The document summarizes a community forum held in Ashland, Massachusetts to discuss updating the town's comprehensive plan. It provides an overview of the comprehensive planning process and progress made so far in developing Ashland's plan, including outreach activities and draft goals in key areas like land use, housing, economic development, and transportation. The forum included a presentation of the draft community vision statement and goals, followed by small group discussions for residents to provide input and prioritize goals to guide future growth. The next steps in the planning process were also outlined.

1. COMMUNITY FORUM
December 7, 2015
Ashland Comprehensive Plan

2. Welcome:
Nat Strosberg, AICP, LEED AP
Town Planner, Town of Ashland
Preston Crow, Chair,
Comprehensive Plan Advisory
Group

3. What are we doing tonight?
 Presentation
 The Comprehensive Plan Process
 Progress on Ashland’s Plan to Date
 Review of Ashland’s Community Vision
Statement
 Group Discussion:
 Discussion of recommended goals
 Prioritization of Goals
 Report Back
 Next Steps

4. The
Comprehensive
Plan:
Project
Overview

5. What is a Comprehensive
plan?
A Comprehensive plan is a
strategic policy framework
that guides the future
physical and economic growth of a
town or city based on the
community’s vision and goals.

6. A Comprehensive plan is not
just a document, it is a process
 It’s an opportunity to envision your future
 VISION: What do we want our community to be in
20 years?
 It is a process to set town-wide priorities
 PLAN: What do we need to do to get there?
 It’s an action strategy to achieve positive
change
 IMPLEMENT: How do we get started? What is next?

7. What will be in the
Comprehensive Plan?
• Community Vision
• Land Use
• Housing
• Economic Development
• Cultural and Historic
Resources
• Open Space and
Recreation/Natural
Resources
• Sustainability
• Public Services and
Facilities
• Transportation and
Circulation
• Implementation
PLAN ELEMENTS

8. Progress on the Plan

9. Plan input to date
 Six Lightning Polls – Summer and Fall 2014
 Focus Groups – August 2014
 Open Space, Recreation, + Natural Resources
 Land Use, Housing + Development
 Visioning Session - October 2014
 Two Coffee Klatches – November 2014
 Senior Center lunch - November 2014
 Comprehensive Plan Committee meetings – 2014 + 2015
 Housing Forums – January and May 2015
 Comprehensive Plan Advisory Group meetings - 2015
 Town Staff meetings – 2015
 Planning Board and Board of Selectmen - 2015

10. PlanAshland Vision
 A thriving community
 Taking charge of our future
 Committed to sustainability
 Regional collaborator
 Public schools are centers of
excellence
 Resources and infrastructure
 Engaged residents, business
owners, and leaders working
together to advance and
communicate common values,
goals, and priorities of the
Ashland Comprehensive Plan

11. PlanAshland Vision Continued
 Our downtown, key
corridors and
neighborhoods are
sustainable and vibrant

12. PlanAshland Vision Continued
 Ashland welcomes residents of
all ages and socio-economic
backgrounds by providing a
variety of housing opportunities

13. PlanAshland Vision Continued
 Ashland maintains a strong
economic base and diverse
local economy with places for
people to live, shop, work and
gather. The town provides
prime access to key
employment centers in our
region.

14. PlanAshland Vision Continued
 Ashland offers viable walking,
biking and public
transportation options.

15. PlanAshland Vision Continued
 Ashland stewards open space
and recreational opportunities
and promotes an array of vital
environmental, natural,
historical and cultural
resources.

16. Land Use Goals
 Accommodate key development and
preservation activities through Ashland’s Zoning
Bylaw
 Implement land use policies that support and
encourage appropriately-scaled and mixed-use
developments in key areas of town
 Consider form-based code
 Ensure coordination and alignment among all
land use review and permitting entities

17. Housing Goals
 Work to preserve and advance affordability in town
 Maintain high quality of life through sustainable
planning and housing production
 Ensure affordability throughout town and target
affordable housing production to designated sites
 Build community awareness of housing issues and
activities
 Address unmet housing needs through programming
 Adopt zoning changes to promote affordable
housing production and diverse housing typologies
 Promote healthy housing

18. Economic Development Goals
 Plan for, stimulate and maintain viable, well-
designed and vibrant development along key
corridors and downtown
 Provide comprehensive and site specific
planning and technical assistance to advance
economic development at key locations
 Plan for and implement public facilities and utility
improvements along key corridors and
downtown
 Attract and retain a range of businesses in town’s
commercial areas

19. Economic Development Goals
 Provide and promote incentives
 Build town’s reputation as an energy-efficiency
leader
 Leverage open space, natural resources and
recreational opportunities as an economic asset
 Ensure organizational capacity to lead in and
implement economic development activities
 Leverage regional business leadership and
organizations to promote the town and expand
resources

20. Transportation Goals
 Commission a parking study and ensure
adequate parking is provided downtown,
address space availability, management, and
accessibility
 Continue to advocate for and advance roadway
improvements along key corridors
 Create sidewalk connectivity and linkages
between neighborhoods and key amenities
 Advocate for and implement Complete Streets

21. Transportation Goals
 Provide consistent wayfinding and signage to
showcase and connect people with town
amenities
 Ensure local and regional development does not
adversely impact traffic in neighborhoods, along
key corridors and downtown
 Expand and improve public transportation
options
 Ensure adequate resources for Town operations,
street and sidewalk maintenance and
reconstruction.

22. Small Group Discussions
 Setting the Stage: Small group introductions
(5 mins)
 Recommended Goals: What do you think of
the Comprehensive plan draft goals? Should
anything be added or changed? Which goals
would you prioritize? (50 mins)
 Wrap-Up: Designate reporter to present
highlights from discussion to larger group
(2 mins)

23. Next Steps:
Preston Crow, Chair,
Comprehensive Plan Advisory
Group

24. Thank
you!