City of Methuen Master Plan

Methuen Master Plan 2007
Goal T-2: Promote an economically healthy and walkable downtown, in concert with the
Downtown Development Plan.
Objectives:
• Encourage mixed-use development in the downtown and in emerging village districts.
• Provide sufficient parking to meet demand while minimizing the impacts of parking.
• Provide convenient and attractive pedestrian facilities.
• Manage traffic to ensure efficient traffic flow and to provide access to abutting uses.
Strategies:
T-2.1: Conduct a parking study in the downtown to assess occupancy rates, by time of day,
and turnover.
T-2.2: Develop effective incentives to encourage mixed-use development to have a significant
number of people living in the downtown through implementation of the Downtown
Development Plan recommendations.
T-2.3: Revise the zoning bylaw to allow shared parking in the downtown.
T-2.4: Revise the zoning bylaw to allow a parking reduction in the CBD based upon the
parking study conducted in Goal T-2.1.
T-2.5: Revise Section XI-D, Special Permits, to increase the maximum density in the CBD.
Consider densities up to 15 to 20 units per acre, as consistent with smart growth
guidelines.
T-2.6: Upgrade signage in the downtown and villages to improve wayfinding by motorists and
cyclists and pedestrians.
T-2.7: Work with Merrimack Valley Planning Commission and the Merrimack Valley TMA to
identify and map potential streets for bike routes, bike lanes and sidewalks.
T-2.8: Work with developers to build sidewalks and improve connectivity between existing
sidewalks and proposed sidewalks. See Strategy 4.2 as well.
Goal T-3: Provide more transit options for commuting and other trips.
Objectives:
• Improve access to MBTA commuter rail.
• Reexamine MVRTA to increase and improve MVRTA service to expand access to work, recreation,
shopping, and services.
• Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of regional public transportation.
• Support a mix of land uses to provide more options for residents to work and live in
• Reduce commute time and reduce the need to drive.
Strategies:
T-3.1: Continue participating in the New Hampshire I-93 Transit Study to maximize long-term
transit benefits for Methuen from the I-93 widening project.
Page 84