Comprehensive Plan - staff report - 6-24-10 (all) — File 189817

Mark Alston-Follansbee Jim Monagle Thomas Bent Alan Moore Paul Bockelman Elizabeth Moroney Ron Bonney Steve Mulder Brian Brady Charlie Munitz Brandy Brooks Ron Newman Jack Connolly Sean O'Donovan Helen Corrigan Scott Pollack David Dahlbacka Mary Regan Stuart Dash Ellin Reisner Ben Echevarria Paulette Renault-Caragianes Jo-Ann Fontano Alyssa Rosen Herb Foster Rick Rossetti Jim Gallager Barbara Rubel Richard Graf Rebecca Schrumm Mimi Graney Bill Shea Jim Harvey Jean Sideris Donna Haynes Naomi Slagowski Maryann Heuston Kimberly Smith Cofield Eliza Johnston Dan Stachurski Jerry Laurentano Adam Sweeting Jen Lawrence Erika Tarlin Dana LeWinter Anne Tate Mike Libby Peter Tsourianis Marty Martinez Heather Van Aelst Charlie McKenzie Linda Vitiello Debra McLaughlin Don Warner Lynn McWhood Wig Zamore Ray Zonghetti Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee

COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROCESS MAP Communication with Stakeholders Visioning Kickoff Event & “Trends” Discussions Final Plan Approval Drafting of Comprehensive Plan Document Goals, Policies & Actions Enact Implementation Plan April - October 2009 November 2009 - January 2010 February - October 2010 October - December 2010

Community Visioning Sessions

Somerville Vision Statement 2010-2030 In Somerville, We: Value the diversity of our people, cultures, housing, and economy. Foster the unique character of our residents, neighborhoods, hills and squares, and the strength of our community spirit as expressed in our history, our cultural and social life, and our deep sense of civic engagement. Invest in the growth of a resilient economic base that is centered around transit, generates a wide variety of job opportunities, creates an active daytime population, supports independent local businesses, and secures fiscal self-sufficiency. Promote a dynamic urban streetscape that embraces public transportation, reduces dependence on the automobile, and is accessible, inviting and safe for all pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders. Build a sustainable future through strong environmental leadership, balanced transportation modes, engaging recreational and community spaces, exceptional schools and educational opportunities, improved community health, varied and affordable housing options, and effective stewardship of our natural resources. Commit to continued innovation and affirm our responsibility to current and future generations in all of our endeavors: business, technology, education, arts, and government.

    SomerVision Comprehensive Plan 2010‐2030 ‐ Draft Goal Statements    Neighborhoods Sub‐Committee    Quality of Life  Foster vital, healthy, inclusive, and distinctive urban neighborhoods that are the best possible places to  live, work, do business, learn, serve, and play.    Civic Engagement  Engage community members in civic life and decision‐making, seeking diverse representation and  participation.    Neighborhood Centers  Strengthen and support neighborhood commercial centers that integrate residential uses, offer lively  destinations and contribute to Somerville’s unique identity.    Neighborhood Businesses  Protect and promote a diverse and interesting mix of small‐scale businesses integrated into the  neighborhood fabric.    Neighborhood Character  Preserve and enhance the character of Somerville’s neighborhoods, enable sensitive, economically  feasible maintenance and adaptive reuse of historic buildings, and respect neighborhood form and  patterns while expanding Somerville’s architectural legacy.    Neighborhood Infill   Facilitate transit‐oriented, neighborhood infill development when it enhances the lively, human‐scaled  and walkable character of Somerville blocks and neighborhoods.    Environment  Improve our shared neighborhood environmental quality.    Safety and Accessibility  Ensure that Somerville’s streets and public spaces are safe and accessible.    Transportation & Infrastructure Sub‐Committee    Mass Transit  Create a mass transit network accessible to all parts of the city and to all users, with innovative physical  and informational improvements that allow for easy use and seamless intermodal connections.    Alternative Transportation – Transportation and Lifestyle  Increase active and alternative transportation options, reduce congestion and promote workplace‐based  policies and incentives for mode choice, work hours, and employment location.    Bikes and Pedestrians  Expand bike and pedestrian culture by transforming existing infrastructure to add accommodations for  all bicyclists and pedestrians, resulting in safe, accessible and well‐connected networks.    Roads/Transportation Network 

Use technology and infrastructure improvements to balance the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, private  vehicles, and mass transit, reduce congestion and pollution, decrease road space dedicated to private  automobiles, and unlock economic development potential, while having a fiscally sound road  maintenance program.    Parking  Manage parking supply and demand in a flexible, rational and innovative manner, to balance  transportation, economic development and residential goals.    Highways, Bridges, Rail Right‐of‐Ways  Connect the city: retrofit, redesign, and build, as necessary, roads, bridges, paths and rights‐of‐way to  improve transportation networks and link neighborhoods and commercial centers within Somerville and  beyond.    Water  Provide a safe, high quality, potable water system that is well maintained and financially solvent,  provides incentives to customers to use water judiciously, and accommodates the future growth needs  of the city.    Sewer / Stormwater  Improve stormwater and wastewater management systems to increasingly separate storm water and  sewerage, limit runoff from entering the wastewater system, eliminate combined sewer overflows, and  provide for desired levels of future growth.     Green Infrastructure  Maximize environmental sustainability in design and implementation of all infrastructure systems and  public facilities.    Other Utilities  Ensure the infrastructure for all utilities is sufficient in capacity and quality, of the best available  technologies, has redundancy, and supports the desired level of future growth.    Commercial Corridors, Squares & Growth Districts Sub‐Committee    Financial Self‐Sufficiency  Promote municipal financial self‐determination and reduce fiscal dependence on state aid and  residential taxes and fees.    Job Development  Make Somerville a regional employment center with a mix of diverse and high quality jobs.    Business Environment  Support a business‐friendly environment to attract and retain a diverse mix of businesses that can start  here, grow here and stay here.    Human Capital  Invest in the talents, skills and education of people to support growth and provide opportunities to  residents of all social and economic levels.     Draft – 6/24/10  Page 2 

  Connectivity  Link our corridors, squares and growth districts to support future development and economic activity.       Transformative Development  Transform key opportunity areas, such as Assembly Square, Inner Belt, Brickbottom, Boynton Yards, and  the southeastern portion of Union Square into dynamic, mixed‐use and transit‐oriented districts that  serve as economic engines and compliment the neighborhoods of Somerville.    Commercial Reuse & Infill   Facilitate thoughtfully designed, pedestrian‐oriented mixed‐use development and reuse opportunities in  commercial corridors, squares and around transit stations that are sensitive to neighborhood context,  and serve existing and future residents and businesses.    Housing Sub‐Committee    Housing Choice  Preserve and expand an integrated mix of safe, affordable and environmentally sound housing options  for households of all types and from diverse social and economic groups.    Mixed‐Use Transit‐Oriented Development  Promote mixed‐use, mixed‐income transit‐oriented development at strategic locations to provide new  housing and employment options.    Resources and Capacity  Expand financial, organizational, programmatic, and other resources available for housing.    Homelessness  Create a diversity of programs and benefits that prevent homelessness and address the housing needs  of the homeless.     Displacement  Mitigate displacement of low and moderate income residents by retaining the existing affordable  housing stock and by creating policies that allow residents to remain in their homes in the face of a  changing city.    Community Resources Sub‐Committee    Creative Community  Increase the recognition of Somerville as a center of arts and creativity.    Creative Spaces  Ensure that Somerville has a mix of spaces for performance and exhibition and that arts are  incorporated into the built environment.    Cultural Institutions  Help local arts and cultural institutions, such as theatres, museums and libraries succeed, network and  grow.    Draft – 6/24/10  Page 3 

Draft – 6/24/10  Page 4  Education  Strengthen existing education programs, and university and professional partnerships within Somerville  schools.    Waterfront  Approach our waterfronts as a regional ecological resource, balancing community access and ecological  health.    Public Spaces  Design and maintain a healthy and attractive public realm that fosters community connection.    Parks and Recreation  Create and program a network of vibrant public open spaces and shared use paths throughout the city  that are multi‐purpose, promote healthy living, and reflect changing recreational interests and cultural  opportunities.