1. Ashland Redevelopment Authority “Teamwork is the fuel that allows people to attain extraordinary results” -Unknown January 28, 2014

2. Agenda Introductions Purpose of the meeting: –To discuss lessons learned from 2013 –To discuss 2014 initiatives –Update on Downtown –Update on Pond Street –Review of other initiatives Questions/Comments from Community

3. 2013 Lessons Learned Working together creates improved efficiency and effectiveness –The ARA, town management, committees, and concerned citizens worked together to obtain a virtually unanimous vote at town meeting for Pond Street improvements

4. 2014 Initiatives 2014 Initiatives Downtown street/way-finding signage and roadway median upgrades Pond Street Design and 25% engineering Music/Arts festival Evaluation of historic and cultural district Partnership with Town Library and Friends of Ashland Library Update downtown vision with community

5. Downtown Ashland

6. Downtown Downtown Collaborative Goals –Collaboration and consensus on downtown –Keep the momentum with small actions –Create physical change to downtown that will be transformational –Communicate to the public and boards –Assist in identifying and obtaining funding Values to be displayed in downtown –Sense of community –Culture of creativity and diversity –History of innovation

7. Vision for Downtown A historic town center that includes the creation of an enhanced, pedestrian-friendly environment for all the people of Ashland. Particular focus is on enhancing a small town character and increasing the vitality of downtown by creating: – –Improved sidewalks, streetscapes, and open space; – –Space to encourage additional retail uses; – –Housing opportunities; – –Improved parking; – –Opportunities for casual meeting places and planned events to draw people to the center; – –Architecture of a scale and character that enhances these uses

8. Vision (cont.) As part of this vision, a revitalized downtown should display the values that make Ashland a great place to live, work, and visit. Those values include a strong sense of community, a culture of creativity and diversity, and history of innovation.

9. Short Term Projects Projects shortlisted from two (2) previous public forums Downtown Collaborative (Mike Mokey, Mark Juitt, Judith Sallet, Julie Nardone, Bill Goldberg, Sara Hines, Graham Ruggie, Michael Herbert, Maribeth Morrissey) considered: – –Marathon Park Expansion – –Front Street parking lot cleanup – –Storefront upgrades – –Town Green – –Street/Way-finding signage upgrades – –Streetscape improvements such as roadway median upgrades Downtown Collaborative selected: – –Street/Way-finding signage upgrades – –Roadway median upgrades

10. Downtown Boundary

11. Design Guidelines Roadway median upgrades: – –Maintain the existing footprint of the roadway medians – –Replacing existing curbing with vertical granite curbing – –Built in planters, small shrubs or grasses are desirable, and should be kept at heights lower than 42 inches – –Plantings should be resistant to salt, low maintenance, and require minimal irrigation – –The design of the medians should be kept simple, yet imaginative, and consistent among all three medians – –Create a centralized directory with advertisement capabilities

12. Design Guidelines (cont.) Street/Way-finding signage: – –Incorporate historic elements and coordinate with historic commission – –Scaleable to other parts of town – –Size lettering appropriately and simple to read – –Transformation should occur between new and old – –Consideration of color (Ashland Blue versus other) Next Steps: – –February to March: RFP/award to Design Firms – –April: Design two (2) concept options – –May: Presentation of two (2) concept options to community – –Implementation to be determined

13. Pond Street

14. Pond Street Design Eight (8) Phases of design 1. 1.Project Initiation: Project plan/communications plan developed 2. 2.Existing Conditions Analysis: existing study review, existing plan review, comparable corridors, existing zoning review 3. 3.Land use planning: land use analysis, market analysis, traffic analysis, redevelopment strategy, zoning recommendations 4. 4.Public relations and outreach: develop online tools and presence, flyers, stakeholder interviews/open houses 5. 5.Community visioning charette: material preparation, charette, charette results 6. 6.Alternative concept plans: field survey, concept plans, concept pricing, presentation to public 7. 7.Final selected concept plan: finalize design, other considerations for future 8. 8.Technical 25% engineering: 25% civil engineering, preliminary cost estimate, technical coordination, public presentation, Mass DOT submission

15. Pond Street Design (cont.) Project Working Group (PWG) members – –Assigned by town management as a working group – –David Manugian, Nathaniel Strosberg, Ed Bates, Paula Parker, Sara Hines, Enzo Scalora Role of PWG – –To lead and coordinate the design process as the liaison and advocate for the Ashland community – –The PWG is a recommending body to the Town Manager and Board of Selectmen

16. Pond Street Design (cont.) Expectations PWG has of itself – –The PWG will ensure quality, meet goals, and build excellence by creating a process that displays a high level of integrity and community involvement – –The PWG will provide a thorough analysis of options for the community to consider as part of the development process – –The PWG will work as a team to provide a solution that Ashland can adopt and be flexible in the long term-Design for Adaptability – –The PWG will foster an environment of collaboration and idea generation – –The PWG will work to reinvent community outreach for development projects; set new standards for community outreach; and inspire involvement by new residents and businesses

17. Pond Street Design (cont.) – –The PWG will communicate effectively with other boards/committees and town departments – –The PWG will communicate early and often with MassDOT to ensure there is commitment by MassDOT throughout the process

18. Pond St. Communications Ashland Local Ashland Directions Metrowest News Town website, WACA blackboard, ARA website ARA Facebook Newsletters Around the clock Business database and roundtable BOS/Planning Board presentations Four (4) Public Meetings, – –Charette: Approximately April 2014 – –Concept options-Approximately June 2014 – –Two other presentations during the engineering phase

19. Other Initiatives

20. Evaluation of historic and cultural district –Preserve the historic fabric of our community –Allow for the creativity of our culture to be on display Partnership with Town Library and Friends of Ashland Library –Evaluate the library as a mechanism to support revitalization Music/Arts Festival –Feasibility study to be completed by March 1, 2014 –Steering committee: Steve Mitchell, Bonnie Mitchell, Glenn Heywood, Isaac Sterns, Kevin McGuire, Mark Juitt, Enzo Scalora Update downtown vision with community –Comprehensive Plan Committee (CPC) to develop Vision and Strategic Goals with community –Collaborate with CPC on downtown vision