Open Space. The general community
consensus from the current master plan hearings over the past year is that the
Town should take an active role in preserving open space. However, due to increasing tax burden it is
difficult to find major funding for open space in a town budget already
strained by major infrastructure needs, economic conditions and reductions in
state aid The majority of the community
favors innovative zoning and subdivision regulations. To date, adoption of innovative
zoning such as the open space community zoning and regulations has helped
decrease some development pressure.
State funding and other creative resourcing will help mitigate the loss
of Westborough's quality of life.
Creative land use regulations and State programs can only do so much for
the preservation of open space, but they cannot prevent open space from being
developed.
Westborough, has lost, and continues to lose, a
substantial amount of open space; this trend shows no signs of abating until
such time as all potential sites are utilized for development purposes. The development of open space not only
creates a burden on all aspects of town services, there is a more significant
impact that cannot be quantified. This
is the impact on the current and future residents who will be denied access to
recreational programs, trails, woods, scenic views, wildlife and the
intangibles that those things bring to the quality of life in the Town of
Westborough.
While
the 1987 survey indicated that residents showed a strong desire to retain the
rural character of Westborough, it is obvious that the residential and
commercial development that continued unabated from that date has prevented
that from occurring. Furthermore,
because it is unlikely that this trend will cease, it becomes more imperative
that the Town must identify and acquire potential parcels for open space and
recreational needs whenever possible.
Nearly
half of the open space suitable for recreational purposes has been lost to
development between 1987 and 1995.
Cedar Swamp is protected by State environmental regulations. The remaining protected areas and sites are
wetland areas, aquifer protection land, historical sites, cemeteries, State
Town, and non-profit conservation land and open space dedicated for homeowner
associations.
Regional: Numerous opportunities exist to create open
space between Westborough and abutting towns.
These links may significantly enhance the quality of life for both
wildlife and the respective residents of those towns. Further cooperation and partnership between Westborough and
abutting towns is necessary to achieve potential open space links and to
achieve and maintain them for the benefit and enjoyment of the public.
Topography. It has been emphasized that development on
steep slopes means removing and storing large quantities of earth while
simultaneously stripping the land of all its vegetative cover. Thus, when it rains severe erosion may
occur. The result of these areas not
being stabilized could mean heavy silting of brooks and surface waters,
eventually impeding the flow of water due to the build-up of sediments. This not only hinders the removal of storm
water but also could be detrimental to aquatic life. Current erosion control measures should be strictly enforced.
Landscape Character: The natural character of Westborough’s
landscape is disappearing, because of both excessive development and the manner
by which it is developed. Poor site
design selection and design can, and does, destroy the landscape’s natural
character. The lack of specific
guidelines and zoning inflexibility contributes to the loss of landscape
character. Again, all developers should
be monitored on both a consistent and random schedule to ensure compliance with
building regulations and requirements.
Ground and Surface Water. Most of the surface waters are presently used
for various activities. Hocomocco Pond
should be considered as a potential site for recreational purposes when the
property is transferred to the town.
Vegetation and Wildlife. Wetland laws have been the saving grace of
the wetland habitats in Westborough.
However, Orchard Swamp is the last large wetland area that is neither
protected by the MDC nor the Town. Steps
such as implementing a conservation overlay district for Orchard Swamp should
be taken to ensure that it remains a wildlife habitat. Steps should also be taken to ensure that
wildlife corridors on uplands will be preserved and linked with wetland areas.
Scenic Resources. Fay Mountain's outstanding characteristics
have been discussed through the entire open space planning process. Not only is it a critical link in a
potential open space corridor, but it also has the potential to link Grafton to
the Westborough Reservoir, and to provide the link from Upton to the SuAsCo
flood control pond.
Developers: The
Town should encourage developers, both residential and commercial, to consider
contributing portions of land, gifts or both, for open space or recreational
purposes or both. In addition, the Town
must ensure that all developers strictly adhere to all applicable regulations
and laws pertaining to construction related issues. Developers that do not comply should be dealt with expeditiously.
Town
Committees: All town committees having an interest in
open space, such as the Open Space Preservation Committee, the Conservation
Commission, the Planning Board and the Recreation Commission, should cooperate
fully with each other to ensure that there respective needs and requirements
are met.
Town Offices: The Town Planner and other related offices
should make every effort to take advantage of local, municipal, State and
Federal Programs, such as grants, which pertain to open space, conservation and
recreation. In addition, they should
explore agreements with those entities as well as non-profit organizations,
such as the Westborough Community Land Trust, that could assist the town in
achieving such goals.
The process to evaluate the
town’s open space and recreation needs began in March 1994 when the Recreation
Department requested the Planning Board to evaluate vacant land parcels with
the potential for recreational use.
This request was influenced by dramatic increases in both town and
community sponsored activities stretching the existing facilities usages to
capacity. At that time, the community’s
perception, and the eventual reality of the rapid and ongoing disappearance of
open space was then, and is now, a catalyst.
Ongoing development, and the increase in population and its needs, has
impacted the Recreation Department by putting a strain on its facilities as
well as its recreational activities, programs and sports. Consequently, expansion of offerings and
facilities were, and are, required to accommodate those increase in numbers and
to attempt to ensure that its programs and facilities are available to all
residents of the Town of Westborough.
Table 7.3 Recreational Deficits
|
Recreational
Facility |
Quantity Required |
Acres/Per Facility Required |
Total Minimum Parking Area Required |
Total Acres |
|
Fullsize basketball
Courts (Indoor) |
3-6 |
0.25 |
0.25 |
3.00 |
|
Baseball fields (90’) |
1-3 |
3.00 |
0.50 |
12.00 |
|
Baseball / Softball fields (60’) |
4-8 |
1.50 |
0.50 |
16.00 |
|
Soccer fields |
4-8 |
2.00 |
0.50 |
20.00 |
|
Lacrosse field |
2-3 |
1.75 |
0.50 |
6.75 |
|
Field hockey field |
1-2 |
1.75 |
0.50 |
4.50 |
|
Basketball courts |
3-6 |
0.35 |
0.25 |
3.60 |
|
Youth football fields |
1-2 |
1.50 |
0.50 |
4.0 |
|
Tennis courts |
5-10 |
0.35 |
0.25 |
7.0 |
|
Other Facilities
or Amenities |
Acres/Per
Facility Required Total |
Minimum
Parking Area Required |
|
Indoor soccer fields |
0.25 |
0.25 |
|
Playgrounds |
1.00 |
0.50 |
|
Park/Pricnic/Pavillion area (Volleyball – horse shoes etc) |
2.00 |
1.00 |
|
Pool/Wading Pool |
2.00 |
1.00 |
|
Trails (fitness, bike, jogging, walking) |
|
|
|
Street hockey court |
0.25 |
0.25 |
|
Skateboard park |
0.25 |
0.25 |
|
Outdoor Skate Rink |
0.50 |
0.50 |
|
Recreation Center |
10.00 |
2.00 |
Parking would be necessary
for all of the above facilities.
Approximately 109 cars would fit onto an acre of parking space.