City of Methuen Master Plan

Methuen Master Plan 2007
contiguous size for a natural area. See the following discussion on corridors for improving
connections between protected areas.
• To preserve/improve water quality and wildlife habitat protect riparian buffers. The
Environmental Law Institute recommends a 330-foot (100-meter) riparian buffer to provide for
wildlife habitat functions. A 25-meter buffer will provide nutrient and pollutant removal and a
50-meter buffer will provide bank stabilization.
• To minimize the introduction and spread of invasive, non-native species. Many non-native
species of plants and animals are known to disrupt the functioning of native ecosystems and
contribute to a decrease in biodiversity.
As noted above, Methuen falls short of national standards for recreation facilities in several categories.
There is a lack of playgrounds, community parks, and several types of ball fields.
One potential source of funding that could help protect open space and improve recreation facilities is
provided under the provisions of the Community Preservation Act. This statewide enabling act
provides state funding (currently a 100% match) for towns that vote to add up to a 3% additional
property tax for the specific purpose of acquiring and preserving open space, creating and supporting
affordable housing, and acquiring and preserving historic buildings and landscapes. Currently 119
Massachusetts towns have passed local provisions and are qualified to receive the state match. A
minimum of 10% of the annual revenues of the fund must be used for each of these three core
community concerns. The remaining 70% can be allocated for any combination of the allowed uses, or
for land or recreational use. This gives each community the opportunity to determine its priorities, plan
for its future, and have the funds to make those plans happen. Property taxes traditionally fund the dayto-day
operating needs of safety, health, schools, roads, maintenance – and more. But until the CPA,
there was no steady funding source for preserving and improving a community’s infrastructure. The
Community Preservation Act can give a community the funds needed to control its future
OPEN SPACE PLAN
The Methuen Master Plan endorses the recommendations of the 2000 Methuen Open Space and
Recreation Plan (Open Space Plan). Additional development will continue to have major impacts on
the city’s open space unless it is carefully managed. Many of the city’s protected open spaces could
become isolated by future development of private lands. The Master Plan Open Space Map shows an
open space system and potential corridor network. This map illustrates many opportunities and
initiatives that were called for in the Open Space Plan. Many of the mapped opportunities and corridors
will need further study and negotiation with private owners to become realities.
Open Space System
The proposed open space system shown on Map x-1 (??) includes all of the city’s existing protected
open space and recreation areas, all but a few isolated wetlands, potential corridors through currently
privately owned Chapter 61 lands, linkages to state-designated priority habitats, golf courses, and
additions to already protected areas both inside Methuen and adjacent towns.
Major Open Space and Recreation Opportunities
Figure 25 identifies several major open space and recreation opportunities. These areas (circled in
green) include Chapter 61 lands, other private lands, and some areas of public ownership that remain
largely undeveloped. They represent opportunities for open space and habitat protection and for
recreation.
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