City of Methuen Master Plan

Methuen Master Plan 2007
Street area of the West End. However, this could only occur through rezoning as this area is now
zoned Agriculture-Conservation, requiring an 80,000 sq. ft. minimum lot size.”
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
The following are some key observations to take into account when developing recommendations for
the master plan.
Aging facilities will need to be renovated and/or newly constructed to support the provision of effective
and efficient city services. Shifts in the demographics of the city, including a projected growth in the
number of elderly residents as well as an increasingly ethnically diverse population will impact the types
of services needed in the future.
Residents, when asked if they could do one thing to improve public facilities and services in Methuen
gave the following top four answers:
• Upgrade the high school
• Public safety building and police sub-stations throughout the city
• Create a Visitor center
• Expand afternoon and summer programs for kids
Analysis of existing conditions and trends along with discussions with Methuen City staff and
Department heads confirm these needs.
PRIORITY COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES NEEDED
• A renovated high school
• A solution to alleviate overcrowding in the elementary schools
• Improved police and fire facilities
• A new Community Center for the Arlington neighborhood
Schools
While the each of the four K-8 schools have been built and/or extensive renovated in the last 15 years,
school enrollment and other factors have resulted in the need for additional space. While the new
school facilities are in very good condition they are quickly reaching their capacity in terms of student
enrollments and in some cases have already exceeded it. The K-8 schools were cited repeatedly and
consistently in public workshops as one of the aspects residents most appreciated about Methuen.
Actual enrollments have consistently exceeded projections. This is due to a number of factors
including the fact that the new schools have attracted young families, some non-Methuen children
“illegally” attending the schools, and an increasing Latino population. The number of children attending
the schools with Limited English Proficiency and whose Family Language is Not English has been
steadily rising over the last decade. There is every indication that enrollments will continue to increase
over the next few years. In addition to the rising enrollment figures, student numbers fluctuate
significantly throughout the year. This makes it difficult to plan and determine facility needs. The
School Department has formed a Task Force which is developing new enrollment projections to assist
in more accurate planning for the future.
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