Introduction. The fall/winter 2000 phase of the Community Plan Project aims to propose and refine a set of goals and objectives that articulate a consensus-based vision of what the Town’s growth management efforts should try to accomplish in the long run. Part of an on-going community planning process, this phase picks up from the spring 2000 survey and sets the stage for subsequent phases of work. The special ingredient of the fall/winter phase is citizen participation in discussion groups at two community-wide forums.

This current summary document is preceded by – and draws upon – analyses of the spring 2000 survey results, and the detailed transcription of input received from the community at the October 26, 2000, forum. The purposes of this summary are:

What townspeople generally agree on. Townspeople like the look and feel of a rural New England community, but they also enjoy and desire amenities that are not traditionally rural. Views of working farms and forest are valued, as is the calming sense of peace, quiet, and safety they convey to the hiker or passing motorist. An unpolluted natural resource base is seen as essential to Belchertown’s quality of life, as is the Town Common. Small scale development is desirable; malls, "big box" retailers, large expanses of pavement, large and tall buildings, large housing developments, and big schools all are described as being out of character. Another reason for reluctance to see large-scale commerce or industry is that the community is sensitive to being vulnerable when large employers leave. Amenities that are not traditionally rural but which residents would like to see include sidewalks, shopping, services, commercial centers, recreation opportunities, and local employment in addition to agriculture.

There is a general sense that residential development is the force that is most rapidly eroding community character, increasing traffic, and placing a strain on the Town budget.

There is also general agreement that traffic is an increasing problem. Congestion at key intersections, dangerous amounts and speed of traffic, and "cut through" traffic along neighborhood streets are listed as symptoms of the problem. In practice, most people’s image of Belchertown’s landscape results from the views they see traveling along roads, so the roadside is a key element in the perception of community character. Consequently, road width and alignment, stone walls and mature trees along the right of way, curb cuts, scenic views, signs, construction’s architecture and site planning are all key elements in residents’ and visitors’ perception of local community character.

There are commonly held concerns regarding aspects of community life that lie within the realm of individual and community choices, rather than municipal regulations. These include the quality of local interactions, including compassion, trust, involvement in town government, and community-sponsored events such as the Fair and parades. They also include decisions and actions that are up to property owners, such as maintenance and repair, form of ownership, rental vs. owner-occupied homes, and franchise vs. independent business. The often voiced desire for small locally owned businesses can not be achieved through regulations, but rather through decisions by business owners and consistent patronage by the local community.

Where views vary [and how they might be reconciled]. There is disagreement on whether industry could play a productive role in the community’s future. Some see light industry as offering the potential for local employment and a stronger tax base, while others regard industry of any kind as a threat. [These points of view might be reconciled through discussions that clarify exactly what "industry" is being contemplated, where it might be sited and buffered, and how potential impacts on the environment might be mitigated.] Different points of view have also been voiced regarding whether centralized or decentralized business areas would work best to lessen traffic congestion. [The planning effort could work for consensus on this by identifying specific types of business that might be clustered together and matching these with potential centralized and/or decentralized locations.] Closely related to this issue is the suggestion that mixed use development might lessen residents’ reliance on cars. [Consideration of the potential for village-type developments could be incorporated into the deliberations regarding centralized vs. decentralized business areas.]

There is a generally shared desire to lessen residential development’s negative impact on Belchertown’s landscape and community life, but views on how to do this vary. Some propose large minimum lot sizes, while others view cluster development as the best tool to lessen the visual impact. Some voice the desire for diversity of housing, including homes affordable to working families, singles, elderly, and others with limited incomes. On the other hand there is concern that multifamily housing deteriorates rural life. [A next step in community deliberations regarding residential growth management needs to include information on the visual and financial effects of sprawl. The traditional New England land use pattern of focused development clusters and intervening open spaces may provide a strategy for reconciling community needs and worries relating to housing.]

There are differing opinions regarding what should be the Town’s policies relating to road improvement. Some feel that unimproved, rural-type roads maintain visual character and serve to slow vehicles. Others feel that safety considerations mean that roads should be paved.

Next key tasks for the community planning effort. The following working chart suggests next key tasks to carry on the process of informed community deliberations. At this point it is important to decide which tasks can be incorporated into the February 2001 Forum, and which can best be addressed during subsequent phases. Consequently, this preliminary draft of the chart makes some suggestions, but please note that the ability to incorporate a task into the February Forum depends in part upon whether the necessary base of information can be made available.