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Introduction to the Plan
What’s a Master Plan?
A community Master Plan, also called a Comprehensive Plan, lays out a vision for Middleborough and articulates the decisions that will assist the town in arriving at that future.
Timeline
The Plan covers seven planning elements. Goals and strategies often intersect between these elements.
Natural & Cultural Resources
Housing
Services & Facilities
Transportation & Connectivity
Land Use
Economic Development
Open Space & Recreation
SRPEDD
Project Team
Taylor Perez - tperez@srpedd.org
Assistant Director of Housing and Community Development
Maria Jones - mjones@srpedd.org Public Engagement and Communications Planner
Chris Welch - cwelch@srpedd.org Senior Comprehensive Planner
Town of Middleborough
Leeann Bradley - bradleyl@middleboroughma.gov Director of Planning and Community Development
Tricia Cassady - pcssdy@middleboroughma.gov Conservation Agent
Jay McGrail - jmcgrail@middleboroughma.gov Town Manager
Elements of a Plan
We’re Here!
0 1 2 0.5 Miles 105 105 105 44 44 44 495 495 495 28 28 AssawompsetPond Middleborough Center Rocky Gutter Wildlife Management Area We are here! -14.7% -18.9% -8.6% -15.4% 4.4% -25.0% -20.0% -15.0% -10.0% -5.0% 0.0% 5.0% 10.0% Henry B. Burkland Elementary School John T. Nichols Middle Mary K. Goode Elementary Schoo Memorial Early Childhood Center Middleborough High School Te n Ye ar C ha ng e in S c hoo l En ro ll me nt School enrollment is decreasing. 5,966 30% 11,249 56% 2,726 14% 2000 Under 20 20-59 60 Median Age 38 5,277 22% 12,331 51% 6,611 27% 2021 Under 20 20-59 60+ Median Age: 43 Middleborough is aging. 11.6% 15.9% 4.9% 8.0% 4.7% 3.8% 3.1% 0.5% 0.7% 12.3% -0.2% 6.3% 4.7% 1.8% 1.9% 8.6% 4.7% 7.3% 5.5% 3.1% 7.4% -2.0% 0.0% 2.0% 4.0% 6.0% 8.0% 10.0% 12.0% 14.0% 16.0% 18.0% 1990-2000 2000-2010 2010-2020 Po pu la ti on C ha ng e (% ) Middleborough Lakeville Carver Taunton Freetown Plymouth County Massachusetts Middleborough is still growing. Introduction Let’s get acquainted with Middleborough. 1. Where do you take people who are in town for the first time? 2. What would you like to learn more about? Fast Facts Questions $81,809 $98,190 $89,026 $70,757 $73,131 $64,509 $52,755 $55,615 $50,502 $- $20,000 $40,000 $60,000 $80,000 $100,000 $120,000 Midd le bo ro ugh Plym ou th C o un ty Massachu sett s 2000 2010 2021 Middleborough’s median household income is increasing. Data sources: MassGIS, MassDOT, Town of Middleborough, U.S. Census and ACS 5-Year Estimates. This map and data is for the sole purpose of aiding planning decisions and is not warranted for any other use.
What’s your favorite place in town? Leave a sticky note explaining why!
Introduction What did recent planning identify?
2024 Housing Production Plan
Main Takeaways:
Starter homes + homes appropriate for downsizing are popular
• Town should focus on policies that promote smart growth + open space preservation (40R, 40Y, tree retention bylaws, OSRD by-right, ADUs by-right)
2022 APC and Nemasket Watershed Management & Climate Action Plan
Main Takeaways:
• Focus on regional coordination and planning with other towns along the APC Town should develop an Emergency Action Plan that includes an Emergency Early Warning System, or rehab the auxiliary spillway on the Middleborough side of the Assawompset Pond dam
2021 Community Preservation Act Plan
Main Takeaways:
• CPC “Housing” category has not received enough applications to meet the CPA statutory requirement of 10% funding Vision for CPA funds include protecting land, acquiring key parcels for resource protection, supporting agriculture and forest land management, and education
2017 Energy Reduction Report
Main Takeaways:
• Building goals include upgrading key town facilities HVAC systems, insulation, windows, and lighting Transportation goals include acquiring electric vehicles to replace portions of the town vehicle fleet
• General goals include upgrading all town lighting to LEDs, including streetlights
Questions
1. Are there any plans we missed?
Other Plans We Reviewed
• 2024 Priority Areas Report - work ongoing
• 2023 Open Space & Recreation Plan
• 2023 Road Safety Changes Press Release
• 2020 Annual Report
• 2016 Market Analysis
• 2013 Priority Areas Report
• 2002 Master Plan
• Zoning Bylaws
What We’re Looking at Next
• 2023 Hazard Mitigation Plan
• 2020 Complete Streets Needs Assessment and Prioritization Plan
• 2020 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan
Data sources: Town of Middleborough.
Land Use
What is the land being used for?
Is the land being used for housing, shops, parks, or something else? How might land use change or stay the same?
What is “Institutional”?
This describes tax-exempt land owned by public or non-profit entities - such as the Town. This includes places like Town Hall, schools, and some open spaces or conservation land.
Questions
1. What areas in town do you think should change? What areas in town should stay the same?
Land Use
Agriculture and Open Space Residential with 3 Units or Less Residential with 4 Units or More Multiple Uses 0 1 2 0.5 Miles O ce Commercial Industrial Institutional Agricultural Open Space and Recreation Utility and Transportation Vacant 105 105 105 44 44 44 495 495 495 28 28 Land Use
Agriculture and Open Space
with 3 Units or Less Residential with 4 Units or More Multiple Uses 0 1 2 0.5 Miles O ce Commercial Industrial Institutional Agricultural Open Space and Recreation Utility and Transportation Vacant 105 105 105 44 44 44 495 495 495 28 28
Residential
Residential
Residential
Data sources: MassGIS, MassDOT, and the Town of Middleborough. This map is for the sole purpose of aiding planning decisions and is not warranted for any other use.
Economic Development
Where do you shop?
How can we continue to bolster the commercial tax base? How can we support small businesses?
Commercial & Industrial Uses
Questions
1. Where do you like to shop and go out to eat in Middleborough? What other types of businesses would you like to see around town?
Multiple Uses 0 1 2 0.5 Miles O ce Commercial Industrial 105 105 44 44 44 495 495 495 28 28 Trucchi’s Dave’s Diner Hannaford’s Ocean Spray Harper Lane Brewery Antique Co-op Charred Oak Tavern Amazon Fulfillment Center Beth Israel Lahey
Suncrafted Dispensary William’s Trading Post
Data sources: MassGIS, MassDOT, and the Town of Middleborough. This map is for the sole purpose of aiding planning decisions and is not warranted for any other use.
Zoning
How do we decide what goes where?
Different districts allow different land uses. Zoning also regulates density and dimensions of new buildings.
Residential A and B are both for single family homes. RA requires a minimum 60,000 sq ft lot size and 175 ft street frontage, compared to the 20,000 sq ft minimum and 125 ft frontage of RB.
Business districts are small and located at major intersections.
Residential Rural makes up most of Middleborough’s zoning.
Questions
1. What areas in town feel like they “make sense”? What areas in town feel disconnected?
General Use Districts
GU: This is a broadly defined zoning category that permits agricultural, outdoor recreation, commercial, warehousing, and manufacturing uses. It generally restricts the conversion of single-family to multifamily units, and limits the development of additional mobile home parks.
GUA: This designation is a refined category of the GU zoning regulations. It allows multi-family residential units via special permit.
GUX: This designation is a refined category of the GU zoning regulations, and allows multi-family residential units through special permit, but requires additional land area per unit, and restricts mobile homes to standard lot sizes.
GUB: This designation is a refined category of the GU zoning regulations. Height exemptions up to 65’ may be granted in this district.
GUB
Business Commercial Development District General Use General Use A 0 1 2 0.5 Miles General Use X General Use B Industrial Residential A Residential B Residential Rural 105 105 44 44 44 495 495 495 28 28
Base Zoning
Data sources: MassGIS, MassDOT, and the Town of Middleborough. This map is for the sole purpose of aiding planning decisions and is not warranted for any other use.
Apartment and condominiums are generally focused along heavily trafficked corridors.
Housing
Single Family Residential
Two-Family Residential
Three-Family Residential
Housing comes in many shapes and sizes.
What should Middleborough’s housing priorities be over the next ten years? How can we plan for housing to support the next generation?
The vast majority of Middleborough’s housing is single-family residential.
1. Take a look at the housing goals and strategies from Middleborough’s final draft Housing Production Plan. What actions should we prioritize from this plan? Questions
Housing Facts
1. The average single-family home sale price in town has more than doubled since 2010, jumping from $229,000 to $476,000 in 2022
2. Over nearly the same time frame, the median household income in town has only increased from $70,757 in 2010 to $81,809 in 2021
3. Only 22% of homeowners are cost burdened (spend over 30% of their wages on housing), while 49% of renters are cost burdened, half of whom spend over 50% of their wages on housing.
Multiple Houses on One Parcel 0 1 2 0.5 Miles Apartments and Condominiums Other Congregate Housing 105 105 105 44 44 44 495 495 495 28 28
Housing
Data sources: The Warren Group, ACS 5-Year Estimates, HUD, MassGIS, MassDOT, and the Town of Middleborough. This map and data is for the sole purpose of aiding planning decisions and is not warranted for any other use.
How do you get around town?
No matter how you choose to get somewhere, you should feel safe and secure. What areas in town need improvement?
1. How do you get around town? How do you wish you could get around town?
2. Are there any roads, sidewalks, or other areas you think need improvements?
We look at crash data to understand what roadways and intersections should be prioritized for safety improvements. Do any of these locations surprise you?
0 1 2 0.5 Miles 105 105 105 44 44 44 495 495 495 28 28 Transportation
Regular Service Proposed Used Seasonally
for Special Events Sidewalks, Bike
Transit 0 1 2 0.5 Miles MBTA Lines GATRA Routes Regular Service Bike and Pedestrian Sidewalks Proposed On-Road Bike Lane Bike Path Under Construction 105 105 105 44 44 44 495 495 495 28 28
or
Paths, and
Questions Crashes
Hot spots are shown in shades of blue and red. Darker reds and oranges indicate high crash rates. Data sources: GATRA, MBTA, MassGIS, MassDOT, SRPEDD, and the Town of Middleborough. This map is for the sole purpose of aiding planning decisions and is not warranted for any other use.
Open Space
How do you spend time outside?
Open space includes parks, sports fields, hiking trails, and nature preserves. What’s your favorite open space?
Some large swaths of forested land are privately owned, and thus devoid of protections.
Much of Middleborough’s open space is well protected! That’s good news for nature lovers.
Do you feel there is adequate waterfront access?
Questions
1. Which open spaces do you enjoy most? Why?
2. What’s your favorite way to spend time outside? What recreational activities do you feel are currently unsupported?
Open Space Level of Protection Limited None In Perpetuity Unknown 0 1 2 0.5 Miles 105 44 44 44 495 495 495 28 28 Pierce Playground Herring Run Oliver Mill Tispaquin Pond Black Brook Wildlife Management Area Rocky Gutter Wildlife Management Area Assawompset Pond Taunton River Wildlife Management Area Purchase Brook Wildlife Management Area Management Frederick Weston Park Field of Dreams Woods Pond
Data sources: MassGIS, MassDOT, and the Town of Middleborough. This map is for the sole purpose of aiding planning decisions and is not warranted for any other use.
Sustainability Planning for the long-term.
How do we continue to protect our resources and infrastructure? How do we adapt to changing weather patterns?
“BFE” stands for “Base Flood Elevation,” and is the level that surface water will likely reach during a “base flood.” A base flood is a flood that has a 1% chance of happening in any given year. Insurance companies use BFEs to determine how much damage a property may experience during a flood event. Not all areas have a calculated BFE.
Floodzones
1% Annual Chance of Flooding, no BFE
1% Annual Chance of Flooding, with BFE
0.2% Annual Chance of Flooding Regulatory Floodway
Questions
1. Have you made any home energy improvements, such as adding solar to your roof or installing a heat pump?
2. Do you have a plan in the event of an emergency or extreme weather event? Does your home have emergency features, such as a back-up generator or hurricane shutters?
0 1 2 0.5 Miles 105 105 105 44 44 44 495 495 495 28 28
Data sources: MassGIS, MassDOT, and the Town of Middleborough. This map is for the sole purpose of aiding planning decisions and is not warranted for any other use.
Natural Resources Protecting what’s important.
Middleborough is home to many sensitive natural landscapes that play a vital role in the local ecosystem.
Priority Habitats are based on the known geographical extent of habitat for all statelisted rare species, both plants and animals, and is codified under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA).
Middleborough is known for its cranberry bogs! Have you ever visited a local bog?
Wetlands and Habitats
Vernal Pool
Marsh or Bog
Wooded Marsh
Cranberry Bog
Water Reservoir
Habitats
Natural Landscape
Questions
1. How do you enjoy nature in Middleborough?
2. How would you like to engage more with local wildlife and landscapes?
Vernal Pools are seasonal water bodies that provide important habitats for many plants and animals.
0 1 2 0.5 Miles
Priority
Critical
Core
105 105 105 44 44 44 495 495 495 28 28
Open
Habitat
Water Resources 0 1 2 0.5 Miles Water Resources Public Water Supply Watershed Zone II Aquifers A B Surface Water Protection Areas C R 105 105 105 44 44 44 495 495 495 28 28 Data sources: MassGIS, MassDOT, and the Town of Middleborough. This map is for the sole purpose of aiding planning decisions and is not warranted for any other use.
Cultural Resources
What makes Middleborough?
Middleborough has an abundance of historic places and local events. Which ones are your favorite?
Questions
1. What events and places do you feel define Middleborough?
2. What other events would you like to see around town?
Historic Areas
There are key historic nodes throughout town, such as Middleborough Center, South Middleborough, and the Muttock Historical and Archaeological District. What historic areas in town do you frequent? What other areas in town are special or unique to Middleborough?
Data sources: MassGIS, MassDOT, and the Town of Middleborough. This map is for the sole purpose of aiding planning decisions and is not warranted for any other use.
0 1 2 0.5 Miles MassHistoric Inventory (Areas) National Register of Historic Places Inventoried Property 105 105 105 44 44 44 495 495 495 28 28
Herring Run Festival
Crantoberfest
Summer Concert Series
Festival of Lights
Sip and Stroll
Sheep Day
Services and Facilities
How the town serves
you.
From police to schools, your taxes are hard at work. Let’s take a look at some places where they’re going.
Questions
1. What town facilities do you visit the most?
2. What town facilities need improvements? For example, accessibility or maintenance improvements. What facilities are exceptional?
3. How do you get information about what is going on in town? What would you like to see to get more people in the loop?
0 1 2 0.5 Miles 105 105 105 44 44 495 495 495 28 28 Town Hall Library Historical Museum Town Pool Housing Authority Police Department Fire Department Elementary School Middle School Dept. of Public Works High School Herring Run Tispaquin Pond Black Brook Wildlife Management Area Rocky Gutter Wildlife Management Area Assawompset Pond Council on Aging
Data sources: MassGIS, MassDOT, and the Town of Middleborough. This map is for the sole purpose of aiding planning decisions and is not warranted for any other use.
Steps
can we keep you involved?
We’d love to see you again! Help us learn the best ways to keep you engaged throughout the plan.
1. What ways do you prefer to engage with information like this? For example, do you prefer to stay up-to-date online? Do you like responding to surveys? Do you plan to attend in-person workshops?
3. How can we best reach you? For example, email, social media, paper mail, et cetera.
2. Where should we go to learn more about Middleborough? Visit the project website: www.srpedd.org/middleborough-master-plan Take the first Master Plan survey!
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