Town of Edgartown, MA

The Master Planning Process

As consultant to the Town of Edgartown, Dover Kohl and Partners has proposed a draft approach to considering ideas, opinions, data and existing conditions in order to update the Edgartown Comprehensive Master Plan, and to facilitate its implementation.  This proposal is subject to change as the consultant refines the Master Plan agenda and timeline with the Town.

PHASE 1: ANALYSIS

Phase 1 will include the compilation and review of all relevant information, including previous studies, for the Project Team to further their understanding of the context, trends, and related information applicable to the area in relation to the larger community. This phase will include meetings between the Project Team, and the Edgartown Planning Board to coordinate with key stakeholders. During this phase, public engagement and outreach occurs that will build interest in the plan.

1.1 PROJECT KICKOFF (VIA WEBEX)

The project will begin with a kick-off meeting between the Town, and DK&P team to review base information needs, identify key stakeholders, strategize on the Public Design Charrette {Phase 2), and develop a detailed schedule for the community engagement process and creation of the Plan.

1.2 PROJECT OUTREACH AND PARTICIPATION PLAN

Working with the Town of Edgartown, a public outreach and participation plan will be created to provide the framework for the integration of the public into this planning effort building upon our previous experience in Massachusetts. Our team will work with the Town to create a list of key individuals, local leaders, community organizations, and stakeholders to include throughout the planning process, and to determine a strategy for the distribution of public awareness materials.

Throughout the Analysis phase and the Public Design Charrette, the Project Team will employ various techniques for information gathering. Focus groups, individual interviews, meetings with community groups, and events at places where people already go and feel comfortable are methods that have proven valuable on similar projects. An interactive website will be created to provide an additional means of communication. The Public Design Charrette will be the centerpiece of the public outreach and participation strategy.

1.3 PAST AND PRESENT PLANNING ACTIVITIES REVIEW

The Town of Edgartown had a master plan adopted in 1990 that guided commercial development, along with a Harbor Plan adopted in 1997. These plans, along with existing development regulations, growth policies, and other policy and development regulations, will be reviewed and assessed, and using these documents as a guide to inform the plan creation process. The current and planned transportation network will also be taken into account.

1.4 CREATE BASE MAPS

The team will prepare base maps and exhibits for use during the Design Charrette; this will include existing conditions maps and aerial photos of the site, photo boards of key existing conditions, and precedent imagery boards that can be used during hands-on design exercises.

1.5 EXISTING CONDITIONS AND CURRENT TRENDS ANALYSIS

The Project Team will conduct an existing conditions and current trends analysis to gain a firm understanding of the context, trends, and related information applicable to the Town of Edgartown Area and its relation to the larger community. A Geographic Information Systems (GIS) suitability analysis will be performed to inform the development of the Comprehensive Master Plan. This analysis may take into consideration floodplains, prime agriculture lands, distance to existing infrastructure and services, proximity to the airport, and other factors deemed important or that may arise during the initial conversations. The results of Phase 1.5 will be summarized and incorporated into the Comprehensive Master Plan.

1.6 IDENTIFICATION OF STUDY AREAS FOR LAND USE AND CIRCULATION

Working with Town staff, the Project Team will determine areas of focus for land use and circulation based on the results of Phase 1.5. These study areas will be finalized based on stakeholder input. A physical capacity analysis will also be considered when looking at potential land uses. Market potential is another contributing factor in land use and an analysis will be conducted to gain a better understanding of the demand.

PHASE 2: VISIONING

The Visioning phase is centered around a robust Public Design Charrette held on-site in the Town of Edgartown. DK&P recommends a 4-day design charrette for this phase, but can accommodate other methods, including a series of workshops.

During this phase, the DK&P team will work in tandem with the Town of Edgartown to lead a series of public meetings, design sessions, interviews, and technical meetings to engage the community. This intense, comprehensive method of public engagement will allow stakeholders to come together and form consensus over the future development of the Focus Area. The design workshop and the opportunity to interact with differing perspectives allows issues to be quickly identified and resolved.

2.1 PUBLIC DESIGN CHARRETTE

On a mutually agreeable date, the DK&P team will travel to the Town of Edgartown to conduct the multi-day work session with the community. The following outlines the components likely to be included in the Public Design Charrette.

2.1.1 Kick-off and Hands-on Design Session

On the first evening of the design charrette, the DK&P team will lead a community involvement session, allowing community members to come together to discuss and work with each other and with members of the DK&P team to draw and describe their ideas for the future.

The event will begin with a "food for thought" presentation to educate participants on best practices in Smart Growth, sustainability, preservation, livable transportation, local agriculture, and traditional urban design.

Following the presentation, the team will work with the community to identify their vision for the Town of Edgartown, confirming goals from previous planning efforts, and balancing long-term community values with short-term physical goals. The goal of the session is to forge a community consensus and develop a long and short-range vision for the future of the Town of Edgartown.

2.1.2 On-Site Design Studio

Following the Hands-on Design Session, the planning team will set-up an On-Site Design Studio, preferably in a visible and central location, for the duration of the Charrette. The team will work on-site in order to refine the Vision and continue to gather input for the development of the Master Plan. The community will be encouraged to stop by the design studio to share their insight on new issues and to check in on the Plan's progress, which allows the planning team to gain immediate feedback and efficiently evolve the Vision.

At this time, team members will integrate the information gathered during the Analysis phase with the input gained during the Hands-on Design Session to create an updated Conceptual Illustrative Master Plan, a draft Land Use and Circulation Plan. Illustrations will explain how the Edgartown Area can develop over time to fit with residents' values, policies, and vision. The proposed multi-day charrette approach facilitates multiple feedback loops and allows the team to create and define major elements of the vision on-site in a collaborative environment with the County, Town, stakeholders, and the community.

2.1.3 Work-in-Progress Presentation

At the conclusion of the Public Design Charrette, the planning team will present the work generated to date at an evening "Work-in-Progress" Presentation. At this presentation, the team will present the ideas gathered from the community throughout the week and demonstrate how these ideas were incorporated into a draft plan. The draft Conceptual Illustrative Plan, renderings, Land Use and Circulation Plan, Market Feasibility Study and other visualizations will be presented.

The Work-in-Progress Presentation is not the end of the process, rather it is an opportunity to solicit feedback on the work that has been produced. Feedback gathered at this session will help to refine the concepts.

The following tasks will be developed during the on-site Design Studio.

Technical and Stakeholder Meetings

While working on-site, the DK&P team will work closely with the County, City, and key stakeholders to ensure the feasibility of the plan. The team will lead meetings with government agencies and experts to gain technical feedback on important issues. Additional meetings will be held with key stakeholders such as civic leaders, property owners, developers, and neighborhood groups.

Conceptual Illustrative Master Plan

During the Public Design Charrette, DK&P will create a Conceptual Illustrative Master Plan for the Edgartown Area. A direction for the development of the Master Plan will be determined and will depict locations of, for example, blocks and streets, land uses, development intensities, significant buildings, public spaces, stormwater retention, natural areas, local agriculture, and a variety of building types for a mix of incomes. This will also be the opportunity to establish priority areas for phasing the development over time.

Renderings

Words alone fall short of describing the experience of being in a place. People need to see what their ideas really mean when pen is put to paper in order to understand the options and opportunities that exist in their community. During the Public Design Charrette, DK&P will create a series of renderings that demonstrate potential character along with growth and conservation concepts addressed throughout the week.

The Conceptual Illustrative Master Plan and Renderings will be used as tools to present Smart Growth best practices in areas including land use, affordable housing, multi modal transportation, recreation, urban agriculture, open space, public works, green infrastructure, and community character.

Land Use & Circulation Analysis

Circulation Plan

During the Public Design Charrette, Howard Stein Hudson (HSH) will focus on the analysis of the circulation and transportation networks in relation to the proposed land use plan. A draft of the Land Use & Circulation Plan will be developed in coordination with the street and block structure of the Conceptual Illustrative Master Plan. The Circulation Plan will illustrate a framework for transportation alternatives, maximizing access, connectivity, and mobility, while reducing dependency on the automobile. This will include pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and vehicular networks as well as street and facility types. This framework will be coordinated with the area's current and planned transportation networks.

Land Use Plan

The proposed land use and intensities will be mapped and a preliminary sketch yield analysis performed to approximate the quantities of residential units and non-residential square footage accommodated in the plan. This analysis will support the evaluation of the current network's ability to support existing and future land use patterns, modeling, and recommendations for transportation improvements.

Plan Diagrams

Diagrams will be generated illustrating important plan ideas or concepts such as open space and park networks, public buildings and public spaces, building types, block size, local agricultural elements, conceptual stormwater management, place types, and multi modal transportation networks. How the plan integrates with surrounding existing neighborhoods, Downtown, and the larger Edgartown Area will also be explored. These diagrams will be incorporated as part of the Land Use and Circulation Plan.

2.2 MARKET FEASIBILITY STUDY

During the charrette the team and sub-consultants will be conducting the market feasibility study. This work will inform decisions made about land use, traffic improvements, investments and redevelopment feasibility. At the end of the charrette the data gathered in the study will be presented to the public. The study will continue to be updated and refined after the week is over.

2.2.1 Traffic Impact Study

An updated sketch yield analysis will be performed to revise the quantities of residential units and commercial square footage current in the area. An analysis will then be done on the current network's ability to support existing and future land use patterns, identifying recommendations for improvements. This analysis will include travel demand model inputs, such as growth allocations (housing and employment), future street grid network, and facility types, can also be developed. This study will also provide information on how to create a safer environment for bikes and pedestrians.

2.2.2 Market Potential Assessment

The team will assess the current market conditions including rent, sales prices, and demand. Areas for improvement will be identified to guide future land use changes proposed in the Comprehensive Master plan. Based on current conditions the team can predict future trends and create land use suggestions.

PHASE 3: REFINE THE PLAN

The compact, high energy format of the Public Design Charrette is designed to make major advances towards the creation of the plan; however, our team understands that the refinement of the plan will continue after the charrette. The DK&P team will further detail the Illustrative Master Plan, the Land Use and Circulation Plan, and the Comprehensive Master Plan.

3.1 REFINE THE ILLUSTRATIVE MASTER PLAN & RENDERINGS

This updated version will be prepared and rendered in color showing developed areas, place types, public spaces, streets, stormwater areas, preservation and agricultural areas, and various other features of the project at a suitable scale. The Illustrative Plan will serve as a tool to illustrate the future development of the overall site. The plan will depict development intensity and the appropriate mix of uses and building types arrayed on an interconnected network of streets and blocks. The DK&P team will also refine the Renderings created during the Charrette.

3.2 FISCAL ANALYSIS

A fiscal analysis of the Master Plan will be performed to project the cost and effect of planned growth on the Town's infrastructure, level of service, facilities, and revenues. The analysis will inform the Master Plan so it creates a tax base that supports the cost of infrastructure and services necessary to serve the development.

3.3 POLICY DEVELOPMENT

The DK&P team will develop a set of goals and objectives the city can follow during the revitalization effort. In order to accomplish the vision created during the charrette specific goals will need to be met. The cities current policies will be reviewed on their impact on the area and the overall vision for the space. Suggestions on potential changes or new policies will be given to ensure the collective vision for the area can be realized in the revitalization plan.

3.4 ANALYSIS OF CIRCULATION & TRANSPORTATION NETWORK

An updated sketch yield analysis will be performed to revise the quantities of residential units and non-residential square footage accommodated in the refined plan. An analysis will then be done on the current network's ability to support existing and future land use patterns, identifying recommendations for improvements. This analysis can make use of the MPO's travel demand model to study the effects of future growth and transportation network improvements. Travel demand model inputs, such as growth allocations (housing and employment), future street grid network, and facility types, can also be developed.

PHASE 4: PLAN FINALIZATION AND PRESENTATIONS

4.1 DRAFT OF THE MASTER PLAN

The DK&P team will submit the draft Comprehensive Master Plan for the town to review. The town and other stakeholder groups will have adequate time to review and submit comments to the planning team.

4.2 FINALIZE MASTER PLAN

DK&P will provide one round of rev1s1ons to work products developed following the receipt of consolidated comments from the Town of Edgartown.

4.3 PRESENTATION OF THE MASTER PLAN

Once reviewed and revised, the team will submit the Comprehensive Master Plan to the Town of Edgartown. The presentations will include an overview of the creation of the Plan as well as a detailed explanation of the Plan and zoning.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

The Dover-Kohl team has offered to provide further assistance with implementation of ideas related to the Master Plan. Based on their experience in previous similar projects, some on-going assistance that they have suggested may be helpful could include:

• Additional meetings and presentations.
• Reviewing development plans for consistency with the ideas developed from the public engagement process.
• Providing additional revisions to the plan or illustrations.
• Strategize funding, outreach, and pilot opportunities for project implementation.

 You can read the entire Dover Kohl proposal here.