For an FAQ article that explains the Formula Business Restriction warrant articles, see this guest commentary from the Chair of the West Concord Task Force in the February 11, 2010 Concord Journal.
A variety of opinions are in the air about the proposed Formula Business Restriction (FBR) articles coming up at this April's Annual Town Meeting. We will be responding to one published on February 4, 2010 in the Concord Journal.
The WCTF had two overarching goals: to create a master plan for West Concord, and then to implement it. They are in the final stages of formalizing the former, and now they are working on the later; new zoning bylaws and/or amendments to current ones have always been tools in their toolbox.
This task force has been truly impressive. Typically there are one or two members of any committee who do the majority of the work. But in this case, the entire task force has consistently put in long hours of study, research, discussion, talking with residents, Town staff and consultants.
Mr. Howes is totally correct: the task force has been listening -- listening very closely to what many, many residents have said. Over nearly two years they've conducted many public meetings, hosted an in-depth public design workshop, and issued a public survey. They proposed and had passed the West Concord IPOD, educating the public so thoroughly that they had unanimous positive vote at last year's Town Meeting. The plans they are proposing are truly a reflection of the voice of the people.
The goal of the WCTF isn't to make "real temporary changes that have made some people feel better about what's happening" -- we don't recall "serving pabulum to calm the people" being mentioned in their charge. The task force exists to create real and lasting solutions in anticipation of the West Concord village's potential destruction through unfettered redevelopment.
The IPOD is only temporary: a total of two years , we're now half-way through that already with its expiration scheduled for Town Meeting 2011. It was put into place specifically so that more permanent methods could be studied, prepared and implemented. The proposed FBR is just the first step to more long-term regulation; there will be additional as yet unidentified zoning measures to follow.
Proposing initiatives like the FBR is the voice of the people writ large. Well done, West Concord Task Force!
A variety of opinions are in the air about the proposed Formula Business Restriction (FBR) articles coming up at this April's Annual Town Meeting. We will be responding to one published on February 4, 2010 in the Concord Journal.This publication's editor was a participant in the creation of the West Concord Task Force (WCTF). She took part in the formation of their purpose, composition and goals. As far as we are concerned, the credibility of the Task Force has been elevated even higher by their proposal of an FBR for West Concord.
Selectman Greg Howes, the board's liaison to the task force... said he worries the repercussions could hurt the credibility the [West Concord] task force has built up to date in their work aggregating and community viewpoints and pushing through the Interim Planning Overlay District [IPOD] currently protecting the West Concord Village.
"They've shepherded through some real temporary changes that have made some people feel better about what's happening," he said. "And now, all of a sudden, something like this could shake that credibility. ... They're working to respond to what they've been hearing in the community. I'm not sure this is the right tool, but I think their goals are still the right ones."
The WCTF had two overarching goals: to create a master plan for West Concord, and then to implement it. They are in the final stages of formalizing the former, and now they are working on the later; new zoning bylaws and/or amendments to current ones have always been tools in their toolbox.
This task force has been truly impressive. Typically there are one or two members of any committee who do the majority of the work. But in this case, the entire task force has consistently put in long hours of study, research, discussion, talking with residents, Town staff and consultants.
Mr. Howes is totally correct: the task force has been listening -- listening very closely to what many, many residents have said. Over nearly two years they've conducted many public meetings, hosted an in-depth public design workshop, and issued a public survey. They proposed and had passed the West Concord IPOD, educating the public so thoroughly that they had unanimous positive vote at last year's Town Meeting. The plans they are proposing are truly a reflection of the voice of the people. The goal of the WCTF isn't to make "real temporary changes that have made some people feel better about what's happening" -- we don't recall "serving pabulum to calm the people" being mentioned in their charge. The task force exists to create real and lasting solutions in anticipation of the West Concord village's potential destruction through unfettered redevelopment.
The IPOD is only temporary: a total of two years , we're now half-way through that already with its expiration scheduled for Town Meeting 2011. It was put into place specifically so that more permanent methods could be studied, prepared and implemented. The proposed FBR is just the first step to more long-term regulation; there will be additional as yet unidentified zoning measures to follow.
Proposing initiatives like the FBR is the voice of the people writ large. Well done, West Concord Task Force!
