1998-06-11 SUMMARY OF
WORKSHOP #2
MASTER PLAN GOALS AND POLICIES STATEMENT
HELD ON JUNE 11, 1998
Cfly of Beverly Planning Depanmenl and Appledote Engineering~ Inc.
N Appledore
maw Engineering Inc.
600 State Street, Suite D
Portsmouth, NH 03801
tel 603.433.8818
fax 603.433.8988
aei@nh .ultranetcom
Memorandum
Date: June 17, 1998
To:
From:
Tina Cassidy, Planning Director
Goals and Objectives Community Group
Jack M. Mettee, AICP<~J~
Appledore Engineering, Inc.
Re:
Summary of Second Community Forum
Beverly Master Plan
AEF1221
Please find attached a summary of the Community Forum held on June 11, 1998. The main
purpose of this forum was to clarify and expand upon the main issues and themes that emerged
from the issues identification process that occurred during the first fortan on May 27, 1998. The
City planning staff feels it is important to have active community participation in the master
planning process, especially during the goals and objectives phase of the Master Plan. This
participation by Beverly residents will ensure that these themes will be addressed in more detail
in the next stage of the Master Plan process.
During this forum participants were divided into four (4) groups to further discuss the major
themes that resulted form the first forum. These were: open space; the waterfront; infrastructure;
and community character. The last theme combined such ideas as cultural opportunities and
activities; the residential/neighborhood character of the City; the City's history and historical
buildings and mansions; and the "small town" feeling. The first task of each group was to come
up with a working definition for its theme topic, such as open space. Next each member was
asked to list what they would like to see happening in Beverly five years from now in the group's
theme area. For example, in the open space group one response might be" more open space
protection and acquisition". The facilitator for each group asked each person for his/her ideas
and placed them on flip charts for the other group members to see. Once all the ideas were
placed on flip charts sheets, each member was allowed to select his/her top three ideas. Votes
were totaled for the group and the main ideas were reported out to the full forum.
On the attached sheets I have summarized the results of each group in the forum. First there is a
working definition of the theme area and then there are a list of ideas that have been in placed in
priority order with the number of votes each idea received from the group. For example, the
waterfront group identified "quality development with architecture that is sensitive to an 18~h
Century historical theme" and "the establishment of a riverwalk from the Bass River to the
Jubilee Yacht Club" as two activities or projects they would like to see five years from today.
Summary of Second Community Forum
Beverly Master Plan
AEI/1221
Page - 2
It is interesting to note that even though each of the groups focused on one theme, there were
several issues or themes that emerged in more than one group. For example, the Infrastructure
Group identified issues regarding open space, downtown revitalization and maintenance of
public facilities. The Community Character Group also identified issues or activities in these
same areas. Other issues that emerged in more than one group included public access, schools
and the waterfront.
(1221-005.doc)
Attachment
Appledore
EngineerinO I c.
Attachment
Second Community Forum
Waterfront Group
Definition: An area accessible to the citizens of Beverly that extends approximately 500 feet
inland along the tidal shoreline from the Danvers municipal boundary to Manchestor-by-the~Sea.
The waterfront shall consist of three (3) segments:
1. From the Jubilee Yacht Club to the Bass River.
2. The Bass River.
3. From the Bass River to the Danvers municipal line and from the Jubilee Yacht Club to
the Manchester-by-the-Sea municipal boundary.
What Group Would Like to See in Five Years:
1. Riverwalk from the Bass River to the Jubilee Yacht Club
2. Quality development with architecture that is sensitive to an 18th century historical
theme. No highrise buildings allowed.
3. Attract waterfront business to existing silos such as M0rton-Thiokol, Mass. Gas & 6
Electric and the area near the Memorial Bridge, e.g. - Seafood Restaurant
Improve the walking accessibility to the waterfront from downtown 6
Improve safety and law enfomement along waterfront 4
Establish location for Hannah replica and Washington Naval Base museum 4
Attract tourists to the harbor 3
Establish hotel near, but not on waterfront - perhaps Edwards School site 3
Provide adequate parking 2
10. Establish education program about 18th century Beverly and Beverly waterfront 2
with participation from school children
11. Protect and beautify waterfront 1
12. Access to West Beach 1
13. Add docks, moorings, aquaculture, aquarium 1
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Other Idea - No Vote
14. Clean sand beaches 0
Open Space Group
Definition: Government owned lands and non-governmental open lands that have recreational,
natural or aesthetic value. Such lands include:
Government owned lands:
· Parks
· Active/passive recreational areas
· Undeveloped parcels
· Conservation Commission lands
· State properties
· Commons
2. Non-Governmental open lands: · Wildlife corridors
· Active - passive recreational areas
· Conservation restrictions
· Wetlands
· Farmlands
· Coastal access points
· Trail easements
· Historical fights-of-way
· Undeveloped land -- woodlands, etc.
What Group Would Like to See in Five Years:
1. Commission to prepare and implement Master Plan for the protection and
acquisition of open space in perpetuity with representation from each of City's
Wards and the Conservation Commission
2. Implementation ofcurrent open space and recreation plan
3. Establish tax structure/policy to encourage maintaining land in open space
4. Establish greenway network
5. Establish system of biking/walking trails
6. Award winning parks
7. Woodland Protection Overlay District
8. Program of park maintenance - including internal roadways
9. City pursues and holds conservation restrictions/easements
10. Tighter zoning controls to protect open space
11. Enhance and maintain open space downtown
Y_QIF~
8
6
4
4
3
2
2
2
1
1
OTHER IDEA - NO VOTE
12. Implement ledge blasting restrictions
Infrastructure Group
Definition: A public system of facilities and services provided within the City budgeting
program that includes: water, sewer, solid waste, transportation systems (including waterfront
structures) drainage, parks and playgrounds, public safety, sidewalks and all public buildings and
streetscapes.
What Group Would Like to See in Five Years:
1. Ensure public buildings and schools are completely functional 6
2. Provide better drainage systems in known flood areas 6
3. Construction ofnew police and ~re stations and harbor master building 5
4. Maintain Beve~y as residential community 4
5. Complete school and public building renovations 4
6. Provide safe drinking water supply 3
7. Consider impact of infrastructure changes on open space, as well as the beauty and 3
character of City
8. Invest in necessary infrastructure to handle additional industrial development 3
9. Transportation sendee to the airport 2
10. Prepare Master Revitalization Plan for Rantoul Street to the river 2
11. Implement program of renovating public historic buildings 2
12. Improve utilization of parks, beaches and waterfront areas 2
13. Strive toward having "best" school system 2
14. Protect wetlands 1
15. Provide more open space and recreation areas 1
16. Repair/replace water and sewer systems 1
17. Improve streetscapes 1
18. New sign code for downtown 1
19. Provide accurate utility location map for public 1
20. Resolve Route 1A traffic problems 1
21. Implement street tree maintenance and replacement program 1
22. Remove outfall pipe in harbor 1
23. Control underground utilities 1
24. Provide north-south rail link 1
OTHER IDEAS - NO VOTES
1. Improve recycling efforts
2. Repair potholes
3. Enforce parking regulations and speed limits
4. Improve public parks
5. Provide more public parking
6. Maintain police and fire services at appropriate levels
7. Encourage thriving waterfront with appropriate level oftourism
8. Monitor hazardous waste sites
9. Provide underground utilities
10. Repair Hale Street sidewalks
11. Wire schools for the Intemet
12. Widen downtown sidewalks and West Street
13. Acquire Bass River riverwalk
14. Improved traffic flow at Beverly Cove and near Veteran's Memorial Bridge
15. Better pedestrian access to waterfront
16. Provide sewer to all of Beverly
17. Develop Morton-Thiokol site as public park
18. Expand City HalFRelocate Police Station
19. Coordinate downtown revitalization with signage and streetscapes
20. Have proper control for City spending
21. Best roads in Boston area
22. Better natural gas distribution across City
23. Bike paths
24. Improve railroad crossings
25. Better snow removal
26. No more streets
Community Character Group
Definition: Flavor that each neighborhood or subcommunity of Beverly provides to the City.
The Community's character encompasses the sense ofhistery, amenities like the waterfront,
playgrounds throughout City, cultural areas and assets and the feeling of green places--a "Garden
City".
What Group Would Like to See in Five Years:
1. A well-developed, mixed-use waterfront, including the inner harbor and the Bass River 9
2. Public schools that are fully accredited and respected and admired statewide 8
3. A contiguous system of well maintained open space that includes active recreational areas 7
and protected natural resources
4. Proper maintenance and enhancement ofall public facilities--buildings and utilities 6
5. Managed growth and development through use of master planning and land Use regulations 5
6. Active night life downtown 4
7. Protection of existing waterfront uses and limitation on new high intensity uses 4
8. Improve streetscapes by placing utilities underground and appropriate landscaping (trees, 3
etc.)
9. Revitalize downtown through redevelopment ofvacant lots (i.e. "Brown~eld" sites) 3
10. Better public access along all of Beverly's waterfront including reestablishment of the 3
"Ancient Highway" to the Manchester Town line
11. Better maintained public safety service facilities -- new police and fire stations 2
12. Services/policies (e.g., taxation) that recognize needs of the elderly 2
13. Thriving businesses downtown to fill existing vacancies 2
14. Community Art Center downtown 1
15. In-town trolley l
16. More corporate and non-profit giving to City activities 1
17. Better public access to open space including use of maps and signs 1
OTHER IDEAS - NO VOTES'
18. Modem, well staffed school system
19. Sense of City history through schools, historical society, etc. by use of programs,
themes, maps, etc.
20. No chain stores
21. Hotel
22. Bed & Breakfasts
23. Hannah in the Harbor
24. Greater awareness of Beverly's location
25. No large commercial center in downtown
26. City buildings moved out of downtown
27. Greater sharing of resources amongst different parts of Town
28. City government that is recognized by all segments of community with all bands
elected
29. Revitalized playgrounds
30. Re-use dump and YMCA for public park
31. Pedestrian friendly downtown
32. Master Plan by people for people
33. Daily Beverly newspaper
34. Good bike paths
35. More independent bookstores
36. More City wide tourism
37. Modern public transportation (trains)
38. Good seafood restaurant
39. Respect for open space
(1~1~05.d~)