Essex Village Initiative

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Essex Village Initiative

• Long Term Planning Committee
• October 2009

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LTPC Charge

• Formed Spring 2007
• Charged by BOS to articulate long-term vision (25
  years) and strategy, embracing the Town's history
  and culture
• Members citizens, business persons, Town board
  and department representatives
• Exchange of ideas with Town Boards, Chamber of
  Commerce
• Survey residents ideas and concerns
• Recommendations of distinct projects

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Village Initiative

• Committees need to focus its effort
• CDP review
• IDd 6-8 critical issues
• 2008 citizens survey agreed
• LTPC and citizens concerns about down town
• Presto! All the critical issues meet in the
  Village

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Towns Critical Issues

• Planning
• Economic development
• Mixed housing stock
• Open space resource protection working natural
  landscapes
• Transportation
• Public health and safety
• Town infrastructure

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Villages Critical Issues
Examination and revision of zoning and by-laws Promotion of a mixed housing stock
Encouragement of small business through mixed use structures and home occupations Improvement to various infrastructure and implementation of enhancement projects
Development of safe multi-modal transportation, with a walk-able Causeway Improved river access
Re-evaluation of the Town buildings and facilities Preservation of open space and viewscapes
Adequacy and availability of parking in the Village Planning and re-use of underutilized properties
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LTPCs Vision

• "The Village is the geographic, economic, and
  social core of the Town of Essex. It should
  balance thoughtful residential and business
  development with preservation of cultural,
  natural, historic, and recreational resources and
  be an attractive destination for residents and
  visitors alike."

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Village Project Work

• Enhancing Village Character
• Transportation and Parking
• Access to River and Recreation
• Zoning and Permitting
• Municipal Infrastructure
• Project descriptions
• Implementation
• Funding opportunities

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Enhancing Village Character

• Coordinated Design Plan
• Historic Reproduction Street Lighting
• Landscaping benches
• Plaques signage
• Improvements to Village Buildings
• Design theme and preservation of historic
  features
• Encouragement to consider

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Enhancing Village Character

• Freight House and Antique Hand Tub
• Historic railroad freight house, relocated to
  Village site
• Essex Veteran Firemans Associations Essex 2
  preserve, display and use
• Potential site shown in depiction here

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Transportation and Parking

• Route 133 Reconstruction Project
• Improved roadway, sidewalks along Causeway,
  resulting benefits in safety, aesthetics, and
  bicycling and walking
• Maximize value w/companion projects
• Parking Study
• Limited street parking private parking with
  varying peak times
• Opportunity for sharing agreements
• Inventory then investigate sharing, adding if
  necessary

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Transportation and Parking

• Investigate Southern Avenue Property Re-use
• Parking for southern end of Village
• Pocket park
• Amenities for visitors

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Access to Essex River and Recreation

• Transient Dock and Boardwalk
• Design and construct to improve access, encourage
  visitors
• Street level boardwalk
• Floating dock below
• Seeking Seaport Bond
• bill funding to study

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Access to Essex River and Recreation

• Town Landing
• Improve multi-use owner function and visual
  appeal
• Master Plan and cooperative effort
• Town-owned pocket park, benches, and deck
• Ships ribs display

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Access to Essex River and Recreation

• Community Path
• Re-use rail bed parallel to Main Street
• Multiple phases
• Ultimate goal to connect Town Hall to Southern
  Avenue
• Wonderful community asset for hiking, skiing,
  birding

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Access to Essex River and Recreation

• Tennis Courts and Ball Fields

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Access to Essex River and Recreation

• Paglia Property and Spar Pond
• Pocket park w/landscaping
• and benches
• Historic interpretation of Spar Pond

• Woodmans Beach Pocket Park
• Granite benches from seawall
• Landscape, reconstitute beach

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Zoning and Permitting

• Business Overlay District
• Careful review and development
• Remove burdensome barriers to allow for better
  use of existing properties
• Consider demolition delay bylaw for more careful
  consideration of historic structures

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Municipal Infrastructure

• Town Hall Restoration
• Unique building, a National Historic Landmark
• No clear road map for its future
• Municipal and Public Safety Building
• Work of Building Committee underway
• LTPC goal maximize peoples use of the Village
  area for conduct of public business

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The Way Forward

• BOS Review
• Prioritize
• Implementation ? funding and organizations to do
  the work!
• LTPC
• Short term grant proposal(s), w/Town Planner
• Next 12 months re-examine the Big Picture and
  focus on the next chapter
• LTPC will exceed original 3-year term LOTS TO DO
• Outreach to other Boards Committees
• Replenish our membership