DATA VISUALIZATION NEEDS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION Trish Settles, AICP Principal Planner/Project Manager DATA DAY 2015

REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING Data Visualization Needs Housing Planning Open Space Planning Master Planning Topical Studies- Water Resource Planning Prioritization Projects Agriculture

TYPICAL VISUALIZATIONS IN A HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN Regional Context Map Income By Census Tract Zoning Map Infrastructure Map Build Out Composite Map Housing Type Map Town Owned Land Map Open Space Map by Land Use

HOUSING PLANNING

COST BURDEN BY INCOME (AUTOGENERATED)

OPEN SPACE & RECREATION PLANNING Map 1 - Regional Context Map Map 2 - Zoning Map Map 3 - Environmental Justice Map Map 4 - Soils and Geologic Features Map Map 5 - Water Resources Map 1 Map 6 - Water Resources Map 2 Map 7 - Habitat Features Map Map 8 - Scenic Features Map Map 9 - Open Space Inventory Map Map 10 - Action Plan Map

MASTER PLANNING Mass General Law Chapter 40A (Required and Optional Elements) Land Use and Growth Management Population and Housing Economic Development Natural, Cultural and Historic Resources Open Space and Recreation Circulation and Transportation Community Facilities and Services (Energy) Implementation “We usually do our long-range planning at the last minute.”

TYPICAL MASTER PLAN VISUALIZATIONS

PROCESS 1.Document Review - Translate to Maps 2.Informal meetings with community leaders – Revised map with this new information 3.Local Public meetings - Revised map with this new information 4.Regional Public meetings – Prioritize 5.State Public meetings – Prioritize

PRIORITIZATION PROJECTS – IDENTIFIED…. Priority Development Projects Town and Village Centers Tourism, Cultural or Historical Importance High Benefit Commercial or Industrial Areas Mill Redevelopment Housing Potential Priority Preservation Projects Water resource protection both for drinking and to support recreation/tourism Tourism/Recreation Areas Special Habitat Historic or Cultural Resources Trails Paths or Rivers (multi-town) Priority Infrastructure Highway improvements Improved Connections Water and Sewer Regional trails Improved IT infrastructure 3 Phase Energy Opportunities Regional Collaboration Working Landscapes (For the Rural -11) Agritourism along mapped Farm Corridors Zoning to protect Farms Regional Collaboration Regulatory reform Distribution and Marketing Economic Development Infrastructure – Water, Roads, IT A Survey Agricultural Education Preservation, Farm Tenure

PRIORITIZATION PROJECTS REGIONAL SCREENING Local Priority Areas Regional Screening Regional Priority Areas

2007 AG CENSUS

WORKING LANDSCAPE Assessing Database MDAR Database/MassGIS Commonwealth Corporations Town Clerk Business Certificates Internet Research Google Maps Community Information Review Revise Repeat as Necessary