Bernardston Master Plan Draft

DRAFT Master Plan for the Town of Bernardston, Massachusetts

The Conway School Hillary Collins, Rachel Lindsay, and Kate O'Brien Winter 2015

D r a f t Ma ster P la n

for the Town of Bernardston, Massachusetts Hillary Collins, Rachel Lindsay, and Kate O’Brien The Conway School

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Winter 2015

Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the following people for their support, guidance, and contributions to this report.

Hugh Campbell, Bernardston’s Town Coordinator, served as the community representative for this project. He prepared reference materials and organized the Master Plan Steering Committee and community meeting logistics. John Lepore, the Chair of the Master Plan Steering Committee, led the initiative to work with the Conway School, conducted a personal tour of the town, and compiled the comments of the committee members for this draft. Eric Almeida, Cris Coffin, Rena Grover, Bill Hill, Ana Kaiser, Peter Shedd, and Barre Tozloski, the members of the Master Plan Steering Committee, met on a regular basis and shared the perspectives of the committees and sectors they represent.

Lou Atherton, President of the Historical Society, generously led an off-season tour of the unheated Historical Museum. Karen Stinchman from Cushman Library offered space to work and access to historical documents.

Many departments, organizations, and individuals contributed information. Thank you to the more than thirty participants in the two community meetings, and to John Lepore, Annette Wadleigh-Mackin, Chris Wysk, Wendy Abramson, Bill Shores, Bill Montiglio, Peter Shedd, Catheryn Thomas, and Mary Leyden, who graciously shared photos.

Mary Praus, Ryan Clary, Jessica Atwood, and Glen Ayers from the Franklin Regional Council of Governments provided previous studies and GIS map layers, and shared their experiences working with the small towns of Franklin County. Doug MacLeay, an environmental engineer in Colrain, shared his expertise working with septic solutions. Molly Babize provided valuable guidance for the master plan process. Glenn Motzkin and Bill Lattrell offered their expertise in local ecology. Mary Praus, Molly Hale, and CJ Lammers gave supportive and constructive criticisms and supplemental information.

Cover photo credit: Rachel Lindsay

Contents Executive Summary.............................................................................................ii 1 Introduction................................................................................................... 1 2 Goals and Vision............................................................................................15 3 Watershed Protection.....................................................................................21 4 Natural and Cultural Resources........................................................................49 5 Land Use.......................................................................................................75 6 Housing (to be completed in 2016)................................................................ 101 7 Transportation (to be completed in 2016)....................................................... 103 8 Services and Facilities (to be completed in 2016)............................................. 105 9 Economic Development (to be completed in 2016)........................................... 107 10 Recommendations...................................................................................... 109 References..................................................................................................... 126 Appendix I Map Data Sources........................................................................... 129 Appendix II Public Involvement........................................................................ 138

The Executive Summary of the first draft of the updated master plan for Bernardston is formatted as a flier that can be used to inform and engage residents of the town during the interim period before the second half of the document is completed.

Contribute to the Future of Bernardston Bernardston is updating the Town’s 1975 Master Plan.

Members of the Master Plan Steering Committee are working with graduate students from the Conway School to review changes in the town since 1975, conduct a public process to identify current issues and goals, and produce a document that records the existing conditions of a town, identifies goals for the future, and recommends actions necessary to reach those goals over the next twenty years. The Master Plan process involves manys stakeholders: Town departments and officials, local organizations and businesses, and citizens. It is an opportunity to become involved in the future of Bernardston.

2016 Master Plan Contents

The Process The Master Plan Process began in January 2015 with ▪ reviewing previous studies and reports;

▪ meeting with town departments, organizations, and stakeholders; and, ▪ conducting two community meetings.

A draft of the first half of the Master Plan was completed in April 2015 and made available to the public for review.

The Master Plan Steering Committee is continuing to gather feedback and comments, and another group of graduate students will join the process in January 2016 to finish the second half of the document.

1. Introduction 2. Community Goals and Vision Completed in 2015 3. Watershed Protection

To be completed in 2016 6. Housing

4. Natural and Cultural Resources

8. Services and Facilities

5. Land Use

9. Economic Development

Goals for Bernardston’s Future, Based on Community Contributions Preserve the Town’s Rural Character. In 2035, Bernardston’s

working farmland and forests that continue to create the scenic quality that many residents value also provide local food, maintain a healthy watershed, and protect the town’s water resources.

7. Transportation

10. Recommendations and Implementation Strategies

Create a more Vibrant Center Village. In 2035, residents enjoy

walking through downtown to frequent a variety of small shops and restaurants, attend events held in Cushman Park and Town Hall, and access public transportation.

Foster Sustainable Economic Development. In 2035, Bernardston

is known for its outdoor recreation and town businesses and industries that provide jobs, support the local rural economy, incorporate the latest green technologies, and offer valuable services and products for the region.

Comments or Feedback?

To contribute or become involved, contact Hugh Campbell, Town Coordinator or John Lepore, Master Plan Steering Committee Chairman (413) 648-5401 bernardston_master_plan@csld.edu ii

2015 Summary Watershed Protection

Natural and Cultural Resources

Land Use

Bernardston has 143 miles of streams that join the Deerfield and Connecticut Rivers to the south. The 100-year floodplain follows the Falls River and includes many wetlands in the southern portion of town. Drinking water in Bernardston is supplied by two aquifers. Water quality is protected by a Water Protection Overlay District, which restricts land-uses that might contaminate the water supply.

The forests, fields, and wetlands of Bernardston are home to endangered species and provide valuable wildlife habitat. Approximately 20 percent of the open land is permanently protected. This land provides valuable ecosystem services for the town, including preventing soil erosion, sequestering carbon, and protecting the quality of the groundwater. The rich history of Bernardston is celebrated in the recognition of the original forts and historic downtown buildings.

Over 70 percent of the land in Bernardston is forest, which provides economic and ecological benefits to the town. Farms cover 10 percent of the land. Industries and business cover only 0.2 percent. Most of the developed land in Bernardston is in the Falls River Valley and lower plains, near the wetlands and floodplains. Residential development covers just over 5 percent of town and has been the fastest growing sector since 1975.

Strategies for protecting the watersheds in the future include improving stormwater management to mitigate flooding in the center of town, addressing wastewater management alternatives to lower environmental and public health risks, and increasing education about watershed protection.

The strategies to protect these resources include adopting bylaws that protect the most visible scenic landscapes, raising funds for continued improvement of historic buildings, and increasing public access to outdoor recreational opportunities.

Land use strategies for meeting the goals for the future include encouraging development in already built-up areas, preserving the current agricultural and forested land, adopting design guidelines for future development, and maximizing the development potential along state roads.

Selected Draft Recommendations Adopt an Agricultural Interest Overlay District to protect current farmland from development.

Involve citizens in the development of Charity Lot as a public recreational and educational site.

Install stormwater

Adopt the Community Preservation Act to raise state-matched funds for land preservation and renovations of historic structures.

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vegetated buffers along roads to mitigate flooding in Center Village and absorb road salt, protecting the groundwater supply.

Host a community charrette to develop design guidelines for new development in the Center Village.

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Create a regulatory system such as a Wastewater District to manage septic issues to protect the groundwater and public health.

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Extend mixed-use business zones along Route 10.

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The Conway School of Landscape Design Graduate Program in Sustainable Landscape Planning and Design www.csld.edu

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Bernardston Town Hall

Credit: Rachel Lindsay

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Introduction

A. The Town Master Plan Drafting a town master plan brings the members of a community together to create a collective vision for their town. It is an opportunity for citizens with different interests to come together, for departments to share information, and for residents and municipal officials to discuss topics that are not often addressed in the daily function of a small town. Planning twenty years into the future should also involve examining how the socio-economic and environmental characteristics of the whole region might change, and how those changes might influence the types of decisions a small town can anticipate facing in the future.

This draft master plan is the product of only the first twelve weeks of a sixty-four-week process. In this first phase, a Master Plan Steering Committee of nine knowledgeable individuals was formed to share with a Conway School team of three graduate students, their views of the current issues the town is facing. These committee members represent different sectors in town -- farmers, landowners, town departments, private businesses, and town planners. Additionally, many town

departments and organizations have met to express their vision for the future of Bernardston. The views expressed in these meetings were used together with past town reports and published data to compile the first five sections in this report and draft initial recommendations. The Master Plan Steering Committee will continue to gather information and feedback from the general public from April 2015 until January 2016, when another group of Conway students will join the process and finish the master plan.

This introduction describes the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ requirements for a town master plan, the planning process and public participation, and suggests methods for continuing to involve citizens during the second phase of the project. A brief history of Bernardston and a review of the 1975 Master Plan provide the foundation for understanding the changes that have taken place over the last forty years. This section also includes a summary of the projections for how the climate may change in the future and the implications these possible changes have for the future of Bernardston.

Phase I: January 2015 - April 2015 The first Conway School graduate team completes the watershed protection, natural and cultural resources, and land use elements of the master plan.

Phase II: May 2015 - December 2015 Interim period for the Master Plan Steering Committee to continue to gather information and feedback from the community.

Phase III: January 2016 - April 2016 The second group of Conway School graduate students will complete the housing, transportation, services and facilities, and economic development elements, and update the introduction, and recommendations and implementations to finish the document.

2016 Master Plan Document Completed in 2015 ∙ Community Goals

and Vision ∙ Watershed Protection ∙ Natural & Cultural Resources ∙ Land Use

To be completed in 2016 ∙ Housing ∙ Transportation ∙ Services and Facilities ∙ Economic Development

Recommendations and Implementation Strategies

Town of Bernardston, Massachusetts

Bernardston’s history, identity, and demographics have been shaped by the ecological, social, economic and political processes of its location and context. Some of the issues that Bernardston faces currently can be understood in the context of its political town, county and state boundaries; however, Bernardston’s natural boundaries and resources such as the Connecticut and Deerfield River watersheds also influence the choices facing the town. The watershed protection, natural and cultural resources, and land use elements provide a deeper understanding of the underlying geographic characteristics of Bernardston and will inform the third-phase elements of: housing, transportation, services and facilities, and economic development.

Bernardston is located in the north-west section of western Massachusetts and is one of twenty-six towns in Franklin County. Its twenty-three square miles include the two mountain ridges along the east and west sides of the Falls River, a tributary to the Connecticut River. The Bernardston exit off Interstate 91, which follows the Falls River valley north, is the last exit in Massachusetts before Vermont. Leyden to the west, Gill to the south, and Northfield to the east are rural towns of similar size and character, while Greenfield to the south is the county seat and largest municipality in Franklin County. The largest commercial centers near Bernardston are Greenfield, nine miles to the south; Northampton, twenty-three miles to the south; Amherst, twenty-seven miles to the southeast, and Brattleboro, Vermont, fourteen miles to the north.

VERMONT

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Bernardston

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DATA SOURCE: Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS), Commonwealth of Massachusetts, MassIT 01.18.2015, Student Designer Rachel Lindsay

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Bernardston is located in north-west Massachusetts and shares a border with Vermont.

Franklin County, Massachusetts

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DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

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County: Franklin Settled: 1738 Founded: 1762 Area: 23.4 square miles Population (Census 2010): 2,129 Government: Open Town Meeting

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B. Statement of Purpose The Commonwealth of Massachusetts outlines the required contents of a town master plan in the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 41, Section 81D. The master plan should present information through text, maps, or other illustrations that provides a basis for decision making regarding the long-term physical development of the municipality. The required elements are town goals, land use, natural and cultural resources, housing, transportation, services and facilities, economic development, and implementation strategies. An Open Space and Recreation Plan, which is a stand-alone document, is considered an element of a town’s master plan. Bernardston’s current Open Space and Recreation Plan was written and approved in 2009.

The plan elements laid out by the state are not mutually exclusive. The subject matters overlap and all of the elements interact and together influence the quality of life for residents of Bernardston. Natural resource issues are connected to economic development. Forests provide ecosystem services, such as soil retention, stormwater infiltration, and carbon sequestration and also offer spaces for hunting, supplementing the diets and income of residents. Understanding the changing environmental climate and its potential impact on the natural and cultural resources of a municipality is fundamental to planning for its long-term physical development.

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DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

The Town of Bernardston’s decision to work with the Conway School, which teaches sustainable landscape planning and design, reflects Bernardston’s commitment to environmental sustainability. This master plan is unique in its ecological approach to the plan elements required by the state by including a watershed protection element, which is not currently required but may be a requirement in the future pending the outcome of a Massachusetts Sustainable Development Act bill.

The first phase of the project, which has resulted in the current draft, focuses on the environmental characteristics of the town as presented in the watershed protection, natural and cultural resources, and land use elements. In the winter 2016 another group of graduate students will complete the plan, adding housing, transportation, services and facilities, and economic development to the above completed elements. The phases of the planning process to develop this plan are explained in the following section.

Beginning in January 2015, the Master Plan Steering Committee met biweekly with a team of Conway School graduate students to plan the process of updating the town’s master plan. The students met with town departments and stakeholder organizations, and facilitated two public meetings on February 3rd and February 24th, 2015. The meetings were posted in the Bernardston Town Hall, published on flyers around town, and announced in the Greenfield Recorder.

Twenty-seven residents attended the first public meeting, which was filmed by Bernardston-Northfield Community Television. Upon arrival, residents were asked to contribute to a “Places of the Heart” map by placing a sticker on their favorite place in town. To understand who came to the meeting, the Conway students gathered representative information about the participants. The team facilitated a discussion about Bernardston’s unique qualities and greatest assets, and about participants’ perceptions of what has changed and what is needed in town. The participants were asked to contribute to a collective vision of the future of the town by indicating on maps where they would like to see future housing, agriculture, business, and industry; where they see the most significant threats to water sources or land; what buildings or areas they feel are historically significant; and what areas of town they would like to remain the same in twenty years. A map showing the consolidated responses from this exercise is included in the Goals and Vision section of this report. The meeting concluded with a group discussion about their responses.

Twenty-one residents and two representatives from Mount Grace and Franklin Land Trusts attended the second public meeting. The Conway student team presented an overview of the information gathered, analyses of existing conditions, and preliminary recommendations for the natural and cultural resources, watershed protection, and land use sections of the master plan. The team presented a map that summarized the results of the visioning exercise from the first meeting. After the presentation, the public participated in a

discussion about priority areas for preservation, future development, and the potential for constructing a sewer system. Participants brainstormed ideas for how to continue public engagement in the master plan process during the eight-month interim period between the completion of the first half in April 2015 and the resumption of the drafting process in January 2016.

A successful master plan not only documents the history and development trends of a community and identifies residents’ goals and vision for the future, it also strengthens community involvement and collaboration among municipal departments to better reach those goals. During phase II -- April 2015 to December 2015 -- the Master Plan Steering Committee has the opportunity to involve as wide a range of citizens and interest groups as possible, as well as gather information for the remaining elements on housing, transportation, services and facilities, and economic development. The following section outlines strategies for continuing to develop the town vision for the future and gather relevant information for the phase III elements.

Credit: Rachel Lindsay

1. Planning Process and Public Participation

Public Involvement Participants in the community meeting on February 3, 2015 discuss their contributions to the Community Vision Map.

1 INTRODUCTION

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2. Suggested Phase II Activities for Bernardston’s Master Plan Steering Committee April 2015 - January 2016 In preparation for the work of the next student team, the following tasks could be carried out, to gather information to answer questions raised during phase I and collect data to prepare for phase II. • Continue monthly Master Plan Steering Committee meetings to organize interim activities and publish in the town newsletter updates and ways for citizens to become involved.

• Include a report at the Annual Town Meeting in May of what has been accomplished thus far and the next steps to be taken in the master plan process.

• Design and conduct a survey to reach a larger number of Bernardston residents to gather feedback and information relevant to next year’s master plan topics. There are free tools such as Google Forms that would allow the information to be processed easily. Paper copies of the survey should also be made for those who can’t access the online version. Paper submissions should be entered into the online system before January, 2016 for the information to be accessible for the next team of students working on the plan. Information that would be useful for the continuation of the master plan process include public opinion on the prioritization of issues in town to help direct the planning process.

• Set up a table for the Master Plan Steering Committee at the Farmers Market, Old Home Day, and other town events to inform residents of the process and to gather opinions and information with a survey (see possible topics below). The executive summary of this draft of Bernardston’s Master Plan and general information about how they can be involved should be available for passersby.

• Make previous studies available at the library for the public to review, including the 2009 Open Space and Recreation Plan, the 1975 Master Plan, and this draft of the 2016 Master Plan.

Credit: Eric Glazier

• Create a page on the Town Website about the Master Plan with a description of the process and the elements, and a PDF of the draft. Include links to any open meetings, events, or online surveys.

Annual Gatherings in Bernardston Events such as Old Home Day and Scarecrow in the Park are opportunities to inform residents about the master plan process and conduct surveys.

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DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

• Encourage participation in the process by those of all ages, including through workshops and meetings at the school, library, and senior center to generate feedback as well as creative submissions of poetry and illustrations for the final Master Plan.

Possible Phase II Survey Topics Communication

What is the most effective means for the town to communicate with residents?

Mailed newsletter, website, email, text message, twitter/facebook/social media, or other.

Occupations and Volunteerism

Do residents work from home, elsewhere in Bernardston, or outside the town? Are there obstacles to their occupational choices that the town could help improve, such as lack of internet, lack of public transportation, transportation costs, job availability? How many residents volunteer on a regular basis?

Services and Facilities

Are residents satisfied with the public services in town? Which services need improvement? Are the local streets, sidewalks, utilities, and public buildings adequate for residents to use? How much support is there for a town-wide sewer system?

Housing

What types of housing are needed in Bernardston? How many residents are landowners? How affordable is housing? Where are the areas in town that would best accommodate future housing? How common is multi-family housing?

Economic Development

What new businesses would support existing local businesses? What are the challenges for current businesses in Bernardston? What are the top priorities for economic development in Bernardston? Does Bernardston have quality restaurants that residents frequent? Where do residents purchase groceries and food? Do residents trade for goods and services? How many residents use Bernardston’s natural resources for gardening, hunting, and/or fishing?

Transportation

What modes of transportation do residents use most frequently? Would residents prefer to work at home or commute? Would residents use regional transportation for their daily commute if it was available? Are there desired changes to the transportation infrastructure such as bike lanes and trails, public parking, improved sidewalks, improved street connections, and pedestrian safety improvements (crosswalks, signals, signs)?

1 INTRODUCTION

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Like many towns in Western Massachusetts, Bernardston was colonized by settlers moving north along the Connecticut River as populations grew during the seventeenth century. When settlers arrived to the Bernardston area, there were already several Native American tribes that had been inhabiting the area prior to their arrival. These tribes, part of the larger Algonquin nation, included the Mohawk, Pocomtuc, and the Pennacook (Clément, 1996).

Over time the Native Americans became increasingly dependent on the imported commodities available from the settlers, and began to lose their bargaining opportunities as the fur trade diminished (History.com, 2009). Tensions continued to rise and by 1676, settlers in the Bernardston area and several tribes fought in a battle known as the “Falls Fight,” which took place at what is now Turners Falls in Montague (Kellogg, 1902). An assembly of residents and volunteers from towns along the Connecticut River rode north from Hatfield towards Turners Falls and Greenfield to attack the Native Americans camped along the Falls River.

Credit: Rachel Lindsay

The settlers won the battle, however a majority of the survivors died on the journey home due to attacks from

Bernardston History Museum Louella Atherton, President of the Bernardston Historical Society, explains historical photographs at the History Museum located in the Powers Institute.

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DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

Credit: Bernardston History Museum

C. History of Bernardston

View looking west on Church Street in 1874 This historic photograph shows the current Cushman Library, which is now part of a National Register of Historic Places.

retaliating tribes (Kellogg, 1902). In November 1734, Samuel Hunt of Billerica filed a petition to the House of Representatives for a tract of land to start a township for the descendants of those lost in the Falls Fight (Kellogg, 1902). The Falls Fight Township was granted in 1736, and included land that is now Bernardston, as well as Leyden, and part of Colrain (Kellogg, 1902).

Bernardston’s original settlement was located approximately two miles northeast of the current Center Village, along Huckle Hill Road. Some of the first structures constructed in Bernardston were four forts: Samuel Connable’s fort in North Bernardston, Ebenezer Sheldon’s fort in the east part of town, Deacon Sheldon’s fort located near the original settlement on Huckle Hill, and the Burke Fort just north of today’s Center Village (Kellogg, 1902). Today these forts are no longer standing but signs have been posted that mark their original locations. Bernardston’s Congregational Unitarian Church, built in 1739, is one of the few existing buildings in Bernardston that was originally built on the first settlement. It was first moved half a mile south on Huckle Hill Road in 1772, and then a second time to its current location in 1825 (Trustees, 1962). Bernardston was known as “Fall Town” or “Falls Fight Town” until 1762, when the town was incorporated as the Town of Bernardston, named after Governor Francis Bernard (Kellogg, 1902).

Many industries in Bernardston were established to meet the daily needs of the residents. In the mid-nineteenth century, these industries included tanneries and

shoe-shops, blacksmiths, cutlery factories, mills, distilleries, rope-making, cigars, and saddle- and harnessmaking (Kellogg, 1902). Similar to other New England towns, Bernardston’s sawmills and gristmills were built along the larger water bodies in town in order to run the mills on water-power.

The growing population and its need for goods and services drove the town’s economy, which then created the need for sufficient infrastructure. In the early days of Bernardston, roads were mere horse paths through the woods and as the town and industries grew, more roads were constructed. What is now state Route 5 was once an old stagecoach route. In 1852, a factory manufacturing hoes was established along the Falls Rivers and by 1900 it was the only factory in Bernardston while other industries had come and gone. After the death of the owner, the factory was quickly purchased by a company in Greenfield, transferring most operations out of Bernardston (Trustees, 1962).

Between 1958 and 1960, Bernardston saw a shift in industry when Interstate 91 was built, removing over 300 acres of prime agricultural land (Trustees, 1962).

The construction of I-91 reduced Bernardston of more than 300 acres of workable land, 60 percent of which was farmland (Trustees, 1962). The land of some property owners was split by I-91, leaving them unable to directly access their land on the opposite side of the highway. Some farmers sold the remainder of their land to developers or let the land return to forest (Trustees, 1962). With the new I-91 and Greenfield’s growing population and increasing importance in the area, Bernardston’s economy declined as more factories and jobs were available in Greenfield (DCR, 2009).

By the time of the 1975 master plan, Bernardston’s business sector was still operating at a small commercial scale. Businesses in town were mainly retail, personal businesses, gasoline service stations, and automobile sales, repair, or storage. Compared to Greenfield, Bernardston’s commercial development was small and took the form of “village development,” concentrating business around transportation crossroads, which were vital to Bernardston’s rural character and economic prosperity (Brown, Donald and Donald, 1975).

1 INTRODUCTION

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D. The First Master Plan, 1975 When the Brown, Donald, and Donald planning firm began to assemble the Town of Bernardston Master Plan in 1974, much of the technology for collecting data available today did not exist. The firm conducted a field survey by driving down every road in town, noting each lot and its use, and estimating by sight the amount of farmland. They used a topographic map published by the US Geological Survey to determine development suitability based on slopes, and included housing and population growth projections up through the year 2000.

Interstate 91 had been completed a decade before that first master plan was developed, and the new highway created a clear divide between east and west. From its frequent appearances in the 1975 plan, and the number of recommendations that reference the location of the entrance ramps close to the center of the village, it is clear that the creation of this major highway through

Bernardston was a landmark in the town’s developmental history and was seen as an economic asset for the town.

The 1974 field survey identified 515 acres in residential use, 94 acres in commercial use, 12 acres in mixed commercial and residential, 5 acres in industrial use, 52 acres of town- or state-owned public or semi-public uses (it counted churches as semi-public), and 97 acres of land classified as town-owned public recreation.

Town streets covered 343 acres and Interstate 91 covered 312 acres of former farmland. It calculated 2,520 acres of land in agricultural use, including both animal pasture and cropland. The remaining 11,100 acres were “The dilemma of long range planning for communities like Bernardston, which are essentially rural, is simple to describe and not so simple to accomplish. The problem at its most basic is ‘How do you plan logically for the future without creating a straightjacket that stifles growth instead of encouraging it?’” - Brown, Donald, and Donald, Bernardston Master Plan 1975 (32)

Source: Bernardston Master Plan, 1977

categorized as undeveloped and “mostly wooded,” aside from the 32 acres covered by water bodies.

This map from the 1975 master plan, shows some of their recommendations, including the industrial and commercial zones along Route 10.

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Brown, Donald, and Donald considered the dominance of agricultural and open land a strength of Bernardston, stating that the town is “far luckier than many other towns because its growth has been slow and evolutionary…. ‘Strip commercial’ development has not yet occurred” (7). It praised Bernardston for many of its characteristics, such as the well-maintained and easily identifiable historic village center and the scenic rural roads that give the town a “gentle and peaceful appearance” (10).

Taking into account the topography, suitability of soils for septic systems, and the zoning regulations in place at the time, a build-out analysis concluded that Bernardston had a holding capacity of 3,114 dwelling units or 9,964 people. The exercise was based entirely on residential capacity and did not explore additional areas associated with growth such as the expansion of public facilities and the commercial sector. The upper limits of Bernardston’s growth calculated in the build-

out exercise were much higher than the projected population growth, which was expected to be 2,857 residents by the year 2000. As of the 2010 Census Bernardston has 2,129 residents.

Although the projections laid out in 1975 have proven to be higher than actual growth, many of the goals and recommendations remain consistent with the current community’s vision. The goals identified in 1975 included continuing to be a place where residents live and work within or outside the town, rather than a commercial or industrial center that outside residents commute to; preserving the natural beauty and open land of Bernardston; expanding the tax base through commercial and industrial growth that preserves the quality of rural life; expanding municipal services to meet growth; and improving the clarity of the zoning bylaws.

ing intensive commercial development east of I-91, and constructing a public sports field. A National Register Historic District was designated in the Center Village and the Powers Institute, which includes the senior center and the town museum. A management plan is currently being developed for the town owned Charity Lot. Recommendations from the 1975 Master Plan that were approved but did not come to fruition include the town acquiring Couch Brook Gorge and the First Meeting House property on Huckle Hill.

Credit: Rachel Lindsay

Credit: Wendy Abramson

Following Brown, Donald, and Donald’s advice, a Residential/Agricultural zoning classification was established and a Parks and Recreation Department was formed. Other recommendations from the plan approved by the planning board at the time and since adopted include restricting commercial development west of the I-91 highway corridor to individual shops and stores characteristic of a village center, encourag-

Bernardston’s Rural Landscape

The Powers Institute

Brown, Donald and Donald considered the dominance of agricultural and

The Powers Institute functioned as a secondary school until 1958. Brown,

open land a strength of the town. This areal photograph taken in 1994

Donald and Donald recommended in the 1975 master plan that the build-

shows the farmland at the west end of Eden Trail Road.

ing be renovated for use by the senior citizens and library. Currently the building houses a senior citizen center on the ground floor and the Historical Museum on the second floor. The building is fully accessible however the second floor is unheated.

1 INTRODUCTION

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The steep terrain and fertile floodplain soils of Bernardston are remnants of an age when glaciers covered the northeastern United States. Over many millennia, changes in temperature, weather, and water level have impacted the landscape and continue to affect the environment. The by-products of industrial development have changed the composition and amounts of various greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere and oceans and impacted the natural world in ways that scientists are documenting and attempting to understand.

As our climate continues to change, planners and climate scientists are working together to understand the effects of human development on climate, and to anticipate and adapt to future changes. For Bernardston, this may mean preparing for a higher probability of intense storms and flooding, and taking measures to mitigate the detrimental effects that these events could have on the town.

Researchers at the University of New Hampshire’s Climate Change Research Center have analyzed a wide range of data, including year-round precipitation accumulation, bloom dates, river dynamics, and average Snowfall has decreased significantly in Northern New England and New York 1970 - 2000

Growing season increased by 8 days 1899 - 2000

annual temperature to determine current climate trends.

They have found significant evidence that the climate in New England is warming, with average winter temperatures between 1970 and 2000 increasing by as much as 4 degrees Fahrenheit (Clean Air-Cool Planet, 2005). Total annual precipitation during that time period increased 3.3 inches, as did the frequency of precipitation events.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs predicts that extreme precipitation events will increase 8 percent by mid century and 13 percent by 2100. Lower stream flow and higher air temperatures would increase the temperature of the water, which would negatively affect certain species and water-dependent industries (EEA, 2011).

A steady increase in rainfall, earlier melting dates for ice on rivers, and more frequent flooding may have drastic consequences for small New England towns like Bernardston, traditionally built near rivers and water bodies. Improving and expanding public infrastructure requires considerable financing and coordination, and not taking climate trends into consideration could result in devastating loss of both investments and lives.

Total precipitation has increased 3.3 inches 1899 - 2000 Frequency of extreme precipitation events has also increased

Days with snow on the ground decreased 16 days 1970 - 2000 Ice-out of lakes occurs 9 days earlier in the northern mountainous regions and 16 days earlier in the southern regions of New England 1850 - 2000

Average Northeast Temperature Change 1899 - 2000: Annual 1.8 ºF Winter 2.8 ºF Spring 1.9 ºF Summer 1.7 ºF Fall 0.7 ºF

Sea surface temperature increased 1.1 ºF in the Gulf of Maine and 1.6 ºF on the South Shore 1880 - 2001 Relative sea level increased 16 inches in New York City 1856 - 2001

Climate Change in the Northeast Researchers at the University of New Hampshire compiled data gathered over more than thirty years to document trends of warming and increased precipitation in the Northeast.

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DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

Data Source: The Climate Research Center, University of New Hampshire

E. Planning for Climate Change

Certain ecosystems, such as the spruce-fir forests and swamps found in the northern elevations of Bernardston and other areas of Western Massachusetts, are particularly susceptible to temperature increases (Biomap2, 2010). Prioritizing the protection and sustainable management of intact tracts of forest may increase the possibility of survival of Bernardston’s unique ecological communities because such management can help to strengthen the adaptive capacity of trees by maintaining biodiversity and reducing vulnerability (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2010).

Upland forests support a variety of habitats and biological diversity, purify air and water, moderate subsurface and overland water flow, and sequester carbon (Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, 2011).

Forests, wetlands, rivers, and streams in Bernardston are critical habitats with an array of ecological functions that may be affected by climate change. Upland forests support a variety of habitats and biological diversity, purify air and water, moderate subsurface and overland water flow, and sequester carbon (EEA, 2011). Preserving these resources will be critical for adapting to and mitigating the potential impacts on natural systems and human communities from unpredictable shifts in climate (EEA, 2011).

In each section of this plan, the changes in the environment due to climate change have been taken into consideration, and the recommended actions include possible solutions that improve Bernardston’s ability to adapt to and, where possible, to mitigate against climate change.

Credit: Chris Wysk

Some strategies for adapting to climate change can also be mitigation strategies if they reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that exacerbate climate change. The Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental

Affairs recommends several strategies for adaptation and mitigation that are appropriate for Bernardston, such as developing local and renewable sources of energy, reducing dependency on fossil fuels, and preserving, protecting, and restoring the hydrology of watersheds (EEA, 2011). Regular assessments of the risks to areas of higher population, such as Center Village, and of Bernardston’s critical infrastructure can help the town identify areas of concern in order to plan and prioritize actions to take as the climate changes.

Strengthening regional connections through shared services, like transportation, can help Bernardston reduce dependency on fossil fuels and mitigate against further exacerbation of climate change.

Beneficial Forests The forested hills that form the scenic landscape of Bernardston, shown in this view from 31 West Road, are both threatened by the effects of climate change and help to mitigate against climate change by sequestering carbon.

1 INTRODUCTION

13

Credit: Bill Montiglio

Farmland is part of the community vision for the future of Bernardston

2 Goals and Vision A. Bernardston in Twenty Years Can you imagine... In 2035, Bernardston is a beautiful place to live. It is predominantly a rural landscape, with steep forested ridges and working farms. The rich history of the town is celebrated through well-maintained historic buildings. Charity Farm Lot is a popular destination for families and provides outdoor recreation as well as educational information about the town’s ecology and history. A two-mile looped trail leads up to Huckle Hill, site of the original Bernardston settlement.

The streams that flow through town support a diverse ecosystem of fish, wildlife, and native plants.

Farmers and foresters maintain the open lands, providing local restaurants, residents, and regional customers with food and lumber. Contiguous tracts of forest protect the soils from erosion and reduce runoff, preventing potential contaminants from flowing into water bodies during the frequent storm events. Homes and businesses are clustered in and around Center Village, enabling forests and open space to be preserved. The town’s safety services are centrally located with ample space and are close to residents. Residents enjoy the natural resources, which support recreational activities, local businesses, and wildlife.

The vibrant Center Village is a universally accessible downtown area that draws residents and visitors to walk along the streets lined with seasonal gardens. The year-round Farmers’ Market offers local products and the second floor of Town Hall is a popular space for gatherings and town events. The Museum in the Powers Institute is open year-round and offers regular tours, showcasing old photographs, architecture, and a variety of artifacts that represent Bernardston’s evolving history. The elementary school makes regular trips to the educational boardwalk in the Darwin Scott Memorial Wetland and Cushman Park, to learn about the functions of a wetland and the ecosystems it supports.

Stormwater management along Church Street infiltrates runoff, reducing the pollution of nearby water bodies as well as mitigating floods from increased storms. The wastewater management systems in Center Village allow residences and businesses in town to continue to function in close proximity to the wetlands. Reduced

This vision of the town in 2035 contains aspects of present-day Bernardston, carried into the future.

It shows some current challenges overcome and perceived threats averted. It is based on conversations with the general public during community meetings, and on contributions from the Master Plan Steering Committee, the Board of Health, Water District, Highway Department, Town Clerk, Police Department, Council on Aging, Library, Fire Department, Historical Commission and Cushman Park, Pioneer Valley Regional School Committee, Sandri, Conservation Commission, Agriculture Commission, and the Farmer’s Market Manager.

salt areas are enforced, decreasing the risk of road salt contaminating the public drinking water supply.

Environmentally conscious industries support the local economy, provide jobs for residents, and support other businesses that depend on Bernardston’s natural resources. Green technologies provide renewable energy and decrease dependency on fossil fuels.

Northfield’s Bikeway extends into Bernardston, with routes connecting to the various recreational destinations in town, including Charity Lot and Pratt Field. A stretch along Route 10, now zoned for mixed-use development, provides a place for bikers and those traveling to Northfield to stop and peruse shops and restaurants.

Greenfield’s bus route extends into Bernardston, stopping in Center Village and inexpensively connecting residents and region. Bernardston’s Center Village is an attractive destination for all ages. Residents in Bernardston value the pastoral charm of their town as well as the convenience of living near Greenfield. The reliable municipal services, high-speed internet, and reputable schools offer a quality of life for families looking for a beautiful place to live.

2 COMMUNITY GOALS AND VISION

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Community Vision

Participants at the first master plan community meeting held on February 4, 2015 were asked to identify areas of Bernardston that they consider beautiful, historically significant, places that should remain unchanged for at least the next twenty years, land or water that is potentially threatened, and areas where future agriculture, business, housing, and industry should be located. The consolidated responses from the seventeen participants reveal a consensus of opinion about Bernardston’s future.

Residents believe that the primarily undeveloped and forested lands are the most beautiful areas in Bernardston, including the farmland along Route 5 and Eden Trail, the views from Charity Lot, rock outcroppings and remote woods on private property, the Kringle Candle farm and restaurant on Route 5, the Crumpin Fox Golf Course, and the views of the mountains from Center Village.

The places considered historically significant are mainly public buildings in the Center Village. The Powers Institute, which currently functions as the Senior Center and Historical Museum, and the Unitarian Church, which was originally constructed on Huckle Hill and moved to the Center Village. Other places include the site of the original settlement, the Farmer’s Supply in the old grain mill, the Corner Store, Cushman Library, Town Hall, the Conable Home and former Inn on Brattleboro Road, the former Bernardston Inn, and Charity Farm Lot. There is a strong consensus that places that define the rural landscape and history of Bernardston should be maintained over the next twenty years. Nearly half of the contributions to this category are also considered historically significant, and the other half are open lands including farms, forested areas, scenic roads, and Cushman Park.

Threatened land included farmland and scenic vistas that might be developed. These lands are along Route 10 and in forested areas along Eden Trail and in the eastern mountains. Residents expressed concern that the open industrial lot where the annual Gas Engine Show is held might be lost to development. In contrast, wetlands and flooding issues were identified as posing a threat to desired development in the Center Village.

The threatened waterbodies and water sources consisted of potential contamination of drinking water supply and surface water bodies. The two wells that supply the town’s drinking water were identified as being potentially

threatened with contamination. Other potential threats to water bodies were identified along town brooks and streams and the wetland in Cushman Park.

Areas in town where residents expressed interest in seeing future agriculture were along Route 5, Eden Trail Road, South Street, and Huckle Hill Road. These are all areas where there are currently working farms with visible hay fields and pasture.

Residents identified Center Village, South Street, and Route 10 as areas for future business. Residents described “small-town community business” development in these areas, listing a year-round farmers market and services like accounting and salons as desired additions to town. Several participants expressed desire to see the former site of the Bernardston Inn redeveloped. Center

Village was identified as a valued and attractive area that should be a commercial center and maintain its historical significance in twenty years.

Desired locations for future housing were identified in the southwestern corner of town, and areas just east of Center Village along Route 10. Residents would prefer to see clustered housing, with low-impact designs that employ a “village concept” and are accessible for senior living. Residents envision future housing in the south-

ern part of town, close to the border with Greenfield.

None of the residents identified areas north of Center Village for future housing.

Desired locations for future industry were identified along Route 10 towards Northfield and along the Falls River east of Center Village. These areas coincide with the current zoning designations that limit industrial development to areas along the state roads. The descriptions of desired industry reflect a strong preference for low-impact and environmentally responsible development.

The responses from the selection of residents who attended the meeting show strong preferences for preserving the open spaces and rural character of town, maintaining and improving services available in the Center Village, and attracting sustainable economic development.

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DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

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Community Vision 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

B. Goals and Strategies Preserve Rural Character

Vibrant Historic Center Village

Land Use Strategy

Land Use Strategy

Implement mechanisms to allow for increased development in already built-up areas and preserve current agricultural and forested land that forms the backdrop for the views along main roads.

Involve citizens in a process to define a preferred aesthetic for the town to decrease potential controversy over new development and ensure that new businesses contribute positively to the town appearance.

Watershed Protection Strategy

Watershed Strategy

Create educational opportunities throughout the town about drinking water and surface water quality. Assess the necessity for further protection of public water supplies.

Investigate septic solutions that allow the current businesses and municipal building to continue to operate, and install stormwater management infrastructure to mitigate flooding in Cushman Park and protect the Darwin Scott wetland.

Bernardston captures the essence of New England: an attractive Center Village with churches and a town country store, situated along the Falls River with farmland and the rolling hills in the backdrop. In 2035, Bernardston continues to value its agricultural and forest lands. The expanse of open vegetated land creates both a healthy watershed and protects the high quality of drinking water in Bernardston.

Natural and Cultural Resources Strategy Provide residents access to information about best management practices for forestry and agriculture, and financial and technical resources for transitioning, donating and protecting their land. Promote clustered development that favors open space conservation.

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DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

In 2035, Bernardston boasts a vibrant Center Village with a classic New England aesthetic. Convenient from the highway, the small walkable town offers residents and visitors a variety of small shops and restaurants.

Sidewalks are lined with rain gardens of seasonal color that also serve to infiltrate stormwater runoff from the streets. Town Hall and Cushman Park offer spaces for annual celebrations and gatherings.

Natural and Cultural Resources Strategy Protect historic structures and develop mechanisms to renovate and preserve buildings of significance.

Engage residents and visitors in education about the town’s history.

Foster Sustainable Economic Development

In 2035, Bernardston is home to outdoor recreation, businesses and industries that support the local rural economy and reflect the citizens’ environmental values.

The town flourishes on the revenue of thriving small businesses and a number of jobs in town. The industries in Bernardston incorporate renewable energy, stormwater management, and the latest green technologies into their sites and practices, and offer valuable products and services to town and area residents.

Land Use Strategy Maximize the development potential along the state roads, developing outdoor recreational opportunities and attracting businesses that support a rural economy by providing additional markets for local goods and services.

Watershed Protection Strategy Improve stormwater management through Low Impact Development requirements for all new development, and add vegetation along major roads to mitigate pollution of groundwater resources from contamination.

Natural and Cultural Resources Strategy Promote Bernardston’s historic places, scenic areas, and local businesses as tourist destinations.

2 COMMUNITY GOALS AND VISION

19

Credit: Susan Cummings

20

A view upstream along a local water body

3

Watershed Protection

A. Introduction The Laurentide ice sheet that stretched from northern Canada south to Long Island Sound was formed 21,000 years ago. When the ice sheet began to melt and retreat north 18,000 years ago, a glacial lake, called Lake Hitchcock, formed in what is now the Connecticut River Valley. About 12,000 years ago, the dam broke and Lake Hitchcock drained (Rittenour, 1997). The Connecticut River subsequently created a winding river valley with a broad floodplain through this same area.

All of Bernardston is within the Connecticut River watershed. Most of Bernardston drains to the Falls River or directly to the Connecticut River, and a portion in the southwestern corner of town drains to the Deerfield River, which is a tributary of the Connecticut.

How land is managed in Bernardston has a direct effect on the quality of the water in the Connecticut and Deerfield Rivers which has implications for wildlife.

Because Bernardston’s drinking water supplies are drawn from aquifers within its watershed, protection of the watershed is also crucial for human well-being.

Credit: Wikipedia

Evidence of the long presence of glaciers remains visible in Bernardston. The soils of the Falls River Valley are abundant in glacial till, a mixture of silt, sand, gravel and other materials deposited from glacial meltwaters; many of these soils overlay aquifer recharge areas. Within Bernardston’s twenty-three square miles are 143 miles of streams, brooks, and rivers, and numerous ponds and wetlands shaped in part by the glacial history of the region.

Connecticut River Watershed The Connecticut River flows 410 miles south from Canada to Long Island Sound. Its watershed drains 11,260 miles with 148 tributaries, including the Falls River in Bernardston.

3 WATERSHED PROTECTION

21

B. Existing Conditions Bernardston is a classic New England town,with development clustered along a river where greater opportunity for water power and travel were traditionally afforded. Bernardston’s Falls River flows from north to south, traveling through the Center Village in the southern part of town, where development is densest. The Center Village is home to residences, the town’s small country store, the Town Hall, and historic buildings, including the fire station, Powers Institute, Cushman Library, Cushman Park, and the Unitarian Church. Within Cushman Park is one of the many wetlands in the town. Generally, water flows from north to south into the many wetlands in the southern portion of town.

There are also many smaller wetlands scattered throughout the town. The areas outside of Center Village are over 75 percent covered by forest. The

HUDSON

Regional Watersheds

MERRIMACK CONNECTICUT HOUSATONIC

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COASTAL NARRAGANSETT

State Watersheds Massachusetts is made up of seven major rivers and their watersheds. The Connecticut River watershed covers the most amount of land. Bernardston is close to the middle of the watershed along the Massachusetts-Vermont border.

22

One of the large wetlands, located in Center Village, is a place of particular concern due to the potential for flooding of the wetland. The rising water levels could increase the risk for failure of the surrounding septic systems. Because there is no municipal sewer, all business, residential, and industrial sites maintain private septic systems. Malfunctioning septic systems, especially in areas of dense development, can have serious consequences for the health of the watershed, public and private water supplies and other natural resources. Bernardston should address these issues in order to maintain a healthy population and healthy watershed.

PISCATAQUA-SALMON FALLS

Bernardston

HUDSON

large tracts of contiguous forest protect the watershed through the effects of evapotranspiration and crown interception of precipitation, slowing water down and reducing its potential to cause erosion.

DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

Franklin County, Massachusetts is within the Connecticut River watershed, which itself is split into small sub-basins. Majority of Bernardston is in the Connecticut River watershed, with a small portion of town in the Deerfield River watershed.

The Connecticut River is the largest river east of the Mississippi River and it supports diverse wildlife habitat and ecoservices. Bernardston’s various brooks and streams can contribute to the overall health of the regional watershed.

Deerfield River Watershed

BERNARDSTON

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1. Surface Waters Surface Water Flow

Surface water flows generally from mountain ridges east and west to river valleys, and then generally from north to south. Residential and commercial development are concentrated in the south, where the terrain begins to flatten out. Because Bernardston has steep slopes with erodible soils, streams and rivers also convey sediment to the flatter valley in the south of town. These steep slopes contribute to the high volume of water flow through the center of town during storm events and when the snow melts. The high volume of water flowing into Center Village could create the conditions for flooding if high intensity storms occur in the future.

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DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

Surface Water Flow and Drainage The majority of streams in Bernardston are tributaries of the Falls River. The brooks in the southwestern corner drain to the Deerfield River, southwest of the town border.

There are a handful of wetlands in the southern part of town that support valued ecosystems, and large amounts of sediment being conveyed into the center of town could be potentially harmful to the wildlife habitat within those wetlands.

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Surface Water Resources

Surface waters are abundant across Bernardston. They include perennial and intermittent streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and potential and certified vernal pools.

public water supplies and groundwater by filtering pollutants carried in runoff, allowing water to infiltrate and replenish the aquifers, and to maintain flow in streams and wetlands. These 200-foot resource areas can also help protect wildlife habitats and fisheries.

There are over fifty potential vernal pools in Bernardston and only one certified pool. A vernal pool is a temporary body of water that is generally filled by spring rain or snow melt, then dries up in the summer.

Vernal pools support abundant communities of wildlife (MacCallum, 2009), see Element 4 for further information.

The Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act requires wetlands classified by the Department of Environmental Protection have a 100-foot regulatory buffer, which is meant to prevent adverse impacts on the wetland (DEP, 2014). Intermittent streams are also subject to a 100-foot buffer, with similar restrictions as the wetland buffer.

Perennial streams and rivers are regulated by the Rivers Protection Act, which includes a 200-foot Riverfront Resource Area on either side of the river or stream. This area has development restrictions and helps to protect the vegetation, wildlife, and water supply within the 200 feet. The regulations assigned to the Riverfront Resource Area help to prevent pollution by filtering and trapping sediments, oils, metals and other pollutants and cleansing the water of pollutants through toxic chemical breakdown in plants and soils.

The Riverfront Resource Area also helps to protect the

The Rivers and Wetland Protection Acts offer some level of regulation to protect these resources and the values associated with them. However, sedimentation and increasing storm flows associated with extreme storm events can impair the ecological integrity of these resources and create hazards for public health.

Large tracts of contiguous forest in Bernardston help to protect its watersheds. The crowns of trees intercept precipitation, slowing water, reducing its potential to cause erosion, and promoting infiltration rather than runoff.

Surface Water Resources The one certified vernal pool in Bernardston is located on the west side of town on one of the steep ridges. The potential vernal pools are scattered throughout the town. The largest wetlands in town are located in the southern portion of town, catching a large amount of the water that flows south towards the Connecticut River.

The water bodies in town each have their regulated zones surrounding them, controlling the various activities that can take place in and around them.

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DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

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Major Rivers Connecticut River

Deerfield River

Credit: Wikipedia

Bernardston’s Falls River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, the largest river east of the Mississippi River. The river totals 410 miles from its source at the Fourth Connecticut Lake on the Canadian border (Connecticut River Joint Commission, 2015).

The Connecticut River drains into Long Island Sound, on the Atlantic Ocean in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

Its watershed drains 11,250 square miles. Because all of Bernardston is in the Connecticut River watershed, maintaining the health of the Falls River and its watershed will have a positive impact on the water quality of the Connecticut River and ecosystems downstream.

Credit: Rachel Lindsay

The Deerfield River, also a tributary of the Connecticut River, begins near Glastenbury and Stratton, Vermont, and flows around seventy miles south and east through western Massachusetts until it enters the Connecticut River in Greenfield. The Deerfield River does not flow through Bernardston but three sub-basins in the town are within its 665-square-mile watershed. The Deerfield River is a popular place for recreation year round, drawing visitors from around the region.

Because of the heavy recreational use of this river, there are regional organizations, such as the Deerfield River Watershed Association, that seek to coordinate efforts within this watershed to maintain the quality of its water and wildlife.

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Connecticut River

Deerfield River

The Connecticut River flows south from Canada and drains into the Atlantic

The Deerfield River flows west to east and drains into the Connecticut

Ocean. The largest river east of the Mississippi, its watershed extends over

River south of Bernardston. The brooks in the southwestern corner of

Bernardston.

Bernardston are tributaries of the Deerfield River.

DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

Falls River

The Falls River flows from Vermont through the center of Bernardston and on into Greenfield. Its thirtysquare-mile watershed extends into Vermont and northern Greenfield. Forest cover within the watershed is around seventy-seven percent. Though this extensive forest cover helps reduce the erosion of upslope soils and sedimentation of the river, the potential for flooding caused by large storms remains a concern in Center Village due to the proximity of buildings and roads to the river.

The 2003 Water Quality Assessment Report from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), concluded that the portion of the Falls River that flows through Bernardston is a Class B fishable and swimmable river supporting aquatic life and aesthetic uses (Carr, Kennedy, 2008). In 2008, the DEP classified the Falls River as a Category 2 river, which means that the river is either unimpaired or that not enough data exist (or was assessed) to determine any level of importance (Watershed Planning Program, 2014).

Many Bernardston residents have said that they would like to have better public access to use the river for recreation; currently, access is largely through private property.

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Falls River Watershed 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

3 WATERSHED PROTECTION

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Brooks and Streams

Couch Brook

Keets Brook

Keets Brook runs west to east and ultimately joins the Falls River near the Vermont border. It has a watershed of about seventeen square miles, with about 86 percent forest cover.

Couch Brook originates at the easternmost edge of Leyden and flows east through the mountains and into the Falls River. Its watershed is about three square miles with roughly 85 percent forest cover (StreamStats, 2015). Residents in Bernardston have identified Keets and Couch Brooks as favorite places to fish and take advantage of the “beautiful scenic resources” and “serene hemlock forests” (Livingston, Sprague, Sullivan, 2008).

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Couch Brook Watershed 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

Stream along Fox Hill Road

The stream adjacent to Fox Hill Road on the western side of town does not converge with the Falls River but flows directly into one of the state-owned wetlands in the center of town. The watershed calculated from the exit point of the wetland is roughly one square mile with 65 percent forest cover and an average 13 percent slope (StreamStats, 2015). Erosion from this watershed’s steep slopes and smaller percentage of forest cover (compared to Keets and Couch Brooks), contributes to sediment being conveyed downstream into Cushman Park in Center Village (discussed further below).

Mill Brook

The southwesternmost brook, Mill Brook, flows through the recharge area of the Barton Road Well public water supply in Bernardston. These recharge areas are discussed in further detail in the Groundwater section below. The brook has a watershed of roughly three square miles with an 11 percent average slope. Its 87 percent forest cover helps to regulate the temperature of the water, which helps to protect the Aquatic Core habitat found here.

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Mill Brook Watershed 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

3 WATERSHED PROTECTION

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Dry Brook

On the far eastern side of town, Dry Brook flows from close to the northern border south into Gill. The watershed for this brook is around four square miles with an average slope of 8 percent in Bernardston.

Forest cover is 85 percent, consistent with the other sub-basins in town (StreamStats, 2015). This brook does not pass through the center of town, but the northern sections of the brook are located in Satan’s Kingdom, a wildlife management area owned by the Department of Fish and Game. The brook is the main source of water for the well owned by Northfield Mount Hermon, further discussed in the Groundwater section. Dry Brook has also been identified as a Core Habitat. (See Element Natural and Cultural Resources for further detail.)

Wetlands

Bernardston is home to a diversity of wetlands, mainly located in the southern part of town. Wetlands are characterized by their soils and dominant vegetation type, and can only be delineated on the ground. The Wetland Protection Act was created to protect the values attributed to wetlands, including supplying drinking water, mitigating floods, preventing storm damage, and supporting fish and wildlife habitat. If one wants to develop or alter land within the buffer zone within 100 feet of a wetland, a Notice of Intent must be filed with the local Conservation Commission.

According to the 2008 Open Space and Recreation Plan, wetlands cover roughly 3 to 4 percent of Bernardston. But a professional wetland scientist, Bill Latrell, suggests it is likely closer to 12 percent. This suggests that potentially more area is in need of regulation under the WPA than may be mapped currently by the Department of Environmental Protection.

One of the largest wetlands in town is along Bernardston’s southeastern edge. It is not currently identified as Priority Habitat or Core Habitat by the

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Dry Brook Watershed 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

Wetland along Southeastern Edge Bernardston’s largest wetland in the southeastern part of town is surrounded by residential development and in between two Critical Natural Landscape blocks.

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Another large wetland in Center Village by Cushman Park, the Darwin Scott Memorial Wetland, owned by the Department of Fish and Game, spans twenty-nine acres. This wetland receives the water flow from the stream adjacent to Fox Hill Road. Sediment collects in the culvert in the park, displacing stormwater and causing flooding. After Hurricane Irene, the town removed sediment from the culvert and stream under an Order of Conditions from the Conservation Commission. According to a professional wetland scientist, a higher volume of water may be entering the wetland than exiting it, causing water to back up, which could appear as a rising water table. Combined with a shallow depth to groundwater and potentially rising water table levels on the western side of Route 5, these high levels of water could cause flooding of septic systems in this area. Because there is no municipal sewer system, all business, residential, and industrial sites maintain private septic systems.

Malfunctioning septic systems, especially in areas of dense development, can have serious consequences for the health of the watershed, public and private water supplies, and other natural resources.

The flooding of Cushman Park is also a concern to residents who don’t live nearby because the park is used as a gathering space and for town events. (This issue is described in more detail in Water Dynamics in Center Village below.)

Both of these wetlands provide many opportunities for recreation and education for visitors and residents, including photography, bird watching, and learning about various wetland ecosystems. However, with probable climate change and related changes in precipitation levels, wetlands may be subject to increased droughts, which would decrease stream flow

and result in a decline in ecosystem diversity (FRCOG, 2013). The obverse side would be increased rain, creating longer durations of flood and causing permanent transformations of the wetlands and the wildlife and vegetation inhabiting them (FRCOG, 2013).

Credit: Rachel Lindsay

Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP). It lies between, but is not connected to, two areas identified as Critical Natural Landscape extending into Greenfield. Critical Natural Landscapes are large, intact, predominantly vegetated Landscape Blocks with minimal impact from development (discussed further in Element 4). Because the wetland and the Critical Natural Landscapes are not connected, wildlife reliant on these environments encounter a fragmented landscape when they attempt to move between them.

Exit Culvert of Darwin Scott Memorial Wetland The exit of the twenty-nine acre wetland in town is this small outlet. The amount of water that enters the wetland is not balanced with a sufficient exit for water to flow. This small culvert contributes to a perceived rising water table on the western side of Darwin Scott Memorial Wetland.

It is important that Bernardston continue to maintain the high quality of its water systems to help the overall health of the regional Connecticut River watershed.

Bernardston could implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce or control non-point source pollutants from entering the water bodies. Non-point source pollutants are nutrients, sediments, and organic materials that can enter water bodies but are not traced back to a specific location. BMPs can reduce or effectively control non-point source pollution. BMPs that have been employed are rain gardens, permeable pavement, and riparian restoration to stabilize banks against erosion (EPA, 2014). BMPs used on agricultural fields involve modifications to farm and resource management practices, using structures to control or retain the movement of water, and change in vegetative and tillage practices (Kennedy, 2002).

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In the Center Village of Bernardston, Cushman Park is at the bottom of a catchment basin with steep slopes.

The brook that runs along Fox Hill Road enters the park in the northwest corner, through a culvert under Route 5. The brook runs southeast through Cushman Park, and then enters a 150-foot long, 4-foot-diameter culvert. The culvert is daylighted at a ninety-degree angle into an open stream that runs between Cushman Park and the former Cushman Hall property, which has been used as an informal parking area since the building was torn down in 2005. The stream is also fed by wetlands on the north side of Route 10 through a culvert that crosses the road in front of the Fire Station.

These two tributaries meet and drain into the twentynine-acre Darwin Scott Memorial Wetland adjacent to the park. The area that drains into Cushman Park is roughly one square mile and covers land that is 65 percent forested; the farmland, residential lawns, and roads in the watershed also contribute to the flow of sediment that progressively fills the culverts. As the sediment builds up in the culverts, the seasonal flooding of the park becomes more severe. Best Management Practices for stormwater management, like a rain garden or vegetated swale along Fox Hill Road for sediment capture upstream of the wetland, need to be implemented, and a maintenance program instituted.

A third tributary enters the Darwin Scott Memorial Wetland from the southeast, through a culvert under Depot Street. The wetland has one exit point, where water drains through a culvert under the railroad tracks and continues southeast to join the Falls River. The wetland is classified as a shrub-scrub wetland, and is filled with woody, herbaceous species including yellow willow (Salix lutea), black willow (Salix nigra), silky dogwood (Cornus amomum), speckled alder (Alnus incana ssp. rugosa), elderberry (Sambucus nigra), and broadleaf meadowsweet (Spiraea latifolia). The southern half of the swamp is characterized by tussock sedge (Carex stricta), a classic wetland plant that provides cover for small mammals and nesting material for birds. The wetland serves as habitat for many species, including mink, otter, and beavers.

According to professional wetland scientist Bill Latrell,

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there are three factors that have most likely contributed to the exacerbated flooding of Cushman Park: changes in land use and physical constraints along the stream beds, an increasing quantity of water entering the park, and an increase in nutrients brought into the wetland with the sediments.

Credit: John Lepore

2. Water Dynamics in the Center Village

Culvert to Stream in Cushman Park After a rain event, the culvert in the park is overwhelmed with the volume of water, and is not wide enough to convey the water at a natural speed.

Over time, the management of the wetland and the park have changed. There is both historical and physical evidence that the wetland was previously drained.

Older residents of the town remember the wetland as a hay field and recreation area, before the land was donated to the state and allowed to resume its natural condition as a wetland. What was probably a former drainage swale is still visible in a straight break in the sedge along the southern edge of the swamp. There is a high probability that the previous land owner also installed drainage tiles, a practice that was widespread in the nineteenth century. This indicates that the land was originally a swamp, and after the agricultural use of the field was abandoned, the lack of active maintenance of the drainage ditches and tiles has allowed the land to revert to its former state. The management in Cushman Park has also changed over time. The current drainage system through the park does not accommodate for the natural flow of water.

The dimensions of the culverts passing under Route 5 and the park are not adequate for the mean high water flow, and create back-ups in the early spring thaw and in large storm events that increase the flooding in the park and make it unusable for the public. The ninetydegree angle formed at the end of the culvert through

have serious consequences for the residents and roads that border the wetlands, and potentially damage the roads and septic systems along Depot Road, Route 5, and Route 10.

Credit: John Lepore

the park increases the deposition of sediments inside the pipe, requiring a higher frequency of maintenance to keep clear (Latrell, 2015).

Cushman Park after Rain Large amounts of rain, or snow melt travelling through the park tend to overflow due to an undersized culvert.

The amount of water entering the wetland increases as development expands within the catchment basin that drains to the park. Paved roads, impervious surfaces, and areas of low vegetation such as lawns and hayfields shed water at a faster rate than mature forest, increasing the amount and velocity of the water flowing downhill.

If this development trend continues without implementing swales and other systems along town roads to capture, treat, and infiltrate stormwater before reaching the park, these flooding issues will increase.

As precipitation rates change and likely increase in the future, flooding will further decrease the accessibility of the park for public use.

There are actions the town can take to manage the water dynamics that are affecting the usability of the park. Preventative measures can be taken to slow the build-up of sediments in the wetland. Best Management Practices for sediment capture upstream of the wetlands should be designed and constructed.

Modifying the drainage system in Cushman Park to daylight the covered stream and increase the size of the culverts under Routes 5 and 10 are options. The town should perform routine maintenance of existing culverts and swales. Damage caused by storms are an opportunity to improve the drainage system and upgrade the culvert to accommodate larger storm events, rather than replace what’s there. Encouraging the implementation of reforestation and soil conservation techniques in the catchment basin that drains into the park can also reduce the flow of water and sediment into Center Village. Stormwater management along the state roads and Fox Hill Road can also help to mitigate the flooding in the park.

Water entering the park carries sediments with nutrients from soils, agricultural fertilizers, and other organic compounds picked up by the flow of water over the land. These nutrients are deposited into the wetland, causing eutrophication, which can increase the rate of plant growth. Depending on the types of nutrients and plant growth in the wetland this could have different impacts on the water dynamics and flood storage capacity of the wetland.

Currently, the wetland has three tributaries and only one drainage point. If the exit were blocked by the build-up of sediments or increased plant growth, the amount of water held in the wetland would increase, expanding the overall size of the wetland. This would 3 WATERSHED PROTECTION

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A 100-year floodplain is an area that has a one percent chance of being inundated by a flood in any year (FEMA, 2014). Most of the land subject to flooding in Bernardston is along the Falls River, with additional areas along Dry Brook and around the wetlands in the south. Bernardston has adopted a Floodplain Overlay District, corresponding to the 100-year floodplain. The zoning Overlay District restricts some development and protects vegetation and public safety (further discussed in Land Use).

Within 500 feet of the floodplain, there are 629 buildings and public gathering spaces, which include the Congregational Unitarian Church, the Powers Institute, the fire station, Cushman Library, and Cushman Park. If another storm like Irene hit Bernardston, these structures and their associated septic systems could be at risk of flood damage, potentially resulting in pollution entering nearby waters.

The present understanding of climate change science has led scientists to predict that there could be an increase in rain, enlarging the floodplain and prolonging the duration of flooding (FRCOG, 2013). This could impact both the farmland within the floodplain and the businesses and residences in the Center Village (FRCOG, 2013). To best prepare for these potential climate challenges, Bernardston could take measures to promote soil conservation practices on local farms that reduce erosion. Improving stormwater management along existing roads through systems that capture and infiltrate rain and snow melt at its source could also reduce the severity of flooding downstream.

To prevent public health emergencies in the future, the town could actively pursue solutions for wastewater treatment that would reduce the potential for septic system failure during flood events.

Credit: John Lepore

3. 100-Year Floodplain

Hurricane Irene After Hurricane Irene in 2012, Cushman Park was almost completely inundated. The culvert could not manage all of the water along with the sediment that was conveyed down the streams. Eventually, the stream had to be dredged. If there are more storms like Hurricane Irene in the future, Cushman Park will need a culvert or stream that can handle the large volume of water that will flow through the park during these large storms.

100-Year Floodplains The numerous floodplains correspond with the larger water bodies in town. The two large wetlands in the southern part of town each have a floodplain as well as the brooks in this area.

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4. Groundwater Aquifers and Wellheads

Aquifers are made up of water-bearing soils and minerals. They are either confined between layers of rock and clay or unconfined, where they receive recharge water directly from the surface waters or precipitation (EEA, 2015). The areas that recharge an aquifer can either be directly above the aquifer or miles away. It is important to have protective measures on recharge land to protect the quality and quantity of water so as to not contaminate the aquifer and the public drinking water supply.

Bernardston has two public wells, the Barton Road Well and the Sugar House Well, owned and operated by the Fire and Water District, a private entity. They supply water to sixty percent of Bernardston residents and various commercial businesses, industries, and agricultural enterprises. Because the water mains do not reach the total extent of the town, many residents are required to rely on private wells. Two town wells are inactive and the fifth well is privately owned by Northfield Mount Hermon, a private school in the neighboring town to the east. There is also a well located on the former Purple Meadow Campground that was taken out of use in 2009 due to mechanical issues. The District currently maintains twenty-two miles of water pipes in town, some of which are antiquated and need replacing. The Fire and Water District estimates it replaces 3 percent of the pipes each year.

In 2014, Franklin County Regional Governments identified Bernardston as one of eight critical public water supply sources for Franklin County. Protecting the public water supply in Bernardston should be a priority. One factor that could impact the water supply is the anticipated changes in precipitation due to climate change. These changes could include a decreased water supply in the summer, leading to higher demand on water, or extreme flooding from increased precipitation in intense storms that may be experienced year round (FRCOG, 2013). This change in climate could put higher pressure on the antiquated

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water mains, leading Bernardston to upgrade the water mains and perhaps also reinstating one of the wells not currently in use to meet an increased demand.

The wellheads in Bernardston have three zones of protection. Zone I generally takes a circular shape with a radius of 100 to 400 feet from the wellhead, depending on the amount of withdrawal of the particular well (TOB Wellhead, 2012). This area requires the most protection because it is the most vulnerable to contamination. In Bernardston, the Fire and Water District does not own all of the Zone I areas, leaving them vulnerable to adverse land uses by the residents, businesses, farmers, or schools that do own them. As a Best Management Practice, the Department of Environmental Protection recommends that a supplier owns the Zone I area.

Zone II is the area that contributes water to replenish the well; it includes the Zone I. It recharges the groundwater with rain, stormwater, or melting snow that percolates down into the soil and reaches the aquifer (TOB Wellhead, 2012). Zone II boundaries are determined by hydrogeological investigations.

Bernardston has a local Water Resource Protection Overlay District, which correlates with the Zone II. The Overlay District has certain development restrictions to further protect and reduce risk of contamination of the groundwater in the Zone II areas.

Wellheads and Aquifers The water mains in town do not extend to the whole town, causing many residents to require a private well. Pratt Field Well and Purple Meadow Well are both inactive. With the uncertainties of climate change, there is potential for an increased demand on water supply. This may lead to the inactive wells needing to be reinstated.

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The Zone III encompasses both the Zone I and the Zone II, and contributes surface and groundwater to the Zone II. It represents the watershed of the well. There are local bylaws that control and restricts impervious surfaces, floor drains, and facilities that generate hazardous waste within the Zone III areas (TOB Wellhead, 2012).

Current regulated zones may be insufficient as the climate continues to change. The Zone II and Overlay Districts may need to be reassessed and expanded to accommodate future supply needs if precipitation increases in the area.

The northernmost well, Sugarhouse Well, is located between Interstate 91 and Route 5. This well is at risk of being contaminated by the salt use on both of the state roads around the recharge area and the well (TOB Wellhead, 2012).

Route 10 crosses through the Zone II recharge area of the Northfield Mount Hermon well, another potential source of contamination, which would not, however, affect Bernardston’s public water supply.

Barton Road Well and Pratt Field Well are near the town’s sports fields, where people park their cars to watch games. At community meetings, residents have expressed concern that all the cars that park within the Zone I and Zone II areas are potentially contaminating the water supply.

Agriculture is part of Bernardston’s identity as a small New England town, and residents would like to see it continue; however, the use of various pesticides and fertilizers on agricultural fields within Zone II areas poses a potential contamination threat to drinking water. Runoff from croplands collects fertilizers and pesticides and conveys them to nearby water bodies, and fertilizers and pesticides can also leach downward from the surface, contaminating the groundwater below. Barton Road Well and Sugar House Well are both near numerous agriculture fields, and could be at risk. Landowners and farmers can implement various best management practices (BMPs) to reduce the risk of fertilizer and pesticide contamination of the Zone II recharge area. BMPs are site specific; they are meant to maintain agricultural production in an economically feasible manner while also being environmentally sensitive and sustainable (EEA, 2015).

5. Wastewater Treatment Considerations Bernardston does not have a municipal sewer system, and residents and businesses are responsible for installing and maintaining individual septic systems that meet state health and environmental regulations.

The Board of Health has noted there are an increasing number of septic systems failing to meet the state’s Title 5 regulations, implemented to protect public health and oversee the environmental safety of Filtration & Infiltration

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wastewater treatment. Septic systems that are not properly maintained can leach nutrients and bacteria into the soil, degrading groundwater quality, and creating public health hazards. The soil characteristics on a site determine how a septic system should be designed to meet Title 5 requirements.

Conventional septic systems carry raw sewage and wastewater from the house into a settling tank. The solids sink to the bottom of the tank, and the liquid, called effluent, leaves the tank through an outlet. The effluent is discharged into a leach field, often a constructed series of trenches with gravel, sand, or porous material. The effluent percolates through the material, where harmful bacteria, viruses and nutrients are trapped or broken down through natural processes.

The higher the absorption and infiltration capacity of the leach field, the less likely that an area will become saturated with a high concentration of effluent.

According to the NRCS Soil Web Survey, all of Bernardston’s soils are categorized as somewhat or very limited for septic tank absorption fields. These classifications are based on several soil characteristics including the frequency of flooding, filtering capacity, and depth to the water table. These limitations mean that the majority of septic systems in the Center Village may require major soil remediation with large amounts of purchased gravel or sand, or special designs that have more expensive installation and maintenance costs.

Proper maintenance of septic systems includes the periodic removal of the solids that build up inside the tank. Allowing the tank to fill with solid waste may push some solids out into the leach field, saturating the soils with harmful bacteria and lowering the absorption capacity. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection only requires that a conventional septic system be inspected when a property is sold, which means that the onus of maintaining a system is on the individual owner. It is

the opinion of the Bernardston Board of Health that many systems in Bernardston fail to meet the state inspection at the time of sale because of a lack of maintenance. Due to stricter regulations, a poorly maintained conventional system may not be able to be repaired. If a leach field is badly damaged and the site is too small to construct a new one, a specially designed system is required.

In interviews with the Board of Health, a former Regional Health Agent, and town officials, the following situations have come to light: • • •

•

Sixteen septic systems failed to pass inspection in 2014 and one house was condemned partially because of a damaged system.

Multiple businesses that serve the general public have failed to maintain their septic systems, allowing them to clog and back up.

Residents are not educated about proper maintenance, and are unprepared to deal with the costs of replacing failed systems, which can devalue property and negatively affects the housing market in town.

The Board of Health is operating with a small staff and doesn’t have the resources or expertise to adequately address the septic issues or come up with alternative designs to improve the quality and lower the costs of wastewater management.

Recently, the Town Board of Health has taken measures to improve these situations. They have instituted fees for the re-inspection of repairs to create incentives for proper maintenance, and are working on implementing a mandatory requirement for filters that would result in systems backing up into the house before solids were released into the leach fields. This would alert residents and businesses to the problem before the leach fields are contaminated or severely

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damaged.

In 2008, Bernardston contracted with Tighe & Bond, an engineering and environmental consulting firm, to conduct a wastewater infrastructure analysis and conceptual development plan for two undeveloped sites near the entrance of I-91. The goals for the plan included evaluating the wastewater infrastructure needed to serve the Center Village and additional development on the two business and industrial sites developed, and generate a conceptual plan for mixed business and industrial development that could be used as a marketing tool to attract investors and developers.

The town zoning requirements, wetland resources, community needs, marketability, and the desire to maintain the rural character of town were taken into consideration during the analyses. The plan recommended a centralized sewage system with a capacity of 40,000 gallons per day to serve a portion of the Central Village. The anticipated costs for this centralized system total over $6 million. The plan also evaluated the USDA Rural Development loans and the Massachusetts State Revolving Fund as sources of potential funding, and determined that if these sources of funding were used, the options ranged from twentyto forty-year loans ranging from $4.8 million to $8 million in total payments.

The state Title 5 regulations permit individual systems that process up to 10,000 gallons of wastewater a day.

Larger systems require a special permit from the state.

The costs of a larger system rise sharply, which lowers the financial viability of businesses and industries that require larger systems. A centralized wastewater treatment plant would make the town more appealing to a greater variety and scale of businesses and industries, although these systems are very costly and would require a large amount of coordination and outside funding. Due to the steep topography, large area, and low density of development in Bernardston, the cost of a system to serve the majority of residents would be prohibitive. However, investing in a centralized system could benefit the town by reducing the costs of maintaining individual systems for each of the municipal buildings, attracting larger businesses and industries that would diversify the tax base, and create local jobs. The scale and design of a sewer system would determine the type of development

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potential for Center Village. Some considerations for different scales and types of systems are discussed below, but a solution for this issue is beyond the scope of this report and should be taken up by a professional environmental engineer. Section 10 contains a more detailed discussion of the recommendations referenced below.

Individual Septic Solutions

According to MassDEP’s approved list of individual wastewater treatment systems, many of the newer innovative and alternative designs that require maintenance contracts are better than some of the centralized or decentralized systems at removing solids and other pollutants from wastewater before it reaches soil absorption areas. In addition, the soil absorption areas from these systems tend to have longer lives due to the efficiency of the system. These systems incorporate advanced technology that decreases the content of nitrogen in the wastewater, protecting private or public water supplies and other nitrogensensitive zones from contamination. With stricter regulations on conventional septic systems, they are increasingly becoming outdated. These outdated systems are increasingly failing and posing a threat to groundwater quality and public health. Educating the public about proper maintenance regimes and updates to systems will be necessary to further protect the quality of the groundwater and prevent public health emergencies. The Board of Health is currently working on increasing the monitoring of septic systems and implementing stricter town requirements to prevent system failures, but there are further actions that could be taken to address these issues. The Planning Board could create a Wastewater District with mandated periodic inspections of septic systems. The Board of Health could investigate retrofits such as aerators that would increase the quality and life of the systems, and coordinate the purchase and installation of these retrofits to reduce the overall costs for residents and businesses.

De-centralized Sewer Systems

The Environmental Protection Agency and MassDEP promote decentralized systems as a cost-efficient

alternative that has lower public health and environmental risks than larger centralized systems.

Some decentralized systems, such as a small-diameter pressurized system that connects to existing septic tanks, can use existing infrastructure to establish a communal secondary treatment site. These systems may help to reduce costs for stakeholders and allow for higher density of development on a small scale, but require a higher degree of cooperation among individuals to coordinate shared management and site a common leach field.

The Environmental Protection Agency has identified six management strategies that communities may adopt to improve the performance of decentralized systems and decrease their maintenance costs. These range in complexity from educational outreach to encourage better maintenance, to creating legal entities to oversee maintenance and inspections. Options include increasing homeowner awareness of proper septic maintenance and alternative systems, establishing requirements for maintenance contracts with a locally contracted inspector, establishing third-party responsible management entities to manage privately owned systems, and establishing a third-party entity such as an independent wastewater district that owns, installs, and maintains clustered systems (EPA, 2012).

Establishing third-party management over individual and decentralized systems may be a successful longterm strategy in increasing the affordability of higher

quality systems, and preventing environmental and public health emergencies in Bernardston.

Centralized Sewer Systems

A centralized system, such as the one proposed in 2009

by Tighe and Bond, would support residents and businesses with a capacity of greater than 15,000 gallons per day. A system of this scale could allow for denser residential and commercial development.

However, it would require extensive planning and engineering, skilled labor to construct and operate, large amounts of capital, and long-term financial support, which poses a significant challenge for a small town with limited financial and staffing resources (Hophmayer-Tokich). Assessing the most appropriate size of a centralized sewer system can be difficult. The soil and physical characteristics of a site determine the capacity of a system; therefore any anticipated or desired expansion in the future must be taken into consideration when looking for sites for development.

The major challenges facing Bernardston in creating a centralized sewer system include garnering the support of the townspeople to pay for a plan by qualified environmental engineers, and pursuing funding to create the system. Available funding for rural wastewater systems has been steadily decreasing since the 1980s, and small towns have fewer resources available for support (Ayers, 2015). Locating a suitable area for the disposal or reuse of the treated effluent poses an additional challenge. Since the sale of one of the sites used in the Tighe and Bond study, there are fewer undeveloped areas available.

De-Centralized Wastewater System This is a diagram of a wastewater treatment system on a neighborhood scale.

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Rural Wastewater Treatment Case Studies Charlemont’s wastewater treatment plant was built in 1998 by an independent wastewater district and was designed to accommodate the downtown business district and future residential and business growth.

The plant has a capacity of 500,000 gallons a day and serves 450 buildings in the central business district.

Unfortunately, the design of the plant anticipated faster economic growth than has occurred, resulting in the plant only processing 15,000 gallons a day and operating at a loss. (Ayers, 2015). Although Charlemont’s wastewater system is not being used to its capacity, the system successfully serves the town center and can support further business growth. The design for the system also includes solar panels that cover 64% of the energy needs of the plant (Town of Charlemont, MA).

The town of Wendell, MA has been recognized for its non-standard waste treatment methods including the approval of standard composting toilet systems for residents. (EPA, 2012). The town needed to update its approach to septic solutions as public buildings lacked facilities and some systems were discharging illegally into a nearby swamp. Wendell was encouraged to put in a community system that served town buildings and included additional capacity to accommodate residents in the center of town. The town received funding from the Metropolitan District Commission (now the Department of Conservation and Recreation) to construct a decentralized system with alternating leach fields (Ayers, 2015).

In the Albemarle Region of North Carolina, low-permeability clay soils and high water tables make much of the area unsuitable for conventional septic systems. In 1991, a study found that 30% of the systems were malfunctioning and posing risks to groundwater, rivers, and wetlands. 11 counties formed an Albemarle Septic Management Entity (ASME) in 1993 that has implemented routine inspections, maintenance contract requirements and reminders, and alternating leach fields for decentralized systems. ASME inspects all systems in its jurisdiction annually, and bills owners for necessary repairs. The program is sustained through annual home permit feeds, annual system inspection fees, and county funds. By 2008, the rate of malfunctioning systems had fallen from 30% to 0.2%. (EPA, 2012)

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Watershed Protection Strategies In order to achieve these goals, the town should create opportunities for the residents to become more educated about the water quality in Bernardston, both ground and surface waters. Assess possibilities and conduct studies for further protection of public water supply. Maintain Center Village with an alternative sewer system that supports current development on a neighborhood and commercial scale to create infill development and sustain businesses.

Issues: • • • •

• • • •

The public water supply is at potential risk of contamination from salt use and de-icing chemicals used on state highways.

Zone II recharge areas of public wellheads may be under pressure due to climate change.

There is no education opportunities available for residents to learn about water quality.

Cushman Park frequently floods due to an undersized culvert in the park. Upstream erosion brings sediment into the park, further obstructing the culvert in the park.

Lack of stormwater management contributes to potential pollution of groundwater and rivers in town.

Flooding in Center Village contributes to failing septic systems on residents’ property.

Septic systems in town cannot support infill development.

There is no public access to the Falls River.

Considering Sustainability Scientists predict that, in part due to chemical changes in the atmosphere, there will be an increase in annual precipitation, shifts in temperature, and increased frequency and intensity of storms and flooding in New England.

These changes may have unpredictable impacts on surface and groundwater resources. As the population and development pressures change in the region, the demand on Bernardston’s groundwater may also increase. An increase in precipitation would result in a higher volume of water flowing through Bernardston. Agricultural and residential areas will need to prepare for increased flooding and periods of drought by implementing soil conservation practices to reduce erosion and avoiding the use of environmentally damaging chemicals. Good watershed management practices such as the preservation of open, vegetated land and a limited amount of paved surfaces will serve to reduce the negative impacts of increased precipitation and to protect all water resources.

Credit: Bill Montiglio

C. Recommendations

River Bank Bernardston citizens desire public access to the water bodies in town.

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Recommendations

Recommendation for Bernardston’s future (Watershed, Natural and Cultural Resource, Land Use) management cover a range of actions, including education and outreach, zoning and policy changes, strengthening community connections, and investing in infrastructure changes that require significant planning and funding. The following recommendations are explained in more detail with suggested time frames and potential responsible parties in Section 10.

Ongoing

Create public education programs to raise awareness about the importance of protecting surface water and wetlands for water quality and ecological integrity.

With more knowledge of water systems and the services they provide to residents, people may be more motivated to take care of their natural environment. These programs should stress the role that intact watersheds and wetlands play in mitigating the detrimental impacts of increased storms from climate change.

1 to 5 Years

Designate an area along the Falls River for recreation and scenic views. The town could work with landowners and the Conservation Commission to find an appropriate site that can accommodate residents and visitors and is designed to minimize impact on the riparian habitats and wildlife.

Create a trail system with signs along Pratt Field as a focal point for water education about the town’s water supply system, water treatment, and management practices to protect water quality, and ecosystem services. Incorporate additional vegetation along the parking area to infiltrate stormwater and filter contaminants from vehicles. The site is adjacent to one of the town’s public wells and borders a

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stream. Signs should have information about actions that citizens can take to protect the local water supply.

These could include encouraging bike and foot travel to the sports fields to reduce potential contamination due to vehicular traffic at Pratt Field, which is in the Zone I protection area of the well. Information about the Pratt Field well, the process of replenishing the well, and facts about the nearby stream and the habitat that the stream supports could also be part of the educational materials.

Create a regulatory system to oversee the maintenance of individual septic systems. This could be accomplished with the creation of a Wastewater District that mandates periodic inspections of septic systems within the Center Village, business, and industrial zones, or by mandating alternative systems approved by the DEP that require maintenance contracts.

Investigate shared-ownership strategies for septic systems and actively facilitate information for homeowners about available alternative systems and retrofits that could increase the life of current systems.

There are a wide variety of alternative septic systems that have been approved by the DEP. Creating decentralized systems on a neighborhood scale can reduce installation and maintenance costs, although they may require additional organization and economic structures such as escrow accounts for long-term maintenance.

Designate Fox Hill Road and state roads as priorities for stormwater Best Management Practices, which would include vegetated swales along the road to slow the flow and infiltrate runoff. Along Fox Hill Road, this would help to decrease the volume of water and sediment being conveyed into Cushman Park and the wetland. Implementing BMPs for state roads could prevent runoff from potentially polluting the town’s water bodies and recharge zones by capturing and infiltrating the runoff.

Establish remediation sites using cattails (Typha angustifolia) and spear saltbush (Atriplex patula) in swales in the Zone II Recharge Area of the Sugar House well, where the state maintenance regimes of Routes 5 and I-9I result to high amounts of salt in road runoff. These species are salt tolerant and have the ability to treat salt-contaminated runoff before infiltration.

Evaluate the unpaved roads in town and their susceptibility to erosion. Conduct a study to find out how much sediment and runoff flows off the streets into the water bodies in town. Unpaved roads can contribute to rural character, and may slow the spread of residential growth in more remote areas.

Work with the Highway Department and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to establish an Integrative Vegetation Management program to minimize the use of herbicides and control vegetation in the Right-of-Ways. This will help to minimize damage to native wildlife and groundwater from herbicides and chemical uses, and implement management strategies such as carefully timed mowing to allow for songbird reproduction.

Consider conducting a study of salt use on state roads and the impact on groundwater or recharge zones to determine whether certain areas of the state roads can be designated as “reduced salt areas.� Road salt is a potential contaminant to the public water supply, especially within the Sugar House Well recharge zone.

Hire an engineer to consult on wastewater treatment alternatives. There is no one currently on the Board of Health or in the Town government that has the necessary environmental engineering expertise to direct the town towards appropriate solutions for wastewater treatment in Bernardston. The 2009 Tighe and Bond Sewer Analysis and Conceptual Design Report should be reviewed to assess the feasibility of centralized or decentralized sewage treatment systems for the Center Village and business and industrial zones.

5 to 10 Years

Reassess the Water Protection Overlay District assuming that the current inactive wells will need to be reinstated in the future. Bernardston has been identified as one of eight critical sources of public water supply in Franklin County. Unpredictable changes in future precipitation along with population growth may require inactive wells in Bernardston to be reinstated, or new wells to be constructed. The Water Protection Overlay District would need to be assessed to meet any significant changes in demand or the creation of additional wells.

Pursue funding for design and construction of a wastewater treatment solution resulting from professional environmental engineering plans that allows for denser development and a wider variety of businesses. Additional funding may be available if, during construction of sewer system, utility lines could be buried and old water mains could be replaced. There are limited funding sources available for rural towns, and a separate committee or hired staff member may be necessary to devote the time required to acquire the funds for a project of this scale.

10 to 20 Years

Construct a boardwalk through the wetlands by Cushman Park with wildlife and water education signs to increase accessibility and awareness of the ecosystem and natural environment. This will make use of the wetlands in the park, and can be a recreational destination for both residents and visitors.

3 WATERSHED PROTECTION

47

Credit: Rachel Lindsay

Darwin Scott Memorial Wetland

4 Natural and Cultural Resources A. Introduction

regional ecoregions.

At community meetings, residents listed many natural resources, historic places, and cultural traditions among the most valued assets of Bernardston, including landmark buildings, agricultural traditions celebrated in community activities like the Scarecrow Contest, and outdoor recreation lands where residents hike, bird watch and snowshoe. Two bands of mountains with dense forests envelop the Falls River Valley, providing wildlife habitat, ecosystem services, and picturesque views with ample opportunity for outdoor recreation.

Beyond the natural landscape, the hilly topography has shaped the town’s history. Originally settled in the eastern hills for protection from Native American raids, the town center has moved to different locations over the years. One of the first buildings, the Congregational Unitarian Church, was moved two times and now is located in the Center Village, highly valued for its New England aesthetic and many historic buildings.

Residents value the town’s rural character defined by its forested and agricultural landscape and believe efforts must be taken to preserve this landscape and the historical architecture common throughout town.

Ecosystem Services

B. Existing Conditions 1. Natural Resources

The natural landscape in Bernardston serves both the human and wildlife populations that inhabit the largely forested town. Some businesses depend on natural resources for farming and timber. Rich soils support the agricultural lands that are central to the town’s history, economy and rural character. Aquifers and surface waters provide the town’s excellent water quality. The various wetlands provide habitat, control flooding, and filter water. Numerous vernal pools provide habitat, slow runoff during storms and recharge groundwater.

Approximately three quarters of the land is forest, and forested wetlands are common (DFG, Nature Conservancy, 2010). The largely intact forested lands are critical habitat for wildlife, including several species of conservation concern, and serve to clean the air and water, absorb water and therefore reduce erosion, and provide shade to regulate the temperature of water bodies. These forests are integral to the health of

The natural resources in Bernardston contribute ecosystem services, which are defined as the benefits ecosystems provide to people. These benefits can be direct or indirect, small or large. The United-Nations- sponsored Millennium Ecosystem Assessment identified four major categories of ecosystem services: provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services.

A provisioning service is “any type of benefit to people that can be extracted from nature” (National Wildlife Federation, 2015). Provisioning benefits include food, drinking water, timber, wood fuel, natural gas and oils, medical benefits, and plants that can be made into clothes and other materials. Bernardston’s diverse landscape and rich soils provide resources for logging and agriculture, which some residents are dependent on for income. For example, maple trees support a syrup farm

by Eden Trail. The town’s aquifers supply its high quality drinking water. (See Element 3.) Forests and water bodies in Bernardston supply residents who forage, hunt, or fish with food.

A regulating service is “the benefit provided by ecosystem processes that moderate natural phenomena” through pollution reduction, decomposition, water purification, erosion and flood control, carbon storage, and climate regulation (National Wildlife Federation, 2015). Regulating services provide many of the basic services that support human existence. For example, pollination by birds and insects is critical for many of the fruits we eat. In Bernardston, the dense forests such as Charity Farm Lot help to stabilize soils, purify the water, store carbon dioxide, and regulate climate. The wetlands in Bernardston serve to control flood waters, absorb nutrients and chemicals from the water and act as a natural filtration system. These processes work together to make ecosystems clean, sustainable, functional and resilient to change.

A cultural service is a “non-material benefit that contributes to the development and cultural advancement of people” (National Wildlife Federation, 2015). This includes the building of knowledge, the spreading of ideas, and creativity born from interactions with nature and recreation. The forests in Bernardston provide sce-

4 NATURAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES

49

nic and recreational benefits including, hiking, bird watching, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, star gazing, horseback riding, hunting, and fishing.

Supporting services are underlying natural processes, such as photosynthesis, nutrient cycling, the creation of soils, and the water cycle (National Wildlife Federation, 2015). Without supporting services, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services would not exist. The forests in Bernardston support erosion control which is both a supporting and regulating service.

Surficial Geology The rugged topography east and west of the Fall River is characterized by glacial till with abundant rock outcrops. Glacial till is unsorted material deposited as the glaciers retreated. Soils that developed in glacial till are largely sandy loams.

Small areas of impure marble along the eastern mountain range may support richer soils and uncommon vegetation. The Connecticut Valley Lowland possesses richer soils of coarse sand and gravel deposited from outwash as the glacier retreated. The Fall River Valley includes a mix of alluvium soils and outwash deposits that support rich woods with abundant early spring wildflowers.

Bernardston is located at the border of two distinct ecoregions: the Connecticut River Valley and the Worcester Plateau. The Connecticut River Valley has rich soils, a relatively mild climate and low rolling topography. In contrast, the Worcester Plateau Ecoregion, in the central upland of Massachusetts, consists of most hilly areas with a few high monadnocks and mountains. Bernardston’s landscape has features of both ecoregions, with rich soils along the valley floor and hardwood forests on the eastern and western ridges.

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DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

Credit: BioMap2

Massachusetts’ Ecoregions

Vermont

Northfield

Impure Marble

Fall River Valley Leyden

Connecticut Valley Lowland

Gill

0

Abundant Outcrop

Coarse

Artificial Fill

Glaciolacustrine Fine

Swamp and Marsh Deposits

Stagnant-Ice Deposits

Floodplain Alluvium

Thin Glacial Till

Alluvial Fan

0.5

1

2 Miles

Surficial Geology 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

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Vegetation

Bernardston’s diverse landscape of meadows, wetlands, rivers, streams, bogs, ridges, and forests supports various plant species, some of which are of conservation concern. The town’s vegetation plays a crucial role in ecosystems by converting solar energy into biomass, which is used for wildlife shelter and food. Through photosynthesis, plants sequester carbon and release oxygen. Trees can hold between 35 and 800 pounds of carbon dioxide each year, depending on the size of the tree (Trimarchi, 2008). Plants also serve to clean the air and water as their leaves filter particles, including dust, and ozone. Vegetation helps to lower temperatures through evapotranspiration, a process by which water is absorbed through roots and evaporated through their leaves. On average, a large oak tree is capable of transpiring 40,000 gallons of water into the atmosphere in a year (Perlman, 2014). Vegetation provides shade and regulates the temperature of water bodies, which is essential for aquatic life. Shade produced by plants can also reduce energy use by reducing the need for air conditioning during warmer months. Plants’ roots help to secure soils and stabilize banks, reducing erosion.

The two dominant forest types in Bernardston are Transition Hardwoods and Northern Hardwoods, which cover the two mountain ranges (DFG, Nature Conservancy, 2010). Transition Hardwoods cover much of Franklin County and include oak, white pine, hemlock, and black birch. Northern Hardwoods are the most dominant forest type in western Franklin County and include beech, sugar and red maples, hemlock and white pine (Livingston, Sprague, Sullivan, 2008).

There are several plant species of conservation concern within Bernardston: two endangered species, two species on the NHSEP watch list, and several plants identified in a recent Franklin County flora project that have not been added to the watch list.

American waterwort (Elatine americana), black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) and tiny-flowered buttercup (Ranunculus micranthus) are three plant species currently considered endangered in the state of Massachusetts. All species listed as endangered are protected from killing, collecting, possessing, sale and other activities that destroy habitat (NHESP, 2011).

Easily overlooked, the American waterwort is a small, delicate broad-leaved plant that occurs on muddy 52 52

DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

shores of ponds or tidal river and tributaries. The plant flowers in mid-July to August and produces fruits from mid- August through September (NHESP, 2011).

Described as a “striking herbaceous perennial” in the buttercup family, black cohosh is a common garden and herbal medicine plant that inhabits rich deciduous forests typically with moist alkaline soils. The plant produces white flowers in July and has a flowering stem reaching eight feet in height (NHESP, 2011). The tiny-flowered buttercup typically occurs on south-facing slopes in patches of soil between rock outcrops and flowers in the spring (NHESP, 2011).

Water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia) is the only identified plant included in the NHESP watch list—an unofficial list of plants that are known or suspected to be of conservation concern. Species are included on this list for a number of reasons including seeming decline or vulnerability and recent discovery (NHESP, 2011). A “fully emerged perennial,” water stargrass can grow to just under five feet long and favors water bodies with sand and gravel soils and medium to high nutrient levels (Les Traitements BioBac, 2012).

Plants play a key role in human and wildlife existence and it is important that residents consider long-term strategies to better support vegetation as the climate changes. The Massachusetts Climate Change Adaptation Report suggests several strategies to reduce the vulnerability of vegetation to climate change. One strategy is to protect land by securing large unfragmented forest blocks that are essential for species persistence. Establishing landowner incentives to maintain and manage forest ecosystems is another strategy as nearly 80 percent of forests in Massachusetts are privately owned (Berke, Lyles, 2012).

The adjacent table lists plants identified by the NHESP as of conservation concern. The plants that are not listed by NHESP are from a recent Franklin County project to list species of concern.

Species of Conservation Concern Common Name

Scientific Name

Status

American waterwort

Elatine americana

Endangered

Black cohosh

Actaea racemosa

Endangered

Tiny-flowered buttercup

Ranunculus micranthus

Endangered

Water stargrass

Heteranthera dubia

Narrow triangle moonwort

Botrychium angustisegmentum

NHESP watch list

Long-bracted orchis

Coeloglossum viride

Not listed

Lace-grass

Eragrostis capillaris

Not listed

Whorled milkwort

Polygala verticillata

Not listed

Balsam poplar

Populus balsamifera

Not listed

Pendulus bulrush

Scirpus pendulus

Not listed

Leafy bulrush

Scirpus polyphyllus

Not listed

Not listed

Habitat

Location (if known)

Muddy shores of ponds or tidal river and tributaries

Very rich deciduous forests, typically with moist alkaline soils South-facing slopes in patches of soil between rock outcrops Water bodies with sand and gravel soils

Mostly in northern hard- Satan’s Kingdom wood forests but also in other kinds of forests and sometimes in openings Forests, meadows and fields, swamps

Satan’s Kingdom

Cliffs, balds, or ledges, floodplain (river or stream floodplains), ridges or ledges

Fields along Rte. 10

Cliffs, balds, or ledges, meadows and fields, ridges or ledges, woodlands

Off Rte. 5 and 10

Forest edges, forests, meadows and fields, shores of rivers or lakes

By the Falls River south of Meadow Rd.

Meadows and fields

Forests, shores of rivers or lakes, swamps

Motzkin, 2015

4 NATURAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES

53

Wildlife Habitat

In Massachusetts, two significant mapping efforts have been critical to understanding various types of wildlife habitat and their extent: BioMap2 and CAPS. BioMap2 is the result of a collaborative effort to document evidence of rare species and natural communities in Massachusetts gathered over the past thirty years, in order to protect the state’s biodiversity. The Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) and The Nature Conservancy are the main contributors to this effort.

BioMap2 identifies two complementary spatial layers, Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape. Core Habitats are key areas that are critical for the long-term persistence of species of conservation concern. Critical Natural Landscape supports Core Habitat and is characterized as large, intact, predominantly vegetated Landscape Blocks with minimal impact from development. Protection and stewardship of Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape is imperative for securing the diversity of species and their habitats, preserving intact ecosystems, and ensuring the overall resilience of natural landscapes across Massachusetts (DFG, Nature Conservancy, 2010).

Another resource for identifying important habitat is the Conservation Association and Prioritization System (CAPS). CAPS is a computer software program that models prioritized land for conservation across the

state. In 2011, the Landscape Ecology Program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst completed a comprehensive, statewide assessment of ecological integrity using CAPS. Maps were created for every city and town in Massachusetts depicting spatially their Index of Ecological Integrity (IEI) and delineating wildlife habitat and biodiversity based on landscape ecology principles and expert opinion. IEI maps rank all of the land and then show the 50 percent of the landscape with the highest rating and therefore the greatest ecological integrity. The areas of greatest ecological integrity in Bernardston correlate with the forested mountain ranges and should be prioritized for preservation as they offer habitat and support a diversity of wildlife. The maps produced from CAPS models go beyond identifying habitat to rating it. Together, the CAPS data and BioMap2 are resources that identify critical habitat both at the town and state scale and illustrate areas for priority protection.

CAPS Index of Ecological Integrity CAPS has identified the eastern and western mountain ranges in Bernardston as having the highest ecological integrity. Lowlands throughout town, including freshwater wetlands and aquatic landscape, are identified as having high ecological integrity. Shrublands of high ecological integrity are dispersed in town. The area surrounding Center Village has limited land of high ecological integrity.

Massachusetts Index of Ecological Integrity

Credit: CAPS IEI

Bernardston is located in western Massachusetts a region with high ecological integrity.

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The dense forest along the eastern and western ridges in Bernardston is identified as a Critical Natural Landscape which supports Core Habitat within the forests and along the Mill Brook and a tributary. BioMap2 further classifies wildlife habitat into Core Habitats defined by landscape characteristic and function, including Aquatic Core, Forest Core, Vernal Pool Core, Wetland Core Buffer, Species of Conservation Core, and Priority Natural Community Core. There are three species of Conservation Concern Cores, one reptile, one insect, and one plant in Bernardston. Bernardston’s deciduous forests provide habitat for black cohosh, an herbaceous perennial plant in the buttercup family which is currently endangered. Over fifty potential vernal pools have been identified in Bernardston and only one has been certified. Vernal pools are small, seasonal wetlands that provide habitat specifically for amphibians and invertebrate animals. These vernal pools are important for wildlife and human populations as they slow runoff during storms and recharge groundwater.

(See Element 3.)

The large, intact Critical Natural Landscape blocks on the eastern and western mountain ranges supports Core Habitat: Forest Cores, an Aquatic Core, and a Vernal Pool Core. All of the identified habitats are significant as they are part of larger regional Landscape Blocks that connect to surrounding towns. The Critical Natural Landscape on the southern edge may appear to be small and less significant but, it is part of a Landscape Block extending into Gill that has been identified as the second largest contiguous block in the ecoregion.

Along the northeast border with Vermont, a black gum swamp and a black ash swamp are identified as Priority Natural Communities by NHESP. Black gum swamps are forested hummocky peatlands that occur in a variety of settings, including isolated shallow depressions or basin wetlands, and along the edges of ponds or shorelines (NHESP, 2011). The swamp in Bernardston is relatively small but in good condition as it is protected within a large, intact forest (DFG, Nature Conservancy, 2010). Black ash swamps are a variant of red maple swamps that prefer less acidic, nutrient-rich groundwater. The black ash swamp in Bernardston is also protected by the large, contiguous forest and has good structural and floristic diversity (DFG, Nature Conservancy, 2010). The northeast corner of town has

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two Forest Cores, large intact forests with few roads and minimal development. Forest Core in Bernardston provides habitat for the early hairstreak butterfly, which is currently threatened, and supports a Vernal Pool Core (DFG, Nature Conservancy, 2010). These species, some of which are state-listed as rare and endangered, live in vernal pools and in adjacent upland forests where they overwinter.

The certification of vernal pools depends entirely on volunteer effort and is administered through NHESP. Students and teachers for example, could get involved in identifying, certifying, and monitoring the town’s potential vernal pools. Once a vernal pool is certified, there are regulatory restrictions placed on development and other activities proposed within and by the pool.

Certified Vernal Pools are protected from certain forestry impacts including harvesting requirements that limit cutting to no more than 50 percent of the trees within fifty feet of a CVP (MacCallum, 2009).

Core Habitats and Species of Concern In the southern half of town, an Aquatic Core has been identified along the Mill Brook and a tributary.

An Aquatic Core is a functional ecosystem for fish species and other aquatic species of conservation concern. A spotted turtle population, currently of conservation concern, has been identified in the southeast corner. This species favors habitat with large, unfragmented, open space. On the border of Bernardston in Gill and Northfield, there are two Wetland Core Buffers, defined by BioMap2 as the least disturbed wetlands in the state within undeveloped landscapes with intact buffers and little fragmentation. Within Bernardston, there are two rare endangered plant species that inhabit water bodies and are currently endangered, the American waterwort and water stargrass.

The forests and wetlands of Bernardston are home to unique habitats and species. Proper land management and measures to protect these habitats are essential for their long-term persistence.

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Core Habitats and Species of Concern 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

2. Inventory of Lands of Conservation and Recreation Interest In Bernardston, approximately 20 percent of the open space—undeveloped land with particular conservation or recreation interest, owned by the state, town, land trusts, other non-profits, or individuals—is protected in perpetuity. A conservation restriction (CR) is one of several methods for protecting land. It is a legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or other agency that permanently protects the conservation value of a property by prohibiting development.

Through a CR, the landowner agrees to limit the use of their property for the purpose of protecting its conservation, wildlife habitat, and /or recreational values (The Trustees of Reservations). The state of Massachusetts and local land conservation trusts provide further tools for preserving land, both temporarily and permanently, and offer economic incentives. These programs provide financial and educational assistance for landowners of farms and forests. (See Element 5.)

Most of Bernardston is identified as open space, which includes forest, farmland, recreation fields, and wetlands. The town owns open space for recreation including the Bernardston Elementary School, Cushman Park, Charity Farm Lot, Pratt Field, and Silver Lake with the Powers Institute. Privately owned, Crumpin Fox Golf Course covers 370 acres and is open to the public for recreation. The state owns the Satan’s Kingdom Wildlife Management Area in the northeast quadrant of town. This area is significant as it supports species of conservation concern and priority habitats, and is part of a large wildlife corridor continuing into the town of Northfield. The Department of Fisheries and Wildlife owns the Shattuck Brook Wildlife Management Area in the northwest quadrant of town.

Protected Wildlife Habitat

Most of the wildlife habitat in Bernardston is located along the mountain ranges, north of Center Village.

The southern portion of town is predominantly developed although there are several wetlands and two areas identified as intact forests (DFG, Nature Conservancy, 2010). The permanently protected land in Bernardston is owned by the state, town, residents, land trusts and other non-profit organizations. The land is protected

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through conservation or agricultural preservation restrictions. The tax abatement programs Chapter 61, 61A and 61B provide temporary protection through a commitment made by the landowner to keep the land as forest, farmland, or in recreation for ten years. The town has first right of refusal to purchase the property when it comes out of the chapter status if the property owner seeks to sell the land for another purpose. (See Element 5.)

Protected Wildlife Habitat The Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape in Bernardston constitutes of 62 percent of Bernardston’s open space. Currently, approximately 20 percent open space in Bernardston is protected in perpetuity. Of that, 29 percent of Critical Natural Landscape and 65 percent of Core Habitat is protected.

Most of the protected land is located in the northeast corner, including Satan’s Kingdom Wildlife Management Area, which extends into Northfield. Along the northern border of Bernardston, Roaring Brook Wildlife Management Area extends into Vernon and Guilford, Vermont, consisting of 1,460 contiguous acres of significant natural communities including vernal pools, wetlands, a red maple-black gum swamp, and sugar maple-ostrich fern riverine floodplain forest. It is important to maintain and protect the contiguous forests in Massachusetts and Vermont for connectivity and wildlife migration and to allow further protection of habitat in the large forestland. The Landscape Block along the western ridge has limited protection; one agricultural preservation restriction and the Shattuck Brook Wildlife Management Area there is protected.

The Landscape Blocks on the southern edge are not protected. When prioritizing protection, it is important to consider habitat connectivity, species of conservation concern and development pressure.

Roaring Brook Vermont

WMA

Northfield

Satan’s Kingdom Shattuck Brook

WMA

WMA

Charity Farm Lot Leyden

Route 5

Silver Lake

Mill Brook

Crumpin Fox Cushman

Route 10

Golf Course

Park BES

Pratt Field Gill

0

Protected Land Wetland BioMap2 Core Habitat BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape

0.5

1

2 Miles

Protected Wildlife Habitat 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

±

Many Bernardston residents enjoy outdoor recreation and appreciate the town’s rural character, with two forested mountain ranges supporting numerous brooks and wildlife. According to the 2008 Open Space and Recreation Plan and the two community meetings held in February 2015, residents enjoy the dense forests that provide remote, shady places to bird watch, track, and hike. Residents also described how they enjoy walking along the streams, maple sugaring, the Crumpin-Fox golf course, and stargazing. Walking along the Falls River is a favorite activity although there is no public access to the river. A survey for the OSRP noted that residents enjoy and want to continue having recreation opportunities including fishing and hunting. In winter, residents snowshoe, snowmobile and cross-country ski on various mountains and hills.

The fields at Pratt Field and the Bernardston Elementary School host baseball and soccer events.

Local events such as the Scarecrow Contest are celebrated at Cushman Park. Charity Farm Lot, an 85-acre forest, was gifted to the town in the 1830s to provide revenue used to support the poor. The land has been leased to farmers as a grazing hillside and was more recently logged for lumber. Residents have enjoyed the site’s scenic beauty and recreational opportunities including horseback riding, hiking and hunting, but the site has not been properly managed. John Lepore, a local landscape designer, has been leading the initiative to manage the land. His concerns include a fire road that is inaccessible due to erosion, the overcrowded forests, trails that are not longer clearly marked, and several invasive species that are becoming problematic.

He is working with the Town to develop a management plan for Charity Farm Lot with recommendations and a timeline for implementation. Goals for the property include updating the trail markers, re-routing trails along less steep pathways, restoring the site’s natural features, promoting the site for leveraging grants, and ultimately creating a place for families to bring their children to enjoy nature and the outdoors.

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Credit: David Rainville

Recreational Resources

Charity Lot Local restoration ecologist and designer John Lepore overlooks Charity Farm Lot.

Priority Protection Residents of Bernardston should be commended for the steps they have taken to preserve and protect the town’s land, preventing further fragmentation and a decline in ecological integrity.

During the community meeting held for the master planning process in February 2015, residents described development as one of the greatest changes in town since the 1975 Master Plan. They reported that although the northeastern part of Bald Mountain Road is now protected, the town has seen more development overall and many participants suggested that more land needs to be protected. While the town has made great progress toward permanent protection of the land, there are areas to consider for future protection from development. (See Element 5.)

Analyses of the information presented thus far suggests that the southern edge of Bernardston is of highest priority for protection. This area has high ecological integrity and is at risk of development because it is an unprotected, relatively flat area, close to Center Village and Greenfield. Although the area is favored for development, it is also home to the spotted turtle, identified by NHESP as a species of conservation concern. The two Critical Natural Landscape Blocks are not protected and between them is a fragile bog within the largest wetland in town. This area also has access to

the Falls River, which is greatly valued by residents.

On the outskirts of town, the area by Eden Trail Road is a desired location for residents with its scenic beauty, trails and various farms. Within this area, the Mill Brook and a tributary have been identified as an Aquatic Core.

Vermont

Keets Brook

Black Gum & Black Ash Swamps

Couch Brook

Route 5

Wildcat Mountain

Bald Mountain Road

Early Hairstreak

The second area for priority protection is the northeast region of Bernardston. The land supports natural communities and species of conservation concern. This area is mostly protected and has modest development pressure. Despite that, the gentle hills have enabled development along roads extending into Vermont.

The third area for priority protection is the large Landscape Block west of I-91, which has low development pressure and high ecological integrity.

The steep ledgy soils constrain development.

Identified as a large Landscape Block, the forest has minimal disturbance and supports diverse species but is currently unprotected. There are several areas of scenic and recreational interest that are also not protected, including West Mountain, the scenic backdrop for Center Village and a recreation destination with trails. Wildcat Mountain, deemed the “last truly wild area in Bernardston,� provides scenic and habitat value.

It is covered in dense mountain laurel, and has a wetland and a pond (Livinginston, Sprague, Sullivan, 2008). Beautiful Keets and Couch Brooks are wildlife corridors that extend from the Falls River west to Wildcat Mountain and West Mountain and into Leyden (Livinginston, Sprague, Sullivan, 2008). These areas are not protected but provide scenic and recreation resources, including fishing, and have been identified as archaeological sites (Livinginston, Sprague, Sullivan, 2008 & MHC, 1982).

West Mountain

Mill Brook

Route 10

Fragile Bog

Spotted Turtle

First Priority for Protection Vermont

Keets Brook

Black Gum & Black Ash Swamps

Couch Brook

Route 5

Wildcat Mountain

Bald Mountain Road

Early Hairstreak

West Mountain

Mill Brook

Route 10

Fragile Bog

Spotted Turtle

Second Priority for Protection Vermont

Keets Brook

Black Gum & Black Ash Swamps

Couch Brook

Route 5

Wildcat Mountain

Bald Mountain Road

Early Hairstreak

West Mountain

Mill Brook

Route 10

Fragile Bog

Spotted Turtle

Third Priority for Protection

4 NATURAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES

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3. Cultural Resources Historical Preservation

Rugged hills carved by the Falls River have shaped Bernardston’s history. The original settlement, perched on the eastern mountain range by Huckle Hill, provided refuge for European settlers during Native American raids. The steep terrain limited agriculture and further development, and as the area became more peaceful, the town relocated to the Falls River Valley. The Congregational Unitarian Church was constructed by early settlers and was moved two times before it arrived at its current location in Center Village (DCR, 2009). This church and three other buildings in Bernardston have been listed in the National Register of Historic Places: the Powers Institute, Cushman Library, and the fire station. The latter three buildings are grouped with Cushman Park into a National Register Historic District, created in 1993. Listing in the National Register provides formal recognition of the property’s significance, potential tax incentives for owners of income-producing property, and protection by state or federally funded, licensed, or assisted projects. National Register listing does not limit owner’s use of their property, and does not place restrictions or conditions on changes made by a private property owner unless there is state or federal involvement in a project, or some other regional and/or local regulation is in effect (Simon, Skelly, 2007).

The Powers Institute was built in 1857 and was originally a private academy that later served as a public high school until 1957. With funds from the Massachusetts Historic Commission, and a Community Development Block Grant, the Institute underwent a $1 million renovation in 2001, transforming the lower floor into the Senior Center and adding an elevator for accessibility to the Town’s Historical Society Museum on the upper floor (DCR, 2009). The Institute also added a universally accessible ramp. Upon renovation, a preservation restriction was placed on the building to protect its architectural and historical integrity. Towns can purchase preservation restrictions to assure that a property is protected in perpetuity (Simon, Skelly, Steinitz, 2010). The Senior Center, described by residents as a unique place where people go to play, is managed by the Council on Aging and offers classes

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for seniors, exercise programs, and social activities.

The Senior Center also provides transportation services and Meals On Wheels. The museum showcases memorabilia from the school, farm and household tools, textiles, and a collection of taxidermy donated by the family of Bernardston resident Luman Nelson. The museum is open to the public from May to October but closed in the winter as the second floor does not have heat. The Powers Institute is a treasured resource in town, and the Senior Center is well-used, drawing participants from the nearby towns of Leyden, Northfield, and Greenfield.

Built in 1862, the Cushman Library is a two-story Italianate brick structure with bracketed eaves, pilasters and roundhead windows set in brownstone. The library is an active social center in town; 53 percent of residents in Bernardston have library cards, and there are reading clubs and other activities. Cushman Library has recently updated its technologies to offer an online catalog and wi-fi. The active board of trustees plan to continue improving the quality of services offered to the community in the future, including increasing library hours. Adjacent to the library, the fire station is conveniently located in the center of town; however, the chief of the fire department noted that the department has outgrown the current fire station. (Further information about municipal services and facilities will be discussed in Element 8, to be completed in 2016.) In the southeast corner of Center Village, Cushman Park is used to host community events, including Old Home Day and the Scarecrow Contest. Described by residents as a good community gathering location, Cushman Park is highly valued in town but residents also express a desire to resolve the seasonal flooding that prevents the park from being accessible year-round. At One of the community meetings, residents also commented on the town’s strong sense of community with parades and festivals including the Gas Engine Show and Flea Market.

There are additional historic structures in Bernardston that are not listed in the National Register Historic Places. The Town Hall, built between 1870 and 1915, has offices on the first floor and the second floor is currently used for storage, as it is not universally accessible. The Assembly Hall on the second floor was

previously used for town meetings, dances, plays, sporting events, and concerts with a stage and seating capacity for 100 people (DCR, 2009). At the community meeting in 2015, residents expressed a strong desire to renovate this area for public events.

According to the Town Clerk, the high costs of renovation and the lack of additional storage areas to house the town records that are currently stored in the town hall are significant challenges the Town faces.

Neighboring the Town Hall are the United Church and the Baptist Church, which are also not listed as Historic Places. The United Church is active whereas the Baptist Church is no longer in use and is currently for sale. Just south of the Falls River, the Four Arch Stone Railroad Bridge was built in 1846 and is one of the only industrial structures in Bernardston (MHC, 1982).

The adjacent grain mill symbolizes the many mills historically established along the Falls River. The 2009 Bernardston Reconnaissance Report recommended that the town expand the National Historic District for the entire Central Village Area, including all civic buildings, historic homes, and the Arch Bridge and surrounding mills. The buildings would then be eligible for recognition, tax incentives for income-producing properties, protection, and grants.

The Community Preservation Act (CPA) enables towns to access significant funds for historic preservation, open space recreation, accessible housing, and public recreation projects. Towns raise money locally with a small surcharge on property taxes up to 3 percent and the money collected is matched by funds from the state.

Each of these areas must receive a minimum of 10 percent of the total fund each year, and the remaining 70 percent can be spent or reserved for future projects in any of the three areas or for public recreation.

The town of Leverett, Massachusetts, is similar to Bernardston in population, size and a strong commitment to the town’s rural character. In 2002 Leverett adopted the CPA as the town could not afford desired projects by fundraising alone. The first objective was to form the required Community Preservation Committee. The committee was composed of one representative from the Historical Commission, Recreation Commission, Conservation Commission, Planning Board, and Affordable Housing Committee, and two at-large members appointed by the Select Board.

Projects include renovating Town Hall windows, restoring the North Leverett Sawmill and placing a Historic Preservation Easement on it, purchasing contiguous parcels by the Leverett Pond for shoreline protection, extension of the Friendship Trail Land, and adding electrical work and heating to the second floor of the town library to make it usable year round.

Credit: Peter Shedd

Residents and town officials of Bernardston have identified six Priority Heritage Landscapes—dynamic areas that reflect the relationship between human culture, history, and the natural ecology (Cultura Resource Management Consultants). A complete list of Bernardston’s Heritage Landscapes is included in the 2009 Reconnaissance Report. The six areas include Center Village, the Town Hall, the Route 5 Corridor,

Case Study Community Preservation Act

Cushman Park Panorama of Cushman Park during town gathering.

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Eden Trail Corridor, the West Mountain Ledges and the Route 10/ Interstate 91 Corridor. The six-mile stretch of Route 5 running from the center of town to the border of Vermont traverses open fields with barns and historic homes reminiscent of its history as a stagecoach route. Eden Trail Road, in the southwest corner of Bernardston, is framed by several farms and open fields offering scenic views from its high elevation.

The West Mountain Range is visible from Center Village and is beautiful, especially in the fall. The Route 10/I-91 Corridor is a mixed-use area with com mercial and industrial districts, and residential, historical, and agricultural areas. Scenic and historic areas include open fields at the intersection with Purple Meadow Road, the site of Lieutenant Ebenezer Sheldon’s Fort, and one of the early garrison houses that was used for refuge during conflicts (DCR, 2009).

The Town of Bernardston Community Development Plan includes an inventory of additional significant buildings and structures not described here, including homes that are listed in the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System.

Visibility of Scenic Resources

At the two master plan community meetings, residents of Bernardston expressed appreciation for the town’s historic buildings, and the scenic natural landscape.

According to Google Earth Pro, ore than 28,000 cars travel through Bernardston daily via the three state roads and when approaching Bernardston from Greenfield, two mountain ranges compose the most visible landscape, with West Mountain forming the backdrop to Center Village. With significant views of the mountainous landscape, there is potential for the town to promote recreation, including hiking and biking for locals and visitors.

In order to maintain the landscape along these visible ranges, the town should consider an Upper Elevation Protection bylaw, to prohibit development in locations or at elevations that would impact Bernardston’s overall rural character. The town should also consider a Scenic Vista Overlay District to provide design standards along Route 5, which is a gateway to Bernardston, and Eden Trail Road, which residents have described as a scenic area with many farms. These two areas are moderately visible throughout town and were identified by residents and town officials as Priority Heritage Landscapes.

Visibility of Scenic Resources and Unique Environments A digital elevation model was used to identify the most visible places in town. The visibility of the surrounding landscape was calculated from fourteen locations along Routes 5 and 10 and I-91. The darker purple tones indicate areas of the landscape that are visible from the most modeled locations.

Interstate 91 and Route 5 bisect Bernardston and offer views of the valley and mountain ranges.

The majority of scenic resources and unique environments are visible from these two roads.

The southeastern corner by Route 10 is the least visible.

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4. Vulnerabilities Fragmentation

Forest fragmentation is the process of breaking up large patches of forest into smaller pieces. It can occur when roads are built, for example, or forests cleared for roads or development (EPA, 2003). Forest fragmentation can reduce biodiversity by making it difficult for some species to breed or find food. There are species, especially birds such as the black-throated green warbler, that need large, intact forest to persist. NHESP has identified several negative effects of fragmentation, including nest predation by species associated with development such as skunks, raccoons, and house cats.

As forests become more exposed and readily accessed, another impact is nest parasitism by species such as the brown-headed cowbird, which lay their eggs in the nest of other bird species, reducing their productivity. Forest interior habitats support various native plants, animals, and ecological processes that are sensitive to other edge effects, which include noise and light pollution from roads and development, invasive species establishment, and alterations to wind, heat and other climate variables (NHESP, 2011).

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Threats to Natural Resources

Developed land and associated impervious cover, land use, and natural disasters all have impacts on the natural environment. Development is a threat particularly near wetlands, which provide habitat and control flooding. A railroad crosses over significant lands critical for key ecosystem services, including the Falls River and along the edge of the Darwin Scott Memorial Wetland.

A train derailment could have environmental consequences in these areas. The proximity of Bernardston to Interstate 91 impacts air quality and noise. Exhaust fumes pollute the air and traffic in town, especially along the state roads, produces significant noise, which impacts residents and wildlife. A growing number of studies indicate that wildlife, like humans, are stressed by a noisy environment. For example, female frogs exposed to traffic noise have difficulty locating the male’s signal (National Park Service, 2009). The use of salt on state roads is a potential contaminant of the town’s groundwater, and is also potentially contaminating other water bodies, including wetlands and the Falls River. (See Element 3.) The Highway Department noted several animals are killed yearly when attempting to cross these two roads, especially I-91.

Just six miles northeast of Bernardston, Entergy’s Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant closed in December 2014. According to the plant’s government affairs manager, Joe Lynch, the fuel has been removed from the reactor, mixed with older, used fuel in canisters and placed in the spent-fuel pool which will continue to cool until 2020. The plant will then enter “dry-cask storage” and there will no longer be an emergency plan as the casks are designed to withstand any external threat. Lynch said that the only risks to the fuel pool would be loss of cooling or deliberate tampering.

He is confident that the amount of water stored above the spent fuel negates the first risk and the tampering would be difficult as the plant is overseen by armed guards. Lynch said that, “if the pool did become compromised, possible radioactive contamination would be limited to an area inside the 125-acre Vermont Yankee property.”

In contrast, Citizens Awareness Network raises concerns about the decommissioning plan that Entergy has submitted for Vermont Yankee, stating that there are “significant errors and deficiencies.” The network

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remarks that the decommissioning fund is too small; based on a “generic” nuclear plant, the plan does not address known issues at Vermont Yankee such as the large amount of tritium contamination on the site from underground piping. Vermont Yankee “incorrectly assumes that a suitable dump will be available” and the network notes that by the time Vermont Yankee shuts down, there will be no level radioactive waste dumps available and costs are likely to increase if a dump opens. Therefore, Vermont could have to store the waste for several years. “An accident at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Reactor would expose vast areas of beautiful New England and millions of people to dangerous levels of radiation for decades” (Citizens Awareness Network). If an accident were to occur, the radiation could contaminate the wildlife and habitats in Bernardston, which is within twenty-five miles of the plant.

The town takes pride in its local farms but fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides that residents apply to lawns, gardens, and agricultural fields can contaminate groundwater. In Whately, Massachusetts, the groundwater supply was discovered to be contaminated with common pesticides applied on agricultural lands. More than 30 percent of the wells tested were positive for ethylene dibromide and aldicarb (Temik), exceeding the state safety limits and were subsequently shut down (Sarnat, Willis, Harper, 1987). Uncovered manure piles are also of concern as run-off can contaminate streams, wetlands or ponds and eventually aquifers. The Department of Conservation & Recreation Division of Water Supply Protection states that horse manure contains nutrients that “impair water quality and can contain pathogens that are potentially harmful to humans.”

Horses can also potentially alter the runoff characteristics of the landscape, increasing the ability of pollutants to enter the drinking water supply (DCR, “Horse Ownership and the Massachusetts Watershed Protection Act).

As observed at Charity Farm Lot, there are invasive plant species in Bernardston that threaten the native species, some of which are of conservation concern.

Local restoration ecologist and designer John Lepore noted several invasive species including multiflora rose, burning bush, barberry, and Russian olive at

Charity Farm Lot. In a 2014 Charity Farm Lot update report Lepore remarked that many of the invasive plants are in “the very early stage of overtaking the site” and expressed the importance of taking action before the growth “overpowers eradication.”

Threats to Cultural Resources

The recommendations at the end of this chapter and in Element 10 address these threats with suggestions including Best Management Practices for protecting water quality through stormwater management, land use planning strategies that would reduce habitat fragmentation, and managing landscapes to protect the many important ecosystem services provided by them.

There are many significant historic properties within and surrounding Center Village that are not listed as Historic Places. Only four of the historic buildings in town are listed as Historic Places and therefore eligible for recognition, tax incentives, protection, and grants.

The village’s Historic District designation provides only limited protection from adverse effects of federally assisted projects, and, through automatic inclusion in the State Register of Historic Places, limited protection from state actions (Simon, Skelly, 2007). The National Register Historic District is not as strict as a Local District, which enforces a regulatory review process for all changes to exterior architectural features visible from a public way; however, the Local District provides protection from demolition and renovations that are not aesthetically appropriate given the town’s design standards. Currently, the Expedited Permitting District is the only zone in Bernardston that has design standards. The town could consider including design standards for other zones to ensure that the buildings reflect Bernardston’s historic character. Design guidelines could also include preferred materials that have additional benefits beyond aesthetics, such as pervious pavers which allow for on-site infiltration and provide attractive walkways.

Credit: Bill Montiglio

On a broader level, it is important to recognize the impact of climate change on plants and animals.

Forests, wetlands, rivers, and streams offer various functions, including supporting wildlife habitat and cleaning air and water. As temperature and precipitation change, some vegetation may be unable to adapt to the altered conditions.

Farmland in Bernardston Farmland forms a loved part of the scenic landscape and with best management practices it can positively contribute to the local ecology and economy.

Residents of Bernardston have always revered their historic buildings as indicated by their efforts to move the Congregational Unitarian Church, and their continued passion for the significant buildings in Center Village. At the first master plan community meeting, many residents expressed their view that more historic preservation is needed. Buildings are aging and many structures are not universally accessible. Center Village does not have a public sewer system, some of the septic systems are failing, and a new system would be expensive.

Outside of Center Village, there are several areas that residents value, especially the Priority Heritage Landscapes. None of the agricultural lands or historic sites along Route 5 or within the Route 10/I-91 corridor are permanently protected from development. The only Agricultural Preservation Restriction in Bernardston is located in the northeast corner along the border with Leyden. Of the distinctive barns and historic homes, none are listed in the National Register of Historic

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The recommendations at the end of this chapter and in Element 10 address these threats with suggestions, including adopting the Community Preservation Act, listing more buildings as Historic Places, and enacting bylaws with design standards for scenic roads and areas.

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Credit: Rachel Lindsay

Places or otherwise protected. Properties along Eden Trail Road are valued for the various farms, scenic views and recreational trails but, they are also not permanently protected from development. None of the properties on the West Mountain ridgeline or ledges are permanently protected from development. They are particularly vulnerable due to their scenic vistas and availability of Town water, which extends part of the way up West Mountain Road. Residents reported that from areas west of Fox Hill Road, there is a great view of the center of town. It is important that these areas be protected as they are the backdrop to Center Village.

The town should consider protecting significant lands and buildings and seek funding for renovations in an effort to maintain the town’s rural, historic character.

Four Arch Stone Bridge This is one of Bernardston’s valued historic structures built in 1846 by Theodore Judah and is one of the only surviving structures from the Industrial Era (DCR, 2009).

C. Recommendations Natural and Cultural Strategies

To meet Bernardston’s three goals, the Town should designate areas of significant views and historic and ecological integrity and create by-laws that preserve Bernardston’s New England character. The town should involve citizens in workshops on preserving historic structures, the range of restrictions that can protect land, and best management practices for sustainable forestry. It should also create maps to promote outdoor recreation and historic tours.

Issues

• Residents express lack of town-wide communication. There is limited knowledge of where to get local produce and town attractions including outdoor recreation.

• Critical Natural Landscape along the western mountain range offers scenic views and recreational opportunities however, is largely unprotected.

• Residents express concern for preserving historic structures. Without attention, neglect and deterioration can threaten significant structures. If buildings deteriorate, restoration can become exceedingly difficult to afford.

Considering Sustainability Forests, wetlands, rivers, and streams are natural resources that not only have aesthetic and recreational benefits but also play crucial roles in mitigating the impact of climate change. Scientists predict that, in part due to chemical changes in the atmosphere, there will be an increase in annual precipitation, shifts in temperature, and increased frequency and intensity of storms and flooding in New England. The natural landscape can help to mitigate these changes through the purification of air and water, absorption of subsurface and overland water flow, and the sequestration of carbon in both the above-ground growing vegetation and within the organic components of forest soils. These ecosystems, and their functions, will be crucial in helping natural systems and human communities cope with climate change.

Encouraging best management practices and further preservation of open space in Bernardston will not only help to meet the Town’s goals of preserving rural character, but will help to improve the overall health and resiliency of the town in the face of these climate changes.

• Residents are concerned that new development will alter the town’s New England character.

• Cushman park is conveniently located in the center of town however, the park floods often preventing it from being used for farmers markets, and other town activities.

• Residents treasure the Falls River however, there is no public access to the river.

• Residents take pride in Bernardston’s historic buildings however the town cannot afford renovations and many of the structures, including the second floor of Town Hall, are not universally accessible or heated.

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Recommendations

Recommendation for Bernardston’s future Watershed, Natural and Cultural Resource, and Land Use management cover a range of actions, including educating and conducting out- reach, changing zoning and policy, strengthening community connections, and investing in infrastructure. These changes that require significant planning and funding. The following recommendations are explained in more detail, with suggested time frames and responsible parties, in Section 10.

Ongoing

Continue to educate and involve residents in Charity Farm Lot with community work days. Encourage public participation in developing hiking trails, picnicking facilities, and removing invasive species. Construct signs with information about the lot’s history and potentially connect trails to the approximate site of the first settlement.

Promote Bernardston as a recreation destination and update the town website with visitor information, including maps of historical buildings, recreational trails and a page for Charity Lot.

Work with conservation organizations and residents to develop a strategy for identifying lands that may be coming out of Chapter 61, 61A, or 61B and anticipate the funding necessary to protect these lands. Prioritize protection in the southern portion of town, which has several wetlands and identified critical habitat that stretches across the town border and is under the highest development pressure. Second priority is the northeast region of Bernardston, which is densely forested and mostly protected, but which has modest development pressure. The town should also consider protecting the large landscape block along the western mountain range, which is predominantly unprotected and has low development pressure.

1 to 5 years

Investigate resources to involve the younger generation in town activities that improve the recreational opportunities and health of the natural environment in Bernardston.

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Work with Community Preservation Coalition to host a workshop to educate residents about the benefits of the Community Preservation Act.

Create bike lanes that extend from the Franklin County Bikeway in Northfield and continue along Route 10 and Route 5 to Pratt Field, and up Bald Mountain Road to Charity Lot. This would involve coordination with Franklin County and the state.

Work with the Massachusetts Historic Commission to update the town’s list of State Register of Historic Places for recognition and potential funding through the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund.

Adopt the Community Preservation Act to raise local money which is matched by the state for projects, including historic preservation, open space and land preservation and affordable housing.

Create a Demolition Delay Bylaw to protect historic structures by granting additional time to fund the renovation of a historical building, or relocate it. Establish criteria for qualified structures.

Create a Scenic Roads Bylaw to protect significant roads’ rural and historic character. This bylaw would establish a local review procedure for the cutting or removal of trees and alteration of stone walls that are within the public right-of-way. Further design guidelines and form-based codes can restrict development by height, materials and landscaping in order to maintain scenic vistas.

Implement development controls to protect the currently forested slopes that provide the backdrop to views of town from erosion. This could be accomplished through restricting development on slopes greater than 15 percent or through a Scenic Vista Overlay District that mandates the preservation of existing vegetation and requires additional natural screening for new developments on hillsides visible from the main roads. An Upper Elevation Protection Bylaw would establish an elevation above which site plan review is required for new developments. The Planning Board can limit building heights above tree lines and require appropriate replanting of native trees and plants and the screening of utilities.

Consider permitting accessory uses on farmland to include conference centers, restaurants, and other small businesses to draw visitors to local farms. This would enable farmers to diversify their operations, provide supplemental income, and increase awareness of local farms.

Create a Conservation Opportunity Subdivision to fasttrack subdivisions that conserve at least 80 percent of a site. This would promote denser development, reduce sprawl, and help to preserve land.

5 to 10 years

Expand the National Register Historic District to include historic structures on Church and River Streets, and educate property owners about the benefits of placing their properties on the National Register of Historic Places. Listing buildings in the National Register provides formal recognition, potential tax incentives for owners of income-producing properties, and protection by state or federally funded, licensed or assisted projects.

Create Architectural Preservation Districts/ Neighborhood Districts to protect the overall character of an area by regulating demolition and major alteration of buildings. Set design standards for scale, massing, street pattern, setback, and materials.

10 to 20 years

Use funding from the Community Preservation Act to renovate the Town Hall to enable accessibility of the second floor. This would allow gatherings within the center of town for events such as meetings, cultural events, the farmer’s market, or private uses.

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Credit: Cathryn Thomas

Ten percent of the land in Bernardston is in Photo agricultural use.

Title Here

5 Land Use A. Introduction

B. Existing Conditions

The Bernardston community would like to preserve the rural character of the town, create a more vibrant Center Village, and foster sustainable economic development in their town. To meet these goals, land use in Bernardston needs planning needs to consider regional population growth, the associated changes in development pressure, and the impacts of climate change.

1. Landscape Character

In the 1800s, Bernardston’s village center moved from the hills down to the valley alongside the Falls River, where the town hall and historic churches continue to be the heart of the community today. Classic New England buildings and churches line the main streets, and the old grain mill along the river is maintained as a farmer’s supply store. Business and industry are tucked into the southern area of town, in the village center and along state roads, leaving scattered residential areas, farms, and large tracts of forested land to the north.

Interstate 91 parallels an old stagecoach route from New York to Vermont that is now State Route 5. The vast majority of land in Bernardston remains open agricultural and forested land, contributing to the rural character enjoyed by residents.

The steep hills that flank the eastern and western sides of the Falls River Valley form the walls of a channel that connects Greenfield, the hub of Franklin County, with the northern Green Mountains of Vermont. Tens of thousands of passers-by travel daily through the central valley of Bernardston, passing the forested hills that rise on either side of Interstate 91. The rocky slopes of the West Mountain Ledges and Satan’s Kingdom Wildlife Management Area restrict transportation routes, agriculture, and development to the narrow floodplain that runs along the center of the town.

Here, many interests compete for the fertile and accessible flat lands. Agriculture, residential, business and industrial development are in close proximity to the rivers and wetlands that eventually feed into the Connecticut River south of the town.

The village center maintains a classic New England charm, with colonial homes, a handsome brick library, an historical Town Hall, a church that was moved from an original fort on Huckle Hill, an active country store and farmer’s supply, and an impressive arched railroad bridge crossing the Fall River. Residential, business, and industrial development have spread out along state Routes 5 and 10 to the north, south, and east of the center of town. The types of established businesses in Bernardston also reflect a culture with rural values: wholesale farm supplies, campgrounds, logging companies, family-owned restaurants, and an eighteen-hole golf course.

Land use in the Falls River Valley Bernardston’s flanking mountains have funneled most development into the valley, outlined in red. A mix of land uses (left) are found there, and it also has extensive NRCS-identified prime farmland (in green, right).

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Current Land Use

Agriculture is very visible in Bernardston. Much of the 1,500 acres of farmland that makes up 10 percent of the town form part of the scenic landscape along Route 5 from the Greenfield town line all the way north to Vermont, and along smaller roads such as Eden Trail Road into Leyden.

In the mid-1940s, engineers identified these same flat areas along major rivers as a prime route for the new interstate highway. Interstate 91 follows the Falls River Valley, dividing the town in half. The construction of the interstate changed the course of development in town, replacing farm fields with a four-lane highway and exit ramps for a new point of entry near the center of town. In the 1975 master plan, the new highway that increased the accessibility of Greenfield, Springfield, and points south was recognized as an opportunity for industrial and commercial expansion.

Credit: Rachel Lindsay

The facing map shows land uses from 2005 Massachusetts Geologic Information System (GIS) data. Residential land covers just over 5 percent of the town, roughly 800 acres. Industrial and commercial land form only 0.2 percent of Bernardston, with most of the 300 acres adjacent to the state roads, highways, and railroad.

The large contiguous areas of forest that cover over 75 percent of Bernardston’s total 23.4 square miles include the steep hillsides east and west of the town center. This dense forest not only forms the backdrop of almost all views of Bernardston from the main roads, but most of the forested area in Bernardston is also identified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service as growing on the most highly productive “prime� forest soils. At least 1,500 acres of forest are actively logged, and 1,150 acres are permanently protected by the Department of Fish and Game for wildlife management. The access that I-91 provides to Greenfield and the greater region continues to drive development in the southern portion of town, close to the border of the city of Greenfield. To the east, west and north, the towns of Leyden, Northfield and Guilford, Vermont share a similar rural character with Bernardston.

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Industry

Over 75 percent of Bernardston is forest. Responsibly managed forests can

CaroVail, a manufacturer of agricultural inputs, is located along State Route

provide wildlife habitat, sequester carbon, and provide income for

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landowners.

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Credit: Rachel Lindsay

The land uses in Bernardston follow a traditional New England pattern of heavily forested hillsides surrounding mixed residential, industrial, and agricultural lands in the fertile floodplains along the rivers. Historically, the rivers provided energy and transportation opportunities, and the flat, well-drained soil alongside them was the obvious place to locate a town center.

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Land Use Change

The map on the facing page shows changes in land use, represented by the use to which they were converted between 1971 and 1999. Most of these lands were converted from agricultural, forested, or barren open land and developed for housing.

The Crumpin-Fox Golf course was built in 1977 and is currently owned by the Sandri Corporation, the largest landowner in town. Sandri Corporation owns over 600 acres, including an inn and the gas station in Center Village. The most significant recent business is the Kringle Candle Company, established in 2009.

Business and industrial development in Bernardston has been established along Route 10 near the border with Northfield. There are several available lots zoned for industrial and business use that border the rail line south of Route 10 and have development potential with opportunities to increase jobs in the region and Bernardston’s tax base.

The 1980s was a period of high residential development in the region, and housing was the largest sector of development in Bernardston from 1971 to 2005. The areas in red reveal a pattern of new residential development outside of the center of town. In contrast to the density of mixed-used development in valley, residential development during this time period was dispersed throughout the town, predominantly in rural areas. This trend is of concern because the greater the distance from municipal services such as town water, schools, snow removal, road maintenance and emergency services to residents, the higher the costs to the town.

Continued residential development outside of the center of town will continue to increase the costs of services to residents, and could damage sensitive wildlife habitat areas as discussed in the Natural and Cultural Resources element of this plan.

Land Use Change from 1971 to 1999

One major challenge for business and industrial expansion in Bernardston is finding appropriate and affordable septic solutions. One example of a business that struggled with this issue is Lefty’s Brewery, a successful small business that was established in Bernardston’s Center Village, but relocated to Greenfield due to wastewater constraints that prevented the business from increasing its production. As the brewery expanded, soil limitations on site required the business to update to a specially designed alternative septic system in order to accommodate the increased volume of wastewater, and the brewery could not afford the upgrade.

Although the centrally located access to I-91 is a desirable asset for businesses and industries, the local soil conditions, proximity to wetlands, and lack of centralized sewers have limited the type and scale of industrial and businesses development in Bernardston.

Agricultural and forested land changes between 1971 and 1999 show shifts in land use management. Most of the land converted to agriculture in this time period was previously forest, and most of the land converted to forest was abandoned agricultural and pasture lands.

There was a growth in the recreational facilities in Bernardston, with the establishment of the CrumpinFox golf club and the town-owned Pratt Field.

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DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

New Use

Area

Previous Use

Residential

470 Acres

Forest (66%), Agricultural (26%), Barren (8%)

Recreation

187 Acres

Agricultural (50%), Forest (50%)

Barren

152 Acres

Forest (60%), Agricultural (27%)

Agricultural

110 Acres

Forest (90%), Barren (10%)

Forest

74 Acres

Cropland (33%), Pasture (33%), Barren (33%)

Commercial

20 Acres

Forest (60%), Agricultural (20%)

Industrial

23 Acres

Forest (50%), Agricultural (50%)

Waste Disposal

8 Acres

Forest (100%)

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Agricultural (previously 90% Developed for agricultural use. forested) Forest (previously 33% cropland, 33% pasture, 33% Became forest. barren land) Became barren(previously land - vacant Barren Land 60% open land that is not managed for forest, 27% agricultural) agriculture or recreation.

Recreation (previously 50% Converted to and recreational use. agricultural 50% forest)

.5

Residential (previously 66% forest, 26% 8% Developed foragricultural, residential use. barren land) Commercial Developed for(previously commercial60% use. forest, 20% agricultural) Industrial (previously 50% Developed for industrial use. agricultural, 50% forest) Waste Disposal (previously Converted to waste disposal.

100% forest)

1

2 Miles

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Land Use Change 1971 - 1999 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

te 1 0

Zoning

Bernardston’s zoning by-laws were adopted in 1987 and have been revised numerous times since. They were created with the intention of preserving the historic, rural-agricultural landscape of the town. There are currently six zoning districts and two overlay districts. The Center Village (CV) zone allows for mixed use in the center of town, with residential plots and business lots of a minimum of a half acre. The one-acre Residential (R1) zones allow for mid-density development close to the center of town. The ResidentialAgricultural (R/A) zone requires plot sizes to be at

least one-and-a-half-acres and covers over 90 percent of Bernardston. The Industrial (I) and Business (B) zones are restricted to land bordering the state roads leading east and south of the center village. Agriculture and agricultural enterprises such as seasonal farm stands are allowed in every zone.

Code

Zoning District

Description

% of Landcover

R/A

Residence / Agricultural

Nearly identical restrictions as R1 but a minimum lot size of one and a half acres.

91%

CV

Center Village

2%

I

Industry

A mixed-use district with single-and multi-family dwellings, small businesses and retail. The minimum plot size is ½ acre.

There are no drive-thru or industry allowed in this zone.

B

Business

<1%

EPD

Expedited Permitting District

A non-residential district to accommodate larger businesses, with a minimum lots size of a half an acre.

Code

R1

80

Residence / One Acre

A residential district with single and two-family dwellings.

Bed and breakfasts and home occupations are allowed but no other business or industry.

6%

Area restricted to industrial uses, with a minimum lot size of two acres.

1%

A district with an expedited process for approval of commercial and industrial development. This area has outlined guidelines for site design, landscaping, and stormwater management. The minimum lot sizes are one half acre.

<1%

Overlay District

Description

% of Landcover

WR

Water Resource Protection District

5%

FP

Floodplain Overlay District

An overlay district with stringent restrictions on use, storage of potential contaminants, and amount of pavement allowed.

The purpose of this designation is to protect the public health by preventing contamination of the ground and surface water resources providing public drinking water.

An overlay district with additional restrictions on development 4% and measures to protect existing vegetation and soil stability.

The purpose of this designation is to reduce the risk of public emergencies, reduction in water quality, contamination and erosion due to flooding.

DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

Source: Town of Bernardston Planning Board Zoning Bylaws

Zoning Districts

R/A

R/A

B

R1 I EPD B EPD

R1

CV

I B

R1

0

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1 Miles

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Zoning Districts Residential // Residential Agricultural (91% of Agricultural (91%)

Floodplain Overlay District (4%)

Residence 1-acre (6%)

Water Resource Protection District (5%)

landcover in town)

Center Village (2%) Industrial (1%) Business (<1%) Expedited Permitting District (<1%)

Zoning 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston 5 LAND USE

81

Case Study: Using Design Guidelines to Preserve Small-Town New England Feel Edgartown, Massachusetts, was the first village settled on Martha’s Vineyard and it thrived during the nineteenth century as a whaling community. The town became a popular tourist destination that, during a peak in commercial development at the end of the twentieth century, adopted a permitting process with design guidelines to protect the quality and character of its downtown.

In 1988, Edgartown received a grant from the Massachusetts Council on the Arts and Humanities to develop a master plan to preserve the historic rural feel of the town’s rapidly developing Upper Main Street. The landscape architectural firm Dodson Associates worked with the Planning Board, local business owners, town departments and residents to identify desirable design elements for future development.

Through weekly meetings over the course of several months, they established a goal of transforming the town’s automobile-oriented strip into a pedestrianoriented commercial area. They used innovative site planning and design techniques to help manage growth and generate development better suited to match the existing character of Edgartown. The final recommendations included locating all parking in the rear of buildings and requiring sidewalks, trees along the main road, buried utility wires, and clustered buildings, and encouraging shared parking.

The group also generated a set of design guidelines for building heights, rooflines, materials, signs, and lighting.

Although some zoning by-laws were amended as a result, the town opted to create a special permit for new development on Upper Main Street that includes

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DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

illustrated design guidelines for interested developers to follow.

This strategy has been very successful for the town.

Since the permitting process was implemented in 1989, the majority of the proposals conform with the town aesthetic. The clear expectations outlined and illustrated in the permitting process have led to faster and less contentious review processes for new businesses. Traffic congestion increased only marginally over the following decade, and pedestrian activity increased at a higher rate than other commercial corridors on Martha’s Vineyard. A citizen committee regularly meets to discuss ways to continue to preserve the quality of Main Street, including potentially building a bypass road around the village center. Today the town’s 4,000 fulltime residents continue to rely on its rural seaside character and historic center to draw the 20,000 tourists each summer that drive the local economy.

As commercial development pressures in Franklin County and Bernardston grow, a similar set of guidelines for Center Village development could help to protect the small-town New England feel that so many of its residents value.

(Arendt, 1994; USDOT)

2. Recent Zoning Changes Within the last five years, the Planning Board proposed significant changes to the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s zoning by-laws that have been approved and adopted at Town Meeting. In 2010, undeveloped sites near the entrance to I-91 were designated Expedited Permitting Districts. The purpose of this designation, according to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 43D, is to promote commercial and industrial development that generates tax revenue and jobs for the town, while ensuring high quality site planning, architecture, and landscape design that fit the character of Bernardston. These districts have been assigned comprehensive performance standards that include low impact development and renewable energy production criteria, and allow for planned unit developments that comply with detailed design guidelines. The extensive criteria developed for these districts allow the town to guarantee an expedited permitting process for developers wishing to move forward with plans quickly.

The adoption of these districts also fulfills a requirement for becoming a registered Green Community, as outlined by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Designation as a Green Community will allow the Town to apply for additional grants to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects on the local level (Town of Bernardston and FRCOG, 2010).

In 2013, two overlay districts were created: the Water Resource Protection District and the Floodplain Overlay District. The purposes of these overlay districts are to protect the quality of the public water supply and mitigate potential damage due to flooding. The Floodplain Overlay District contains additional restrictions on development and the storage of potentially hazardous materials, and strict land-use codes including the preservation of existing vegetation to prevent erosion during large storm events. The Water Resource

Protection District prohibits specified industries and businesses, such as auto body shops, that require the use of potential contaminants and the storage of chemicals such as rock salt. These districts follow the delineated Zone II recharge areas for the wellheads in current use, as outlined in the Watershed Protection element of this plan.

In 2014, the process for permitting was amended to include increased requirements for site plan reviews.

These changes will allow the Planning Board to have greater influence over the design elements of new developments in town, and to provide an opportunity for public input on the decisions of the planning board.

The adopted zoning by-laws and the changes implemented over the last five years reflect a dedication on the part of the town to socially and environmentally conscious development. These recent changes are in line with the identified goals of preserving the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rural character and fostering sustainable economic development.

Continuing to adopt by-laws that preserve the ecological integrity of the existing open space and include design guidelines and low impact development criteria for the other districts in town will help to ensure attractive, appropriate development in Bernardston, as well as potentially protect against the impacts of climate change. These same values should be incorporated into revisions of the Subdivision Regulations, which have not been amended since their adoption in 1987.

Updating the subdivision regulations is currently on the agenda for the Planning Board.

More detailed recommendations for possible changes to Bernardstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s land use controls are outlined at the end of this section and in Section 10: Recommendations.

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Residential land is the fastest growing category of land use in Bernardston. Between 1980 and 2000, the number of housing units grew by 30 percent, a higher percentage increase than in the county and the state during that period. Since 2000 the rate of development has declined sharply, although there were eighty-nine permits for new housing units granted between 2000 and 2010 (Town of Bernardston and FRCOG, 2014). Since 2010, only twelve new residences have been built in town. This decline reflects an overall decrease in the housing market in the county and the state during this time (FRCOG, 2013). According to the 2013 American Community Survey, there are 1,024 housing units in Bernardston. Eighty-four percent of Bernardston’s housing units are single-family residences, a category which include both detached homes and attached units such as condos. The rest of the town’s housing mix comprises duplexes (4 percent of the town’s total units), multiple-unit buildings (6 percent) and mobile homes (7 percent). Eighty-three percent of residences in town are owner occupied, and the median value for houses is $277,000 (American Community Survey, 2013). As shown on the Land Use Change Map, recent residential development has occurred primarily on the outskirts of town.

Franklin County as a whole experienced a similar increase in residential growth between 1970 and 2000, with a sharp decline in the rate of new construction after 2005 (FRCOG, 2013). Nearly all of the new residential units constructed in recent years have been single-family homes built along existing roadways, which is the type of residential development with the least stringent requirements for permitting, as outlined by the Commonwealth’s Approval-Not-Required rules (FRCOG, 2013). Based on population growth projections, the county has identified the need for an additional 2,000 units in the county by the year 2035, including an increase in the amount of affordable and universally accessible housing (FRCOG, 2013). The county’s goals for residential development include locating housing near existing employment opportuni-

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ties and infrastructure, adapting existing structures, and increasing the energy efficiency of residential units (FRCOG, 2013).

Changes to the land use regulations that encourage infill development in the Center Village and residential zones near the I-91 entrances could support the goals for residential development. Because of the relative ease of building on the flatter slopes in the southern portion of town and the proximity to Greenfield, it can be anticipated that these areas will have higher development pressure in the future. In order to achieve a higher density in these areas, additional considerations for dealing with wastewater may be necessary, as discussed in the Watershed Protection element of this plan.

Residential development and housing in Bernardston are addressed in detail in the Housing element of this plan (to be completed in 2016).

Credit: Annette Wadleigh-Mackin

3. Residential Development

Governor Winthrop House Bernardston has many beautifully maintained historic homes.

4. Business and Industrial Development The 1975 Master Plan identified ninety-four acres of commercial land and five acres of industrial land in Bernardston. Currently there are seventy-four acres of commercial land and forty-three acres of industrial land in town, showing a 21 percent decrease in commercial area and a 760 percent increase in industrial area over the last forty years. According to the 2012 census data, there are forty-eight registered businesses and industries in town, the largest sector being construction (15), followed by retail (9), and food service (6) (United States Census, 2012).

The available Expedited Permitting Districts offer opportunities for continued business and industrial development in Bernardston, and the current zoning by-laws require the adoption of low impact development infrastructure and design guidelines, so that future business and industrial development in these areas meet the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goals of maintaining rural character and fostering sustainable economic development.

One identified challenge to further business and industrial development is the low suitability of soils in Bernardston for septic tank absorption and the lack of sewer infrastructure in town, as discussed in Section 3.

This constraint limits the feasibility of types of industries and businesses such as food processing plants that produce large amounts of organic waste to become established in Bernardston. Business and industrial development are addressed in further detail in the Economic Development element of this plan (to be completed in 2016).

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85

5. Agriculture Residents of Bernardston identify strongly with its agricultural heritage. Residents express appreciation for the scenic farmlands along the main roads in town, and at community meetings farms and farming were listed among Bernardstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most valued resources and favorite activities to do in town. Loss of working farms and farmland was one of the biggest changes noted since 1975. One resident remarked that in 1975 there were thirteen operating dairy farms in town, whereas now there are two.

The 1975 Master Plan estimated there were 2,520 acres of farmland, mostly in corn and hay fields, with some apple orchards and tree farms. This estimate was created through a visual analysis, driving through town and recording on a USGS map the fields observed.

The 2005 Land Use data available today through the Massachusetts Geological Information Systems (MassGIS) shows 1,478 acres in cropland, pasture, nurseries and orchards. Assuming some margin of error due to the difference in data collection methods, there has been a loss of roughly 1,000 acres of farmland in Bernardston over the last forty years. Prior to 1975, the creation of Interstate 91 forced some families in town to give up their farms, a loss which is still remembered today. One community member, who lost part of the dairy farm he grew up on, said that every foot of the highway took away one acre of farmland.

a steep drop in net farm income, from an average per farm of $24,000 to an average of $11,000 (American Farmland Trust, 2008).

Agricultural Value

Agriculture is an integral part of the Massachusetts economy, culture, and landscape. In 2007 farms in the commonwealth generated $560 million a year in revenues, and employed 15,600 workers (USDA Census of Agriculture, 2012). In addition to direct contributions to the scenic qualities of the landscape and local economies, farms also offer lesser-known benefits to communities such as flood storage, carbon sequestration, recreational opportunities, and lower costs of services for rural towns.

Studies of the cost of community services in towns across the country consistently show that farmland generates more in local tax revenue than it requires in local municipal services. Even when farmland is enrolled in one of the state protection programs and is assessed at its agricultural value it helps to finance town services (American Farmland Trust, 2008).

A study of seven Massachusetts towns between 1998 and 2008 showed that for every $1.00 of revenue generated by the residential sector, $1.09 is spent in services to the sector. In contrast, for every $1.00 of

The competitive value of farmland for residential, business, and industrial development raise the value of farmland, making land increasingly unaffordable for farmers to purchase or rent. In 2008, the average peracre farm real estate value in Massachusetts was $12,200, the highest in the country (American Farmland Trust, 2008).

Rising land values and energy prices have contributed to an overall rise in costs for farmers, leading to abandoned farms. From 1997 to 2002, average production expenses on Massachusetts farms increased by 27.5 percent, and during the same five-year period there was

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DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

Source: American Farmland Trust

According to the American Farmland Trust, between 1971 and 1999 Massachusetts lost an average of 2,900 acres of farmland a year to development. There are a variety of reasons for the loss of farmland.

Different land uses have different demands The cost of services to the town for farmland and open land is lower than other types of land use.

Recent Regional Agricultural Trends

The 1,478 acres of agricultural land and 11,683 acres of forested land in Bernardston provide $13 million worth of ecosystem services to the town annually.

In recognition of the economic challenges that farmers face, and the high value of farmland for local economies, food systems, and healthy ecosystems, there has been a surge of economic and land use policies designed to support farmers and the future of agriculture in Massachusetts.

revenue generated by farmland and open space, only $0.47 is spent in services.

Farmland and open space also provide ecosystem services for communities. Well managed farmland with implemented soil conservation measures benefit aquifer recharge areas, filter surface and subsurface water, and help minimize flooding. Farmland can also offer valuable habitat for birds and other wildlife. Managed forests, pastures, hayfields, and cropland that is not tilled annually act as carbon sinks, sequestering carbon dioxide and helping to mitigate climate change.

Credit: Annette Wadleigh-Mackin

One Massachusetts Audubon study concluded that the annual value of these services provided by cropland and pasture is $1,381 per acre; for forestland, the value is $984 per acre (American Farmland Trust, 2008). At this rate, the 1,478 acres of agricultural land and 11,683 acres of forested land in Bernardston provide $13 million worth of ecosystem services to the town annually.

The Agricultural Preservation Restriction program allows farmers to sell the development rights on their land, permanently protecting the land as valued agricultural land. Massachusetts was the first state in the country to pioneer this type of program in 1979, and it has since protected over 800 farms and 68,000 acres of farmland.

The state also offers tax abatement programs for farmers in exchange for temporary development restrictions. There are local governmental organizations such as the Franklin Regional Council of Governments as well as land trusts and organizations such as Communities Involved in Sustaining Agriculture that offer a variety of funding, technical resources, and marketing support for farmers. Due to these efforts, the rate of farmland loss in Massachusetts has slowed, and between 2007 and 2012 the amount of farmland and number of farms in the Commonwealth grew by 1 percent, and the income generated by farms grew by 4 percent (USDA Census of Agriculture, 2012).

These trends suggest that through ongoing efforts to ensure that local farmers have access to regional and state resources and adopting local economic and land use policies that support the agricultural sector and farmland preservation, Bernardston can support a viable future for its farmers.

A historically agricultural landscape undergoing changes Rising costs of production and energy costs have contributed to the abandonment of working farms, such as this former dairy farm. Capitalizing on state and regional support networks for agriculture may help keep working farms in town.

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Farms in Bernardston

Different types of agriculture requires different land management. The rolling fields, grazing cattle, and stacked hay bales of a dairy farm lend a specific quality to the landscape that is very different from orderly patterns of a Christmas tree farm or long colorful rows of annual vegetables. Bernardston is home to at least eight family farms whose main incomes are earned off the land. There are many more families who enjoy keeping farm animals or working their lands as hobbies or for supplemental income. Residents list the proliferation of small farms in town as a valued asset and among the reasons they chose to live in Bernardston.

Credit: Rachel Lindsay

The Agricultural Commission in Bernardston was formed in 2006 and currently has seven members.

Since forming, it has successfully initiated the adoption of a Right-To-Farm Bylaw that states the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to agriculture and explicitly permits agricultural activities in town, and instituted an excise tax waiver for farm vehicles and machinery. Their principal ongoing responsibility is mediating complaints about animals and cleanliness between residents and neighboring farms. The commission has also organized a farm tour as part of Old Home Day, promotes the farmers market, and keeps local farmers informed of

Visible Farms River Maple Farm was founded in 1912 and is run by the Grover family. The dairy, maple syrup, and vegetable farm is a prominent feature along scenic Route 5.

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state legislative changes. The local farmers market is seasonal, and only two farms in town sell their products at the Bernardston market. The main purpose of the farmers market is to bring regionally local food into Bernardston for residents. Most farms in Bernardston access regional markets outside of town for the sale of their products. State legislation prohibits the sale of raw milk off farm, and the two dairy farms in Bernardston are members of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our Family Farms,â&#x20AC;? a regional dairy cooperative where all of their milk is processed and sold.

The farmers in Bernardston express concern about who will take over the farms in the future, since most of the next generation leaves town for other careers. They also expressed concern that the town does not have a mechanism to generate funds for protecting farmland.

The state requires towns to contribute up to 20 percent of the value of the development rights of a property entering into the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program. One Board member observed that this discourages farmers from seeing APR as a viable option. Assuming that the town does not have the funding to contribute, they perceive a high risk of having their request for the protection of their farm turned down at Town Meeting. The Board also expressed concern that the unprotected farmland in the southern portion of town has higher development pressure due to the close proximity to Greenfield.

The Agricultural Commission is currently talking with regional groups such as Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) and Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) about the possibility of bringing industries to the local area that would support local farms, such as a slaughterhouse, milk-processing plant, or central composting facility. Encouraging the establishment of industries in town that would offer services and additional markets for local farmers and encouraging the protection of farmland could help to ensure that farms remain an active part of the landscape, ecology, and economy of Bernardston. These efforts cannot be accomplished on a municipal level; they will require continued networking with regional and state organizations.

Farms in Bernardston Of the thirty farms identified by the Agricultural Commission, eight rely on farming as the main source of income for the family. At community meetings, residents listed the ability to have farm animals and maintain small scale farms as one of the reasons they choose to live in Bernardston.

Location of Farm

Owner

Product

Estimated Acres

Farm is the main source of income

Brattleboro Road

Gray

Pheasants

550

x

Hodges

Forestry, Hay

68

Moulton Shores Couch Brook Road Eden Trail Road

Gaines

Morley/Cevasco

Trees, Horses, Beef

130

Duprey

Dairy

100

Mussbaum Kinsman / Coffin

Martindale Road

Cross Street

Deane Road

Ben Hale Road Northfield Road

Bald Mountain Road

Horses, Sheep

Maple Syrup, Beef, Horses Sheep

LaValley

Forestry

Shockro Shedd

Melulene

Schimelpfenig Misch

Deane Shaw

Porvecchio Deane

Cutting Clarke

Shores

x

Chickens Sheep

Snow

x

x

Horses, Chickens

Abramson

Allen Shaw Road

Beef

Pratt

Haviland

x

Tree Farm 17.5

Duprey

Shedd Road

Beef

160

Mixed Vegetables and Fruit

Duprey

Huckle Hill

Dairy, Maple Syrup

Horses

95

Horse Stables Horses

Vegetables, Fruit

3

Horses

55

Horses Goats

Horse Stables Beef

Horses, Dairy Forestry

Sudbury Nurseries Horses, Cattle Trees

34

x

180

x

200 (some in Gill)

x

5

Source: Bernardston Agricultural Commission, 2015, personal communication

Grover

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Valuable Farmland and Development

Prime farmland, as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, or oilseed crops and is available for these uses. The characteristics of these soils, including texture, nutrient levels, and moisture capacity are ideal for sustained high yields of these crops when proper management, including water management, and acceptable farming methods are applied. The USDA classifies the highest quality soils as Prime Farmland, and soils which share some, but not all, of the highest quality characteristics as Soils of Statewide Importance. For the purpose of this report, these two classifications together are referred to as identified valuable farmland.

According to the NRCS, prime farmland is of major importance in meeting the nation’s short- and longrange needs for food and fiber. Because the supply of high-quality farmland is limited, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognizes that local and state governments should encourage and facilitate the wise use of our nation’s prime farmland. Implementing land-use planning mechanisms to support the agricultural use of prime soils will improve local and regional food security and rural economies in the future.

There are a total of 4,891 acres of valuable farmland identified in Bernardston, which is 32.6 percent of the total land in Bernardston. Just over half of these soils are within the Falls River floodplain and gently sloped

Bernardston has between 1,500 and 2,300 acres of unprotected farmland.

According to a 2009 NRCS study, Bernardston falls into the second highest category of Massachusetts towns with unprotected farmland on all types of soils.

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land south of Route 10; the other half are found primarily in the eastern half of the town in the higher elevations.

The permanently protected open land encompasses 688 acres of identified valuable farmland. These areas include private land with conservation restrictions or agricultural preservation restrictions, and state, town and non-profit owned land.

Many of the same characteristics of prime farmland— flat, well drained soils—provide ideal conditions for urban development and transportation. There are 1,041 acres, 21 percent of the total identified valuable farmland, that have been developed for non-agricultural uses, including residential, commercial, industrial, municipal service infrastructure, and private or public recreation. Depending on the level of infrastructure developed on them, these lands may or may not be available for agricultural production in the future.

The lack of protected farmed land in Bernardston, both on identified Prime Farmland and other soils, has led the NRCS to identify Bernardston as a hot-spot for farmland preservation in Massachusetts (see map below). The recommendations in this plan address this issue by suggesting ways the town might generate revenue and anticipate opportunities to protect farmland in Bernardston (see Section 10: Recommendations).

Bernardston

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Non-Agricultural Uses on Designate Non-Agricultural Uses on Designated Prime Farmland Farmland Prime Farmland andand Farmland of of Statewide Importance Statewide Importance Designated Prime Farmland and Farmland Designated Prime Farmland and of Statewide Importance in Agricultural Farmland Use, Forest,oforStatewide Recreation. Importance Permanently Protected Open SpaceSpace Permanently Protected Open I-91 I-91 State Highway State Highways Town Road Town Roads

Valuable Farmland and Development 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

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6. Forestry In New England, most of the land that is not actively plowed, cleared, or developed will regenerate as forest.

Although many people see forests as beautiful but unproductive, they serve an important role in the local ecology and economy. Forests provide a range of benefits, including fish and wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, and soil stabilization on steep slopes.

Responsible forest management can benefit landowners economically through establishing and logging valuable hardwoods while maintaining the forest cover and habitat that protect soils and riparian zones.

In Bernardston, there are 11,683 acres of forested land, over 70 percent of the total area (MassGIS). The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game owns the land or conservation restrictions on 1,493 acres of forested land. Most of this land is in the Satan’s Kingdom area on the eastern side of Bernardston. A 137-acre lot called Shattock Brook lies on the far western side of town along the border with Leyden. These areas are designated as wildlife management areas and are available to the public for hunting. 1,150 acres in Northern Bernardston are owned by Hull’s Forestry, a company based in Connecticut. This area is actively logged and has both a conservation restriction on it and is registered in the Chapter 61 Forestry tax abatement program (explained in more detail to the right).

There are many state and regional resources for forestry management. Massachusetts’ Bureau of Forestry, Department of Conservation and Recreation, and Division of Fisheries and Wildlife offer a wide variety of support for land conservation and forest management. Some of these programs offer financing, marketing, and technical assistance aimed at increasing the economic viability of forests for landowners, while others offer incentives for maintaining and enhancing wildlife habitat. Regional resources for forests include the University of Massachusetts MassWoods extension program, which offers an extensive network of public and private certified foresters, appraisers, and land trusts. Harvard Forest is an extension of Harvard University in Petersham, Massachusetts, which in addition to researching forestry ecology and management, offers educational opportunities on site and in the form of free online webinars.

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Preserving the ecological integrity of the landscape and capitalizing on the resources available for landowners to benefit economically from their land are both strategies that are vital to the maintenance of the forests in Bernardston.

Working Lands According to the Agricultural Commission, most landowners in Bernardston who meet the requirements are enrolled in state tax abatement programs for working lands. The three laws are the Chapter 61 Forestland Act, Chapter 61A Farmland Assessment Act, and Chapter 61 Recreational Land Act. By committing a property to forest, agriculture or recreation for five to ten years, landowners’ properties are taxed as non-developable land. Land protected under Chapter 61 grants towns the right of first refusal if and when property is removed from one of the chapters and offered for sale. The right of first refusal gives the town 120 days to purchase the property or find another organization such as a local land trust to purchase the land.

Even though protection through Chapter 61 is temporary, the preserved land may support wildlife habitat or provide other ecosystem services, and helps to maintain the town’s rural character (Conservation and Land Use Planning, 2007).

Chapter

Number of Properties

61 Forestry

37

2,606

61B Recreation

21

710

61A Agriculture

42

Acres 1,051

There are 100 properties in Bernardston listed under Chapter 61, 61A, or 61B, totalling 4,368 acres.

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7. Land Use Considerations The topography and hydrologic features of Bernardston provide some constraints to future development. The mountain ranges have steep slopes, rocky outcroppings, and poorly drained soils. The wetlands and floodplains have regulatory restrictions on development. The most easily developable land in Bernardston has road frontage and no structures, or is larger than three acres, the minimum lot size allowed for subdivision in the Residential/Agricultural zoning district, which covers 91 percent of town (see Zoning map earlier in this section).

Development Constraints

On the facing map, grey represents areas that are constrained for development, including developed parcels of less than three acres that cannot be subdivided; undeveloped parcels less than one and a half acres that zoning does not permit to be developed in the majority of town; parcels with no road frontage; parcels that are owned by the town, state, or non-profits; and privately owned land with permanent development restrictions.

The Floodplain Overlay District is also included in the constrained grey area.

This map is intended to show overall patterns for planning purposes and not to highlight individual plots. The areas in color show land that does not fall under the above constraints. However, these do not take into account the 200-foot road frontage requirement outlined in the zoning bylaws. There are parcel discrepancies between the MassGIS layers used for this map, and the boundaries of state-owned land may not be accurate. This analysis does not take septic suitability into account, which is a constraint to development that needs to be considered on an individual site basis.

The colors on the map represent the slopes on land available for development. Outside of the Floodplain Overlay District, there are no restrictions to developing on sloped land in the zoning by-laws. However, there are high environmental and economic costs associated with development on slopes. Disturbance of the land on slopes, especially within the watershed that drains into the Fall River and Center Village areas, could increase the sediments washed into Cushman Park. The

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areas with the highest environmental costs due to steep slopes are represented in dark orange and red tones.

There are no development restrictions on these areas, however removing the native vegetation and building infrastructure on these areas may have significantly higher environmental and financial costs than on areas equal to or less than a 15 percent slope.

The lighter yellow tones represent land that is most easily developable based on slope. This land is concentrated in the southern part of Bernardston. Due to the amount of permanently protected land in Satanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kingdom and by Hullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Forestry, there is less available land for development in the northeastern quadrant. The large amount of steep slopes on the western side of town indicate that development here would have a high environmental cost to the town and could increase the sediment and flooding issues in the Center Village.

This analysis suggests that valuable farmland and open land in the southern portion of Bernardston should be a priority for protection. Because the constraints displayed on this map are based on one-and-a-half acre lot sizes, and the zoning in the center of town is for a minimum lot size of one-half acre, there may be more available developable land in the center of town than is displayed here. Creating a fee-based transfer of development rights system would allow the Town to select areas in close proximity to the Village Center that could accept a smaller minimum lot size for a fee, opening up more development possibilities near already existing town services, and lowering the environmental and economic costs of development in town.

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C. Recommendations Land Use Strategies To meet the goals of preserving rural character, creating a vibrant historic center village, and fostering sustainable economic development, residents may decide to create mechanisms to increase development in already built-up areas and to preserve the current open agricultural and forested land that form the backdrop for the views along main roads. Citizens should be involved in a process to define design guidelines for the town that will decrease potential controversy over new development and ensure that new businesses contribute positively to the town’s Center Village appearance.

Issues The following concerns are compiled from meetings and interviews with town departments and discussions at two community meetings.

• Development history in Bernardston shows a trend of residential land developed outside of the town center, fragmenting wildlife habitat and resulting in higher cost of services to the town.

• Many of the visible agricultural and forested lands that create Bernardston’s rural character are not permanently protected and might be developed.

• Farmers are concerned about a lack of transition plans for their farms and may resort to selling for development when they retire.

• The unprotected farmland that is cleared, welldrained, and along major roads has been identified as higher risk to development. The loss of these lands would negatively impact Bernardston’s rural character and the local agricultural economy.

• The town lacks funds or a mechanism for generating funds to purchase the development rights on land that becomes available.

• In-fill in the Center Village is limited by the necessity for individual septic systems and the close proximity of wetlands.

• A lack of sidewalks, crosswalks, and centrally located parking in town makes the town less amenable for walking and biking. Because the main 96

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Considering Sustainability New England small towns can expect climate changes in the future, including more drastic storm events and changes in precipitation levels and temperature. These changes are in part exacerbated by chemicals released into the atmosphere from the combustion of fossil fuels.

Encouraging denser development in already established residential and commercial centers will help reduce dependency on fossil fuels, which can have both economic and environmental benefits.

Increasing density within an already developed area also relieves pressure on small towns to bring increased utilities, roads, and emergency services to more costly and remote areas. Land use planning strategies to create resilient small towns that can best adapt to future climate and economic changes include preserving surrounding agricultural land to support local food sources, encouraging public and non-fossil-fuel-based transportation, and preventing sprawl in the outskirts of town.

roads in town are state routes, adding sidewalks, crosswalks, and parking may require permission from the state Department of Transportation.

• A lack of parking in the Center Village increases the need to drive short distances for errands and reduces the accessibility of Cushman Park.

• New businesses might detract from the New England style of Center Village.

• Some green technologies, such as solar fields, are contested within the community because they are seen as desirable technology but are not aligned with the preferred rural.

• Due to a lack of business and tourist attractions along Route 10, some residents believe there is a lost opportunity to capture potential business for travelers going east on Route 10 to Northfield.

Recommendations Recommendation for Bernardston’s future land use management cover a range of actions, including education and outreach, zoning and policy changes, strengthening community connections, and investing in infrastructure changes that require significant planning and funding. In section 10 the following recommendations are explained in more detail with suggested time frames and responsible parties.

Ongoing Organize a series of educational and network-building events to promote regional and state resources for farmers and foresters. These should include farm and forestry best management practices that promote healthy ecosystems and edge habitats, protect wetlands, and prevent erosion; tax abatement and preservation opportunities; marketing strategies; and farm transition resources. Local land trusts should be invited to present to landowners about land conservation and stewardship opportunities through estate planning outreach grants.

Update information about the Ag Commission and Conservation Commission on the town website, including links to state and regional resources that provide technical and financial assistance for farmers and foresters. Efforts should be made to include announcements about relevant state and national policy changes and local farming or forestry events.

Develop a strategy for identifying and protecting lands that may be coming out of Chapter 61, 61A, or 61B. Work with residents, the Department of Fish and Game, the Franklin Land Trust, Mount Grace Land Trust, and other conservation organizations to anticipate the funding necessary to protect these lands. When landowners enrolled in these tax abatement programs for undeveloped land decide to develop or sell their land for development, the town has only 120 days to exercise their right-of-first-refusal to purchase the property, or transfer the right to purchase the property to a qualified organization. Prioritize protection in the southern portion of town which has several wetlands and identified critical habitat that stretches across the town border and is under the highest development pressure. Second priority is the northeast region of Bernardston that is densely forested, mostly protected

but has modest development pressure. The town should also consider protecting the large Landscape Block along the western mountain range which is predominantly unprotected and has low development pressure.

1 to 5 years Hold a community charrette to help establish Form Based Codes for new development, design walking paths through the Center Village, and site off-street parking. These guidelines should describe in detail acceptable materials, architecture styles, sign restrictions, walking access, screened parking, and landscaping. Involving citizens in establishing the desired aesthetics is shown to result in faster permitting processes and less conflict over new development. The conclusions of the charette could be incorporated into the existing site plan review.

Post “Right-to-Farm” signs at the major roadways leading into Bernardston and on Route 10 on either side of the I-91 exit. The signs will communicate Bernardston’s commitment to their farmers, and increase the awareness of local farms and visibility of farm stands. Some residents are unaware that Bernardston adopted the by-law in 2002.

Coordinate with the county to attract businesses and industries that support the regional rural economy and the production of natural resources to develop in the Expedited Permitting District in Bernardston (examples include a slaughterhouse, sawmill, or milk processing facility). A study of county industries could reveal lucrative possibilities to link industries and businesses by producing prime materials needed by already established industries or utilizing the waste product of other industries. The study should include areas of Vermont along the railway.

Create a Development Transfer Fee Program to allow for tighter in-fill in areas such as the R1 zones, and establish working farmland and forest in high development pressure areas as sending zones. This program allows developers to pay a fee for increasing the density of development in receiving zones. The fee is deposited into an account for the town to purchase the development rights on conservation or farmland as it becomes available. The receiving zones should be evaluated for their ability to accept higher density develop-

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ment based on septic suitability and low impact to critical natural habitat. Creating a transfer fee program would allow individuals to take advantage of the ability to subdivide into smaller plots and not require a major residential development for the system to generate funds for land preservation.

Create an Agricultural Interest Overlay District requiring development on working farmland to place a minimum amount of the property into the Agricultural Preservation Restriction program. This would help the town ensure a minimum loss of farmland in the future.

Develop a solar field on the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landfill to provide renewable energy on land that cannot be used for agriculture and is not highly visible. In 2009 Franklin County Solid Waste Management District conducted a feasibility study and potential plan for a solar field on this site. The plan proposed a system that would generate 860,000 kwh of electricity a year.

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5 to 10 years Advocate for regional public transportation connecting the Center Village in Bernardston to Greenfield. This could increase the ability of the elderly or people who do not drive to continue living in Bernardston and will decrease future dependency on fossil fuels.

Consider the area south of the railroad along River Road for Center Village development. Work with Farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Supply to develop parking and a riverside walkway connecting to the small area south of Hillside Pizza, making this section of town more accessible from Church Street and maintaining the view of Arch Bridge from River Street.

10 to 20 years Rezone Route 10 for mixed use to have shops and businesses that would support the local rural economy and diversify the tax base. This new zoning district would have design standards to maintain the historic character of Bernardston, and would become a priority if plans to implement a centralized sewer system for the business and industrial zones are developed.

Existing Condition

Conventional Development

Agricultural Interest Overlay District Development

A twenty acre hay field along an existing road in

A conceptual subdivision development that uses

Bernardston, in the Residential / Agricultural

the one-and-a-half acre minimum lot size as

A conceptual solution for development that pre-

zoning district.

defined by the current zoning bylaws. Thirteen

serves 80% of the agricultural land by mandat-

houses are developed on the twenty acres.

ing clustered development with half-acre lots.

Eight houses are built and the remaining sixteen acres are permanently protected.

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6 Housing This section will be completed in 2016.

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7 Transportation This section will be completed in 2016.

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8 Services and Facilities This section will be completed in 2016.

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9 Economic Development This section will be completed in 2016.

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Credit: John Lepore

Community Meeting on February 24, 2015

10 Recommendations A. Implementation Strategies The town of Bernardston has identified a vision for the next twenty years that includes preserving the rural character of the town, creating a more vibrant Center Village, and fostering economic development to increase the tax revenue and strengthen the local economy. These goals are overlapping and interdependent; fostering economic development and increasing the number of small businesses in town will contribute to a more vibrant Center Village. The actions necessary to meet these goals vary depending on the issue addressed. The following recommendations cover a wide variety of types of actions, including education and outreach, zoning and policy changes, strengthening community connections across the region, and investing in infrastructure changes that require significant planning and funding.

This section describes these recommendations in further detail with time frames and identifies what departments are responsible for their implementation. The map showing the summary of strategies illustrates the vision and over-arching strategies for different areas of town that share common characteristics. The table that follows organizes the recommendations by time frame and type, ranging from ongoing activities that could be implemented immediately with community support to longer-term actions that require greater amounts of planning and funding. The table also includes references to which community goals these recommendations meet, which elements of this plan they are covered in, and where to find further information about the action recommended.

The preceding sections of this report have documented the existing conditions in Bernardston and analyzed the natural and built features of town to better understand the challenges to and opportunities for reaching these goals. Each set of analyses concludes with the identified issues and recommendations that pertain to that section.

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Master Plan Summary of Strategies A Vibrant Center Village Vision: The historic center of town features classic New England architecture and is an attractive, visitor-friendly area that is easily walkable. The public spaces are universally accessible for meetings and cultural events. The businesses in town offer a variety of products and services that support local jobs and the rural economy. The roads in Center Village are lined by attractive vegetated swales that capture and infiltrate runoff to reduce the pollutants entering Cushman Park and the surrounding water bodies.

Strategy: Pursue septic solutions to allow for continued use of the buildings close to the wetlands and higher density in-fill. Site additional parking in a centralized location to allow visitors to park and walk to businesses. Implement design guidelines to ensure that new businesses contribute to the historic New England feel and create a more walkable community. Incorporate stormwater management regulations in the Zoning Bylaws to reduce runoff into the wetlands and surrounding water bodies.

State Roads Vision: The state roads provide safe transportation for bicycles and commuters, and public transportation from the center of Bernardston to Greenfield and neighboring towns. The roads are maintained in ways that limit the amount of salt used. Planted swales and drainage basins absorb salt and runoff, protecting the public water supply from contamination. In Center Village, the well-designed sidewalks, bike lanes and crosswalks provide safe, walkable routes.

Strategy: Work with the county and state to design stormwater management and salt remediation along the edges of state roads. Designate bike lanes and bring public transportation into the Center Village.

Mixed Use Vision: Route 10 is an attractive, scenic road with a variety of businesses and industries that serve the regional population. Travellers between I-91 and Northfield stop to enjoy the convenient restaurants and shops along the route.

Strategy: Convert this strip to a mixed-use area, incorporating small businesses that support local agriculture and passers-by. Develop form-based codes to regulate building footprint, height, rear-only parking, materials and landscaping to maintain the rural aesthetic along this road and manage stormwater.

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Priority Residential Vision: Residential zones in close proximity to the Center Village and I-91 ramps are clustered communities with families that benefit from the convenience of Center Village and the accessibility to cities beyond Greenfield.

Strategy: Zone these areas to receive development rights from outlying agricultural zones and priority wildlife conservation zones. The increased density will reduce sprawl.

Mixed Open Land and Residential Development Vision: The wetlands and connections to larger landscape blocks in Gill and Greenfield create vital habitat for wildlife and plant communities. Residents value the open space and understand the importance of protecting these areas for the future of their aquifer and the ecosystem services they provide.

Strategy: Prioritize this area for permanent open space protection to increase the ecological integrity of the wildlife habitat in the larger abutting landscape blocks that connect into surrounding towns.

Working Agricultural Land Vision: The 1,500 acres of dairy, pasture, mixed vegetables, and hay farms remain a valued asset, providing local products for consumption and contributing to the rural, scenic, and economic value of Bernardston.

Strategy: Establish an Agricultural Overlay District to ensure the protection of current working farmland.

Provide information for farmers on available resources using web-based and organizational strategies including transition options, marketing and financial support, and Best Management Practices.

Vital Forest Cover and Open Space Vision: The forested residential, recreational, and wildlife management land is home to many species of conservation concern. The thick vegetation on these steep slopes protect the watershed and groundwater quality for Bernardston by protecting soils from erosion and infiltrating rainwater, and they provide wildlife habitat and economic resources for landowners. The lush hills provide the backdrop to views around the town and remain a defining character of Bernardstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landscape.

Strategy: Prioritize permanent land conservation to create contiguous corridors of open land. Assess conditions of unpaved roads and develop a maintenance plan that reserves the integrity and rural value of unpaved roads.

Develop recreational trails and education about watersheds and historical resources.

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B. Summary Table of Recommendations Recommendation Education and Outreach Create public education programs to raise awareness about the importance of protecting surface water and wetlands for water quality and ecological integrity. With more knowledge of water systems and the services they provide, residents will be more motivated to take care of their natural environment. These programs should stress the role that intact watersheds and wetlands play in mitigating the detrimental impacts of increased storms from climate change.

O N G O I N G

Organize a series of educational and network-building events to promote regional and state resources for farmers and foresters. These should include farm and forestry best management practices that promote healthy ecosystems and edge habitats, protect wetlands, and prevent erosion; tax abatement and preservation opportunities; marketing strategies; and farm transition resources. Local land trusts should be invited to present to landowners about land conservation and stewardship opportunities through Estate Planning Outreach Grants.

Continue to educate and involve residents in Charity Farm Lot with community work days. Encourage public participation in developing hiking trails, picnicking facilities, and removing invasive species. Construct signs with information about the lotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history and potentially connect trails to the proximate site of the first settlement.

Update information about the Ag Commission and Conservation Commission on the town website, including links to state and regional resources that provide technical and financial assistance for farmers and foresters. Efforts should be made to include announcements about relevant state and national policy changes and local farming or forestry events.

Strengthen Community Connections Promote Bernardston as a recreation destination and update the town website with visitor information, to include maps of historical buildings, recreational trails and a page for Charity Lot. Zoning and Policy Work with conservation organizations and residents to develop a strategy for identifying lands that may be coming out of Chapter 61, 61A, or 61B and anticipate the funding necessary to protect these lands. Prioritize protection in the southern portion of town which has several wetlands and identified critical habitat that stretches across the town border and is under the highest development pressure. Second priority is the northeast region of Bernardston that is densely forested and mostly protected but has modest development pressure. The town should also consider protecting the large landscape block along the western mountain range which is predominantly unprotected and has low development pressure.

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Key to Goals Preserve Rural Character = RC Vibrant Historic Center = CV Foster Sustainable Economic Development = ED Responsible Parties Goals Met

Further Information

Element

Conservation Commission, Pioneer Valley Regional School

The Massachusetts Watershed Coalition works with partners in communities to protect and restore watershed ecosystems, sustain healthy rivers and aquatic habitats. In order to reach these objectives, they sponsor workshops on watershed protection, LID, stream restoration for groups interested in watershed protection, town boards, and state agencies.

Watershed Protection

RC, CV, ED

Ag Commission, Con- RC, ED servation Commission

Recreation Department, the Highway Department, Planning Board, Bernardston Selectmen

RC, ED

Ag Commission, Con- RC, ED servation Commission, Town Webmaster

Recreation Department

RC, CV, ED

Ag Commission, Con- RC servation Commission, Board of Assessors

Communities Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) offer Land Use resources for farmers including workshops, marketing support, technical assistance and emergency funding. MassWoods is an extension of the University of Massachusetts that offers a wealth of networking connections for land owners including surveyors, public and private licensed foresters, and conservation bodies. Franklin Land Trust and Mount Grace Land Trust offer a variety of ways for landowners to permanently protect their land.

Since 2013, Bernardston resident and restoration ecologist and Natural and designer John Lepore has been working to improve the acces- Cultural Resibility of this town property for the general public. He is lead- sources ing the initiative to complete a Charity Farm Lot Conservation and Recreation Plan that will recommend a number of actions with an implementation time line.

More information about specific resources are detailed in Sections 4 and 5. The towns of Otis, MA and Ayer, MA have examples of well organized websites, with dedicated space for general announcements on the home page, and links for relevant information on individual pages for departments and committees.

Land Use

The town of Charlemont, MA has a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Visitâ&#x20AC;? section of their Natural and website that provides descriptions of trails, outdoor recreation- Cultural Real opportunities, lodging and dining options in town. sources When landowners enrolled in these tax abatement programs for undeveloped land decide to develop or sell their land for development, the town has only 120 days to exercise their right-of-first refusal to purchase the property, or transfer the right to purchase the property to a qualified organization.

Franklin Land Trust and Mount Grace Land Trust offer a variety of ways for landowners to permanently protect their land.

Land Use and Natural and Cultural Resources

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Summary Table of Recommendations Recommendation Education and Outreach Investigate resources to involve the younger generation in town activities that improve the recreational opportunities and health of the natural environment in Bernardston.

Work with Community Preservation Coalition to host a workshop to educate residents about the benefits of the Community Preservation Act.

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Hold a community charrette to help establish Form Based Codes for new development, design walking paths through the Center Village, and site off-street parking. These guidelines should lay out materials, acceptable styles, sign restrictions, walking access, screened parking, and landscaping. Involving citizens in establishing the desired aesthetics for towns increases resident participation in the town and results in faster permitting processes and less conflict over new development. The conclusions of the charrette could be incorporated into the existing site plan review.

Create trail system with signs along Pratt Field as a focal point for water education about the town’s water supply system, water treatment, management practices to protect water quality, and ecosystem services.

Incorporate additional vegetation along the parking area to infiltrate stormwater and filter contaminants from vehicles. The site is adjacent to one of the towns’ public wells and borders a stream. Signs should have information about actions that citizens can take to protect the local water supply. These should include encouraging bike and foot travel to the sports fields to reduce potential contamination due to vehicular traffic at Pratt Field, which is in the Zone I protection area of the well. There should also be information about the Pratt Field well, the process of replenishing the well, and facts about the nearby stream and the habitat that the stream supports.

Strengthen Community Connections Post “Right-to-Farm” signs at the major roadways leading into Bernardston and on Route 10 on either side of the I-91 exit. The signs will communicate Bernardston’s commitment to their farmers, and increase the awareness of local farms and visibility of farm stands. Due to the lack of visibility, some residents are unaware that Bernardston adopted the by-law in 2002.

Coordinate with the county to attract businesses and industries that support the regional rural economy and the production of natural resources to develop in the Expedited Permitting District in Bernardston (examples include a slaughterhouse, sawmill, or milk processing facility). A study of county industries could reveal lucrative possibilities to strengthen industrial cycles by producing prime materials needed by already established industries or to utilize the waste product of other industries. The study should include areas of Vermont along the railway.

Create bike lanes that extend from the Franklin County Bikeway in Northfield and continue along Route 10 and Route 5 to Pratt Field, and up Bald Mountain Road to Charity Lot. This would involve coordination with Franklin County and the state.

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Key to Goals Preserve Rural Character = RC Vibrant Historic Center = CV Foster Sustainable Economic Development = ED Responsible Parties Goals Met

Further Information

Element

Pioneer Valley Regional School District

RC, ED

Historical Commission

RC, CV, ED

The Student Conservation Association offers stipends to students to partake in community service projects including trail building.

Natural and Cultural Resources

Planning Board, Historical Commission, Historical Society

CV

Design charrettes are series of workshops and activities with community members that serve to generate ideas and document a collective vision for future development. The National Charrette Institute offers tools, resources, and networks of trained charrette facilitators.

Land Use

Conservation Commission, Recreation Commission, Water District

ED

The Bernardston Wellhead Protection Plan, compiled in 2012 Watershed by the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, contains Protection detailed information about groundwater protection actions and examples of educational materials that can be modified for public signs.

Ag Commission, Highway Department

RC, ED

The Right-to-Farm By-Law encourages the pursuit of agriculture, promotes agriculture-based economic opportunities, and minimizes conflict with abutters and town agencies.

Board of Selectmen, Ag Commission, FRCOG

RC, ED

Recreation Department

ED

The town of Hardwick, Vermont, has built a thriving local Land Use economy by closing cycles of food production and consumption. Local businesses grow, process, and market fresh foods directly to consumers and wholesale. Food scraps and waste products such as whey are recycled in innovative industries including a composting facility and a natural wood finish manufacturer. The Center for an Agricultural Economy is one of Hardwickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s organizations that works to connect local elements that strengthen the food industry.

The Community Preservation Coalition, formed in the 1990s, Natural and is an alliance of open space, affordable housing, and historic Cultural Represervation organizations working with municipalities to help sources them understand, adopt, and implement the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act.

The Franklin County Bikeway is 240 miles of bike lane and trails that span the entire county. The Bikeway currently runs through Colrain, Greenfield and Northfield but does not pass through Bernardston.

Land Use

Natural and Cultural Resources

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Summary Table of Recommendations Recommendation Zoning and Policy Work with the Massachusetts Historic Commission to update the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s State Register of Historic Places for recognition and potential funding through the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund.

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Y E A R S

Adopt the Community Preservation Act to raise local money which is matched by the state for projects including historic preservation, open space and land preservation and affordable housing.

Create a Development Transfer Fee Program to allow for tighter infill in areas such as the R1 zones, and establish working farmland and forest in high development pressure areas as sending zones. This program creates a system for buying and selling development credits by allowing developers to pay a fee for increasing the density of development in receiving zones. The fee is deposited into an account for the town to purchase the development rights on conservation or farmland as it becomes available. The receiving zones should be evaluated for their ability to accept higher density development based on septic suitability and low impact to critical natural habitat.

Creating a transfer fee program would allow individuals to take advantage of the ability to subdivide into smaller plots and not require a major residential development for the system to generate funds for land preservation.

Create an Agricultural Interest Overlay District requiring development on working farmland to place a minimum amount of the property into the Agricultural Preservation Restriction program. This would help the town ensure a minimum loss of farmland in the future.

Create a Demolition Delay Bylaw to protect historic structures by granting additional time to fund the renovation of a historical building, or relocate it. Establish criteria for qualified structures including age, and properties identified as eligible Historic Places.

116

DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

Key to Goals Preserve Rural Character = RC Vibrant Historic Center = CV Foster Sustainable Economic Development = ED Responsible Parties Goals Met

Further Information

Historical Commission

The Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund is a state-fund- Natural and ed 50% reimbursable matching grant program that supports Cultural Rethe preservation of properties, landscapes, and sites listed in sources the State Register of Historic Places. The buildings and properties that are currently listed as Historic Places include those within the National Register Historic District; the fire station, Cushman Library, the Powers Institute, Cushman Park and the Unitarian Church.

RC, CV

Planning Board, Board RC, CV, of Selectmen ED

Planning Board, Ag Commission, Conservation Commission

RC

Planning Board, Ag Commission

RC, ED

Planning Board, Historic Commission and Historical Society

RC, CV

Element

Since adopting the CPA in 2002, the town of Leverett has been Natural and able to complete several projects that would have been unfea- Cultural Resible without this additional funding. Projects include renovat- sources ing Town Hall windows, restoring the North Leverett Sawmill and placing Historic Preservation Easement on it, purchasing contiguous parcels by the Leverett Pond for shoreline protection, extension of the Friendship Trail Land, and adding electrical work and heating to the second floor of the town library to make it usable year round.

According to the American Farmland Trust, 60% of the land protected through development transfer programs has been in Montgomery County, MD. This unique program established a system of development credits that can be bought and sold.

The New Jersey Pinelands program has developed a similar credit system based on developable units that has successfully protected 52,000 acres of ecologically sensitive and agricultural land.

Land Use

In 1999, the town of Southampton, NY established an Agricul- Land Use tural Interest Overlay that requires a minimum of 80% of current farmland to be protected. The remaining 20% is allowed to be developed at a higher density than on non-farmland. This zoning district has successfully permanently protected 80% of the working farmland in Southampton as of 1999.

The Demolition Delay Bylaw in Andover, MA allowed an ex- Natural and tension of its delay from six months to twelve months which Cultural Rehas been substantial in preserving historic buildings. In one sources instance, the Demolition Delay Bylaw deterred a developer who had planned to demolish a house and enabled a preservation-minded developer to purchase and restore the deteriorated house. This information is discussed in Preservation Through Bylaws and Ordinances (Massachusetts Historical Commission, 2010).

10 RECOMMENDATIONS

117

Summary Table of Recommendations Recommendation Zoning and Policy

Implement development controls to protect the currently forested slopes that provide the backdrop to views of town from erosion. This could be accomplished through restricting development on slopes greater than 15% or through a Scenic Vista Overlay District that mandates the preservation of existing vegetation and requires additional natural screening for new developments on hillsides visible from the main roads. An Upper Elevation Protection Bylaw would establish an elevation above which site plan review is required for new developments.

The planning board can limit building heights above tree lines, and require appropriate replanting of native trees and plants, and screening of utilities.

Consider permitting accessory uses on farmland to include conference centers, restaurants, and other small businesses to draw visitors to local farms. This would enable farmers to diversify their operations, provide supplemental income, and increase awareness of local farms.

1

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5

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Create a Scenic Roads Bylaw by listing significant roads to protect their rural and historic character. This bylaw establishes a local review procedure for the cutting or removal of trees and alteration of stone walls that are within the public right-of-way. Further design guidelines and form-based codes can restrict development by height, materials and landscaping in order to maintain scenic vistas.

Create a Conservation Opportunity Subdivision to fast-track subdivisions that conserve at least 80% of a site.

This would promote denser development, reduce sprawl, and help to preserve land.

Create a regulatory system to oversee the maintenance of individual septic systems. This could be accomplished with the creation of a Wastewater District that mandates periodic inspections of septic systems within the Center Village, business, and industrial zones, or by mandating alternative systems approved by the DEP that require maintenance contracts.

Investigate shared-ownership strategies for septic systems and actively facilitate information for homeowners about available alternative systems and retrofits that could increase the life of current systems. There are a wide variety of alternative septic systems that have been approved by the DEP. Creating decentralized systems on a neighborhood scale can reduce installation and maintenance costs, although they may require additional organization and economic structures such as escrow accounts for long-term maintenance.

118

DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

Key to Goals Preserve Rural Character = RC Vibrant Historic Center = CV Foster Sustainable Economic Development = ED Responsible Parties Goals Met

Further Information

Element

Historical Commission, Conservation Commission

RC

Natural and Cultural Resources

Planning Board

RC, CV

The town of Hopkinton strengthened its Scenic Roads bylaw by instituting a non-criminal disposition provision. Each tree or section of stone wall removed from the public right-of-way is a separate violation resulting in substantial fees. Hopkinton also created a tree planting gift account which raises money when developers remove trees from the public right-of-way and cannot replace them in the same location. The funds are then used to plant trees elsewhere. See Preservation Through Bylaws and Ordinances (Massachusetts Historical Commission, 2010).

Planning Board

RC

Natural and Cultural Resources

Planning Board

RC

The Town of Bolton permits accessory uses on local farms including retail sales of farm products and other related products that may be sold at a farm stand, veterinary services, and events including weddings and tours. See Preservation Through Bylaws and Ordinances (Massachusetts Historical Commission, 2010).

Board of Health, Plan- CV, ED ning Board

Board of Health

CV, ED

The city of Greenfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s site plan review process specifies Natural and approval guidelines for projects integrated into the existing Cultural Reterrain and surrounding landscape by minimizing developsources ment on steep slopes and hilltops, protecting visual and scenic views, and preserving natural and historic features.

Wilbrahamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ridgeline and Hillside District Bylaw takes effect above 550 feet and applies to any new construction that might be visible from a public area. Development must be sensitive to the terrain, existing vegetation and viewsheds. See Preservation Through Bylaws and Ordinances (Massachusetts Historical Commission, 2010).

In 1999, the town of Southampton, NY instituted a fast-track conservation subdivision that has successfully protected open space while allowing for continued residential development in town.

Natural and Cultural Resources

The National Small Flows Clearinghouse was established by the EPA to offer resources to small communities to plan alternative and community-scale wastewater treatment options.

Watershed Protection

The Environmental Protection Agency published a series of Watershed Case Studies of Individual and Clustered (Decentralized) Protection Wastewater Management Programs in 2010 that highlights towns across the country that resolved a variety of water quality issues due to poor wastewater treatment monitoring by working with trained professionals. The studies highlight different regulatory systems unique to the characteristics of each town and region.

10 RECOMMENDATIONS

119

Summary Table of Recommendations Recommendation Improve Municipal Infrastructure and Services Designate Fox Hill Road and state roads as a priorities for stormwater Best Management Practices, which would include vegetated swales along the road to slow the flow and infiltrate runoff. Along Fox Hill Road this would help to decrease the volume of water and sediment being conveyed into Cushman Park and the wetland.

Implementing BMPs for state roads could prevent runoff from potentially polluting the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water bodies and recharge zones by capturing and infiltrating the runoff through a ecological systems, such as a vegetated swales.

Evaluate the susceptibility of the unpaved roads in town to erosion. Conduct a study to find out how much sediment and runoff flows off the streets into the water bodies in town. Unpaved roads can contribute to rural character, and slow development and speed of travel in remote areas.

Work with the Highway Department and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to establish an Integrative Vegetation Management program to minimize the use of herbicides and control vegetation in the right-ofways. This will help to minimize damage to native wildlife and groundwater from herbicides and chemical uses.

Implement management strategies such as carefully timed mowing to allow for songbird reproduction.

Consider conducting a study of salt use on state roads and the impact on groundwater or recharge zones to determine whether certain areas of the state roads can be designated as reduced salt areas. Road salt is a potential contaminant of the public water supply, especially within the Sugar House well recharge zone.

1

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5

Y E A R S

Establish remediation sites using cattails (Typha angustifolia) and spear saltbush (Atriplex patula) in swales in the Zone II Recharge Area of the Sugar House well, where the state maintenance regimes of Routes 5 and I-9I result to high amounts of salt in road runoff that pose a risk to the public water supply.

Hire an engineer to consult on wastewater treatment alternatives. There is no one currently on the Board of Health or in the Town government who has the necessary environmental engineering expertise to direct the town towards appropriate solutions for wastewater treatment in Bernardston. The 2009 Tighe and Bond Sewer Analysis and Conceptual Design Report should be reviewed to assess the feasibility of centralized or decentralized sewage treatment systems for the Center Village and business and industrial zones.

Pursue bids for a solar field on the landfill in town to provide the town with renewable energy on land that cannot be used for agriculture and is not highly visible. In 2009 Franklin County Solid Waste Management District conducted a feasibility study and potential plan for the solar field. The plan proposed a system that would generate 860,000 kwh of electricity a year.

Create a Five-year update of the Master Plan with a summary of actions taken and a reassessment for further actions.

120

DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

Key to Goals Preserve Rural Character = RC Vibrant Historic Center = CV Foster Sustainable Economic Development = ED Responsible Parties Goals Met

Further Information

Element

Conservation Commission, Highway Department

RC, CV

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection publishes the Massachusetts Stormwater Handbook with best management practices for controlling stormwater.

Watershed Protection

Highway Department, State Department of Transportation

RC

Watershed Protection

Highway Department, Conservation Commission

RC, ED

A group of scientists in Quebec, Canada, are researching the possibilities of constructing wetlands with plants that absorb salt to help with the phytoremediation of salt before it reaches the public water supply. Evidence shows that cattails and spear saltbush have the capability of absorbing salt and can be incorporated into roadside infrastructure.

The town of Millbury has implemented an Integrated Vegetation Management program which minimizes reliance on herbicides and controls vegetation in an ecological way, especially in sensitive areas like Zone II recharge areas, and near surface water, habitat zones, and cultural areas.

Watershed Protection, Natural and Cultural Resources

Conservation Commission, Highway Department, State Department of Transportation

RC

Highway Department

RC, CV, ED

Board of Health, Board of Selectman, Town Coordinator

CV, ED

Green Committee, CV, ED Planning Board, Board of Selectmen, Transfer Station Master Plan Steering Committee, Town Coordinator

Guilford, Vermont, has taken action to preserve their rural character by maintaining the unpaved roads, which contribute to the rural character of their town.

Watershed Protection

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has designated other stretches of roads as reduced salt areas to protect the areas surrounding the roads, whether the road might be running through a wetland, water supply area or other areas of conservation concern.

Watershed Protection

The Environmental Protection Agency published a series of Watershed Case Studies of Individual and Clustered (Decentralized) Protection Wastewater Management Programs in 2010 that highlights towns across the country that resolved a variety of water quality issues due to poor wastewater treatment monitoring by working with trained professionals.

A report available from the Franklin County Solid Waste Land Use Management included a proposal by the Nexamp company for a 1600 Kw system. Greenfield has successfully developed a solar field at its landfill site and could be used as a case study.

10 RECOMMENDATIONS

121

Summary Table of Recommendations Recommendation Strengthen Community Connections Advocate for regional public transportation connecting the Center Village in Bernardston to Greenfield. This will increase the ability of the elderly or people who do not drive to continue living in Bernardston and will decrease future dependency on fossil fuels.

Zoning and Policy

Expand the National Register Historic District to include historic structures on Church and River Street, and property owners about the benefits of placing their properties on the National Register of Historic Places. Listing buildings in the National Register provides formal recognition, potential tax incentives for owners of income-producing properties, and protection through state or federally funded, licensed or assisted projects.

Create Architectural Preservation Districts/Neighborhood Districts to protect the overall character of an area by regulating demolition and major alteration of buildings. Set design standards for scale, massing, street pattern, setback, and materials.

5

-

1 0

Y E A R S

Reassess the Water Protection Overlay District assuming that the current inactive wells will need to be reinstated in the future. Bernardston has been identified as one of eight critical sources of public water supply in Franklin County. Unpredictable changes in future precipitation along with population growth may require inactive wells in Bernardston to be reinstated, or new wells to be constructed. The Water Protection Overlay District would need to be assessed to meet any significant changes in demand or the creation of additional wells.

Consider the area south of the railroad along River Road for Center Village development. Work with Farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Supply to develop parking and a riverside walkway connecting to the small area south of Hillside Pizza, making this section of town more accessible from Church Street and maintaining the view of Arch Bridge from River Street.

Improve Municipal Infrastructure and Services Pursue funding for design and construction of a wastewater treatment solution resulting from professional environmental engineering plans that allows for denser development and a wider variety of businesses. Additional funding may be available if, during construction of the sewer system, utility lines could be buried and old water mains could be replaced. There are limited funding sources available for rural towns, and a separate committee or hired staff member may be necessary to devote the time required to acquire the funds for a project of this scale.

122

DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

Key to Goals Preserve Rural Character = RC Vibrant Historic Center = CV Foster Sustainable Economic Development = ED Responsible Parties Goals Met

Further Information

Element

Franklin County Regional Transit Authority

CV, ED

The Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA) bus routes extend as far east as Orange, MA, south to Northampton, and west to Charlemont. It serves the largest and most rural geographical areas in Massachusetts. There is no direct route to Bernardston but FRTA offers limited transportation for people of 60 years and older for medical appointments and emergencies.

Land Use

Water District, Franklin Regional Council of Governments

RC, CV, ED

FRCOG has conducted a study on Franklin County with a chapter on the water supply in the county. The climate change in the northeast will have an impact on the future water supply.

Watershed Protection

Planning Board, Historical Commission

CV

The town of Ipswich, Massachusetts, has seven Historic Natural and Districts. The townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s village has retained its historic buildings, Cultural Reroads, bridges and settlement patterns through the use of fed- sources eral and local funds, and Preservation Agreements and other tools for historic preservation.

Historical Commission, Planning Board

RC, CV

Board of Selectmen, Planning Board

CV, ED

North Andover adopted its first Neighborhood Architectural Natural and Conservation District (NACD) in the area known as Machine Cultural ReShop Village which is listed in the National Register of Histor- sources ic Places. The town adopted the NACD to preserve the overall size and scale of its well-preserved collection of mill-related resources. See Preservation Through Bylaws and Ordinances (Massachusetts Historical Commission, 2010).

Board of Health, Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee

CV, ED

Studies show that walking paths encourage daily exercise and Land Use increase safety and pedestrian accessibility of downtowns.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has published a toolkit for rural towns to improve the walkability of their downtowns.

The U.S. Department of Agricultureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rural Development Watershed Program provides loans for wastewater infrastructure. The Protection amount and interest level of the loan is based on criteria including the Median Household Income of the area served by the system. The Massachusetts State Revolving Fund provides low-cost funding to assist municipalities in complying with federal and state water quality requirements.

10 RECOMMENDATIONS

123

Summary Table of Recommendations Recommendation Education and Outreach

1 0

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2 0

Y E A R S

Construct a boardwalk through Cushman Park and the Darwin Scott Memorial Wetland with wildlife and water education signs to increase accessibility and awareness of the ecosystem and natural environment. This will make use of the wetlands in the park as a recreational destination for both residents and visitors.

124

Zoning and Policy Rezone Route 10 for mixed use to have attractive shops and businesses that would support the local rural economy and diversify the tax base. This new zoning district would have design standards to maintain the historic character of Bernardston, and would become a priority if plans to implement a centralized sewer system for the business and industrial zones are developed.

Improve Municipal Infrastructure and Services Use funding from the Community Preservation Act to renovate the Town Hall to enable accessibility of the second floor. This would allow gatherings within the center of town for town events such as meetings, cultural events, the farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market, or private uses.

DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

Key to Goals Preserve Rural Character = RC Vibrant Historic Center = CV Foster Sustainable Economic Development = ED Responsible Parties Goals Met

Further Information

Element

Conservation Commission, Recreation Commission, Cushman Park Committee

CV, ED

Massachusetts Audubon built the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Northampton with an 850-foot accessible looped trail and boardwalk through wetlands and other grassland habitats. It provides education to visitors who wish to learn about the various habitats with clear signs for direction.

Watershed Protection

Planning Board

ED

The town of Edgartown, Massachusetts, adopted design guidelines in 1988 for their commercial strip leading into the center of town that has allowed businesses to develop along with the tourist industry but has maintained the rural coastal aesthetic that residents find attractive. (See case study in Land Use Element).

Land Use

Historical Commission

CV

The Ashland Town Hall is an example of a municipal building that was rescued in part by CPA funds. Built in 1855, the building needed substantial restoration and rehabilitation as it had suffered from neglect, renovations for multiple uses, and damage from 20th century synthetic siding. The $4.3 million rehabilitation cost was funded by $1.3 million of CPA funds, with the balance as a bond voted by the town. See Preservation Through Bylaws and Ordinances (Massachusetts Historical Commission, 2010).

Natural and Cultural Resources

10 RECOMMENDATIONS

125

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American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau, n.d.

Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

American Farmland Trust, Farmland Information Center, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. FACT SHEET Cost of Community Services. (n.d.): n. pag. 2010.

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Arendt, Randall, Brabec, Elizabeth A., Dodson, Harry L., Reid, Christine, and Yaro, Robert D. Rural by Design: Maintaining Small Town Character. Chicago, IL: Planners, American Planning Association, 1994. Print.

Ayers, Glen. Personal interview. 15 March, 2015.

Berke, Philip, and Lyles, Ward. Public Risks and the Challenges to Climate Adaptation: A Proposed Framework for Planning in the Age of Uncertainty. University of North Carolina, 30 Jan. 2012. Web. Brown, Donald & Donald. Bernardston, Massachusetts Master Plan. Planning Services, Inc. Farmington, CT, 1975.

Print.

Carr, Jamie W., and Kennedy, Laurie E. Connecticut River Basin 2003 Water Quality Assessment Report. Rep. Worcester: Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Watershed Management, 2008. Print.

Chadde, Steve, and Kruday, Greg. Conservation Assessment For Narrow Triangle Moonwort (Botrychium Lanceolatum Var. Angustisegmentum). USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region. 2001. Web. Citizens Awareness Network. Problems with Entergy’s Decommissioning Plan. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2015.

Clean Air - Cool Planet, and Cameron P. Wake. Indicators of Climate Change in the Northeast. The Climate Change Research Center, University of New Hampshire, 2005.

Web. Clément, Daniel. The Algonquins. Hull, Quebec: Canadian Museum of Civilization, 1996. Print.

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Connecticut River Joint Commission. Information and Education: Fast Facts. 2015. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.

Cultural Resource Management Consultants.

Massachusetts Heritage Landscapes: A Guide to Identification and Protection. (n.d.): n. pag. Mass.gov.

Department of Conservation and Recreation. Web. Department of Conservation and Recreation. Bernardston Reconnaissance Report. Franklin Regional Council of Governments. 2009. Print.

Department of Conservation and Recreation. Greenfield Reconnaissance Report. Franklin Regional Council of Governments. 2009. Web. Department of Conservation and Recreation. Horse Ownership and The Massachusetts Watershed Protection Act. (n.d.): n. pag. Mar. 2015. Web. Department of Environmental Protection. “Wetlands Protection Act.” n. pag. Oct. 2014. Web. Department of Fish and Game, and the Nature Conservancy. BioMap2: Conserving the Biodiversity of Massachusetts in a Changing World. N.p.: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game and The Nature Conservancy, 2010. Print.

Energy and Environmental Affairs. Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs). Mass.Gov. Department of Agricultural Resources, n.d. Web. --------------. Massachusetts Climate Change Adaptation Report. Boston, MA: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2011. Print.

--------------. Massachusetts Rivers Protection Act. Mass.

Gov. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2015.

--------------. Massachusetts Wetlands: Types, Ecology, Functions, Loss, Degradation. Mass.Gov. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, n.d. Web. 2015.

--------------. Wetlands: The Preservation of Wetlands Functions. Mass.Gov. Department of Environmental Protection, n.d. Web. 2015.

Environmental Protection Agency. Best Management Practices - Stormwater Research. 2014. Web. --------------. Case Studies of Individual and Clustered (Decentralized) Wastewater Management Programs. Office of Watershed Management. By Watershed Management.

N.p.: 2012. Print.

Kellogg, Lucy Jane Cutler. History of the Town of Bernardston, Franklin County, Massachusetts. 1736-1900.

With Genealogies. Greenfield, MA: Press of E.A. Hall, 1902. Print.

Kennedy, Robert. Watershed Best Management Practices for Water Quality Protection, Management, and Restoration. Rep. N.p.: Wetlands Regulatory Assistance Program, 2002. Web. Lattrell, Bill. Personal interview. March, 2015.

--------------. Forest Fragmentation: Differentiating Between Human and Natural Causes. Forest Service Department of Agriculture. N.p.: n.p., 2003. Web.

Les Traitements BioBac RSS2. Water-stargrass (Heteranthera Dubia) Aquascreen. N.p., 14 Mar. 2012.

Web. 26 Mar. 2015.

Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. Deerfield River Watershed Assessment Report. Rep. Boston: Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, 2004. Web.

Livingston, Amy, Sprague, Theresa, and Sullivan, Tom. Bernardstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Living Landscape. Rep. Conway: Conway School of Landscape Design, 2008. Print.

Federal Emergency Management Agency. Flood Zones.

US Department of Homeland Security. US Department of Homeland Security, 24 July 2014. Web.

MacCallum, Wayne F. Guidelines for the Certification of Vernal Pool Habitats. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

Westborough: NHESP, 2009. Web.

Food and Agriculture Organization. Managing Forests for Climate Change. (n.d.): n. pag. 2010. Web. Franklin Regional Council of Governments. Sustainable Franklin County. N.p.: n.p., 2013. Print.

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Motzkin, Glenn. Personal interview. March, 2015.

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Heeley, Richard W., Judith A. Maloney, and Erik Storms.

Replacement of Ground Water Supplies Contaminated With Pesticides In Whately and Granby, Massachusetts.

BSC Engineering, n.d. Web. Mar. 2015.

History.com. King Philipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s War. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 2015.

Hophmayer-Tokich, Sharon. Wastewater Management Strategy: Centralized v. Decentralized Technologies for Small Communities. Center for Clean Technology and Environmental Policy, n.d. Web.

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Amherst, 1997. Web. Sarnat, Carol L., Willis, Cleve E., and Harper, Carolyn R. Choosing Alternatives to Contaminated Ground Water Supplies: A Sequential Decision Framework Under Uncertainty. 1987. n. pag. Web.

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Simon, Brona, Skelly, Christopher C, and Steinitz, Michael.

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Trimarchi, Maria. How Do Trees Affect the Weather?

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Tighe & Bond. Sewer Infrastructure Analysis and Conceptual Design Report. N.p.: Town of Bernardston, 2009. Print.

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Trustees of the Cushman Library. History of the Town of Bernardston, Franklin County, Massachusetts: Volume II, 1900-1960, with Genealogies. Bernardston, MA. 1962.

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Watershed Planning Program. Massachusetts Year 2014 Integrated List of Waters. Department of Environmental Protection. Energy and Environmental Affairs, 2014. Web.

Appendix I Map Data Sources 54

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State Outlines

Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

County Boundaries

BERNARDSTON

0 1 2

MA State Boundary

Westfield River Watershed

Main Water Bodies

Chicopee River Watershed

Millers River Watershed

Connecticut River Watershed

Deerfield RIver Watershed

Franklin County

4

6 Miles

±

Regional Watersheds 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

129

Surface Flow and Drainage

This map displays the surface flow patterns and where in Bernardston water bodies drain.

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

MassDOT Roads

Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

MassDEP Hydrography (1:25,000)

MassDEP Wetlands (1:12,000)

Building Footprints (2-D, from Lidar data)

Shaded Relief (1:5,000)

Digital Elevation Model (1:5,000)

Surface Water Resources

This map shows the water bodies and the regulated areas around them.

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

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Certified Vernal Pool

Intermittent Stream

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Potential Vernal Pools

Perennial Stream

DEP Wetlands

Pond, Lake, River

Intermittent Stream & Wetland Buffer

Roads

Riverfront Resource Area

Building Footprints

2 Miles

NHESP Certified Vernal Pools

NHESP Potential Vernal Pools

MassDEP Wetlands (1:12,000)

MassDEP Hydrography (1:25,000)

Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

Shaded Relief (1:5,000)

Building Footprints (2-D, from Lidar data)

Buffers calculated with MassGIS Geoprocessing.

Custom Shapefile:

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Surface Water Resources 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

Falls River Watershed

This map illustrates the extent of the Falls River watershed in Vermont and Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

MassDEP Wetlands (1:12,000)

MassDEP Hydrography (1:25,000)

Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

Falls River watershed data shapefile derived from Massachusetts Stream Stats.

Custom Shapefile:

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Starting Point

Intermittent Stream

Falls River Watershed

Perennial Stream

Wetlands

Building Footprints

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3 Miles

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Open Water

130

Falls River Watershed 2016 Master Plan DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

Town of Bernardston

APPENDIX I MAP DATA SOURCES

Keets Brook Watershed

This map shows the Keets Brook watershed.

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

MassDEP Wetlands (1:12,000)

MassDEP Hydrography (1:25,000)

Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Roads

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Custom Shapefile:

Keets Brook watershed data was gathered from Stream Stats Massachusetts.

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Bottom Point

Intermittent Stream

Keets Brook Watershed

Perennial Stream

Wetlands

Building Footprints

±

2 Miles

Open Water

Keets Brook Watershed 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

Couch Brook Watershed

This map illustrates the extent of the Couch Brook watershed.

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

MassDEP Wetlands (1:12,000)

MassDEP Hydrography (1:25,000)

Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Roads

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Custom Shapefile:

Couch Brook watershed data was gathered from Stream Stats Massachusetts.

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#

0.5

1

Starting Point

Intermittent Stream

Couch Brook Watershed

Perennial Stream

Wetlands

Building Footprints

2

3 Miles

±

Open Water

Couch Brook Watershed 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

Stream Along Fox Hill Road Watershed This map shows the water bodies that flow into the wetland adjacent to Cushman Park.

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

MassDEP Wetlands (1:12,000)

MassDEP Hydrography (1:25,000)

Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Roads

Custom Shapefile:

This watershed data was gathered from Stream Stats Massachusetts.

# 0

#

Starting Point

Intermittent Stream

Fox Hill Stream Watershed

Perennial Stream

Wetlands

Building Footprints

Open Water

0.25

0.5 Miles

Fox Hill Stream Watershed

±

REFERENCES

2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

131

Mill Brook Watershed

This map shows the extent of the Mill Brook watershed.

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

MassDEP Wetlands (1:12,000)

MassDEP Hydrography (1:25,000)

Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Roads

Custom Shapefile:

Mill Brook watershed data was gathered from Stream Stats Massachusetts. # 0

#

0.5

Starting Point

Intermittent Stream

Mill Brook Watershed

Perennial Stream

Wetlands

Building Footprints

1

2 Miles

±

Open Water

Mill Brook Watershed 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

Dry Brook Watershed

This map illustrates the Dry Brook watershed.

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

MassDEP Wetlands (1:12,000)

MassDEP Hydrography (1:25,000)

Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Roads

Custom Shapefile:

Dry Brook watershed data was gathered from Stream Stats Massachusetts.

# *

0

# *

Starting Point

Intermittent Stream

Dry Brook Watershed

Perennial Stream

Wetlands

Building Footprints

0.5

1 Miles

±

Open Water

Dry Brook Watershed 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

100-Year Floodplains

This map shows the location of the floodplain in Bernardston.

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

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MassDEP Hydrography (1:25,000)

Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Roads

Shaded Relief (1:5,000)

100-year floodplains

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Pond, Lake, River

Perennial Stream

Wetlands

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100-Year Floodplains

DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN 2016 Master Plan

Town of Bernardston

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APPENDIX I MAP DATA SOURCES

Wellheads and Aquifers

The Wellheads and Aquifers Map identifies where the town public water supply is and the water lines that connect water to residences.

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

Waterlines supplied by FRCOG

Wellheads based on information from FRCOG

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Franklin Regional Council of Government:

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Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

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Water Lines

Aquifers

Perennial Stream

Zone II Recharge Area

Intermittent Stream

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Wellheads

Wellheads and Aquifers 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

Surficial Geology

The Surficial Geology Map shows patterns of soil parent material.

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

USGS Topographic Quadrangle Images

Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

Surficial Geology

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Core Habitats and Species of Concern

The Core Habitats and Species of Conservation Concern Map illustrates important habitats for wildlife and species of conservation concern.

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NHESP Certified Vernal Pools

NHESP Potential Vernal Pools

MassDEP Hydrography (1:25,000)

Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

Coarse

Artificial Fill

Glaciolacustrine Fine

Swamp and Marsh Deposits!(

Stagnant-ice Deposits

Floodplain Alluvium

Thin Glacial Till

Shaded Relief (1:5,000)

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Alluvial Fan

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Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

Abundant Outcrop and Shallow Bedrock

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BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape Wetland Core Buffer Aquatic Core Vernal Pool Core Forest Core

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REFERENCES

2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

133

Protected Wildlife Habitat

The Protected Wildlife Habitat Map identifies existing wildlife habitats that are protected.

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS): BioMap2

Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Roads

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Protected Land

0.5

1

2 Miles

MassDEP Hydrography (1:25,000)

Shaded Relief (1:5,000)

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Wetland BioMap2 Core Habitat BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape

2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

Visibility of Scenic Resources

The Visibility of Scenic Resources and Unique Environments Map illustrates the most visible areas in town from the roads.

Shattuck Brook WMA

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Roads

Fox Hill Stream

Center Village

Arch Bridge

Mill Brook

Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

Wetlands

Darwin Scott Memorial Wetland

Digital Elevation Model (1:5,000)

Waterbodies Recreation Historic Scenic Most Visible Ss Places in Town

VVisibility of Scenic Resources and Unique Environments

Least Visible Places in Town

Fragmentation

The Fragmentation Map illustrates habitat fragmentation patterns resulting from development and road ways.

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS): BioMap2

Community Boundaries (Cities and Towns)

Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Roads

134

DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

Shaded Relief (1:5,000)

APPENDIX I MAP DATA SOURCES

Map Inset 1: Current Land Use

This map shows the pattern of land uses and soils in the Falls River Valley.

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

Land Use (2005)

Community Boundaries (Towns) from Survey Points

Shaded Relief (1:5,000)

Map Inset 2: Prime Farmland

This map shows the pattern of prime farmland in Bernardston.

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

NRCS SSURGO-Certified Soils

Community Boundaries (Towns) from Survey Points

Shaded Relief (1:5,000)

Current Land Use

This map shows the patterns of land use in Bernardston.

VERMONT

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS): Land Use (2005)

NORTHFIELD

Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Roads

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GREENFIELD

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Barren Open Land, Waste, or Utilities

Residential Commercial Industrial Recreational

Wetlands Water

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REFERENCES

2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

135

Land Use Change

This map shows the changes in land use from 1971 - 1999.

VERMONT

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

NORTHFIELD

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Community Boundaries (Towns) from Survey Points

Shaded Relief (1:5,000)

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Land Use (1971 - 1999)

Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Roads

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GILL

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Agricultural (previously 90% forested)

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Residential (previously 66% forest, 26% agricultural, 8% barren land)

Forest (previously 33% cropland, 33% pasture, 33% barren land)

Land Use Change 1971 - 1999

Commercial (previously 60% forest, 20% agricultural)

Barren Land (previously 60% forest, 27% agricultural)

Industrial (previously 50% agricultural, 50% forest)

Recreation (previously 50% agricultural and 50% forest)

Waste Disposal (previously 100% forest)

2 Miles

2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

Zoning

This map shows the zoning districts for Bernardston according to their zoning bylaws.

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

R/A

USGS Topographic Quadrangle Images

Franklin Council of Regional Governments:

R/A

B

R1 I EPD B EPD

CV

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Bernardston Zoning Districts (2015)

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1 Miles

Zoning Districts Residential / Agricultural (91%)

Floodplain Overlay District (4%)

Residence 1-acre (6%)

Water Resource Protection District (5%)

Center Village (2%)

Zoning

Industrial (1%)

2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

Business (<1%) Expedited Permitting District (<1%)

Valuable Farmland and Development

This map shows areas identified by the US Department of Agriculture as Prime Farmland and Farmland of Statewide Importance, areas that have been developed for non-agricultural uses, and what areas fall under permanent protection.

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NORTHFIELD 5 ¤ £

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Non-Agricultural Uses on Designate Prime Farmland and Farmland of Statewide Importance Designated Prime Farmland and Farmland of Statewide Importance Permanently Protected Open Space

136

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Land Use (2005)

NRCS SSURGO-Certified Soils

Protected and Recreational Open Space

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Community Boundaries (Towns) from Survey Points

Shaded Relief (1:5,000)

Valuable Farmland and Development

Town of Bernardston DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN Town Roads State Highways

Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Roads

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Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

2016 Master Plan

APPENDIX I MAP DATA SOURCES

Working Lands

This map shows the agricultural and forest lands enrolled in Chapters 61, 61A, 61B and their relationship to current land use and permanently protected land.

VERMONT

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

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Town of Bernardston Assessors

Parcels Enrolled in Chapter 61, 61A, 61B

GILL

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GREENFIELD

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Developed Land

Chapter 61A Agriculture

Agricultural Land

Chapter 61B Recreation

Water and Wetlands

Town, State, or NonProfit Owned

Development Constraints

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Shaded Relief (1:5,000)

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Community Boundaries (Towns) from Survey Points

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Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Roads

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Protected and Recreational Open Space

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MassDEP Hydrography 1:25,000

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Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

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INTE

This map shows considerations for future development such as slope, zoning regulations, land use restrictions.

Building Structures (2-D from 2011-2013 Ortho Imagery)

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2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

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Working Lands

APR

Level 3 Assessors’ Parcels

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Forests and Open Land

Permanently Protected Land

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Temporarily Protected Land Current Land Use

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Community Boundaries (Towns) from Survey Points

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MARTINDALE ROAD

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Slopes 0-3%

Constraints to Development - Riverfront Resource Areas and Wetland buffers - Developed parcels < 3 acres - Undeveloped parcels <1.5 acres - Parcels with no road frontage - Permanently protected land

3-5% 5-8% 8-15% 15-25% >25%

Development Constraints 2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

I-91 State Highways Town Roads

Summary of Strategies

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This map illustrates recommended strategies.

Satan's Kingdom Wildlife Management Area Bernardston / Northfield

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Mixed Use

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Working Agricultural Lands

Interstate Highway

Priority Residential

State Road

A Vibrant Center Village

Highway Ramps

Mixed Use Mixed Residential and Open Land Vital Forest Cover and Open Space Mixed Use

Mixed Residential and Open Space

Priority Residential

Biomap2 Critical Natural Landscape Block Bernardston / Gill / Greenfield

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Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Roads

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Community Boundaries (Towns) from Survey Points

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MassDEP Hydrography 1:25,000

C W on il d n life ec ti C on orr to id or

Vital Forest Cover and Open Space

C W on il d n life ec ti C on orr to id or

Massachusetts Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS):

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Master Plan Summary of Strategies

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REFERENCES

2016 Master Plan Town of Bernardston

137

Appendix II Public Involvement During the first twelve week period of the Master Plan process, the Conway students, Hillary Collins, Rachel Lindsay, and Kate Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien, held two Community Meetings, one on February 3rd, 2015 and the other on February 24th, 2015.

Below are the Sign-In sheets for both meetings.

February 3 rd, 2015

February 24 th, 2015

138

DRAFT BERNARDSTON MASTER PLAN

APPENDIX II PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

The Town of Bernardston's first master plan was completed in 1975. After forty years, the Conway School was asked to accompany the Town in updating the plan. This book is the first half of the updated master plan and contains finished chapters on watershed protection, natural and cultural resources, and land use. This plan will be revised in January 2016 to include chapters on housing, transportation, services and facilities, and economic development.

The Conway School is the only institution of its kind in North America. Its focus is sustainable landscape planning and design and its graduates are awarded a Master of Science in Ecological Design degree. Each year, through its accredited, ten-month graduate program students from diverse backgrounds are immersed in a range of realworld design projects, ranging from sites to cities to regions. Graduates play significant professional roles in various aspects of landscape planning and design.

Fix whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s broken. Save what works. Design the future!