. Gill made a motion to approve invoice #02306006 in the amount of $1,285. The motion was seconded by Ms. Wilkie and unanimously voted 5-0.

MOTION - Ms. Wilkie made a motion to approve invoice #02306005 in the amount of $7,580. The motion was seconded by Mr. Gill and unanimously voted 5-0.

Mr. Sweet stated this effort has gone on for two years. Mr. Sweet thanked the committee, Mr. Cressman, Mr. Sadwick and his staff and the other Town Departments. Mr. Sweet also thanked Jay Gaffney and Beverly Bennett from the Historical Commission, Jerry Selissen and the Sewer Committee, Frank Luchasis and the Sidewalk Committee, Michelle Walsh and the Local Housing Partnership who have all commented and provided information for this plan. Mr. Sweet stated that lastly he would like to thank the consultants, Judy Barrett, Peter Sanborn, Terry Szold and Andrea Underwood. Mr. Sweet also thanked the Planning Board for their support. Mr. Sweet stated that this is a well thought out plan and this will provide the framework for the Town which will allow the Town to apply for and receive State and Federal grants per Executive Order 418. This also provides a legal defense for future actions.

Mrs. Reed stated that at the 2001 Town Meeting there was an article for growth management that included a request for a Master Plan. The article failed, but the Master Plan concept was a good idea. In June of that year, the Planning Board came up with a committee to look at this and at the same time Mr. Sadwick came up with the scope and services in house to get the funds together for the startup. There have been two and half years of meetings and working groups. The Master Plan Committee adopted the Master Plan and hopes that the Planning Board will do the same.

Mr. Sweet stated that the committee members have put in hundreds of hours of meetings and research.

Ms. Wilkie stated that this has been a sincere effort that allowed for open dialogue between the Master Plan Committee and the residents of Tewksbury. This will allow the Town to be proactive instead of reactive.

Mr. Gill stated that process has been an eye opener. This Master Plan will allow the Town to develop the future of Tewksbury. Mr. Gill thanked Mr. Sweet for his leadership.

Mr. Torname stated that this board has worked with a hired consultant with goals of dealing with Executive Order 418 and NMCOG. This committee is diverse and there were public vision forums were held in October and November 2002. This committee has presented a professional product for the future of Tewksbury.

Mrs. Duffy stated that committee has worked hard to deal with the administrative, environmental and consistency concerns. The Master Plan will help unify all the Town boards and committees.

Mrs. Reed presented her view of the process/lifecycle of the Master Plan. Mrs. Reed stated that growth management bylaw failed at Town Meeting, but out of that a request for a working outline of a Master Plan was done. During a Planning Board meeting, the outline was agreed to and during this two year process, the results of the Master Plan have addressed the original working outline.

Mr. Sweet stated that there have been other people involved including Joe Russell from the School Committee, Warren Carey, Geraldine Murphy, Dave Silva and Steve Deackoff and others.

Judy Barrett the Project Manager for the Master Plan presented a slide show summary of the Master Plan submitted. The first item addressed was Key Local Concerns. This included; land use conflicts between HI and neighborhoods, lack of a functional town center, Route 38 traffic and image, appearance of gateways into Tewksbury, affordable housing, open space, better management tools to handle growth, economic development, reuse of vacant business sites, protecting landmarks and natural assets, protection of water resources. The next issue was the main ideas for the Master Plan. These included, emphasize on design of site and building plans; emphasize on building accessibility to people, emphasize environmental quality, emphasize open space, and emphasize a vital, adaptable economy. The next issue was the Natural Resources in Tewksbury. This included, removing the Great Swamp from the HI district, adopting and enforcing stronger wetlands bylaw, recognize and protect wildlife areas and address nonpoint source pollution. The next issue was Open Space. This included, confirming, mapping and managing Tewksbury’s open space inventory, retaining ownership of Town owned land, strengthen the cluster bylaw, fight to protect Tewksbury State Hospital land. The next issue was Housing. This included, preserving older homes and offer improvement of these homes, encourage mixed-use development, pursue “local initiative” Chapter 40B developments. The next issue was Economic Development. This included, increasing local capacity to carry out economic development, changing zoning philosophy, emphasize reuse and redevelopment. The next issue was Community Facilities. This included the reorganization of capital improvement planning and process, conduct, review and analysis Town buildings, especially Town Hall, adopt asset management policies. The next issue was Traffic and Circulation. These included, integrated land use and transportation policies, implementation of the Sidewalk Plan, creating attractive gateways into Tewksbury, promote corridor access management, consider traffic calming techniques, and promote TDM with large employees. The last issue was Land Use. This included, substantially changing the HI district to office and research, rezone Route 38 to encourage mixed use development, buffer neighborhoods from industry, focus more on aesthetics, use smart land use codes. Towns that cannot adapt become economically stagnant, a condition that benefits no one. Ms. Barrett provided a proposed land use concept map that reflects what the Master Plan will look like.

Mr. Sweet stated that removing the Great Swamp from HI was a major factor of the reduction of HI district. The other major change is changing HI to Office and Research. The economy has changed and is moving more toward technology. The office research is a higher value per square footage and this would be increased revenue. Mr. Sweet stated that it is important to get the Master Plan on the books as soon as possible. Mr. Sweet stated that Chapter 9 is the implementation plan.

Mr. Fowler thanked the Master Plan Committee and the consultants for a job well done. Mr. Fowler asked when this plan could be implemented. For example, when can the Town Center Committee be established. Mr. Sweet replied that will be up to the Planning Board and at relatively no cost. Mr. Sweet stated that these committees should have continuity with a member of Master Plan Committee or Planning Board representative be on each committee. Mr. Fowler stated that changing the HI district to Office and Research is using good insight. Mr. Fowler stated that Highwood Drive is a good example of this concept. Mr. Fowler stated that he was an original member of the Cluster Zoning Committee and it’s interesting to him that the cluster requirement is being proposed that if a subdivision has over five units or over eight acres should be a cluster subdivision. That is a good plan.

Mr. Plunkett stated the Master Plan will be a tremendous asset to the Town, but the implementation is the key. Mr. Plunkett stated that he may not agree with every point, but the overall concept is great. This should be adopted as soon as possible.

Mr. Spada thanked and congratulated the Master Plan Committee stating that this is a great milestone for the Town and the momentum should keep going.

Warren Carey of 3 Marion Drive – Mr. Carey stated that the Master Plan Committee has done an excellent job. There is one thing specifically he doesn’t agree with. This is referring to South Tewksbury as the Silver Lake area. The corridor mentioned ends at Walgreens and a suggestion is to call South Tewksbury the South East Corridor instead of the Silver Lake area. Mr. Carey stated that on page 2.28, it may be difficult to add sidewalks everywhere due to sizes of lots and proximity of houses. Mr. Sweet stated that would be discussed and dealt with in the implementation portion of the plan. Mr. Carey suggested having large color maps for the residents to look at for clarity. Mr. Carey stated that the wording in the low income housing sections should be toned down. Mr. Sweet stated that this plan will have two audiences, the Town and the State DHCD. The Town may not be able to meet the letter of the law, but we are trying to meet the intent of the law. Mr. Carey asked what “draconian” on page 5.25 meant. Mr. Sweet replied it means old. Mr. Carey stated that words could be considered challenging.

Mr. Spada asked what the next step would be if this was adopted. Mr. Sadwick stated that if this is adopted, changes can still be made. This would also follow the normal public hearing process with input from residents and other boards.

Mr. Carey stated that Local Housing Partnership members should have input into this plan. Mr. Sadwick stated that they did have a lot of input into this. Mr. Carey stated that regarding disposal of Town property, sometimes it is feasible to get rid of property, but all neighborhoods should be involved. There may be one neighborhood that doesn’t want to sell the land, but forty others do. Mr. Carey closed with congratulating the Master Plan Committee.

David Silva of 1223 Shawsheen Street – Mr. Silva thanked those Town leaders for forming and allowing this committee to exist. Mr. Silva thanked the Master Plan Committee and added that this plan can take Tewksbury into the future. This is a guide and work in process. Mr. Silva also thanked the consultants for the vision and ideas.

Guy Morello of 1030 North Street – Mr. Morello stated that the Master Plan should not be adopted because it is not complete. North Tewksbury is not addressed and this shouldn’t serve a special interest group. Mr. Sweet stated that there were two areas that were intentionally left out of the Master Plan. The area known as Rocco’s/Perkins and the North Street/Rte. 133 because they are controversial and they need to be looked at further. There is a Land Use Study Group that includes Mrs. Reed and Ms. Wilkie and will bring back the results to the Master Plan Committee. When the Land Use Study Group has reached a recommendation it can be adopted into the Master Plan as an appendix. The Master Plan if adopted tonight will go before Town Meeting in the spring.

MOTION - Mr. Gill made a motion to adjourn the Master Plan Committee at 8:10 PM. The motion was seconded by Ms. Wilkie and unanimously voted 5-0.

[End of Master Plan Committee meeting]

MOTION - Mr. Plunkett made a motion to close the public hearing on the Master Plan. The motion was seconded by Mr. Fowler and unanimously voted 5-0.

MOTION - Mr. Plunkett made a motion to adopt the Master Plan dated September 8, 2003 as submitted by the Master Plan Committee. The motion was seconded by Mr. Fowler and unanimously voted 5-0.

MOTION - Mr. Plunkett made a motion to adjourn at 8:20 PM. The motion was seconded by Mr. Fowler and unanimously voted 5-0.

[End of Planning Board meeting]