Regional Planning - Tools for Communities

Tools for Communities to Address Issues of Growth
The following is a partial list of ideas that communities may wish to consider as alternatives to allow for steering growth and molding density within their community. These concepts fall into three main categories: Planning, Land Acquisitions and Regulations.

EOEA-funded Buildout Analyses and Executive Order 418 funding for Planning.

These two programs represent a tremendous opportunity for communities to look at their current trends and to plan for alternative futures. The $30,000 in funding from state agencies under Executive Order 418 will allow the communities to undertake additional planning to examine issues of Housing, Natural Resources, Economic Development and Transportation.
Acquisition of Land for open space and natural resource protection
1. Communities should become familiar with the wide array of land protection alternatives which are described in "Land Conservation Options" by The Trustees of Reservations and Essex County Greenbelt Association.
2. Communities should evaluate the establishment of a Community Preservation Act for the purposes of open space, affordable housing and historic preservation.
3. Work in conjunction with local land trust on acquisition projects, including interim acquisitions and perhaps limited development of lands being withdrawn from Chapter 61 programs (where communities have an assignable right of first refusal for 120 days).
4. To raise funds for key acquisitions, communities should consider designation of local portion of hotel/motel rooms tax to dedicated fund for open space acquisitions. This has been done in the town of Franklin, and is proposed for Ipswich.
5. Allocate Chapter 61 rollback taxes from "converted" lands to an open space acquisition fund, or as addition to community's CPA fund for broader purposes.
6. Negotiate with State for permanent protection of surplus lands. State's goal is protection of 200,000 acres over 10 years, and protection of surplus lands is one means of reaching this goal. The Town of Danvers undertook such negotiations with the State in regards to the Danvers State Hospital, where the final disposition plan now calls for redevelopment of the structures for office/commercial uses and the protection (under a conservation restriction) of approximately 300 acres, including all of the farmland on the site.
Use Best Practices to encourage development where you want it or to limit the impacts of development on the resources of the community:

Transfer of Development Rights program, such as in place in the Town of Falmouth.
Retiring of development rights on another parcel in exchange for faster lot release within a development in a community with a rate of growth bylaw. This method is used in the town of Groton.
In a community with a rate of growth bylaw, faster lot release in exchange for cluster subdivision, faster still if cluster incorporates public open space. A bylaw which includes these provisions is found in the Town of Amherst.
Required Cluster or Open Space subdivision within specified areas of town for resource protection. This type of bylaw is found in the Town of Amherst, in Aquifer Protection and Farmland Protection Districts. It also appears in the Town on Granby.
Great Estates Overlay Bylaw, which allows for innovative alternative design of development that will protect natural and historical resources, with bonus incentives for protection of historic structures. This bylaw can be found in the Town of Ipswich, where it was used to redevelop a seminary into a conference center (in a residential zone) with approximately 300 acres of publicly accessible open space (including a golf course).
Bylaws lowering septic flow rates and increasing the required amount of open space or pervious surface within developments in Aquifer Protection Districts. An example of this type of bylaw is found in Holliston.
Bylaws specifying a maximum amount of lot disturbance on large lots, and ban on underground sprinkler systems to lower overall water consumption. The Town of Sharon recently voted to limit disturbance to 30,000 sq. ft limit on 60,000 sq. ft. lots, and to ban the sprinkler systems.
Wildlife Habitat Corridor Overlay District, to allow development but also require maintenance of habitat corridors. In the Town of Falmouth, these areas are designated to connect existing large areas of protected open spaces. Options available for the developer to use which allow development but also preserve the required corridor include lower density development, open space/cluster development, or an alternative special permit for smaller lot sizes.
Bylaws encouraging mixed use development such as apartments over retail in community centers. Examples of this type of bylaw are found in the Canton Center Economic Opportunity District and in Milton Village bylaw.
Bylaws encouraging conversion of large pre-existing structures, such as mill structures or schools, for housing or mixed use. The Milton Village bylaw noted above, or the Hudson bylaws are examples.
Tax and cost sharing between communities for Brownfields redevelopments. In the case of the Central Massachusetts Economic Development Authority (CMEDA), which includes Worcester and the surrounding communities, the neighboring communities that participate in the cost brownfields redevelopment in Worcester will benefit later through a portion of the taxes from the redeveloped site. This enables a community with out infrastructure to support economic development to participate in economic development (and the taxes therefrom) in Worcester.
Where it is appropriate to limit intensity of use of commercially/industrially zoned lands, consider changing regulations by lowering FAR (Floor Area Ratio) limits or increasing open space requirements associated with the development. Conversely, in cases where economic development can be supported by existing infrastructure and transportation, be sure that the potential development is not restricted by low FAR, high parking, or high open space requirements.