Public Forum April 15, 2009

1. Belmont Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Review Phase I Public Forum April 15, 2009 Office of Community Development • Larry Koff & Associates • Bluestone Planning Group • Todreas Hanley Associates • Abramson & Associates, Inc. • Tetra Tech Rizzo • Nelson Nygaard

2. What will you get from tonight’s meeting? We will: Present key information about Belmont’s existing conditions Dispel some common myths Identify possible priorities, and ways to deal with-trade offs Get your feedback on the priorities and trade-offs Take the survey at: http://www.town.belmont.ma.us/Home/

3. Presentation Overview • Introduction • Existing Conditions • Dispelling Myths • Objectives, Trade-offs and Priorities • Next Steps • Comments, Questions and Answers

4. What is a Comprehensive Plan? • Policy framework that guides a community's development and land use activities. • Long-term (5 to 20 years) objectives. • Based on community’s priorities and common expectations for the look and feel of the town

5. What is a Comprehensive Plan? • Guides physical, social, and economic development of a town in the context of its region • policy statements • goals • action Items (regulatory, public and private actions) • standards and benchmarks • maps • Topical areas • economic development • transportation • energy • housing • open space and recreation • historic preservation • public facilities and infrastructure

6. Project Timeline • Phase I (January to June 2009) • January to February Consultants selected, review and summary of existing documents and Zoning Bylaw • February to April Comprehensive Plan Committee (3 meetings) • Mid April • Public Meeting • On-line survey (4/15 to 5/15) • May • On-line survey continues (4/15 to 5/15) • Four additional meetings with smaller groups • June • Phase I report prepared

7. Comprehensive Plan Process Working Vision for Belmont’s Future (Vision 21 Committee, Town Meeting, April 2001) • Thriving Business Centers • Residents and neighborhoods support retail needs and opportunities • Preserve small town community atmosphere • Comprehensive Plan Phase I: • Economic Development, Sustainable Neighborhoods, Existing Conditions, Needs, Issues and Opportunities, Trade-offs and Priorities • Comprehensive Plan Phase II: • Strategies Assessment, Implementation Tools, and Action Plan

8. Presentation Overview • Introduction • Existing Conditions • Dispelling Myths • Objectives, Trade-offs and Priorities • Next Steps • Questions and Answers

9. Historic Development Patterns • Trolley and Rail formed transportation network – prior to major automobile use. • Villages evolved around commercial squares, transit lines

10. Portrait of Existing Land Use • Low Density Suburban Estates • Residences and parks Moderately Dense Village Character • Higher density housing and mix of uses surrounds village commercial centers and transit. • Commercial development concentrated in village centers

11. Existing Village Centers “Villages” form focal point for community: • Walkable, interconnecting neighborhoods • Mix of centrally located facilities, neighborhood schools. Belmont Hill

12. Regional Market Context

13. Housing

14. Transportation • Rail and bus service to Cambridge & Boston. • Limited transit to neighboring communities • Radial auto access via Route 2, Trapelo Road • Intertown auto traffic through Belmont on Pleasant St (Rt 60), local arterials

15. Commuting Patterns Belmont’s workforce depends upon regional infrastructure to commute to the following locations: Commuter rail time to Boston is approximately 16 minutes, Brandeis 12 minutes. Public transit passengers: 250 per day board train, 3,500 per day ride buses Waverly Square is the largest hub of transit use.

16. Open Space Resources • Regional parks and green corridors located north/west of Route 60 • Town-wide municipal & recreation facilities reinforce Belmont Center • Neighborhood Village areas served by school yards and rec. fields

17. Presentation Overview • Introduction • Existing Conditions • Dispelling Myths • Objectives, Trade-offs and Priorities • Next Steps • Questions and Answers

18. Dispelling Myths: #1 Myth: Belmont’s village centers are stable. Reality: Chronic vacancies and deteriorating buildings, flat demand for specialty food and other desired uses, and competition from nearby centers undermines the character and viability of Belmont’s villages. • Key sites in Waverley, Cushing, and Central Squares are vacant and deteriorating. • Infrastructure changes such as MBTA facilities can result in a net loss or gain for Belmont’s villages, depending on the town’s initiative.

19. Dispelling Myths: #2 Myth: The Town is fully built out and will not change. Reality: There are Short Term Opportunities for redevelopment of vacant and underutilizedproperties.

20. Dispelling Myths: # 3 Myth: Increasing density means more cars, school children, lower tax revenue. Reality: Density compatible with historic village development patterns will generate net benefits.

21. Presentation Overview • Introduction • Existing Conditions • Dispelling Myths • Objectives, Trade-offs and Priorities • Next Steps • Questions and Answers

22. A Town of Villages: Objectives Compact village centers are a sustainable form of development. • Economic Viability: Commercial centers continue to thrive and the town leverages private investment to fund services and facilities. • Sustainable Design: The structure and character of villages and residential neighborhoods is enhanced while providing for local needs. • Environmentally Efficient: New development and roadway and infrastructure improvements allow for reduction in auto usage andcarbon emissions.

23. 1: Village Centers Belmont wants thriving business areas. However: • Regional competition, small sites, and multiple owners limit market potential. • Current regulations (zoning, liquor license, parking) and limited public improvements retard growth of niche markets and private investment in revitalization and redevelopment.

24. Trade-offs & Priorities 1: Village Centers What improvement opportunities might apply to the Village Centers? • No change • Public/Private partnership of sign and façade, marketing, and streetscape improvements • Management of parking supply-both public and private • Zoning changes to permit greater height? density? mixed uses? • Permitting wine and beer licensing for smaller establishments • Other?

25. 2A: Transportation Sustainable neighborhoods have convenient access to services and walkable neighborhoods. However: • Neighborhood sustainability is weakened by missing gaps in the network of roads, bike, and pedestrian routes between the Village Centers. • Key transit connections to/from centers of employment, shopping, recreation, public facilities, and transit stations are missing.

26. Trade-offs & Priorities 2A: Transportation What opportunities would you pursue to reduce auto dependency and improve access for Belmont commuters and residents? • No change • Bus connections to Alewife, Arlington Center, Watertown Square • Improved bike paths • Construction of park and ride facilities at Waverley and along Trapello Road corridor • Relocate/consolidate commuter rail stations • Other?

27. 2B: Parking The vitality of Village Centers depends primarily upon the need for parking management reform. However: • It is difficult to get consensus on new strategies to affect change, (restrictions in abutting neighborhoods, the use of existing on and off street resources, and limits in supply). • Inflexible zoning requirements for new development discourage new businesses.

28. Trade-offs & Priorities 2B: Parking What opportunities would you pursue to improve commercial area parking? • No change • Allow for shared parking among existing commercial and non-profit uses • Utilize street right-of-ways and publicly owned land to increase surface parking • Regulatory changes to allow for parking in residential areas that support commercial activity and to balance needs of shoppers, employees, and commuters • Construct public or public/private financed parking garages (where?)

29. 3: Public Spaces and Facilities Public spaces, recreation areas, and greenbelt connections are needed to enhance sustainable villages. However: • Large open space areas are mostly in the western part of town. • There is a lack of streetscape amenities for pedestrians in Village Centers and no entity stepping forward to make improvements.

30. Trade-offs & Priorities 3: Public Spaces and Facilities What are the greatest needs for public spaces? • No change • Replacement/improvement of schools • Replacement/improvement of other municipal buildings • Expansion/relocation of recreation facilities (in municipal center? other neighborhoods?) • Improving pedestrian and bicycle connections to village centers and public sites • Enhancing the character of village centers/commercial districts with public gathering spaces • Other?

31. 4: Residential Development Historic development patterns have resulted in a variety of housing types. Continuing demand for housing for elderly and young professionals requires more of this historic development pattern, especially in and near Village Centers. However: • Current zoning regulations discourage this variety by requiring special permits that make development or redevelopment risky for applicants. • There is fear from neighbors about increased density in the Village Centers.

32. Trade-offs & Priorities 4: Residential Development What characteristics would you encourage for residential development? • No change? • To meet needs of Belmont’s own populations including seniors, young adults? • To be affordable to a range of incomes? • To facilitate revitalization of commercial areas? • To match density/context of surrounding neighborhoods? • Other?

33. Presentation Overview • Introduction • Existing Conditions • Dispelling Myths • Objectives, Trade-offs and Priorities • Next Steps • Questions and Answers

34. Next Steps: Phase II Comprehensive Plan: Phase II • Evaluate choices to achieve goals and priorities. • Refine strategies and implementation measures based on public feedback from Phase I and continued feedback in Phase II. • Adopt a Plan that will: • Leverage state grants. • Guide zoning reform. • Guide public investment including MBTA planning for transit changes.

35. Examples of Phase II Choices • Enhance public spaces, streetscapes, facilities, parking • Improve mix and character of development • Modify Zoning • Facilitate public/private partnership • Expand transportation alternatives • Obtain funding to implement needed improvements and programs

36. Short Term Fiscal Benefits of completing Comprehensive Plan • $75,000 investment on completion of Comprehensive Plan Phase II could leverage: • Access to $600 million in State’s Commonwealth Capital Programs (14 grants) based on commitment to 32 land use planning and regulatory practices related to sustainable development • Example: $1M in PWED funding for transit, streetscape, pedestrian, parking, and bike path improvements • Federal Stimulus funding for public facilities and infrastructure

37. Short Term Fiscal Benefits completing Comprehensive Plan • Potential doubling of commercial tax base in long term with private investment in commercial and residential development • Example: New zoning could attract private investment comparable to the proposed Oakley neighborhood 40R development • Private investment by property owners commercial areas through upgrading of properties, marketing, and cost sharing of public improvements

38. Presentation Overview • Introduction • Existing Conditions • Dispelling Myths • Objectives, Trade-offs and Priorities • Next Steps • Questions and Answers

39. Comments & Questions For more information contact: Jay Szklut Office of Community Development 19 Moore Street Belmont, MA 02478-0900 Telephone: (617) 993-2666 Take the survey at: http://www.town.belmont.ma.us/Home/

40. Comments & Questions Tonight: Give your feedback on the Trade offs and Priorities Are we missing priorities? How can we get more input on this plan? Help us spread the word about the on-line survey Take the survey at: http://www.town.belmont.ma.us/Home/