X. Implementation Program

Consistent and coordinated action over years by many members of the Belchertown community will be required to achieve the future envisioned by this Community Plan. The intent of this plan is to prompt community leaders to look ahead, anticipate the needs of the town, and develop a plan for the town to reach its goals and meet its needs. This community plan is to be a reference to keep key tasks prominent, to assist town leaders in programming their responsibilities, and to help them fulfill their missions with the most efficiency.

The following implementation steps were developed from an analysis of the existing conditions outlined in each section, and how those conditions compare to the overall goals for the community. These goals, and their underlying objectives, came directly from the citizens of Belchertown as responses to a community-wide survey conducted in the spring of 2000, and from a series of three town forums between October 2000 and October 2001. The specific implementation steps attempt to answer the question, "How do we get from here to there?”

There is no legal mandate, unless otherwise specifically noted, that any or all of these implementation steps be adopted. Nonetheless, they represent the will of the people, and take advantage of the wisdom and experience of a wide array of knowledgeable people. The citizens of Belchertown have a right to expect that those departments and boards representing their interests will consider these steps in planning and budgeting for the future.

Note: The numbering of the implementation steps is completely arbitrary. Each department, board, commission, or committee is responsible for establishing the priorities for those implementation steps that fall most logically within its responsibility.

Chart #1 below summarizes actions in terms of the geographic areas of Belchertown they will affect. These areas correspond to those highlighted in the Conceptual Land Use Plan map. Chart #2 groups related action steps together, illustrating that frequently progress can be made on clusters of actions at the same time. Chart #3 sorts the action recommendations according to the group whose responsibilities and authority mean that it needs to launch the effort. This chart is intended to help each board, department, or other group to incorporate implementation steps into their work plans over time.

Belchertown’s citizens need to continue their advocacy and support – including financial support – for the actions described in previous sections of the plan and outlined below.

Implementation Chart #1

Areas

Actions to Integrate the Plan into the Town’s Ongoing Administration

I.D.	Action	When Initiate	*Convening group [and others who should be involved]
A-1	Consider the priorities of the Community Plan in developing the town budget for town meeting approval.		*BoS [Finance Committee]
A-2	Urge each department, board, commission, and committee to annually develop a five-year programming plan that will include estimated costs and funding sources.		*BoS [Finance Committee, Accountant]
A-3.	Have boards’ and departments’ annual reports include progress made on implementing the Community Plan, and specifying target actions for the coming year.		*BoS
A-4	Four years after the adoption of this plan, and every five years thereafter, reconvene the CPSC for a comprehensive update of the Community Plan.		*Planning Board [BoS]

Actions to Manage Growth Around the Town Common

I.D.	Action	When Initiate	*Convening group [and others who should be involved]
LU-2	Form a study committee of residents to develop plan to preserve historical elements and enhance economic viability of the town common area.		*BoS[1] [Historic District Bylaw Commission, Planning Board]
HC-1	Create a plan for the town center, including preserving character of the town common		*BoS [Consultant]
T-18	Study alternate traffic, parking, and pedestrian patterns around the common		*BoS, [DPW, Historic District Bylaw Comm]

Actions to Manage Growth In the Rest of the Town Center

I.D.	Action	When Initiate	*Convening group [and others who should be involved]
LU-15	Develop a land use plan for the “town business center” extending from G. Hannum Road/Rtes 9/202 area, through town center on 202 and west on 202 to Rte 21. The plan should address economic development, multi-unit housing, mixed uses and preserving character by allowing creative or flexible development.		*Planning Board [ BoS , EDIC]
HC-1	Create a plan for the town center, including preserving character of the town common		*BoS [Consultant]
HC-1a	Conduct a public workshop to develop a community vision for the town center that will examine things like design guidelines for construction, utility poles, pedestrian amenities, street lighting, parking, signage, etc.		*Planning Board [BoS, Consultant]
HC-6	Consider the potential use of the former BSS property for passive recreational uses		*Planning Bd [EDIC]
HC-8	Increase awareness of local history and historic structures and sites in order to improve protection efforts, i.e. audiotape walking tour of the town ctr.		*Historical Comm. [Historical Association]
ED-1	Examine the zoning bylaw, and compare the types of businesses that are allowed in the town center with the types that have been identified as promising for that area. Consider whether adjustments are needed in the allowed uses, dimensional and site plan requirements, sign regulations, and development review procedures.		*Planning Board
ED-2	Work with the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation to plan and achieve redevelopment of the state school property in ways that gain the most for the community. Consider how utilitarian service facilities might be tucked into the site plan concept.		*Planning Board
ED-4	Identify developable parcels in the town center, and consider whether they need to be rezoned to allow for the types of focused development envisioned by the Community Plan.		*Planning Board
T-11	Re-evaluate parking regulations in the zoning bylaws in order to assure that the location, number, size, and screening of parking lots is appropriate, and to promote shared driveways and internal connections between parking lots.		*Planning Board [Business Community]
T-13	Work with property owners to reduce the number of curb cuts on congested streets.		*DPW [Planning Board]

Actions to Manage Growth In Outlying Village Areas

I.D.	Action	When Initiate	*Convening group [and others who should be involved]
ED-5	Initiate collaborative planning with the residents of Bondsville and the Town of Palmer. Consider how business might better serve the residents and add to the village’s vitality.		*BoS [Planning Board]
ED-6	Work with Amherst to extend sewer and water service into Belchertown to support a small scale clustered, village-type development off Route 9, perhaps on both sides of the town line.		*BoS [Planning Board]
LU-20	Create zoning to achieve village development rather than strip development		*Planning Board
LU-21	Form a study committee to consider how Transfer of Development Right might help achieve Belchertown’s desired future land use.		*Planning Board

Actions to Manage Growth In Outlying Rural Areas

I.D.	Action	When Initiate	*Convening group [and others who should be involved]
LU-3	Draft a Phased Development Bylaw that provides incentives for developers to save open space, provide housing for preferred groups, avoid suburban landscapes and promote the rural look and feel of town.		*Planning Board [Conservation Commission]
LU-4	Revise the current Open Space Community Development (OSCD) by-law to allow for OSCD by right under the subdivision regulations. Improve provisions that are confusing or difficult to implement. Update the OSCD performance standards to provide a strong alternative to standard subdivision.		*Planning Board [Conservation Commission]
LU-5	Draft zoning bylaw revisions that would increase lot size in areas of environmental concern including poor draining soils, steep slopes, active farm and forestry production and wellhead/watersheds		*Planning Board [Conservation Commission, Agriculture Economic Development Council]
LU-6	Compile a list of ‘undeveloped’ town roads for possible abandonment and/or discontinuance		*BoS [DPW]
LU-7	Draft a “creative or flexible development” bylaw to provide incentives for subdivision developers and multiple ANR developers to enhance the use of natural resources and preserve the rural look of town by offering flexible frontage requirements, varied lot sizes, road widths and use of common drives		*Planning Board
LU-9	Find more sources of dedicated funding for purchasing open space, agricultural easements, conservation easements, including an annual town allocation		*Conservation Commission [Planning Board, BoS]
LU-10	Develop education programs and materials to encourage residents to preserve elements of the towns rural look and feel – information on stone walls, preservation of trees – preserving land		* Conservation Commission [Library]
LU-11	Develop educational programs to teach residents about protecting water resources through proper maintenance of private septic systems.		*Board of Health [Conservation Commission, Library]
ED-13	Appoint an Agriculture Economic Development Council		*BoS, [Owners of ag. land & agriculture-related businesses]
LU-14	Appoint town liaison to work with New England Small Farms Inst. to coordinate their open space preservation with town efforts and the EDIC		*BoS [Agric.Ec.Dev. Council]
LU-16	Improve the Common Drive Bylaw to reduce damage to environmentally sensitive areas.		*Planning Board
HC-5	Consider modifying current zoning bylaw to support agricultural uses		*Planning Board [Agric.Ec.Dev.Council].
ED-3	Visit all owners and operators of agricultural and agriculture-related businesses. Ask and listen carefully for specific ways the community could help the continued viability of these enterprises. Incorporate their suggestions into the implementation program		*Conservation Commission [Agric.Ec.Dev.Council, NESFI, town NESFI liaison]
ED-8	Support the UMass Horticultural Station and the New England Small Farms Institute as major contributors to Belchertown’s agricultural base.		*BoS [Agric.Ec.Dev.Council]
ED-10	Consider adopting a “Right to Farm” bylaw, which underscores Belchertown’s support for agriculture and alerts newcomers to the fact that they are moving into an agricultural area.		*BoS [Agric.Ec.Dev.Council]
OSR7	Provide accessibility to trails for all population groups at Cold Spring, portions of Jabish Brook Conservation area, Wentworth property and Piper Farm when feasible.		*DPW [Conservation Commission]
LU-22	Advocate and lobby for change in the state statute to allow more local regulation of frontage [“ANR”] lots		*BoS [Planning Board, Conservation Commission]
LU-23	Advocate and lobby for revising and strengthening regulations relating to release of lands in Chapter 61		*BoS [Planning Board, Conservation Commission]

Actions for Town-Wide Growth Management

I.D.	Action	When Initiate	*Convening group [and others who should be involved]
T-3	Review all existing public ways and make recommendations for discontinuations		*BoS [DPW}
LU-17, H-1	Develop a sewer extension plan that addresses failed septic systems without opening the door to unwanted scales of development		*Bos [DPW, Planning Board, Board of Health]
LU-18	Consider prioritizing the use of sewer and water capacity to support and encourage desired types and locations of development		*Bos [DPW, Planning Board, Board of Health]
H-16	Draft an amendment to the Zoning Bylaw to allow accessory apartments by right under conditions that respect neighborhood character		*Planning Board
ED-13	Appoint an Agriculture Economic Development Council		*BoS, [Owners of agricultural land & ag-related businesses]
LU-8	Develop and adopt a town Sediment and Erosion Control Bylaw to protect natural resources throughout the development process		*Conservation Commission
LU-12	Revise performance standards for site plan review to include specific demonstration of protecting look and feel and natural resources.		*Planning Board [Conservation Commission]
HC-2	Develop and adopt an appropriate Demolition Notification Bylaw to allow time to consider alternatives to the loss of historic structures		*Historical Comm, [Hist Dist Bylaw Comm, Building Inspector]
LU-13 ED-7 H-3	Review and revise the home occupations zoning bylaw to encourage home based businesses consistent with neighborhood character		*Planning Board
ED-9	Develop a web site that outlines the resources available to entrepreneurs and home-based businesses and encourages the development of a local home-based business support group		*Chamber of Commerce Town Hall Computer Department