Op-ed: Updating Canton’s Master Plan
By Guest
By Laura Smead, AICP, Canton Town Planner
One of my biggest jobs as town planner is to assist in both the development and implementation of Canton’s Master Plan. Sometimes these plans are labeled “comprehensive” or “general,” but they all mean the same thing: putting down on paper the hopes and dreams a community holds for itself — and then working toward making those aspirations a reality.
Through the Master Plan, we state what we love about living in Canton, what needs more support, and what should be transformed to meet our needs. It addresses all aspects of life in Canton — our neighborhoods, where we shop, play, public services, historic sites, local employers, and even how we get around town. Through the Master Plan, we recognize and anticipate changes in the future and respond through a clear action agenda. The Canton Master Plan is important because it is used by local officials to guide their decisions, which affects your everyday life for years to come.
In 2004, the town of Canton adopted its current Master Plan. Over the past 13 years, about two-thirds of the objectives the town outlined were completed or are no longer applicable. Many recommended zoning changes were adopted, such as redevelopment (i.e. Paul Revere Heritage Site) or our groundwater protection overlay. Other accomplishments include adopting the Community Preservation Act, stormwater best practices, and acquiring open space (for example, the Earl Newhouse Waterfront).
However, several goals are outdated and no longer express current needs around capital and infrastructure improvements. Baseline data within the plan needs to be updated to reflect current circumstances in and around Canton, such as the amount of development in the past 13 years. Furthermore, the 2004 Master Plan doesn’t address issues such as climate change, renewable energy and energy efficiency, or public health, which have town-wide implications.
Updating the Master Plan involves a team of people and a 16-month process. It is guided by the Master Plan Steering Committee, Horsley Witten Group (our consultants), and myself. Currently, we are updating baseline data, facts and figures to understand where we are, who we are, and where we’ve been. Over the school year, we will be hearing from the community to create a shared, community vision of Canton’s future to understand where we want to go. This will help us identify the most important issues that will shape our vision. Finally, we will be developing specific policies and actions to overcome barriers, strengthen assets, and build capacity to meet the community’s vision. We anticipate the process to conclude at the end of the summer in 2019.
We want to hear from as many people as possible. Public events will be scheduled throughout the update process, in a variety of formats. We’ll also be asking the public to respond to surveys, asking questions about what in Canton should be protected, what should be strengthened, and what should be transformed to meet the needs of current residents and those of future generations. You can learn more at www.cantonmasterplan.com or follow us on Facebook (@CantonPlanningBoard) or Twitter (@TownofCantonMA).
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=40761
Posted by Guest
on Sep 14 2018. Filed under Featured Content, Opinion.
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