By Marya Dantzer
What will Bedford look and feel like in 2023, in 2033? How will its 14,000 residents (35 percent of whom work in Bedford), its governing bodies, and other stakeholders manage the town’s goals and growth?
“The Bedford We Want: Shaping Our Future,” the new 168 page Comprehensive Plan, represents a summary of Bedford’s present and recent past, a vision for its future, and action plans for the town in six key areas of strength and challenge: land use; natural and cultural resources; economic development; housing needs; transportation; and a final category comprised of services, facilities, recreation, and energy. Citizens and stakeholders are invited to submit written comments and ideas on the Plan until January 17.
The Comprehensive Plan was derived from a two-year participatory process of structured reflection, evaluation, and envisioning conducted by the Planning Board, the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee, and Planning Department’s professional staff. Input was gathered through dialogue, meetings, and private and public workshops attended by scores of citizens, whose participation is recognized in the Plan. Periodic development of a Comprehensive Plan is mandated by the Town Charter and by state law. Most of the initiatives proposed in the previous Plan, which was issued in 2002; have been implemented, according to the Planning Board.
The new plan characterizes Bedford as “a mature suburb facing new challenges: expansion of its jobs and business base to stabilize the residential tax burden and ensure enough revenue to sustain high-quality services and facilities; overburdened roadways with few quick fixes; growing stresses on natural resources; and an aging built infrastructure,” With the addition of some 800 residential units since 2002—the vast majority of them in the form of multi-family or attached townhouse units—about 95 percent of Bedford’s land has now been developed, making the town a “built-out” community. At the same time, the town has added about 200 acres of open space to bring a total of more than 2,000 acres (nearly one-fourth of the Town’s area) under government or private protection.
Other significant snapshots of the town’s profile include an aging population (from 45 percent of residents in 2000 to 50 percent today), though with a small but steady influx of young families and single householders; a median household income of $107,639 and a median housing price of $534,900 (2010 figures), with more than the required 10 percent of housing units being state-certified as subsidized; and $53 million in tax revenues, about 37 percent of which is generated from businesses (a declining share of the revenue), with the remainder from residential assessments.
Although the Comprehensive Plan characterizes Bedford’s businesses as “doing well financially,” it notes that most are more than 50 years old and in need of rejuvenation. Recommendations in this area include improvements to zoning incentives; strategic capital investments; and public/private partnerships for redevelopment initiatives.
Traffic congestion represents a significant challenge in Bedford, with 17,000 vehicles traversing Town roads on weekdays, 88% of them with a single occupant, and with minimal public transportation available in Bedford or surrounding towns. The Comprehensive Plan proposes continuing a “complete streets” approach, to increase the availability and safety of bicycle and pedestrian traffic options, along with an exploration of public and private capital investment and expansion of the Town’s trail system.
Environmental proposals in the Plan include incorporating more robust natural resource protections in zoning bylaws and reducing municipal energy consumption.
In the area of housing, the Plan cites challenges in providing residential options for empty-nesters and their adult children, as well as younger Town employees for whom housing in the Town may be unaffordable or inconsistent with their needs. Further zoning pressures lie in the areas of historic preservation and the design of the built environment. Some endeavors in these areas will require capital investment, as will efforts to meet demand for athletics, adult education, and other enrichment programs, while streamlining their delivery.
The overall long-term vision for Bedford adopted in the Comprehensive Plan addresses t
wo critical approaches to the Town’s future: redevelopment (given the built-out nature of the Town) and connectivity, an integrated approach to infrastructure access.
Residents are encouraged to read the Plan, including an extensive, data-rich appendices section, online at https://www.bedfordma.gov/sites/bedfordma/files/file/file/comprehensive_plan_12_10_2013_1.pdf, or through the Planning Board’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BedfordMAPlan.
Hard copies are also available at the Bedford Free Public Library, 7 Mudge Way.
Submit comments in writing until January 17, either via email to [email protected] (Cathy Silvestrone, Planning Board Administrative Assistant); or in hard copy mailed or delivered to the Planning Department, Town Hall, 10 Mudge Way, Bedford, MA 01730.
The Comprehensive Plan is slated for formal adoption by the Planning Board in early 2014.
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