Chapter One - Goals and Policies

Introduction

A Goals Study was conducted in spring 1998 as a separate study in preparation for this Master Plan. The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development funded that study. The Goals Statement in the Master Plan is the result of that effort.

Town officials and residents began preparation of the goals by reviewing previous planning policies and studies. They confirmed, and refined the underlying growth management themes. On March 14, 1998 representatives of Littleton's boards and departments assembled to identify growth management decisions confronting the Town and the issues on which guidance is needed from the community. On April 16 more than 100 townspeople gathered at a community-wide forum to talk with each other about the future they desire for Littleton. While very clear points of consensus emerged from that discussion, participants also stressed the need for continuous outreach to the community in subsequent planning phases to gain even broader participation in shaping Littleton's new master plan.

Background

Littleton has traditionally been a small town located on major regional crossroads. In Colonial times the Great Road passed through town on the way to Boston. Now each day thousands of commuters and other travelers hurry along Routes 495, 2, 119, and 110. This easy access to regional employment and markets makes Littleton a convenient place to live and an attractive place to locate a business. Townspeople think of Littleton as a rural community of starter homes where families can build a good life. In recent years, however, the town has experienced escalating housing prices, so that the profile of the local population is shifting toward higher incomes. A person driving around Littleton still sees open fields, woods, and other scenes that give the impression of a rural setting, but in fact the remaining undeveloped lands in town are contained in a relatively small number of large parcels. Market response to the demand for homes in this attractive community is placing increased pressure on remaining undeveloped lands. As easily developed lands become scarcer, there are increasing proposals to site new structures on "marginal" lands that have physical constraints such as being close to wetlands.

Meanwhile town boards, departments, and committees have been working to represent townspeople's needs and wishes concerning town services and administration. In 1964 a series of master plan reports presented policies to help guide town decisions. Over the years since then various groups have worked hard on a number of studies and plans that focused upon specific issues such as transportation, open space preservation, and school needs. Now the community needs to pull this thinking together, consider the results as a whole, affirm the objectives that townspeople feel are still on target, adjust the objectives that seem out of date, and fill in additional objectives that address new opportunities and challenges.

Taken together, Littleton's previously stated growth management goals and objectives call for maintaining as rural a town character as possible -- but with high quality amenities and services. There is the intent to focus business development in certain areas that will strengthen the Town Center, tap the good access to Routes 119 and 495, and minimize impacts on other areas of town. Increased opportunities for recreation are a high priority of townspeople. There is growing awareness of the need for proactive conservation of key undeveloped parcels of land. There is also increasing concern about groups of residents who are being priced out of living in Littleton. Townspeople want to minimize the impacts of through traffic and divert the regional flow to outside of Littleton wherever possible.

Goals Statement

The Goals Statement consists of goals and policies. Goals provide a sense of direction in obtaining the Vision. Goals are the expression of the most basic community values that reflect the general agreement of the community about its future. They serve as a publicly accepted long-range policy statement for the community and propose long-range conditions that the Town seeks to attain through its policies and actions. Policies are general guidelines or principles that are the basic recommendations of the plan and are meant to help achieve the goals. Policies were identified as objectives in the spring 1998 study. The ability of the Master Plan to propose goals, policies and actions that will be implemented to ensure that the vision is actually realized, will be it’s ultimate test of time.

Land Use

Strictly speaking, Littleton is no longer a rural town with an agricultural base. Still, we enjoy a "small town feel" thanks to roadside views of open fields, low-density residential development, historic buildings in the center of town, and affordability of homes. We are what other towns used to be. We want to continue Littleton's New England-style settlement pattern of clustered civic and business centers interspersed with fields, woods, and low-density homes.

Littleton will continue to be a New England community enjoying small town life in a setting of small scale, clustered village centers with intervening open fields, woods, and low density homes.

To avoid sprawling development, instead encouraging clustered forms of development that retain a pattern of intervening fields, woods, and surface water features.

To retain wherever possible roadside views of fields, stone walls, fence-row vegetation, shade trees, and other reminders of Littleton's agricultural heritage.

To shape future development to reflect Littleton's pattern of natural resource systems, for example by respecting the constraints of topographic and hydrologic features and by maintaining vegetation and wildlife corridors.

To solidify and enhance Littleton's distinctive, elongated town center as the civic, service, and social heart of the community.

To maintain a balance of residential, commercial, and industrial development to support the amenities and quality of life desired by townspeople.

Housing

We are proud of Littleton's tradition of being an affordable place where young people can set down roots and build a good life. We are concerned that our community may be losing its economic diversity due to the region's escalating housing prices. We recognize that it will be a challenge to retain both low-density housing development and affordability. We intend to do so and believe that the opportunity exists for appropriate accommodation within the New England pattern of focused centers separated by low intensity development and open space.

We also recognize that increasing numbers of our older residents need new housing alternatives both in terms of cost, and in terms of home size and maintenance requirements. We will seek ways to gain these alternatives within our settlement pattern, so that senior residents can continue to be a key part of our community life.

Littleton will continue to be a community of homes that meet the needs of economically diverse households and people of different ages.

To encourage alternative forms of development and ownership that can provide needed housing choices within our New England town setting while respecting the community's preference for single-family homes

To pay particularly attention to the housing needs of moderate income Littleton households whose level of income does not qualify them for purchase of housing in Littleton, young people or first time home buyers, older people who need options for smaller and easier maintenance homes, and town employees who desire to live in Littleton

To work cooperatively with public agencies, private efforts, and non-profit institutions to serve Littleton's housing needs

To conserve our historic homes and traditional scale of homes while acknowledging that a community's housing stock evolves over time in response to changing needs and resources

To work towards the state goal of 10% of affordable housing

Economic Development

Businesses contribute to town life through providing jobs, services, and interactions among townspeople. Businesses also strengthen Littleton's tax base and help pay for Town services and facilities. Townspeople especially appreciate local "business citizens" who are active in and supportive of community activities. Littleton's traditional settlement pattern and our location on major regional highways provide a range of sites for business. The natural resource base also provides opportunity for extraction industry.

Littleton will promote economic development in a managed way to maintain or improve the quality of life of our people and our community.

To seek economic development that is compatible with Littleton's community character by maximizing positive impacts, minimizing negative impacts, and maximizing the use of existing infrastructure.

To encourage the continuation of agriculture and farming-related businesses.

To strengthen and enhance the Town Center of Littleton, so that it may serve the needs of the residents for local shopping, civic, and community functions.

To designate and improve specific areas for business activity, and prevent stretching of business development into other areas of town.

To locate shopping with good access to Route 119.

Cultural Resources

As a small New England town, our cultural resources are as basic to town character as are the natural resources. For example, historic buildings and farm fields are the result of intensive human activity.

Littleton will highlight and celebrate the community's historic and current cultural resources.

To consider ways to conserve and maintain historic structures and areas of Littleton, for example through historic district designation.

To support the arts and humanities in and around Littleton.

To maintain the pristine appearance of Town cemeteries and prepare for cemetery expansion in the years to come.

Natural Resources

Littleton became a New England town because of our natural resource base of soils, water, vegetation, and wildlife. Our clean water, clean air, beauty, and peaceful surroundings all result from the natural resource systems that surround us. We intend to continue to enjoy these amenities by maintaining a balance between development and the natural resource base.

Littleton will maintain groundwater of good quantity and quality to meet existing and future demand, taking into account both municipal and private wells.

To acquire another new municipal well site to assure future adequacy of supply

To maintain the present regulatory vigilance in protecting the groundwater supply

To protect permanently Beaver Brook, Bennets Brook and other water resource areas

Encourage water conservation

v Environmental Goal

Littleton will continue to protect and enhance the natural environment.

Protect aquifers and watersheds

Protect environmentally sensitive land threatened by development

Guide development activity so as to avoid negative impacts to environmental quality

Protect unique natural and geologic features

Structure the Zoning Bylaw to reflect suitability/capability of land resources

Achieve land acquisitions that enhance current conservation and recreational holdings, and to adequately maintain and improve existing properties

Foster the placing and protection of shade trees for beauty, clean air, and increased property values

Open Space and Recreation

Townspeople endorse the concept of retaining open space. The question we need to examine closely is the best combination of ways to accomplish this. We also need to understand and agree on the full range of benefits that the community might gain through retaining open space. Many of Littleton's most visible and highly valued open spaces are farm fields, orchards, and other aspects of local agriculture. Other open spaces are places for outdoor recreation. Townspeople feel strongly that there is need for greater public access to Littleton's open space and recreation amenities, for example through gaining legal access, a trail system, and appropriately placed public parking areas. Littleton has recently completed an Open Space and Recreation Plan, which will serve as both a resource document and an implementation tool for this component of Littleton's Master Plan.

Littleton will achieve quality recreational facilities and adequate recreational opportunities for all town residents.

To provide public access to the Town's public lakes and ponds.

To maintain clean surface waters for active and passive recreational use.

To provide recreation programs for a variety of user groups.

To make improvements to existing public facilities such as increased handicapped accessibility.

To provide additional recreational facilities on Town-owned property.

To provide recreation opportunities in developing areas of Town.

To provide year-round high quality indoor and outdoor recreation activities for children and adults.

To deliver recreation programs that are cultural, social, mental, and physical based and which are presented at well-maintained parks and facilities.

To make sure that no resident of Littleton is refused participation in a program or the use of the facilities because of inability to pay.

To develop a community center with particular focus on facilities and programs to meet the needs of teens and seniors.

Littleton will seek to preserve our character as a small New England town.

To preserve and promote agricultural activities.

To adopt a comprehensive planning program that addresses recreation, open space, agricultural, and environmental concerns as well as traditional zoning issues.

To view open space preservation as a growth management strategy in the context of a balanced and sustainable development pattern.

To increase local awareness of the Town's natural, geologic, and historic resources.

Public Services and Facilities

Littleton enjoys the feel of a small town and the services of a larger town. Residents want to maintain the quality of town services and facilities, and in some instances to expand them. At the same time, residents worry about increasing local taxes. An important part of the Master Plan's deliberations will be to compare alternative growth scenarios' impacts on Town revenues and service costs.

Littleton will meet the community's current and foreseeable municipal service needs in a financially prudent manner.

To maintain the pursuit of excellence in the education of our students

To provide for students, staff, and the town facilities that are educationally appropriate and that meet the expectations of fiscal responsibility

To provide protection of lives and property through a combination of emergency response and loss prevention services

To plan for and deal with major emergencies

To provide adequate facilities for the Police and Fire Departments

To continue to extend and improve the water supply and distribution system.

To provide value-added services at competitive rates and at a high level of customer service.

To increase recycling participation to reduce solid waste disposal costs.

To insure that the library will be a cultural, recreational, and educational resource for the town.

To effect the full integration and inclusion of people with disabilities in activities and services in Littleton by coming into compliance with accessibility regulations, assisting members of our community with disabilities, and fostering disability awareness.

To pursue a conservative approach to Town spending, and plan for additional major expenditures.

To establish a process for adopting a multiple-year Capital Improvements Plan with annual review and up dating.

Transportation and Circulation

Littleton historically was sited on the Great Road to Boston. Our location at the intersection of major regional highways provides convenient access to Greater Boston, which in turn provides employment opportunities to residents and market opportunities for local businesses. At the same time, residents feel vulnerable to negative impacts of excessive through traffic clogging our local streets. Part of local traffic problems stems from our own reliance on the car to get around town. Townspeople would like to minimize the impact of through traffic and increase regional and local transportation alternatives to the car. Strong support is voiced for a system of sidewalks, bike paths, and trails that provide residents with safe and enjoyable access to services, town buildings, the Common, recreation areas, and other important places in town.

Littleton will seek to minimize the impact of regional traffic.

Maintain the rural character of Littleton as much as possible while minimizing congestion during peak periods

Participate actively in regional planning and development of a regional public transportation system that lessens the number of vehicular trips along Littleton's streets

Accommodate traffic that has to go through Littleton as quickly as possible during peak hours, but discourage through traffic from using streets in Littleton when adequate alternatives are available outside of Littleton

Improve safety at locations where safety is deficient, striving to design solutions that are most consistent with Littleton's New England town character

Minimize the intrusion of through traffic on Littleton's collector and local streets

Design and implement circulation, sidewalk, and other streetscape improvements for the Town Center

Identify as many funding options as possible to implement roadway improvements that are acceptable to the Town

Littleton will create alternative ways for townspeople to circulate around town.