Introduction. Picking up where the Spring 2000 Survey left off, the purpose of the Fall 2000 Forum was to work toward agreement on what Belchertown’s planning should try to accomplish. More than 160 members of the community attended and participated in the Fall Forum.

Initial Brainstorming. The Forum began with a review of some of the highlights from the Survey, working from a handout [copy attached]. Then participants brainstormed a few initial responses to the following questions:

Initial thoughts about how Belchertown looks rural were:

Initial thoughts about how Belchertown feels rural were:

Friendly: people know your name Safety Quiet, deserted Civility

Good air/water People involved in government Know most parents of the children your children play with

Initial thoughts about how Belchertown functions like a rural town were:

Participants then brainstormed initial responses to the question,

Initial thoughts were:

Loss of farms, open space	Big schools
More housing [subdivisions]	Too many stores
Court House	Chain stores
Heavy industry	Loss of lakes
Traffic	Infringement upon private property
Less friendly	Increased traffic from commercial areas
Not knowing the neighbors Not knowing your children’s friends’ parents	Increased cut through traffic on side roads Widening roads Apartment complexes
Not allowing dogs in the Library	Small setbacks from road
Malls [rather than individual stores]	Loss of "vision" – view of open space along roads
Lower quality environment [pollution of water, light and noise pollution]	Lack of recreation area that have access to [hiking]

Discussion in Small Groups. Participants then broke into discussion groups as randomly assigned through numbers on their nametags. Each group had a recorder recruited in advance by the Steering Committee. Many thanks are due the recorders, who were:

A third of the groups started with question set #1, a third started with #2, and the rest started with #3 to make sure that each set of questions received full attention by at least some groups. Recorders put an asterisk next to points on which there was general agreement in the group. The discussion questions were:

Group #1

Convenience

Construction business is big in Belchertown; take care of it

Jobs

Supports tax base

Build community by connecting people to people

Job options: including home based business

Office in homes are new features – more taxes

Small business have accountability – deal with real people – personal

Jobs for kids

Donations to community efforts.

Group #2

Resources [taxes, jobs, community support]

Character of town

Tourism brings in business

Group #3

***Jobs, taxes but you can have negative affects.

***Lower taxes

Depends on the type of business if locally owned, get involved as sponsors

If we could get light industry, more income for citizens

Should cut down on traffic, if live where you work

Services, the saving from travel, opportunity to relate to other people, relationships

Group #4

Taxes, work opportunities, convenience, stability, center

Keep you from driving out of town, supplies, civic pride,

Foodstuffs, ability to own your own business – self-sustaining

Group #5

Convenience, stability

Employment, keeps tax revenues in town

Great schools

Tax base, employment

Convenience, tax relief

Employment opportunities for our High School students

Support tax base, provide conveniences for everyday needs

Group #6

Business in town connection with each other – continuity

Tax base

Group #7

*Tax base [Negatives: pollution, noise, traffic

Self-sufficiency chains taking away autonomous economy]

Services

Convenience

Employment

Group #8

Helps non-profits, local townspeople

Tax base

Jobs to kids

Convenience

Add to quality of life

Locally owned add to the town

Group #9

* Taxes and employment [Negatives: Unnecessary goods &services

Needed goods and services pollution, noise, traffic, light (signs, parking Supporting local organizations lot lighting)

w/ money, goods, supplies & services

Group #10

Service: restaurant, medical facility, accounting

Convenience

Boost tax revenue

Boost quality of life

Support local teams & limited employment

Sense of community

Breakup character of town to define difference sections

Pay taxes, buy and sell locally made goods

Convenience, ambassador to town

Friendliness

Businesses – no tax break to residential

Group #11

Contributes to economy and tax base

Residents can conduct business here

May contribute to cultural life of community

Can contribute to social life if set up right

Claim contribute to tax base, but skeptical

Employment opportunities

Group #12

Businesses support each other, and attract other businesses

Variety – restaurants

More choices, not big boxes

Variety – Mom & Pop type

Competition

Supports town events

Support sports programs

Tax base

Enhances sense of community

Group #13

* Taxes

Convenience

Group #14

Provide jobs

Help tax base

Reduce commuting

Keep people in town, know each other, support local business

Small business around Common create personalization, rural flavor

Decrease stress from forgetting something

Small business promote community

Social activity creates community, creates opportunity to enjoy yourself while

contributing to community, like a recreational activity

Local business people more familiar, personal, and interactive

Group #15

*** Convenience [reasonable]

** Tax base

Employment

Group #16

Save travel [Negative: congestion]

Jobs

Tax base

Local folks

Community development

Groups #17 & #18

Convenience

Tax base

Money

Sense of community – bump into friends while using businesses

Group #19

# Taxes and money to town

Additional tax base alleviates pressure to sell existing open spaces

Group #1

Cultural, educational opportunities

Business to serve youth – recreation

Movie theater near town center

Agriculture, animal, orchard, garden-based business

Clustered business off main roads, but convenient,

e.g. mini-business parks on roads that connect with main through roads.

Home storefronts, e.g. antiques

Owner operated

Ecologically sustainable

Variety of food choices, conveniently

Unique businesses

Support services for seniors

Group #2

* Clean business

* small craft-type business, service [shops]

High tech

Light industry

Tourism

Group #3

*Supermarket – make life easier, reduce travel, checker-type jobs for youth, elderly

* First class restaurant, not fast food

* Hardware store

** Farming

** Logging

* Light industry – higher than minimum wage

Locally owned business

Just the basic, services, glass repair, no malls

Group #4

*Grocery store

*Farms

Anything but industry

Timber industry

Things that generate local

Environmentally friendly business, avoiding global warming

Think tanks

Environmental power supply-type business

Potential for all types; key is not to say "no" but rather say [for example]

heavy manufacturing if meets certain standards

Should have done prison, one worked well in the community I used to live in

Wind to solar business, fuel cells

High tech, software development

Recycling is industry

Group #5

Motel, service business, repair places

Small prefab shops, good clean businesses

Restaurants and areas for socialization

Retail

Supermarket, motel, banks, auto service stations, restaurants

Village shops, theater, restaurants in a cluster such as So. Hadley Common

Light industrial/manufacturing

Community cluster of shops at State School, and to attract out of towners

Group #6

*Don’t lure in undesirable business for tax dollars

Gear to needs of town, not luring in outside people for revenue

Careful of what kind, i.e. environmental concerns, traffic

Town large enough to support lot of varied business: encourage small business

Kinds needed by most people in town

Light manufacturing, technology – attract more

Commercial

Group #7

* Local services: grocery, florist, auto shop, hardware, farm stands, barbershop,

farm supply, pet supply

health care: doctors, dentist, pharmacy, health/fitness

food services

Bed & Breakfasts

Day care

Gift shops, specialty shops

Group #8

**Stop & Shop

* Small business

Laundry, bakery, restaurant

No more large

Not lots of commercial

Small retail

Small manufacturing

Group #9

* Locally owned, non-national corporate insurance company

* Farm stands, forest products

Light industry

Shopping center

Decentralized

Smaller shops; smaller groups

Family restaurants

Small movie theater

Group #10

*Privately owned non chain service community. Keep money in town

Small, service, restaurants

Family-owned small businesses

Bake shops, sport shops

Grocery store

R&D in small business

Farm businesses

Farm stands

Businesses to support arts

Group #11

Why would major business come here?

Make new and existing business look New England, character that the town wants

How much effort, really, has been applied. Belchertown not business-friendly.

Need to open up our view of what is business. Formula of ratio of business to

residential. We are missing the boat. People only want "Mom & Pop".

Palmer project took 10 years to fill.

Want locally owned service type/not industry, trucks, etc.

The organic farm on Jackson Street

Don’t want business that takes away from rural character.

Group #12

Stores to sponsor sports

Locally owned ones – franchise or not

Arts & music [play house]

Performing arts – not stadium

Small industry – technical?

For children’s future help tax base

More jobs

Service oriented – mission

Educational – serve community

Retirement community

Industrial parks – wooded

Medical center – small

Infrastructure

Group #13

*Light manufacturing/high tech

Market gardening, Atkins, Randalls, help to keep farms

Business to draw tourists

Resort, B&B

Quabbin

Limit on square footage for business, e.g. big box retailers

Would not support franchise business

Group #14

Individually owned businesses

Small retail and service variety

Small software company, civil engineering professional service

Retirement community

Office park

Mixed use

Art galleries, photography, rail trail

Public sector buildings

Eco-tourism

Auto dealership

Bicycle shop, used sporting equipment, pet stuff

Toy store, Mexican restaurant, used children clothing store, coffee shop

Group #15

* Grocery store [convenience]

* Service/professional business ex/ MD, lawyer, dentists

Post Office

Affordable family restaurant e.g. 99 in Eastfield Mall

Bank

Hot dog stand

Consignment store

Carriage/stagecoach museum

Group #16

* Building restrictions: use old or existing buildings

* Well planned

* No free ports

Tech-based companies

High tech and research

Arts & crafts

Small shops

Food store

No parking lots like football fields

Not intrusive to quality of life

Clean business

Farmers market

Groups #17 and #18

***** Keep local business and support them

*** [Some think we have enough]

Grocery store

Hardware store

Theater/arts complex, plays other arts

Light industry – no smokestacks, pollution, not heavy

Tourism: agriculture part of, people come to Quabbin, stop and spend money

Group #19

* Must support local business, business directories

* Adhere to look and feel of area

Small business [50 or fewer employees]

No major employer [leaving is devastating

Low impact on town [forestry, energy self-sufficiency]

Take advantage of natural beauty/resources

"Tied" to town [responsive to town well-being]

Gardens @ State School

No additional traffic, no tourism, no glut of business

Need business but small

Use existing laws to slow growth

Energy plants utilizing local resources

Means to support goals, determine goals first, then level needed

Grocery store

Group #2

* Center of town

* State School property [develop both center and State School at same time]

Avoid "Route 9" development

Group #3

* Route 9/Route 202 retail/food/service cluster

Limited cluster – around the existing clusters

Not in my back yard

State School Property

Minimal development, expand space

Specifically zoned – no spot zoning

Architecturally aesthetic

Group #4

* Locations require good thinking. Heavy business on Rte 9/202 maybe.

Planning: type of business is site specific

Avoid environmental problems. Peaceful coexistence.

Can’t have many private employers but no taxes.

Outskirts of town near other town lines

State School property

Need a business friendly environment.

Attitude is not conducive to business at Town Meeting. Stop talking just do it

Somewhere can be hidden from view

Group #5

All in one spot

On the main routes

Two groups: State School grounds & on George Hannum Road

Light industry on highways on outskirt of town,

near Mass Pike or on Rtes 21, 181, 202.

Keep trucks from entering center of town

Industrial parks set aside for business such as at the State School

Put in town center bypass and develop business in conjunction with that

Group #6

Where businesses are already located – accomplish without congestion

Locate in convenient area – not all around

Group #7

*Outskirts of main business area [villages]: south end of Rte 202, west end of Rte 9

Spaces adjacent to existing development

Out of sight, set back

decentralized

Near existing infrastructure

Aesthetics match the neighborhood

Reuse degraded areas

Group #8

* On major road, not central

State School – planned community

Down by Daniel Shay’s Highway, Jabish Brook

Route 9 by Ware

Amherst/ Route 9

Add to existing area rather than something new

Non-polluting light industry, technology based Route 9 area

Group #9

NIMBY!!!

Neighborhood store ok

Go where services already exist

Go where properly zoned

Broup #10

*Architectural value of buildings

* No destruction of virgin land

Route 9, 202, Center of town

Central location

Business in small neighborhood, satellites of common

Keep where they are

Develop around town certain areas, no spot zoning

Home based businesses permitted

Group #11

Not all business needs to be near major highway.

Why not have an industrial park at the State School?

Group #12

* State School

Pockets parts of town

Outskirts of town

Small pockets

Least environmental impact

Across from CVS 9 & 202

Rail trail – small business associated with that

Industry in State School

Group #13

Set aside property for business development

Small businesses located in Common/State School area

Group #14

State School

Sports in old fabric place

Town Common

Walking trail around Town Common

Keep current building that is now Catholic Church

Group #15

* Industrial business in existing locations

Predeveloped areas

Expand from current infrastructure

Commercial but not industrial in 9/202 corridor, join 9/202 corridor – Town Common

bypass e.g. Austin/Gaughan route

Don’t offer tax incentives for business to locate

Group #16

State School grounds

Central locations

Properly zoned areas

Near railroad & main routes

With infrastructure

Groups #17 & #18

State School campus good for arts complex

State School property for light industry. Why aren’t we using that? It has great electric

Facilities, railway, etc, rewired to be state of the art. Why aren’t we using it?

State School gardens help with tourism

Group # 19

Centralize, business districts

Avoid center of town, increased traffic

Group #1

Bring people with interests and experience

People committed to community – leadership

Support for schools variety of people

Good architecture in public building

Group #2

* Subdivisions create safe environments

Homes establish a community

New people create diversity

Group #4

More schools, more kids, more taxes but w-edged sword

If built well, neighborhoods, need sidewalks, closeness

Safety, talent, enthusiasm, new people, new ideas, diversity

Character, caregivers [babysitters, workforce, employment]

Group #5

** A place to live

*Sense of community

* Sense of diversity

Multifamily h omes deteriorate rural life

Different level of home values create better community

Diversity of type of home including multifamily homes and affordable homes,

particularly for the elderly

Group #7

* Sense of community [Negatives: net tax loss, pollution/resource use

Support local businesses diminished open space, need services, traffic]

Family life

aesthetics

Group #8

*More diversity

*Share burden of taxes; contribute more taxes to those who own land [due to services]

New homes country like, country sense

Some homes are enormous, not diverse

Homes should be at least $250,000

Smaller houses contribute more to the tax base

Group #9

# Neighbors [Negatives: increased costs, taxes, too many

* Diverse population base children, need for more services, traffic,

Commerce more "citified", decreased open space]

Improves atmosphere [usually]

Group #10

*Sense of community, unity

Group #11

People live in homes [Negatives: overcrowding, loss of open space, noise

Contribute to "look" of town traffic

Tax base – negative and positive

Sense of community

School population

Local economy

Group #12

Kids [Negatives: trash, drain on resources,

People loss of rural life & open space]

Atmosphere – how housing done

Set back

Pride – no bars

Safe town

Appearance

Tax base

Richness

Diversity

Group #13

Community life

Houses that look good with character increase values

Tax revenue?

Group #16

Family

Children

Character

Short term employment [construction]

Stability

Groups #17 & #18

Bring in younger people [Negatives: take toll on infrastructure, demands on

Growth, vibrant services

Type of homes is what matters

Group # 19

Kids are future – treat ‘em right [Negatives: new house w/ kids costs town $

for services

Group #1

Starters, modest income housing, but not cheap construction or design

Dana Hill-type developments

Developments that leave trees, etc. – plan for this

No strip clearing for housing

School development w/ housing development

Town service development

Senior housing – assisted living housing

Group #2

* Affordable housing/mixed income development

* Cluster developments

* Mixed use developments [less dependence on automobiles]

Standard lot sizes – large, minimum 1 acre

Shouldn’t be any restrictions [within zoning]

Elderly housing

No mobile homes

Development mixed with recreation

Low density housing

Group #4

*Owner occupied, regardless of type

Duplexes if owner occupied

If owned, more care, investment, pride of ownership

Can you legislate owner occupied? Can size of lot dictate?

* Affordable

Rental properties, apartments, middle income homes

Group #5

*More cluster development to bring together neighborhoods with less impact on land

Preferred over spread-out developments

* Single family homes

*Owner occupied rental units [not large apartment buildings], some assisted living

Diversity of types, including multifamily. Growth without tax burden

Mix of multifamily and single family, low priced and high priced

Residential areas away from business areas; minimize overlap

Single family homes, upscale, wage earner price ranged

Group #6

* More alternative forms of housing – empty nesters

Mid and low income alternatives

Zoning varieties

Concern about lowering quality of life with low income hosuing

Assisted living for elderly

Need to see life going on around them, emotional life

Need to reach more

Set houses further back from road

Smaller houses – more efficient

House number signs essential

Single family

Group #7

[No consensus]

With set-asides for open space

Not large tract housing

Affordable

Aesthetically pleasing [don’t use hillsides]

Diverse styles

Built where infrastructure exists

Limit new residential development [compensate land owners?]

Group #8

* Increase lot size

* Elderly housing/ golf course

* Duplex housing – scattered, affordable

Affordable housing but larger lots

Less housing

More homes mean more demands

Group #9

* Single family homes

* Retirement community

Open space w/ cluster development

Victorian

English Tudor

Log cabins

Senior/elderly housing

Condos/community living areas [for retired]

Group #10

* Single family

* Clustered, encourage neighborhood

In-law apartments ok

Do not allow multifamily

Planned development, hidden for environment

Play areas, bring in children

Build on existing infrastructure, increase density in towns

Moratorium on development

Group #11

Political baggage with this question

Don’t want to be exclusive

Don’t want golf course/condos

Don’t want utilitarian, industrial look

Build where type of buildings fit – condos near center, etc

Don’t build for elite only

Quarters for elderly parents

More variety contribute to town life

Group #12

Cluster development & require dev. lots of open space

Dana Woods – family neighborhood

Minimal frontage

Single family better than condos, better for smaller community

Own personality

Do not exclude low income

Opposite cluster--house and space

Respectful of environment

No apartment complexes

No low income housing

Require larger parcel of land, not as many houses

Affordable housing

No trailer homes/mobile home parks

Group #13

Invisible

Smaller/cluster

Cluster/open space

Increase minimum lot size

2 family/condos if in right spot

Group #15

**** Limit housing starts [,115 per year], balance w/ business development

*** Homes with larger lots

* Single family

* Developments w/ open space requirements, other amenities such as trees, stone fences

Traditional New England architecture v. contemporary style

Reuse present homes

Affordable housing

Small development 10 or less w/ open space

Not clear cutting

2 family homes, income properties

Concern about traffic increasing

Encourage home upkeep

Diversity

Group #16

Larger lots

Mixed value and style

Senior housing

Assisted living

Multiple family

Groups #17 & #18

*** Avoid low income housing as much as possible

We need to limit single family homes – take up space

Prefer condos, apartments, multiple dwellings

Stable person/ stable family

Limit on rentals and student housing

Reasonable size lots, big lots are better

What about people who can’t afford single family homes??

How about single parents? Have some mixed development

Keep in balance between single family homes and condos/apartments

Group #19

* Impact fee to developers

* Required open space w/ development

* Cul-de-sacs are good, single family only

No condos

Eco-village communities [self-sufficient development, use only local materials]

Larger lot = spread out = more traffic

No Longmeadow or Wilbraham

Local business has burden

Reduce services [unpaved roads]

Group #1

Nature

Recreation LandUse, Incorporated wildlife

Rural feel

Views and vistas

Group #2

* Conservation areas/wildlife habitat [Quabbin]

Scenic vistas

Common in middle of town

Farms

Undeveloped, natural areas

Recreation land

Group #3

* Town Common, parks

Wide expanses without seeing development

Clear areas to walk dogs without cars

Route 202 Daniel Shays Highway – autumn leaves

Farmland, Hillcrest Orchard [new golf course]

Unpaved natural vegetation, only buildings being agricultural ones, nothing mechanically

cleared other than for agriculture, natural beauty

½ mile between nearest neighbors

Wetlands, Jabbish brook, streams, other running water, forested areas

Forest areas, streams, pond, undeveloped

Group #4

Swamps, woods, fields, brooks, undeveloped land, natural resources

Yes, but the Common is a good example, too

Group #5

Town Common

Forests

Open views

Substantial acreage to find deer, turkey

Lake areas – open to public, recreation

Streams

Undeveloped areas

Reasonable lot size – at least one acre

Soccer field and other ball fields

Farmlands

Wetlands

Active farmlands, cleared forests, maintained recreational lands

Group #6

**Town Common/ ball fields

* Walking Trails

Houses apart/breaks between [woods or fields]

Keep large part agriculture/woodland, open fields

Town sponsored

Group #7

No commercial development

Open undeveloped area

Private control of land use

No residential or commercial development

Nothing man-made on it

Woods, lakes, streams, Sabin orchards

Group #8

* Undeveloped land with recreation access, public/private

*Wonderful/ wood, wildlife around you

Recreation/ sports areas

Large undeveloped parcel

Liability of open/private property

Group #9

* The Common

*Lakes area w/ public access

Forests

Stone walls

Farm lands

Working farms

Recreation areas

Places for long hike

Unobstructed views

Group #10

* Wetland

* 2 kinds: expansive area w/ no structures collectively owned, privately owned

* Areas to go and lean again old oak tree. Peace

Farms, meadows

Do not see your neighbor

Planning for types of housing: trees left to grow natural, woods, open fields

Undeveloped land

Group #11

Natural

Unoccupied by a building

More than 10 acres

"Visual corridors"

No/little human activity. Absence of busy-ness

Distant lights. Can’t see neighbor

It is lost with development

The way it used to be

Large enough for wildlife, etc

Conservation people help, but only zoning can change

Group #12

Large fields

Scenery

Canopy of trees

Woods

Stone Fences

Uncongested Areas

Not a lot of boundaries

Natural environment

Park for playground, picnics

Group #13

* Seeing trees instead of houses

Group #15

Hiking trails

Natural open space

Town Common

Group #16

* Farmland

No development

Farm maintenance

Wildlife

Forest

Rural roads

No commercial development

Large parcels of land

Views

Groups #17 & #18

Town Common characterizes the town – keep it the same

Uncommitted land = open space? Definition

Who owns the "open space"

Farmers who dols their land and broke up open space

Have to respect landowners

Recreational space, land not used for homes. Some areas going undeveloped

Group #19

* Pastures, trees, woods, Town Common, working farms

Group #2

Town Fair

Aesthetic peace of mind

Recreation

Group #3

Gives people place to go to get away from populated areas.

Relaxes people, so not high strung

Sense of serenity, peace, to get away from constant contact with others as in cities.

General civility, allows to contemplate, meditate, relax

Open space should reduce the tax rate, less things to pay for. Don’t need taxes

Shared viewscape. We all can share it visually at least. Restorative

Peace and tranquility, reflection of rural community.

How the community appears to others

Escape with family in woods, no noise, no cars, retreat. Meet your neighbor,

Friendly atmosphere, brings folks together in civil atmosphere.

Quality of life – peace and quiet. Without open space it would be as quiet.

Important to live in area that is aesthetically pretty.

Group #4

Environmental, water

Sense of relief, freedom

Beauty

Fewer schools [if not developed for housing]

Character

Group #5

Recreational opportunities, good family life

Opportunity to move around, solitary space or recreation, uncrowded land

Feeling of well being, knowing it is there

Formal and informal recreation

Town Common – Fair

Development (housing and/or business)

Sense of freedom and feeling that they are not closed in

Aesthetically pleasing and relaxing

Parks, community places to meet other people

Ability to enjoy solitude

Group #6

Open space gives us calm

Group #7

* Quality of life

Recreation area – regeneration

Wild life

Protection of resources

Privacy

Peace

Fit for children

Appreciation

Lowers tax base

Lowers blood pressure

Group #8

Quality of life

Less polluted lakes

Recreation for kids and adults

Group #9

Stress reduction

Camaraderie

Less air pollution

Sense of community spirit

Space for friendly activities [not shopping]

Reduces size of government

Less hectic

Tranquility

Privacy

Wildlife habitat

Preserve forestry

Topsoil preservation

Group #10

Rural character of town

2^nd largest land town for land

Preservation, sense of freedom

Privacy

Character

Places you can go to

Part of community recreation ground

Already started, wildlife habitat

Peace and quiet

Nature

Environmental health

Quality of life – freedom

Group #11

Peaceful

Eases stress [unless you own it]

Quality of life

Recreation opportunities

Habitat for wildlife

Everybody likes it

Group #12

Travel more enjoyable

Relaxing – personality

Not congested

Healthy, happy family life – serene

Defines the meaning of town life

Sense of peace and pride

Group #13

*Nice to know it’s there, cannot be developed

To look at

Group #16

* Mental well-being

Ease to navigate

Recreation

Uncrowded feeling

Separates from city

Agriculture and farming

Civility

Groups #17 & #18

Breathing room, space w/o houses = makes community feel better

Group #1

Connect open spaces

Use & preserve open space

Open up the Quabbin for recreation

Develop open space for recreation

Conserve water places, e.g. lakes

Tax incentives for preservation/open space

Let nature take its course – some times

Warner Rd near Village Green, condos – low land and stream

Land swap offs to make physical connections between open spaces

Town by-pass in State School

Not clear cutting land for housing development

Group #2

*Farmland

Lake area – town beach

Swift River corridor

Aquifer protection

Recreation areas

Group #3

*Other than public lands, land off roads which we see through our windows.

[Now roads are chopped up with houses; leave curbside more wooded, stone walls

*Town Common, unfortunately ½ a parking lot, more trees, more grass area.

First thing you see, walk the dog there.

A map of all undeveloped land and try to preserve – urban sprawl is destroying the

Character. High density housing. Keep the natural view. Houses everywhere.

What’s happening with the wildlife, environment?

Metacomet Trail – beauty of the scenery. Jabbish Brook North End to South End

It’s not protected, water.

Open space on Old Springfield Road, the lumber treatment plant contaminates, trucks.

Protect that open space

Group 4

*Farms

*Common

* Near Town wells, aquifers, natural resources, gold course

Mill Valley areas

[Are there parcels of big private lands?]

Lakes area

Near Quabbin

South end of town: orchards

State School – develop creatively

Group #5

Tri-Lakes should be maintained and kept for future

Quabbin watershed and Swift River Corridor

Bypass roads so the center of the town doesn’t become a moving parking lot

Existing agricultural land that is not being built on presently

State School land

Woodlands

Recreational fields for kids

Agricultural land

Group #6

State School property – save and reuse, expand in different way

Build off road

Avoid buildings over 3 stories

Group #7

Town Common

Recreation facilities

Agriculture

Woodlands

Protect drinking water

Promote use of Quabbin

Greenways [connected to other green spaces]

Lakes, rivers, streams

Group #8

*Property on Lake Metacomet – St. Hyacinth

* Knight’s Pond area/ Gold Street

Umass Demonstration Forest

Farmlands

Lots D & E, Route 21 wooded area

Private land off G. Hannum

Group #9

*The Common [don’t detract from it]

* The lakes

Woodlands

Farms

Open fields

Preserve the Quabbin

Group #10

* Town Common [contributes to small business]

*Summer concert on Common

Town Fair

Most important is Town Common

* Quabbin

State School property, preserving farm, beautiful view if stays as open space – woods

92 acres of State School where Court House is going – do not develop

Keep open Parcels D & E. Community Center OK, rehab existing structures

Wetlands for environmental and wildlife reason

Bring comfort to people who live here

Group #11

Town Common

Anything that can be maintained as open [economics & political feasibility]

State School as open space

Farms – several by name

Group #12

Rural community – openness maintains the quality

Route 181 – major recreation area

Group #13

* Town Common

M&M Trail

Try to encourage and keep farms

Working forests

Group #15

** Open space purchased by Town to guarantee its conservation

Safe playgrounds, recreation fields

Skate park

Natural resources & wildlife habitat

Water resources – wetlands, streams, lakes

Group #16

* Contiguous with other open space

Effort should be make to preserve any and all

Watershed and aquifer areas

Sizeable woodlands

Ensuring access to other open areas

Open space near existing development and new development

Common and town center

State School farmland

Sizeable roadside setback

Groups #17 & #18

What about the Town buying some open space? How many can we afford to buy?

Off 181

Current farms

On major roads

Issue of road safety with more traffic – need more open space

Wildlife preserves

Group #19

* Protect farms

No golf courses [dissent & debate]

Preserve vistas

Group #1

"Rural" = reasonably sized schools with opportunities to be involved in positive activities [e.g. playing soccer, being in the band], even if you are not the best in the school

Group #4

Franchise makes the suburban feel

Are there ways to support local, unique business?

Is there benefit to center of town being further defined?

How much of Belchertown is currently being farmed??

How much of Belchertown is currently open? Or conservation?

How much of this open land is owned by the Town or the State?

How much land is in Chapter 61 [tax reduction for private agriculture & forest]

Retention of ponds and fields with cluster zoning?

Depends on how they are built? Is land common [open to public]?

Group #7

How do we compensate private landowners for use of open space?

[Conservation easement, purchase of development rights]

Group #12

Concern with number of kids into schools, amazing, burden on taxes & quality

Education

Return the rail trail Amherst through Belchertown

Schools are attractive – keep that way, excellent teachers

Truck route – alternate from middle of town

More Common activity

What can we do to slow down development?

Group #13

Town fund to purchase property (open space)

Group #15

How to keep space open?

Concern with Town Common: 2 upcoming vacant buildings:

Suggestion: possible non-commercial reuse and gathering place

Groups #17 & #18

Should we change business tax rate?

Question about business mix

*** Need for more sidewalks to make open space more accessible and safer,

less need for cars

Issues of the Post Office: confusion

Group # 19

* Agriculture tax rate [encourages keeping open space.

Incentive to maintain open space [tax credit]. Chapter 61 not enough

School tax reduction if 65 years or older

Public must back "good laws" at Town Meeting

Group exercise: making choices and setting priorities. Forum participants were presented with newsprint sheets on the wall which summarized key examples of desired "rural" attributes in Belchertown. These examples were drawn from the Forum’s initial brainstorming about this topic. Each participant received 3 green spots to stick on the points he/she thought are most critical, plus a red spot to place on the point that he/she thought the planning effort needs to be cautious about – that is, that he/she most disagrees with. Please note that there was confusion during the exercise with negative characteristics, especially "no large industry" as explained below. Overall, however, the results of the prioritization exercise show a pattern of areas with general support, and areas where there are more differences of opinion.

The characteristics of "rural" character and the relative priorities awarded by the Forum participants were:

[Note: field of green dots ran together between first 2 items, so distribution is approximate]

Not big standard subdivisions [16 green, 14 red]

Not lining the roads [9 green, 2 red]

Not big apartments [21 green, 6 red]

Not big industry [12 green, 36 red]

Small scale, separate shops & offices [25 green, 13 red]

Civility [4 green, 1 red]

Safety/know and trust [6 green]

Open Town Meeting [10 green, 3 red]

Site public buildings with respect for neighbors [6 green, 3 red]