Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
CantonMPSC_Minutes_final_7-18-2019
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Canton Master Plan Update Steering Committee Meeting July 18, 2019, 7-9 pm Canton Public Library – Trustee Meeting Room 786 Washington St MINUTES Present: Master Plan Steering Committee: David McCarthy, John McSweeney, Emilio Mauro, Michael McMahon, Sonja Grauds, and Meredith McLoughlin Staff: Laura Smead, Town Planner; Horsley Witten Group: Nate Kelly, Krista Moravec Not present: Gerald Carmichael, Tom Theodore, and Tonja Mettlach Discussion 1. Welcome/Late Arrivals Accepted 5-0; John arrived after minutes accepted 2. Acceptance of Meeting Minutes 3. Draft Master Plan Chapters: Live (Housing subsection) Work Connect Live (Housing subsection only) • Committee generally agreed with Town Planner comments • Asked for more definitions about “comprehensive permits”, “housing production plan vs. action plan vs. certified plan” • Change the first sentence about Using Chapter 40B • Emilio wonders if younger age group and seniors are looking for the exact same type of housing (e.g. smaller, low maintenance) or if seniors are more specifically looking for units without stairs • Discussion and clarification over number of net units on the subsidized housing inventory to expire by 2035 • John agreed that specifically adding in Rubin Court as a potential Housing Authority expanded development was a good idea • Agreed to clarify that while 72 units at the Paul Revere Heritage Site will be included on the subsidized housing inventory, only 27 of the units will actually be deed restricted (and to say why) • Discussion over golf course language, want to call them golf facilities, since each golf facility may have more than one course or only a partial course. Possibly list which are public and which are private (although none are technically protected from development) • Meredith felt that the community education around housing was critical, because it is so personal and has so many misunderstandings • Canton Community Preservation Committee raises money
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towards open space and recreation, not just open space (note to change the language slightly) • Discussion over whether the goal should be updating the Housing Action Plan, have a state-approved Housing Production Plan and advantages and disadvantages to each • General comment that the town is in the position to solicit comprehensive permit applications strategically rather than suddenly receive them • Discussion that there will be a zoning bylaw audit as an Appendix to the Master Plan update which will provide some specific recommendations beyond the general zoning recommendations in this section, refer to this in the action list • Discussed 40R zoning: definition, as a possibility for some portion of the Canton Junction envisioning (advantages, disadvantages). This will be further discussed in August meeting. Work • There are a couple small typos to correct • General agreement with the Town Planner comments, additionally… • Discussion whether it is Cobb Corner or Cobbs Corner (employment cluster) • Comment that Canton’s construction industry is actually very high-paying high-tech jobs related to construction • Discussion that despite almost a 1:1 jobs to residents ratio in Canton, 95% of people who live in Canton commute elsewhere to work and vice versa, which greatly aggravates the traffic situation • Discussion about The Block Corporate Campus, Route 138, and the need for shuttles of all types (private employer shuttles, town shuttles, etc.) • Desire to start referring to The Block Office Campus by its current name, and not refer to it as the former Reebok campus • Reference the focus areas at the very end of the section on repurposing underutilized properties (Draper) • Discussion that Canton Association of Business and Industry is a logical partner in supporting shuttles Connect • General agreement with Town Planner comments, additionally… • Group really liked the idea of multiuse paths as a way to increase East-West connectivity • Liked all the helpful graphics in this section • In the section on connecting new development with existing places, item #2 – the group wanted more discussion about the
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reasons to ensure parking regulations are consistent with town goals (e.g. not too much, not too little) besides promoting alternative modes of transportation, there are land value and environmental impacts that go with parking, etc. • Item #3, specifically reiterate the need for directly facilitating shared parking agreements for downtown Canton (not just policy change to allow for it) • Local transit options might also include the BAT bus from Cobb Corner to Brockton • Details on the 716 bus should include the need for improvements to its quality and frequency of service. As a private contractor to the MBTA, one isn’t able to use a Charlie Card to ride it, which becomes a barrier to use, especially to those who receive subsidized Charlie Cards. Also, the shuttle doesn’t run frequently enough or in concert with the commuter rail, making it an unreliable option for first/last mile connection • Reiterated the need for shuttles and the lack of transport in the Pleasant, Rte 138 areas • Talked about emerging technologies like Electric Vehicles, and siting charging stations (will be in another section of plan) • Emphasized the need for traffic calming, especially around schools (Safe Routes to School program bullet #1) • Reiterated that there is a suburban mobility working group with the Neponset Valley TMA working on regional transit and mobility issues • Need to check the link on page 18, since it didn’t go through (Commute.com website down?) • Group was a little more skeptical about a rail trail as a viable way to increase east-west connectivity (would only really work with Stoughton line), but said to keep it in as an exploratory item Next meetings • August 27th will be the last meeting • There are a lot of chapters left for review, so the committee will be getting homework of a chapter a week to review and comment on and send to Town Planner (to forward to consultants); That will streamline the discussion on the 27th • Group agreed to schedule a longer meeting for the 27th – to start at 6pm and go to 9pm • Chris Kushel (MAPC) will be at the 27th meeting to discuss Canton Junction study and zoning options