001and Greavves. I am a select board member and I am also one of the select board members on the comprehensive plan committee and tonight we are here to discuss a second theme. Uh this is going to be theme four for the comprehensive plan. If you attended the first session that we had back last week on Monday, some of this information will be repeat, but I just want to get it out there because I do expect us to have new people every session. And so we're again, some of it may be repeat. There'll be some other information in some of the future forums. And just a reminder as you're joining us, this is theme four. On Thursday of this week, we are having theme two. And then next Monday, we are having theme three. Uh so
002if you have questions, you'll have an opportunity. Um and again, you can go check out the full draft plan, go to the ashenmass.com website. You can click on the draft plan and you can follow along that way as well as we'll be talking through things here. Um you should be able to see them in Zoom. Uh again, we are still letting some people in, so I'm going to wait one more second to really get into any of the meat of it. Uh thank you those uh we have a few people here in person. We have a a number of people joining us online and I greatly appreciate that as well as the members of the comprehensive plan appreciate you coming and participating and giving us your insight. Okay, so we're going to get started. Again,
003as I said, this is a forum for Envision Ashland. And Envision Ashland is the plan name of the comprehensive plan. It's a 10-year plan. It's going to take us from 2025 to 2035. uh through our process we've had a lot of engagement and worked with a lot of different people and a comprehensive plan is basically our roadmap and we are looking it as a flexible roadmap. It's going to take us through different projects and different plans and different things to help keep moving Ashlin forward in the direction that the residents want it to move. We had a lot of engagement from different people and this comprehensive plan is going to some of the things that we focused on is what forces have shaped our community over time and that was discussed over this two-year process.
004What makes our town unique today? And that was a great conversation. And then how should our town move forward in the next 10 years? And again, some of these things are things we're already doing, but it's how can we keep moving them forward? Next, we talk about our vision, priorities, and pathways. And when you do a comprehensive plan, there are specific things that you have to review in your plan per the state bylaws. And they are housing, economic development, natural, historic and cultural resources, open space and recreation, public services and facilities, transportation and circulation, and land use. And Ashland has also decided to add sustainability. and how can sustain sustainability be attached to all of these core themes that are necessary. So we had our vision and our pathways to that and the tree sort
005of tells us it started with the comments and things and then our vision and then our goals and strategies are the branches and the leaves imagining Ashlin's future. We had talked about what are the five things that matter most and uh these then turned into our five core themes. Building and enhancing community, promoting long-term sustainability, guiding development that honors open space and conservation, enhancing town services and economic development, and creating a connected and accessible community. So these these things these are the core values that have we then turned into our five themes. We had a lot of community engagement early on and that's why we're coming back out to the public to make sure we got it right to say that okay did we hear you from the meetings in the boxes that happened from
006the surveys that happened from the event that we had during a holiday stroll down here downstairs here at town hall. Did we get your input and and did it make sense and did we take all that input um and get it right? So we through their input we created a community vision statement and this reads Ashland is a diverse inclusive community that honors and preserves its small town charm, its rich history and open space. The town features vibrant and sustainable neighborhoods with exceptional schools and aesthetically pleasing public and private spaces for living, learning, working, aging, shopping, and playing. Ashlin's reimagining of land use priorities prioritizes the creation of safe, walkable, bikable, and multimotal transportation options to address the needs of its growing population and enhances community connectivity and provides well-maintained accessible recreation amenities. Um, so
007at our last session, we uh talked about these connectivity things. If you didn't get to participate in that session, you can go on to WACA TV and you can watch it. And if you have feedback on themes one and five, which is what we had last Monday, please reach out and submit those comments andor questions. So again, our five core themes based on our values. Building and enhancing community, promoting long-term sustainability, guiding development that honors open space and conservation, enhancing town services and economic development, and creating a connected and accessible community. And at these forums, we're not looking for specific input on these five goals. I think um what we're looking more for is your input as we go into the goals and strategies that we have done to create these five goals and to
008support these five goals moving forward because there was a lot of discussion on the verbiage for these five cores for these five themes. So tonight is theme four enhancing town services and economic development. Uh so how we're going to go through this is we're um going to talk about each page and then we will open it up for questions or comments or discussions. Um I will say this beforehand we had a lot of discussion about implementation of this plan at our last forum and I will say this that these what we're talking about and what we're showing in the plan are the goals and strategies how we could potentially get to our goal that we have for this 10-year plan. It does not talk about how we're going to do it. It does not talk
009about how we're going to fund it. uh it doesn't talk about who is going to be doing this yet. That will be part of the implementation process and there's been discussion of is it a committee, is it staff? I believe we're getting to a point where it's going to be some kind of hybrid because a lot of this does need staff input to accomplish it. But we also know here in Ashland, we have a lot of volunteers who accomplish a lot of things. So, if we can create some kind of hybrid model where it's mostly volunteers and staff and then as we need more staff, we can bring them in. But that'll be discussed and finalized at the comprehensive plan meeting that's happening on Thursday, September 25th, I believe. No, 24th 18. I'm completely off.
010Thursday, September 18th. Okay, on we go. enhancing town services and economic development. So the main theme and goal Ashen will improve and expand public services including quality public school and recreation assets as well as promote local and small business opportunities to ensure a vibrant community and high quality of life. So one of the things we've talked about and we're looking for your input, how can we measure success? So one is number of commercial or mixeduse projects approved, vacancy rates and square footage of unused commercial and industrial space. Tax revenue from commercial and industrial uses. Tax revenue from local meals tax. Number of town permitting application processes transition to more accessible digital submissions or online virtual platforms. Investment in recreation and public facility upgrades. percentage of households serve served by public water and sewer. Water quality
011measurements of recreational areas and percentage of recreation recreation facilities compliant with ADA standards. And again, these are potential ways of measuring how we've how we've uh impacted this goal. One of the strategies and this is considered a high priority is revise fee structure so private developers are contributing to cost of increased wastewater needs and consider options for a local wastewater facility or connection with the MWR. Um so a lot of this if you're someone who pays attention you understand what that means but I'm going to quickly say so right now Ashland has its own wastewater treatment plant. I'm sorry. We have our own water plant. So, we have our own water. We do have what's called an emergency connection to the MWR. So, if we get, excuse me, if we get low in our water
012levels, we have the ability to add this emergency to turn on the emergency connection to add to our water needs if necessary. Unless you have a sept, unless you have your own septic system, you are attached to town sewer. Our town sewer leaves Ashland, goes through Framingham, and goes all the way to Deer Island. Um, some people have said, "Do we want to have our own wastewater treatment plant?" So, so that's just a little history for that item. Um, we won't get into all be able to get into all the history tonight, but that's just one because it was identified as a high priority project. Um, okay, we'll move on. Goal 4A, uh, promote a vibrant and economically thriving downtown that attracts small businesses and increases community foot traffic. Strategy 41A, create and implement a
013time be a town beautifification plan that combines both public and private investment in publicly accessible spaces. Work with work with groups such as but not limited to the Ashlin Business Association, the design review committee, the Greenup Ashlin Committee, the Garden Club, and downtown businesses and property owners to coordinate volunteer support. And then some possible priorities for that beautifification locations based on public input. So again, this is what when we look to the public for some input. Police station, Montenegro Square, Oak Street, Civville Road, the Marathon Route, Railroad Crossing downtown, Tilton Cherry and Mungo Streets, Mil Pond, Elliot Street 126, and the roundabout near Shaw, Pleasant Street, Kids Spot at Stone Park, Route 126 downtown, and Olive Street. These are just some of the ones that have been identified. Does not mean these are the only
014ones, but these are just some of them related to strategy 41A. Strategy 4 A2 create a dedicated fund for downtown beautifification, community events, and infrastructure impro improvements. explore funding mechanisms such as district improvement financing, diff to capture and reinvent a portion of downtown tax revenue from new development in the area. Strategy 4 A3, explore allowing marijuana businesses in Ashlin to increase local tax revenue. Consider asking voters at town meeting and on a local ballot whether to allow new types of marijuana businesses such as cannabis cafes, licenses for existing businesses, and cultivation to help local businesses grow and bring in new revenue for the town. Strategy 4. A4 explore allowing boutique hotels or other smallcale lodging options to increase local tax revenue. Consider zoning changes or other regulatory updates to allow local lodging near downtown or
015other key areas. Strategy 4 A5 increase the AI in increase the visibility of the recurring outreach campaign around the interestf free loan financing program and the business incentive grant program to increase community awareness of existing support mechanisms for starting or expanding businesses in Ashland and conduct regular evaluations to ensure the program's effectiveness. Okay, we're not we're gonna stop on this one. Um, I'm gonna ask if you have any questions or comments or concerns about goal 4A to go ahead uh and raise your hand. Um, and again, we're specifically talking about this goal, promoting a vibrant and economically thriving downtown that attracts small businesses and increases community foot traffic. Okay, I see one hand raised. Uh, we'll start. Mark Don, go ahead and unmute yourself, please. >> Good evening. And do I have to go through
016the introduction, everything? >> No, we know who you are, Mark. You're good. >> Okay. I want to um comment on strategies 4 A2 and 4 A5. >> Okay. >> It Okay. Okay. And um to um dedicate funds for downtown vification and district improvement finances. Does does the um the state meals tax have anything to do with what this is going to help with? >> No. These are two different these are two new programs. This is not part of our meals tax program. >> Right. the district improvement financing is a new mechanism um as well as trying to determine what funds we can use for downtown. >> Okay. So, and still with strategy 482 is the uh community event infrastructure improvements businesses that's in town now which now I'll go down I'll go down to strategy
017485 for this one. >> Okay. increase the visibility occur outreach campaign around the interest rate loans. What constitutes title businesses to be to have those loans approved and brought into this town? >> Right. So right now that is a program that is done through our um economic development office and they have a they created this program to allow businesses to get loans to help them do certain kinds of um work on their facade or it has helped bring businesses into town by giving them some loans uh as well as funding to help either do buildout or create improve their signage or improve their parking. So right now it's it's done with with um information through our economic development offices. So we're hoping they're looking for ways to maybe increase that. So as businesses come into
018town or want to come into town, we make sure they get them that that information. So for the business that want to come into town, they would have a chance to talk to our economic director and and then see what they can talk into and what they can actually bring to the town. >> Correct. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Okay, >> Evan, go ahead and unmute yourself, please. >> Hi there. Thanks. Um just a quick comment on the um slide that was before this. That was the measurement criteria. >> Yeah. >> Um more more just a potential something suggestion or thought. Um the number one there is number of commercial or mixed use projects approved. I wonder whether there's utility in um one of the measurements being something farther sort of up
019the funnel in terms of number of commercial or mixed use projects that are I don't know what the right term is initiated inquired about engaged which might help sort of see whether interest is rising even if they don't manifest in a in a project that's in that's that comes to fruition and and whether that might help track sort of the difference between um whether there's things sort of slowing down something becoming reality from from inquiry. >> I think that's a that's a great a um a great suggestion. Um yeah, we can certainly tweak number one to say either we can add the initiation process and then through approval. Uh but yeah, I think that's a great suggestion. Thank you for that. We will add it to our notes and review it with our consultant and
020the committee. >> Great. Thanks. >> Any other thoughts? No, not just now. >> Okay, great. Thanks for being here. >> Joan, go ahead and unmute yourself. >> Yes, Joan Friday um Shore Road Ashland and I'm on the historical commission, but speaking as an independent person, um I would be honestly against um using marijuana businesses for revenue. Um, I feel that there is no real way to test for mariju marijuana impairment and I'm concerned that um there are so many um businesses already in Massachusetts that it might not be a viable um economic um help and that it would it would could create problems for public safety etc. >> Okay. >> Um my other concern is 485 which is loans to businesses. Um, as long as there's a payback if a business goes out of business,
021I think that's a great help. Um, and and I'd be definitely for that. Um, I would be I would be in favor of more in favor of helping with rent, etc. that would make businesses financially viable. Um, I think for or or I guess what I'm trying to say is making um development financially viable for businesses. I think um one of the problems that I understand is at the mill buildings is that the rents are are so low that it's not financially viable to keep businesses there. And that's a big concern because we're losing a lot of economic um businesses there. And um I'm not sure how that would work, but those are my thoughts. >> Great. Well, thank you for those suggestions, Joan. Greatly appreciate that. Um, so just that you know, I know
022that for the um the loan program, there is a rep repayment program in place. Um, because 4 A5 is something that we're already doing. We're just trying to improve and increase that. >> Okay. All right. Great. Thank you. I wasn't sure about that. Appreciate it. >> You're welcome. Kate, here. Sorry, I forget. Um the goal is to promote vibrant and thriving um foot traffic, but the focus is sort of beautifification. And I believe depending on the definition of that, like it I'm just making up to say you had like little picnic tables around and canopies, you're not in the sun, and then you're encouraging people to come and that. But if it's just uh kind of maybe a typical definition of beautifification of some flowers um and plantings, I think everyone we heard that loud
023and clear um as a as a easy easy thing to do in the U meeting in a box, but I I feel like the beautifification if it has a narrow definition is not meeting that goal. So we might want to look at >> Okay, that's a great suggestion. Good. Thank you for that. Okay. Uh, anyone else have any comments on this page of information? I am not seeing any. So, we're going to move on to the next one. Goal 4B. This has quite a few strategies. So, uh, we'll go through this. invest in adaptable public facilities and infrastructure such as Ashlin schools, the Ashlin Public Library, water and sewer infrastructure, and broadband to meet the needs of a growing and diverse population and ensure long-term readiness for new development. Strategy 4 B1, expand resident involvement
024in capital improvement planning for transparency and engagement. Strategy 4B2, expand capacity for providing early childhood education while seeking to limit municipal budget impacts. Strategy 4B3, continue to make necessary accessibility upgrades to public facilities based on the town's 2021 ADA self-evaluation and transition plan and utilize funding from the Mass Office on disability. Strategy 4B4. Create an athletic fields working group to assess ongoing fields availability. Identify future needs. Explore large parcels to recommend for purchase and renovation to add new field space. And guide equitable maintenance and management. Strategy 45. Expand and improve parking options in key areas such as downtown Ashlin State Park and along Route 126. Evaluate opportunities for public lots or garages, including townowned sites near downtown, like the former police station and 80 Cherry Street, as well as the purchase of private parcels. Consider
025adding electric vehicle charging stations, paid parking, or time limits where appropriate. If new lots are built, ensure safe, accessible walking, and transit connections to nearby destinations. Strategy 4 B six. Revise fee structures to private developers are cont so so private developers are contributing to cost of increased wastewater needs and consider options for a local wastewater facility. Whoops. Hold on. Wastewater facility to or connection with the MWR. Um this should be strategy 4B7. Increase municipal funding to expand recreational recreation and commercial offerings at public spaces to promote adaptable and flexible use of these spaces. And strategy 4B8 undertake a comprehensive townwide culvert assessment to evaluate condition, prioritize repairs and upgrades, and address areas of flooding concern. Um so the reason 4B6 is in blue because that is considered a priority uh goal based on input from
026just the comprehensive plan committee and again it was only part of the comprehensive plan committee. Okay. So those of you are in the audience think about these strategies. How do they feel or what do you think about them? Should anything be tweaked? Do you have any questions about any of them? And we can review that now. Oh, there we go. Mark, go ahead. >> Okay, thank you. >> I'm looking at strategy um 4 before for the athletic warfare working group. >> Yep. >> We have we had that group in town before and >> they got disbanded. >> Correct. before they actually before I actually got anything really completed and progress for future needs. Um, what I'm looking at this this one for is the uh the uses by not just high school and youth and
027league stuff like that. But the yearly unavailability when it comes into the winter when they're outdoor fields especially because the weather is would not would not help what is for outside. So inside is is non fields. So is this going to be creative here working in the group direct access. Is it a going to be a year long or is this just going to be uh just seasonal for purposes? My understanding is the idea behind this was to make this a an ongoing committee that would look at our fields. And as you said, there was a fields working group early on um back when we were building the high school and as we were renovating the what's now the middle school, when we put the turf fields in at the middle school because it was
028the high school at the point. There was a committee in place. Once the high school fields were built, they lasted about another year or two and then the people who were on the committee unfortunately felt like they didn't they couldn't um give the time for it. So the work was brought back into the schools and the town uh general government and now there's a push again for a committee that can look at the needs of the community. Um we've been hearing people say we need more fields. So I think my understanding of this and again this will be reviewed by who whatever the implementation group is. This would be a um an a a standing committee that would look at fields would look at how they're being used would look at when they need to
029be rested and things like that. >> Okay. Great. John D, go ahead and unmute yourself. >> How you doing? It's good to hear your voice. >> Hey John. Uh, John Dudley, chestnut suit, Ashlin. Um, I'm curious the I don't know how much you got into 4B6 and whether the committee kind of dug into the existing fee structure at all. Are you familiar with that or is that statements? >> The committee did not dig into this. I think it was thought of because of some of the needs that the community has. Um, we heard from people how can we do some of these things? So, this is a strategy that was created to see what we can do here. This is not we're not saying we're going to start this right away. Um, it's something that
030it's to look at and potentially revise and and ask private developers to help support the needs of the community. >> Okay, I got it. So, it's like uh you're basically prioritizing looking into it and seeing whether it's a a fair cost share, right? >> Correct. like the the my reaction just in general is anybody because a couple of the slides before and some of the goals in this are if you're if we're trying to incentivize people to invest in the town, we have to be super careful not to have really major hurdles for people to do so. So I think some of these goals are obviously um the town just us funding things and paying more which obviously has got to come from somewhere >> but when you're expecting something to happen later like even
031the um Otic Hotel um example before >> we uh we we can do a lot of these by um you know that they're going to be users of this but I think people might not be aware you know the project we're looking at at 55 West has over a $200,000 connection fee so it's like >> right >> and like where is this math coming from? So, I'm just I'm more cautioning um because obviously it doesn't sound like you're there yet, but yeah, definitely look into it. It makes sense to me, but people have to not think that that automatically is going to result in an increase. It may actually be a decrease in some of these developments, >> right? >> And and we have to balance that with um people they won't develop things if
032the deficit doesn't financially make sense. Of course. I mean, and that's one of the conversations that will have to be had is how can we do how can we work with private developers, make it enticing to come to Ashlin, but also so that the not there's no extra burden on the residents that are already here. >> Yeah. >> Great. Okay. >> I like that boat. I like that boutique hotel. >> Uh, any other comments, John? >> No, that's it. Thanks. >> Okay. Great. Thanks for being here. Um, Connor, we lost our front screen. I mean, we're we're still connected via Zoom, but um okay, Joan, go ahead and unmute yourself, please. >> Um yes, Junan Friday again, on Shore Road. Um I would definitely um agree with the need to assess the runoff to our
033water areas. And I I live on Lake Wikum and um I think there's um there are runoffs into the lake that are causing major problems and I'm sure all the other water areas in the town have the same kinds of issues. Um, so I think that's something that really needs to be assessed before we lose our before we lose our our our water um recreation and and areas. Um, I would have a little bit different idea on the private development um incentives. Um, I do think that it's we it it is incumbent on developers to pay their fair share. There's there there's a balance between what the town can do, what what it can support, and what and what a developer brings into it. And I think that if they're going to bring in a
034reasonable amount of development, then they need to help with a reasonable amount of support for our infrastructure. And um I'm I'm not sure how that works and how that how we make that financially viable. Maybe the development is a little bit less so that the response is a little bit less on on what the town needs to support. Um but I think it really needs to be looked at seriously because the town can we're losing our infrastructure, we're losing our water, sewer, um you know, our public safety is going to be maxed out, our schools are going to be maxed out. And um it's it's I think a real serious concern for the um for the viability of Ashland and for the um for the ability for people to stay in Ashland. So those are
035my thoughts. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. Thank you for that input, Joan. And I would just say to everyone, everything we're talking about here as we go to move them forward, it's a discussion. It's a discussion between all the residents and all, you know, the people who are involved and who who want to see Ashlin move forward in a positive way. These are just potential goals and potential strategies to get us to where we want Ashlin to be within the next 10 years. But thank you all for that input. Okay, we are going to move on if I see no other hands or comments for this page. Goal 4 C, enhance recreational assets and improve water quality and access at water-based recreational areas. Strategy 4C1, make the former Girl Scout camps site available for
036public use and access. Strategy 4C2, identify priority areas and actions to improve and expand public's access to water bodies as part of the next open space and recreational plan update. Strategy 4 C3, partner with Framingham and local stakeholders to improve water quality and enhance recreational access at Washikum Pond. Strategy 4C4, work with the Sus Sudbury Asabet River Stewardship Council to plan for improved recreational access to the Sudbury River and nearby reservoirs with a focus on existing access points near Fountain Street. Strategy 4C5, conduct a community engagement process to develop a vision for the aggregate quarry site in advance of the town taking ownership in 2027. In the visioning process, consider community priorities like additional sports fields, playgrounds, and Ashlin State Park access. Strategy 4C6, ensure that all paid playgrounds and athletic fields are compliant with
037the Americans with Disabilities Act according to the priorities in the Open Space and Recreation Plan. Strategy 4C7, advocate to state agencies to support the improvement of water quality and recreational use of water bodies in Ashland. So, a lot of things related to water as well as recreational areas. So, if anyone has comments or questions um about these goals and strategies, Mark, go ahead. Unmute, please. >> Yeah, that would be good of me to do that. Um, I'm looking at strategy 4C3 and 4C5. Number three, this this one with the U partner with Frammingham, the local stakeholders to improve Shikum that's been going on for over a couple years and it doesn't seem to be complete yet. So, what will this go strategy do for that? and 4C5. I I I want to ask that question
038first. 4C3 about Wikum and 4C5. I got >> Well, sure. I I can respond to 4C3. You are correct. We have been doing some work already with Washikum. We have partnered with Framingham to deal with some of the invasive species that are in the pond um that have been making it difficult for people to use it. But I also think it's the idea of how can we improve some of the recreational access to Washikum. you know, is it possible to allow people from Ashlin to access via the Framingham Framingham side that has a beach and and work with our local local stakeholders, right? It's not just Ashlin that that's going to be able to improve the quality of Washikum. We have to work with Framingham as well as the other organizations that could help us
039do it. So, that would be 4C3. And then your question on 4C5 >> is for the for the question I'm asking because it's called the quarry site to me seems to be a very questionable area to hard to put a vision for community priorities and the state park access the quarry site is an industrial place industrial own south street that has all different sort of for chemicals, dirt and and things that are not exactly fresh aired. So why was the quarry um talked about and put in this go for scene? >> Well, because this goal talks about incr enhancing recreational assets and the quarry because of where it sits, it butts up to the Ashlin State Park. It's also on the same street as the current boat ramp for the state park and at some
040point right now it's targeted in 2027. The property of the quarry will be given there's an agreement that it comes to the town of Ashland. So the goal here is as we know that this property is coming rather than waiting to have it, how can we start discussing what the possibilities are of what we can do with that property? there's going to be a big hole right where the quarry is. And for people who are not familiar where the quarry is because unless you go down South Street or you've walked along it, you might not realize uh on the south side of the Ashlin State Park along South Street there is a quarry. It's been there for a long time. They built they pull out rocks and they turn it into all kinds of different
041things. Um, and the company that owns it, I believe it's Trount, has said that the town of Ashen is going to get that property. Um, a couple things that have been discussed, and again, this is no, there is no plans for anything yet. Um, could we do our own wastewater treatment plant there? Is that something viable? Could we turn this into recreation area? Right. Can we take the quarry and make it so that it's available for mountain biking or just extra hiking? um it's at adjacent to to and nearby the Girl Scout property. How can we connect potentially these two properties and do something there? So this the the comprehensive plan committee said, "Okay, rather than waiting until we have the property, are there people who can get together to really understand what's there and
042to try and decide what we can do with the property?" And then we could potentially put it into a budget plan, right? if we say we want to do X, Y, and Z, we could start figuring out how much that might cost the town and then that could be put into that. So again, this is a um a plan, you know, to start having the conversation before we actually acquire a parcel. >> Did that answer your question? >> Last quick last. Yes, it did. And this last quick end of one. >> Okay. Did tribal officials actually say what they will accept what plan is and what they would have put on or is it going to be like a a meeting meetings together to look down the future >> we're still it's still not determined
043exactly what it's going to be. Um I there was all you know my understanding at some point that we were potentially going to get the property sooner and now it's been pushed out to 2027. So this is a moving target. This is a a we're not sure yet what the dis what the disc the you know what the get is what the ask is but we know that at some point the trount property will be coming somehow to the town of Ashland and the comprehensive plan committee felt let's be prepared and have some discussions and decisions whether it's 2027 or maybe it's 2029 but we would at least had the discussions with the community input as to what we think we want to do So safe to say that the quarry of this page here
044with the background of of this of this water land that might be is this a reservoir? >> This is I believe this is the reservoir at Ashlin State Park. >> Let's hope the quarry can come up close to being like that if it comes through. >> Oh no. And I don't I don't think that's what we're trying to do, Mark. I think we're trying to figure out what to do with it. It will never I don't think it will look like this. So, >> anything? >> Okay, good. Any other comments, questions, suggestions about goal 4C? Please, if if you're if you're sitting and participating, I can't quite see how many participants we have. Even if you just have a question, please feel free to um raise your hand and we'll uh call on you and
045we'll take your input and questions. Evan, go ahead. >> Hi there. Thanks. Um, Evan Lavador 70 Blue Jay Lane. Um, I don't know. I know I didn't say it before. Um, that's okay. >> Just just a comment. Um, I know one of the previous uh goals and slides that we were looking at referenced um parking uh opportunity in in in some in the context of whatever it was. I would just um I would just flag that here only because I I know from my experience less less so with things like the state park, but like other uh other outdoor areas and experiences, things like the town forest or some other places or like some walking trails I've been in other nearby towns often have, you know, only a couple of parking spaces available um for
046people to take advantage of those things. So, I would just sort of flag that as we're thinking about um new opportunities for um for recreational areas, making sure that there's enough parking for people to be able to get to them and and take advantage of them is uh a good thing to keep in mind. >> Great. Thank you for that suggestion. I know that there have been conversations of people saying, could we have parking at the quarry in that area and then people could shuttle to the boat launch that's at the state park. So, that's been some of the discussion. >> Um, that's not just our decision because this the boat ramp is owned by the state park and DCR manages that. Um, but again, that is a great comment. Greatly appreciate that. >> Thanks.
047Okay. Any other questions, comments, concerns about what you're seeing on this goal? Okay. Well, that actually covers all the goals for um for our theme four. Um so, we're going to go back a little. I don't have all the strategies up for the other um the other things but I will put it here for the five core themes and again if you are sitting at home watching this you can use the link um either at the on the town website and that will get you to the full draft of the plan and we have plenty of time. So if you are sitting and you either missed the discussion last Monday and you want to go back and look at theme one and theme five and give us suggestions for that or if you are know
048that you're busy on Thursday or next Monday and you want to give us thoughts for any of the other themes now would be a time to do that. Or again, the other thing you can do is if you don't want to say it publicly, um if you'd like to submit those, you can submit those um online and we will take those notes and review them with the full committee. So again, the five core themes, building enhancing community, promoting long-term sustainability, guiding development that honors open space and conservation, enhancing town services and economic development, and creating a connected and accessible community. I'm going to leave it on this page for now. Um, and please raise your hand, ask questions, even if it's just a question that you're not sure what something meant or where something is
049in town. The other thing that are not on here, um, that we're not presenting is each of these themes also have a map related to it as to things that have been identified. Uh unfortunately when I was looking at the maps and creating the presentations they did not carry well to a pro uh uh PowerPoint and this kind of interaction uh because it it had it has the map and then it has the the legend for that map. So again you can go online and look at that. Um and oh we have we have another question. Great. Peter, go ahead. Unmute yourself. >> Hi Peter Will at 21 America Boulevard. I had a question about uh theme five. >> Sure. >> Um let me get back. I'm looking at the plan right now. >> Yep.
050>> Um in the summary, it talks about cultural and community I'm quoting. >> Yeah. >> Cultural and community assets reinforce the importance of accessible public spaces. >> What uh as contemplated by the plan are cultural and community assets? So, cultural and community assets um as recognized by the plan. Cultural would be any of the sculptures that we have around our library. Our library itself would be considered a cultural um asset. Um any of our historic buildings would be considered cultural assets. Community assets are uh Stone Park, the new arboritum that's going in, um town forest, the Ashlin State Park, those are all community assets. I mean, we don't own the Ashton State Park, but we work very closely with DCR. Um, I mean, those are just a handful that I can think of offhand that
051would be considered cultural and community assets. Any of our public buildings, so town hall, uh, all of our schools, um, all of our playgrounds would be that. Does that answer it? And do you have any other questions related? >> That answers it. Thank you. >> You are very welcome and thanks for coming tonight. Okay. Hey, Mark, you have another question. You know what, Mark? I'm gonna hold off on you because someone else who has not had an opportunity yet um has just raised their hand. So, Randy, go ahead and unmute yourself, please. >> Hi, thanks so much. My name's Liz. Um 28 Boulder Hill Lane. Um my husband is Randy. Just could you review just this uh this phase um of of the comprehensive plan uh what's happening now with these forums, these meetings, and
052then what's next, what happens next. >> Sure. >> And sort of just not in great detail, but what things look like? >> Yep. So, we're going forward to fruition in terms of >> actually >> getting it done, >> ending up with a final product. >> Sure. So this is actually the very end of our comprehensive plan process. We started the process about if you could mute >> if you could mute >> Liz. >> Yes. Sorry. >> That's okay. >> I'm just hearing myself back. >> Hearing myself back. >> Okay. So we are actually toward the very end of the comprehensive plan process. We started this plan um two years ago in May of 2023 and we have a committee of about 29 people selected from different committees here in town as well as we did
053a very detailed um uh interview process. We have members uh a resident from each precinct each of the six precincts in town. Uh so the first part of the process we looked at um getting information from people. Our committee members held what was called meeting in a box where you'd get together with anywhere from two to eight people and you'd have conversations. We had surveys out. We did some in in-person here in town hall as well as maybe at the community center input from the residents on priorities and what was important to them. Then we've spent the last probably year 15 months taking all that information and creating this plan that you see before us. And then the next step is having these public forums to get, you know, see if see if we got
054it right from the community. Uh it will then go to this planning board and the select board to a vote to a vote and approve this and then it will go to town meeting in November. I believe it's this third Wednesday in November. It will go to town meeting for a vote. Um and then the next step will be in some type of implementation phase where we haven't decided how that's happening yet, but we will take these goals and strategies and we will start picking on the things that people have determined are priorities. get those things done and then the goal is by the end of the 10 years if we're lucky we've accomplished either most of this or all of this or as we've been doing things with the community we say you know
055what maybe this isn't as important and maybe we're going to put this aside but that's where we're at and that's where we're going. >> Did that answer your question? >> You can speak. >> Yes. Perfect. Thank you very much. appreciate it. >> You are very welcome and thank you for being here. >> Thank you for being here. >> Okay, Mark, >> you need to unmute, please. There you go. >> Yep. Okay. As like all other people on email listings, today I got an email from the content plan committee about the draft plan itself. >> Yep. I open it up, I figure, okay, it's going to say things, not in snapshots, but in paragraphs. But I found out when I turned around the the first first um the first not theme, but the first paragraph, I
056found out it was about 76 pages. >> Oh, it's a very detailed plan. I think it's actually more than 76, >> but yes, it's a very detailed plan. And as a person has gone to these meetings since the beginning, I would like I would like to commend the group and the company that did this and uh because they've been very open, transparent, everybody's been and welcoming people like myself to to say things, speak up and listen and all that that the people who don't go to these meetings may not know exactly what goes into this but it was worth my time to be there to observe to speak and everything. So I was saying the people asking out there if you if you haven't heard about this group you you missed a couple years of
057what is a positive thing coming down the road. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Thank you for those comments Mark. they will get passed on to the committee. John, >> hey there. Um hopefully it's not too late for comments and maybe even a tweak or two. >> So we're we're taking comments. We're we're probably not going to tweak these five goals that we're looking at right now, but the spec the goals and the strategies below it because um as I said in the beginning, this there was a lot of discussion and debate and use of information that came from the community to reach these five goals. Um so we're looking I mean not that we're looking for a rubber stamp certainly not we're looking for the input but more at the the the next level down.
058So, the goals that support each of these um core themes >> and maybe I'll just draw attention to strategy 4B5 um trying to get ahead of the parking that's going to be an issue uh downtown as I'm sure that's probably not a surprise, right? And >> y >> maybe one additional strategy. I don't think it's going to be possible just to accomplish that from um town public, you know, buying private parcels. I think we have to have a strategy that incentivizes some of the private owners to do it potentially with them. >> Okay. we don't really have one and um you know I've tried on a couple of these already as you're probably aware and yeah and I just think people aren't comfortable with the public private thing to begin with and if a private
059land owner um is willing to develop something you got to work through the rights and >> you know who plows who salts who can use it during the day who can tow that kind of thing and I think we got to get super creative because down to every little possible parking spot around you know downtown main street you know Homer a and Stone Park and that even though it's one little paragraph here in here, um I think it's probably one of our biggest issues on the whole thing in the next 10 years as soon as some of this stuff gets built out there. >> Okay, >> that's in the pipeline. So that's all just >> so if we if we were to try and tweak strategy 4 B5, >> do you have any recommendations on
060how we could tweak that? Um basically because a lot of this does guide like the effort and some of the investment later on, right, as some of the subcommittees and it makes its way back into the town. >> The I would say um develop an actual path for private land owners where they can they can do this because anytime I've presented it, they've it kind of freezes everybody. And I don't I don't blame them. It's kind of it can be weird and who has the rights to what and but there's got to be an example out there of other towns as they grew up. Um they had they had something in place where uh a landowner can know if I bring this to the town here's what here's what's going to happen and it's not
061this big nebulous battle every time that they have to spend a bunch of money on have this property they can't even control. But we do have though like I think a good solid path for how we can create more parking in and around downtown. >> Okay. >> So I I don't know how to say it other than uh >> No, I I I appreciate that input and again we'll take that back and and review it because as you said parking can sometimes >> bring um a lot of heated discussions. >> Yeah. It's coming >> with projects. Great. >> Thank you. >> Thanks Todd. >> Okay. going on. Anyone else uh in the audience? And again, um if you're not sure, if you have questions, feel free to raise your hand and ask the questions. This
062is not only about getting input from people, but also informing people. And um it's funny, I always have I there's been some names here of people I don't know, so I'll go back and do this introduction. I'm Yolanda Greavves. I am a member of the Ashlin Select Board. I am sitting in my 13th year as a select board member and uh not my first time trying to create a comprehensive plan. We did one back in probably 0708. We got to a certain point and it sort of just got stopped because it wasn't working well. Um as well as Michael Herbert as our town manager, we as the select board said create a strategic plan. Um that only went so far and then we hit COVID. Um so this is not new. We also have had
063comprehensive plans here in the town of Ashland. And what's really cool is about the last comprehensive plan that we had passed. A lot of it that was in there is getting done or has been done. Um the improvements we're seeing in different places, the additional open space, adding to our town forest, um between the the one um comprehensive plan and also our open space and wck plan, two separate different things. They work together though. Um, a lot of the things that were identified seven, eight years ago in our open space and w plan are things that we're still doing and moving forward with and have accomplished. Um, so again, if you have questions, feel free to reach out now. Um, we have we still have like 33 minutes. Um, but if we're if people are
064done with questions, we might end early, which would be great because this will be my first of three meetings this week. I'm not complaining. I'm just letting you know. Um, so if we decide to end a little early, that would be fine. Um, I'm gonna go I'm going to leave it here again on these core themes of our vision statement. And, um, if anybody has any other questions or comments, please raise your hand. And as Mark said, the full draft is a very detailed document. Um, it'll to get through the whole thing and really read all the detail, it's going to take a little while. This is still in draft form. Uh, as we found out at our last forum, there was some information that had been misinterpreted. So, we have to fix that. As
065we were looking at this, I noticed that there was something that was should have been a four something and it was actually a three. So, those are things that we'll work with our consultant and go and get those fixed. Um, but again, the so today is Tuesday, September 2nd. Hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend. Our next forum is Thursday, September 4th, also from 7 to 8:30. You can find the Zoom link either in the email if you receive the email from the comprehensive plan or it's on the town website on the calendar and um and then our last forum will be on Monday September 8th and that'll be team theme three. All these all this information and input that we receiving from people will get put into notes and brought to our
066consultant. They will evaluate how we can use this, what's the best way, and then at our next comprehensive plan meeting, which is Thursday, September 18th, got it right this time, Thursday, September 18th from 7 to 9. Those happen at the Ashlin Public Library. There's also a Zoom component if you'd like to come and listen either in person or via Zoom to see the discussion. Uh and then I believe probably sometime in October at the either a separate select board and planning board or combined meeting the two boards will support will will review this plan and decide whether or not to support it. Um and is currently scheduled to be on the town meeting warrant for the special fall town meeting uh in November. I believe it's also in the November 18th. Okay. I'm going to
067leave it there. Okay, it is 8 o'clock. I'm going to give it a couple of more minutes. Um, let's see what else can I talk about. I've been known that I can vamp pretty well. Uh, so again, go to the website, look at all these detail. It's it's actually really interesting and our consultant with the help of some town staff and some other people. There's some wonderful pictures in this plan that you know the pictures that all the pictures that you see are of town, different places in town. What I really like about this one and I think it's where is it? This so the picture of the kids walking in the forest. Uh and then on here we have this little drawing when we did a public session, a popup session during the holiday
068stroll. I think it was in 2023, we had a uh we had one room in town hall for adults and then we had a room across the hall that the mom's group, thanks to the mom's group of Ashland, um had stuff for the kids to do so the parents could do what they needed to do. And we had some great drawings. And this is one of the drawings. I guess someone thought it would be really cool if Ashland had its own trash trucks. I don't see that coming anytime soon, but it's still a great picture. Um, so yeah, go ahead and read through the forum and again, if you don't want to ask your question now, you can reach out to the comprehensive plan committee. If you'd like to reach out directly to me, uh,
069my email is greavvesyshandmass.com. I'm a member of the Ashlin Select Board. Um, or if you probably know someone who from our comprehensive plan steering committee. Um, and if you go into the draft, you will see all the members of our comprehensive comprehensive plan steering committee. Okay, unless people in the room think that I need to keep going, I'm not seeing Oh, John. Oh, thank you, John. Um, and full disclosure, John Dudley, who uh did gave us some input, was a previous member of our planning board and is a business owner here in town. So, John, thanks for sitting in. And to everyone else who sat in, thank you as well. Uh, I'm going to take us back to the beginning of this. And if I see no other hands or comments, we're going to wrap
070it up for tonight. Um, select board will be here tomorrow night with their uh, regular scheduled meeting probably from 7 till about 10:00. Uh, we will be back here for our next Envision Ashlin forum on Thursday, September 4th from 7 to 8:30. What do you think? Can we wrap it up? I think so. Thank you all for being here. Uh, and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. Um, and give us your input. We greatly appreciate your thoughts. >> Thank you very much. Great.