Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Hopkintonians making news

Hopkinton resident Jane Moran, active in zoning decisions affecting her Hopkinton neighborhood, has been appointed police chief in Southborough. And Chairman of Hopkinton's Board of Selectmen, Brian Herr, considers running for State Treasurer.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Planning for downtown improvements

The Hopkinton Downtown Revitalization Committee identified this as the year to pursue a long sought after town goal of documenting a plan for the downtown. Recognizing the importance of having the full support of local businesses and the community at large in development of the plan, the downtown committee reached out to the Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce for help raising half of the funds needed for development of the plan. The other half will come from Town Hall through the Parks and Recreation Commission budget.

With funds now in place, the Downtown Revitalization Committee will be able to begin engaging with the Conway School of Landscape Design, who will document a plan as part of the graduate school curriculum in landscape design and planning. The committee's preparation will include outreach to the broader community, likely in cooperation with the Planning Board, through which I had the privilege of spearheading this effort as the Planning Board's liaison to the Downtown Revitalization Committee. The actual plan development will occur between January and April of 2010. The MetroWest Daily News writes about the fundraising effort which ensure the town can now pursue this long sought after goal.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Downtown Improvements

The Downtown Revitalization Committee is a volunteer committee focused on identifying and advancing opportunities to improve the downtown. In July, I joined this committee as the Planning Board's representative. Since then, we've been reinvigorating the committee's focus on documenting a plan for the town center, which could be used as an impetus and guide for future improvements.

In the process, we've acknowledged that many individual improvements, which all add up to some significant progress, have already been achieved thanks to the initiative of property owners, businesses, town and civic groups involved in the downtown area. These changes point to the great commitment of individual property owners, businesses, town and volunteer groups to a vision for the downtown as a hub of business, civic and community activity. To name a few of these improvements:

  • Benches and matching trash receptacles installed by Laborers Training Center and DPW at several locations along Main Street .
  • Potted plants decorate several areas, including near the benches and a major planting at the Grove and Main intersection, thanks to the regular contributions of the Hopkinton Garden Club.
  • The DPW recently performed repairs to deteriorated portions of sidewalk along the south side of Main Street between the Respite Center and Route 85.
  • A new Gazebo and walkway was constructed on the Common this year, thanks to Friends of the Common, under the direction of Parks and Recreation and the Historic District Commission.
  • Pruning, loaming and seeding on the Common was recently performed by Scott's Landscaping. Hopkinton Drug in 2007 completed significant improvements to its exterior facade as part of a building redesign
  • A new fence alongside the historic cemetery across from the Common now calls out the historic nature of that space
  • Bill's Pizza plans to begin construction this year of a redesigned building at the same location, which will also include repairs to nearby sidewalks.
  • The Cumberland Farms (Gulf) at the corner of Main and Cedar completed landscaping improvements along Main Street
  • Main Street Ventures completed upgrades to the building at the corner of Church and Main , which will be the new home of Zio's restaurant
  • The Trails Club has opened up a new pedestrian trail that connects to the sidewalks on Main Street near Hopkinton Lumber
  • The DPW has enhanced cross-walk painting at Main Street crosswalks, including those near Church Street , Hayden Rowe, and others
  • Landscaping improvements to the Town Hall are well underway
  • The Planning Department has initiated a study of parking in the downtown area
  • The Police Department has been investing resources in crosswalk enforcement and traffic enforcement in the downtown
  • A Walkable Communities Workshop delivered by the Metropolitan Planning Organization identified several potential enhancements to sidewalks and crossings

To build upon this momentum and ensure a cohesive effort moving forward, the Planning Board has set a goal this year to work with the Downtown Revitalization Committee and others to document a plan for the downtown. As work on that plan progresses, we look forward to open dialog with those who have constructive ideas or interests in the downtown, and will provide additional updates.

Do you have ideas or feedback on our downtown? Post your comment here or send me a note.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Hopkinton Making Steps for All Pedestrians

As home of the Boston Marathon starting line, Hopkinton is famous for running, and we have a very active Hopkinton running club. Walkers too, abound in our quieter subdivisions as well as in our town center with sidewalks extending to nearby residential areas. Our many scenic routes make Hopkinton an ideal place for bicycling too; in fact, more bicycle trails consistently tops the list of most desired active recreation resources in Hopkinton's open space and recreation surveys.

So, what have we done in Hopkinton to further advance our community as a healthy place for walkers, runners, bicyclists, and others? Here are some current pedestrian related initiatives already complete or underway in Hopkinton, Massachusetts:
  • The Hopkinton Police Department recognizes the importance of pedestrian safety to the community, and received grant money to advance its public safety responsibility related to pedestrians and bicyclists
  • The Planning Department and Sustainable Green Committee have been pursuing free bicycle racks through a Metropolitan Area Planning Council program which has already proven beneficial to many other towns. The Hopkinton Public Library and Parks and Recreation have lined up for the first two in Hopkinton through this program.
  • On Sunday, September 13th, the Hopkinton Trails Club is celebrating the re-opening of the Central Trail, a former rail bed that runs through a beautiful wooded area from Hopkinton Lumber to the schools loop road and on to Chamberlain street. This is the same rail bed that neighboring Milford has converted to a bicycle trail.
  • A meandering path from the town center to the western edge of the Legacy Farms property is a key component of the host community agreement for that project.
  • The Department of Public Works is planning to replace deteriorated portions of sidewalk along Main Street, and in cooperation with public safety officials already has enhanced and restriped high risk cross walks in the downtown area with additional warning features.
  • Last week, the MetroWest Regional Transportation Authority announced expanded shuttle service from Hopkinton center to South Street, which could reduce the number of cars on the road, and promote walking to bus stops instead of driving to work for local commuters.
  • The Downtown Revitalization Committee has set a goal of initiating a master plan for the downtown this fiscal year, of which pedestrian safety and facilities would be a key component of fulfilling the vision of the downtown as a hub of business, civic and community activity.
  • The Town of Hopkinton is hosting a Walkable Community Workshop in October, aimed at increasing community awareness and promoting safe, accessible, and aesthetic walking environments for our community.
Certainly there is much more work to be done, to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety on our existing roads. Yet, these first steps are the most encouraging sign that, working together, we can do even more to make our town enjoyable and safe for all travelers -- whether driving, cycling, running, or walking.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Downtown revitalization

Our town center serves as a hub of business, cultural and community activity. Zoning and planning are important in achieving changes to our downtown that reflect our collective community vision. Equally important is coordination and execution across town departments like Planning Board, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Historical District, and the local businesses and community groups that have a direct stake in our downtown.

This year, in addition to continuing as Vice Chair of the Planning Board, I have also been elected by my colleagues on the Planning Board to be the Planning Board representative to Hopkinton's Downtown Revitalization Committee. The first meeting of the 2009-2010 term is tonight, and I'm looking forward to begin advancing the committee's and the community's initiatives related to our town center.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Traffic, people, business, community: Priorities and Trade-offs

Many competing needs complicate the discussion involved in planning ahead for future increased traffic through the main intersection in Hopkinton, MA, where Route 85 crosses Route 135. Some of the competing needs that will define the future of our downtown:
  • Ensuring the downtown remains a profitable place for the small businesses that line Main Street may mean preserving on-street parking.
  • Moving automobile traffic efficiently through the intersection may mean expanding the roadway, or removing on-street parking.
  • Protecting the safety of our neighbors who walk to the shops or library, and who would patronize the library or Main Street businesses and whose presence defines our downtown as a community center may require slowing traffic and enhancing or expanding (not reducing) existing sidewalks and crosswalks.
  • Off-setting expected increased automobile traffic and encouraging a healthy community by making roads safe for alternate modes of transportation may mean expanding the roadway to allow bicycle lanes.
  • Ensuring the viability of downtown businesses may require encouraging traffic flow that does not discourage those driving by from stopping to shop.

Our town traffic consultant (FST, Inc.), the Planning Board, local businesses, and other members of the community are looking at all of these competing needs and trying to determine and ensure the proper balance.

Our town traffic consultant put it best during a recent public hearing: it all depends on what we want as a community. Your input helps.

Volunteering in your community

I wrote this almost a year ago, and it appeared in HopNews.com and the Hopkinton Independent in May and June 2008. The sentiment remains true today.
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Volunteering on a Town Board or Committee in Hopkinton


Hoping to make a positive impact on town government, two years ago I began serving a five year term on the Planning Board. Some joke that it’s a five year sentence. But I disagree. Although a pure volunteer endeavor, public service has been one of the most personally rewarding things I’ve ever done.

As a way of encouraging others with specific interest and skills to offer their talent in the form of public service to the town, I’d like to share some reflections from my first two years. Today, there are several openings on various town boards and committees in Hopkinton.

Why Volunteer: Making Hopkinton an Even Better Place

At the simplest level, I volunteer for the reasons I tell my four year old daughter when she asks why I have to go to a meeting: to make Hopkinton an even better place for her future. Making Hopkinton an even better place for our families and loved ones, our neighbors, and our future here together is a powerful motivator. And it’s actually quite achievable when you volunteer for a town board or committee with the right attitude, patience, persistence and attention to detail.

When to Start: No Better Time than the Present

Volunteering for public service is a form of investing in our community’s future. And, like financial investing, the best time to start is now. A lot of people think things will slow down providing time to get involved when their children are a little older, but I’m not banking on that. Plus, having children who will grow up here provides a very real incentive to get involved in shaping Hopkinton’s future. One convenience of volunteering while your children are still young is that meetings take place after their bedtime, enabling an uneventful departure that causes minimal disruption to the family routine. I’m usually reading bedtime stories right up until about 7:20 on Planning Board meeting nights.

Job Requirement: Self Control and Acknowledging Differences Respectfully

A lot of people don’t get involved because they “don’t like politics.” In fact, interestingly enough, most people I’ve met volunteering on these boards in town say that they too don’t like politics even though we’re all deeply involved in it! The fact is, when dealing with other people on emotional issues of what’s best for our community, there are bound to be differing viewpoints that lead to conflicts and misperceptions that can feel personal. One thing I’ve learned is that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. But also, an ability to acknowledge differences respectfully and move on pragmatically to constructive engagement goes a long way.

Time Commitments: Balancing Priorities is Key

Most people feel pretty busy already, but somehow find time for things that matter. Most town boards and committees meet either once or twice a month. Meetings generally run between ninety minutes and four hours depending on the committee and agenda for the meeting. And there can be reading material in between meetings if you want to be most effective. I don’t watch much TV, so I guess that gives me back several hours a week otherwise lost. And having a supportive spouse helps. Still, for me, like most, family comes first. So, balancing priorities is critical. Family, work, travel schedules, and other personal commitments become natural balancing factors that force prioritization and the setting of personal limits to keep things in balance.

Not Ready? Other Ways to Get Involved

For those who want to get their feet wet first before stepping into town government, or just want to help in other ways, there are many other ways to get involved. Whether it’s the Library, the Cultural Arts Alliance, the Historical Society, a booster club for the schools, signing up as a writer for a local news outlet, taking a Saturday morning hike with the Trails Club, joining a running group, or volunteering at a local charity; each of these activities offers a chance to meet new people and gain new perspectives on our community. If you introduce yourself to any of these groups you will find people eager to accept your involvement, and the payback in personal satisfaction will be instantaneous.

Ready? Take the Next Step

There are currently openings on several boards and committees, which will be filled through appointments by the Board of Selectmen. If you’re ready to get involved, the first step is to send a note expressing your interest to the Board of Selectmen through the Town Manager’s office in Town Hall. Vacancies currently exist on Planning Board, Appropriations Committee, Cable Committee, Tax Relief Committee, Marathon Fund Committee, and the Veteran’s Celebration Committee. To stay tuned with openings throughout the year, check the town web site at: http://www.hopkinton.org/gov/volunteers.htm.

Joe Markey serves on the Planning Board.

Monday, January 26, 2009

January 26, 2009 - Planning Board meeting agenda

Location: Fire Station Meeting Room
  • 8:00 Continued Public Hearings: Next Generation Children’s Center
  • 8:30 225 Wood St. – Minor Project Site Plan Review – 20th Century Homes

Proposed shed roof over handicapped walkway

  • 8:45 Cedar St. – Proposed Zoning Change – Capital Group Properties

Other Business

  • Minutes (1/12/09)
  • Bills

Next Meeting: February 9, 2009


Thursday, January 8, 2009

Agenda for Monday January 12 Planning Board Meeting

  • 7:30 Approval Not Required Plan – 5 Deneen Rd. – Fowler & Liang, 30 North Mill St. – Nealon – Discussion
  • 7:45 Continued Public Hearing – 11 Meserve St. – Site Plan Review, Request for continuance to February 23, 2009
  • 8:00 Continued Public Hearing – Master Plan Special Permit Application – East Main St., Clinton St., Frankland Rd., Wilson St. – Legacy Farms, LLC, Proposed development of 733 acres for residential, commercial and restricted land uses – Topic: Traffic/Transportation
Other Business
  • 2009 Planning Board Town Meeting Articles
  • Invitation for Bids – Engineering Review Services
  • Bills
  • Minutes (12/15/08)

Next Meeting: January 26, 2009

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Pleasanton, California (my other town)

I have been busy, with work and busy enjoying family activities over the holidays. This week I'm kicking off the year with a week in Pleasanton, California, where I travel for work periodically.

Next Monday, the Hopkinton Planning Board begins public hearings on the Master Plan Special Permit for the Legacy Farms development. So, I'll have more things to report about Hopkinton then.

In the meantime, enjoy this piece on Pleasanton, California, which I came across today, "Well- Planned Pleasanton now a Sought After City." Some of the metaphors are a little corny, but it is an informative profile otherwise.