[Massplanners] Some MBTA Communities Questions

[Katrina O'leary]

Hi Chris,
I'm interested in seeing the responses.  I'm also wondering if there are any other communities that reacted with a "hell no" when presented with the Draft Guidelines.  It took effort to persuade our Select Board to even submit the Community Information Form.  Unless something gives, I don't think I will be directed to work on meeting the MBTA guidelines - and as a left leaning rule follower - this is difficult for me.  Of course, I can still work to adopt inclusionary zoning, form a housing trust, and improve housing affordability in Middleton, but the MBTA requirements are too overwhelming for a small town with no sewer and lack of drinking water.  I think what also added fuel to the "hell no" fire is that Middleton pays its annual MBTA assessment and yet has no bus, no park and ride lot (but we do have "The Ride" - and it is only defined as an MBTA community because it is adjacent to communities that have buses.

Of course, the reaction to the Draft Guideline presentation may have been the initial knee jerk reaction to the MBTA Community mandate, but I have to choose my battles because I'm spread thin here - and meeting the MBTA requirements seems like it will be an exercise in frustration for me - unless something changes.

Katrina O'Leary, AICP
Middleton Town Planner
195 North Main Street     Middleton, MA   01949     PH: (978)777-8917
When responding, please be aware that the Massachusetts Secretary of State has determined that most email is public record and, therefore, cannot be kept confidential.

From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> On Behalf Of Christopher Ryan via MassPlanners
Sent: Tuesday, March 1, 2022 8:52 AM
To: Massplanners Listserv (MassPlanners at masscptc.org) <MassPlanners at masscptc.org>
Subject: [Massplanners] Some MBTA Communities Questions

Hi all

This post is primarily for MBTA Adjacent communities but I welcome input from any MBTA community or other interested party. No doubt most impacted communities are busily pulling together formal comments for the March 31 deadline. So my first question relates to that:

Q: What specific issues or criteria is your community focusing on related to your comments and how are you phrasing your comments? Are you proposing any alternatives or modifications?

Next, I assume particularly for smaller communities with little capacity that you may be interested in taking advantage of the assistance that may be available. So...

Q: What kind of technical assistance are you thinking about now? Is it one of the options suggested in outreach materials such as MHP, RPA's, etc. or are you thinking about something else?

Related to public engagement...I know this can be a double edged sword.

Q: How to you envision engaging the public during this process? Do you want them to "drive the bus", "keep them informed", or something in between?

Finally, we're interested in whether communities are (1) interested in "just getting something done" and either living with that or using it for breathing room to later develop something more complex and thoughtful, or (2) right up front looking to be creative and engaging in the development of something that would truly be "great planning"...so

Q: What kind of solution or solutions do you think you will proceed with? Will you try to integrate this into other initiatives or develop something from scratch? Are you considering mixed-use? Will you try to develop a complementary inclusionary housing bylaw? What is your approach?

I know there is a lot to unpack here. We'd welcome responses on just one of these areas in depth.  We'd also love to hear from communities who may want to work collaboratively on any issue in this area.

Thanks in advance...

Chris R.

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Christopher J. Ryan, AICP
Director of Community and Economic Development
Town of Harvard
13 Ayer Road
Harvard, MA  01451
Tel: 978.456.4100 x.323
Email: cryan at harvard-ma.gov<mailto:cryan at harvard-ma.gov>
Web: http://www.harvard-ma.gov<http://www.harvard-ma.gov/>

**Please note new email address and domain as of 9/1/21
email is now cryan at harvard-ma.gov<mailto:cryan at harvard-ma.gov>. Please change in your
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