City of Methuen Master Plan

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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. Page 138
Natural Resources, Open Space, and Recreation Chapter 61 lands have already been mentioned. These privately owned parcels are subject to future sale and development pressures. The city will be faced with challenges and opportunities as the current owners of each one of these properties consider their options. Preserving corridors and significant open space will be important considerations. New tools for guiding development of these lands will be proposed in the master plan’s section on land use and zoning. Acquiring additional riverfront land and improving access to the river were noted in the Open Space Plan as important goals and the city should continue to pursue opportunities to increase riverfront areas. Many communities have found public access and redevelopment along their waterfronts to be a key strategy for bringing new life to once neglected areas. The city’s two golf courses also contribute to the city’s character and opportunities for recreation. Like other privately owned lands, their future use is not guaranteed. Page 139
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METHUEN MASTER PLAN 2007 Planning f
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Acknowledgements Finally, the Steer
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Land Use Methuen has extensive IL (
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Land Use properties). Condominiums
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Land Use The truck farms are locate
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E CONOMIC D EVELOPMENT Attracting a
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F ISCAL A NALYSIS The following sec
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