southborough master plan visioning survey...appropriately managed development to sustain public...

Southborough Master Plan Visioning Survey

Southborough Master Plan Visioning

The Town of Southborough is anticipating an update to the Town's comprehensive Master Plan,

that will be the foundation for policy, project and budget decisions over the coming years.

To help inform the Town’s Master Plan, the Master Plan Committee is asking residents and

other stakeholders to help shape a COMMUNITY VISION (a statement describing the "desired

future for the town"). This survey is designed to be both a learning and listening experience.

To start, tell us what you personally think are Southborough's greatest assets, challenges and

opportunities. Next the survey offers some basic demographic data and trends – tell us what

surprises, concerns, or inspires you. And finally, please draft your personal vision statement in a

sentence or paragraph, phrase or list – it only need express your desire for Southborough in

the future. Your participation in this planning effort is critical to its success and to bringing about

the community you envision.

All questions are optional. You can only submit the survey once, but your answers are saved

until you hit “submit” at the end, so you do not have to complete it in one sitting. It is likely to

take 5 to 15 minutes to complete.

Thank you,

The Southborough Master Plan Committee

End of Block: Default Question Block

Start of Block: Block 2

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1. Which of these community values are most important to you? Choose up to 4.

▢ Approachable and fiscally responsible local government

▢ Inclusive and welcoming community for people of all ages and walks of life

▢ Rich variety of civic and cultural programs, events, and facilities

▢ Ability to get around using different modes of transportation (walkable/bikable community)

▢ Strong local economy with a variety of commercial activity

▢ Environmental sustainability and climate change resiliency

▢ Focus on preserving and celebrating town heritage

▢ Active community participation, communication, and spirit of volunteerism

▢ Preserving open space and natural resources, including water resources and conservation areas

▢ Maintaining recreational facilities including parks, playgrounds and playing fields

▢ Maintaining a quality school system

▢ Appropriately managed development to sustain public services, facilities, and infrastructure

▢ Improving/maintaining public infrastructure (water, sewer, stormwater, roads and sidewalks)

▢ Other/comments: ________________________________________________

1. Greatest Assets: What do you like most about Southborough?

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Choose from below or enter your own:

o Town Hall

o Library

o Public Safety Building

o Public school system

o Private school system

oRecreational amenities

oHousing choices

o Existing businesses (type, quality, size of businesses, etc.)

oCost of living (taxes, transportation & housing costs, etc.)

o Physical character (architecture, landscape, etc.)

oCommunity spirit and identiy

o Safety

oNatural resources and conservation areas

o Transportation connections

oCultural heritage and historic resources

oOther/comments: ________________________________________________

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________________________________________________________________

3. Greatest Challenges: What do you think is missing, or the cause of greatest concern, in

Southborough? Choose from below or enter your own:

o Town Hall

o Library

o Public Safety Building

o Public school system

o Private school system

oRecreational amenities

oHousing choices

o Existing businesses (type, quality, size of businesses, etc.)

oCost of living (taxes, transportation & housing costs, etc.)

o Physical character (architecture, landscape, etc.)

oCommunity spirit and identiy

o Safety

oNatural resources and conservation areas

o Transportation connections

oCultural heritage and historic resources

oOther/comments: ________________________________________________

4. Greatest Opportunities: What would most improve your quality of life in Southborough? This

can be a few sentences, a bulleted list, or whatever you feel is best.

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________________________________________________________________

5. Other comments:

End of Block: Block 2


of 22

Please review the following demographic data and recent trends about Southborough. Tell us

what surprised and/or concerned you.

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at a glance

Population Trends

6,193 6,628 5,798

9,767 10,02 1 10,000

8,781

10,683

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2017 2020 2030

$Qurce: VSCen.s(.IS 1970•2010; ACS 20J 7 5-yeor tstimQtf's; MAPC Strongt"r Regions PtojecDQ/ls

Population by Age

DEMOGRAPHI

Southborough's population grew by more

30% between 1990 and 2010, tota ling~

residents at the time of the 201 0 Cens

The population has increased slightly ove

past seven years, with an estimated popu

of 10,021 in 2017. Further populatio

projections anticipate a modest upward t

over the coming decade.

The median age of Southborough's population is

higher than that of Worcester County and the state.

Southborough

42.5

Worcester

County

40. 1

Massachusetts

39.5

In 2017, about 13% of town residents were age 65

or older. Pro jections indicate the senior population will

increase to approximately 28% in 2030.

Sowus: ACS 2017 S•Yf0"1 &timote-s; MAPC s,rom;tr ~gior,s Projtctkm,

Education & Income

67% of Southborough residents 25 years and olde

have completed at least a bachelor's degree, com~ tn ,d()O/,. ,-.,f M ti. r .. <i~ .. nt< nn~ ~ <;¾ ,-.,f W,-.,,,.,.<t,.r r r

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________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

What about this data surprised you?

What are your concerns about this data, if any?

Other comments:


Start of Block: Housing

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Please review the following data about housing in Southborough. Tell us what surprised and/or

concerned you.

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·

_

at a glance

Housing Types

• n 91.6% 1.9% 3.9% 0.6% 1.5% S;ngle- 2-fomUy 3 or 4 5 to 9 10 Or' more family units units units

$QUtCe: ACS ZOJ 7 S•Y"Qf Estimom

Household Trends

Between 2010 and 2017, the number of

family households in Southborough decreased

slight ly, while the number of one-person

households increased by almost 30%.

-2.44% + 28.99%

Mt t Sowus: 2010US Ct nil/$, ACS 1017 ~r Estimott$, MAPC Stror,ger RtgiOM Pfojtt.tiolls

Home Values & Housing Cost Medla.n I· Family Unit Sa.le:s Pnce, 2008 • 2018

$700,000

$600,000

A A

1990

Q) ,._ :, C

~ Cl) C ·;;; :, 0

I

HOUSING

, .. 11.So/o Renter

occupied

88.So/o Owner-

occupied

3,332

Of the 3,558 ho units in Soutboro more than 90% single-family hor

compared to 62 Worcester Coun1

units.

The large majori

89%, of Soutbo,

occupied housin~ ore owner occur:

4

The number of total households ;n Southborc pro jected to ;ncrease by roughly 35% by 21

2000 2010 2017 2020

In six of the post ten years, residentia l condominiu

hove hod a higher median soles price than single

homes. Most condominiums In Southborough are pc nn,:, rP~trirt11>rl ( .c;,.c;+ v,:.nrc:l rnmm11niti11>c: h11ilt in rPr

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________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________



Other comments:

End of Block: Housing

Start of Block: Economic Development

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Please review the following data about the economy and local government in Southborough.

Tell us what surprised and/or concerned you.

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at a glance

The Labor Force

,~'-«Jonol, lt(llnl(ol,N_I......,. ---------240/o Wrio«,llonol, M(lhl, (O!O, ..... ...,.;<♦• --------22°/o

Mn1111(n(llloln9 ----• 1 Jo/o ~~ ............ (.__, __ ----110.4

'""'-""" - 4¾ Mooto,ol•-,. - 3%

a.., - 3%

P.,t,,k ... mini,lfoflo,. - 3%

' '""''"""""'" · _ .. ho,oin1 , ..aillo, - 2o/o

Source: ACS ZOJ 7 S•Y"Qr £st.imam; ACS 2009•2013Commutino Flews; MA EOtWO W l9

Business & Industry There o re 459 businesses in Southborough, which

collectively employ approximately 8,300 people.

The la rgest employers in town o re Harvard Medical School, St. Mark's School, and Virtuso Corp, each of

which employ between 1 00 and 249 individuals. . A. 111 • 111 :.

Socm::e: MA Em.obymt'llt ofld IM1ge-s Report (ES-202); MA EOUVD 2019

: Town Revenue & Expenditures

Revenue (FYl 9)

Property tax levy 76%

ECONOMIC DEVELOPME~

There ore 5,061 Southborough residents in the lo

force, the ma jority of which ore employed in high high-wage professions.

From January to September 201 9, the overage

monthly unemployment rote in Southborough was 2. 1 5% , compared to 3.03% for Massachusetts.

2,068

Id"'<.._..~

82% of residents in 1

labor force work outs

of Southborough.

Top five industries in

Southborough with th1

most employees: 1,106

827

I 706

I 5

I holOHlo.,_,.....i - Monoe-•••

,_ ,~:w~ C:011'1~'"" • ...... , .... ,..._

Expenses (FYl 9)

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Other comments:

End of Block: Economic Development

Start of Block: Transportation

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Please review the following data about the transportation and connectivity in Southborough. Tell

us what surprised and/or concerned you.

of 22

1

at a glance

Commute to Work

TRANSPORTATJ

The lorge ma jority o f Southborough residents d rive to wo

o looe. About 9% work frOC"l'I home and 5% carpool to w o1

81 % On o typical weekday 1,051 inbound doily r iders board

MBTA Commuter Ro il at Southborough Sta tion. This makes Soutborough Station the 18th busiest station within the enti

Commute r Ro il system.

Q Pvbfk lro11Sf)(lr101ic-'I I 3%

The mean travel time to work for Southborough residents ·

minutes, compared to 28.7 minutes for Worcester County workers.

I J% IO hofMON)•

Source: ACS ZOJ 7 S•Y"Qr £stimom; ACS 2009•2013Commutino Flews; M8TA R.id~ship Dlld Senti(:f Statistics U)J4

Getting around Town

On average, there are 2.25 vehicles

per Southborough household,

compared to 1.67 per a ll

Massachusetts households.

The ma jority of Southborough's 86

miles of road are comprised of loca l

roadways (54% ); 17% are minor

and major collectors which connect

the local roads to the arterial

network, a nd 24% are principa l

arteria ls, roadways which generally

connect cities and towns and a llow

for hi~her speeds. The remainin~ 5 %

fundio,,ol O u,ifitolio n

- Mojo, ,oeod • o fl.,ioll o~ eolle-e100

M'rlof moett 01 rood

Rcgionol Gtccnw.,~ - Re!)iOtl;a W.,!kil'IQ Tr3· E.xistw)Q - Local W.kio Trails

- Unde, Construction / In Design Roads

- E nviSiOtlec.t I Pl3nned of 22

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of 22

Please review the following data about the transportation and connectivity in Southborough. Tell

us what surprised and/or concerned you.

of 22

at a glance

RHll.lfn!\11

- Mio.ectOM - Con.Ytn,,oa - lnduslnll!

Opcin 'Sf»oa

-N)I(,,

- fnMMIOni&'IEXt&ml)( T&'l fum.it Olher

- UnknO'NI\

Land Use

SOuttt.: Mou GtS lcvc( 3 Auouors Dorolxuc; FY20

Zoning

f -' l<::

- ,."" "Y -; ....

..J f ' ' , l

LAND USE

Over a third of Southbor0<1gh's land is classif ied as tc exempt

Single family hoosing i$ the largest lond use type by c Sooth borough

Approximately 5% of land area in town is developot potentia lly developoble

rooettv -r-, ..... !Acres ~ Tolol esldentlol 436 S,nnle Fomll" 3481

Two in.roe Fornav ., Muhifomilv 4 Other Resideoriol 19< Voro,,e - O~loooble or Po1e11tiollv 4 7 Voe.on, • Unde"el.....,oble 6' orrvntKiol lh,d 11&triol 92 Co1m1~c!al/Rc:101J 31 Industrial 197 Yocom • ~vclaooble 39, Voc.<1,11 • Ut'l~vel....,,.oble '

ltlli.xed u" 9 x•mm JAi Pubfk 337~ Pfivo1c lmtitutionol 311

hooler 61 lond "' -.. 15 Rioh1-of-Wov1 73 Wo,e,

Uncoded

o1ol 9,93~

Southborough's Zoning Bylaw establishe

eight zoning districts, and three overlay

districts.

District Poree I, Areo (Acres) % of Tot,

Residenc. A 1,733 3,960 43.8 ConHrvafion 14 2,01 4 22.3 Residence B 1,790 1,991 22.0 lndustrMII Portt 37 601 6 .7' lnch,strial 5S 17S I.~ Re,eorch, Scien1ific, Professional 6 13S 1.5c

Bvsln♦H. Hlghwo:y 45 1.3c Busin•u Village 49 40 0.4'

Tl. - ' . . . ... L - . . r. I . • · L ., ~

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________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

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Other comments:

End of Block: Transportation


Do you support encouraging more non-residential growth as a means of expanding

Southborough's tax base?

o Yes

oNo

If you do support encouraging non-residential growth, where in town do you believe such growth

is appropriate? What kind of non-residential development would you like to see?

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Do you feel the Town needs to do more to better prepare for the impacts from climate change?

o Yes

oNo

If yes, what steps do you recommend?

Overall, are you satisfied with municipal services?

o Yes

oNo

If no, please provide additional information.



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What is your vision for Southborough in 10 years? This can be a few sentences, a bulleted list,

or whatever you feels is best. Within the statement, consider the following:

- What do you value most about Southborough, and what qualities should be reinforced?

-What should be preserved and protected - places, policies, activities, or other elements?

-What would you most like to see change in ten years - places, policies, activities, other?

In 2030, Southborough is...


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