The American Institute of Architects and New England Municipal Sustainability Network convened a Design & Resilience Team with Belchertown, MA to focus on the future of the town.

1. Three Villages & a Farm-Belchertown Beyond
Design & Resiliency Team: American Institute of Architects and
The New England Municipal Sustainability Network

2. Three Villages & a Farm- Belchertown Beyond
Design & Resiliency Team
Wayne Feiden, FAICP
Director of Planning and Sustainability, Northampton, MA
Leah Bamberger
Director of Sustainability, Providence
Michael Cavanaugh, AIA LEED AP
Vice president and sustainability leader, CannonDesign, Boston
Jon Ford, PE
Professional engineer, Horsley Witten Group, Providence
Ellen Morosoff Pemrick
Principal, E.M. Pemrick and Company
Erin Simmons (project staff)
Senior Director of Design Assistance, AIA, Washington DC
Dylan Zingg (report layout)
Garrison Gamble (graphics coordinator)

3. Community Voices
“Don’t want us become just
another bedroom at eat at
McDonalds.”
“Belchertown has lots of
amenities, but they are
spread out.”
“[We] grew without a lot of
forethought.”
“We need a hub.”
“…Development IF its good
development.”
“we tend to plan piecemeal”

4. What we heard

5. Planning

6. Implementation
• Foley Field
• Jessica’s Boundless Playground
• Route 202 design advancing
• State School planned demolition
• Christopher Heights assisted living

7. Vision
2013
2015
“piecemeal planning”
Pull it all together
Vision

8. Cultural Story

9. Connectivity
for whom?

10. Cultural Connections
• Stone House Museum
• Fair
• “Carriage Capital”
• Town Common
• State School
• Local arts and crafts
• Performing Arts Center
• Studio space
• Galleries
• Athletic fields &
playgrounds
• Trails
• Bike Path
• Indoor facilities
• NESFI
• Farmer’s Market
• Community Kitchen
• Farm-to-table / retail
• Agricultural Education
Center
Food Recreation
HistoryArts

11. Lampson Brook
Farm: RESTORE
•Cultivate
•Explore
•Learn
Town Center:
GATHER
•Market
•Sell
•Attract
State School:
CREATE
•Be inspired
•Connect
•Play
Distinct, yet
interconnected
villages

12. Food
Lampson Brook
Farm
• Provide food
for schools,
restaurants,
assisted living
facilities
• Anaerobic
Digestion /
Compost
State School
• Ag. Education
Center
• Light Food
Processing
• Community
Kitchen
• Food incubator
space
• Brewery/
Distillery
Town Center
• NESFI Store
• Farm-to-table
restaurants
• B&Bs

13. Lampson
Brook Farm
State
School
Town
Center

14. Recreation
Lampson
Brook Farm
• Nature trails
• Birding
State School
• Active
recreation
• Indoor
recreation
facility
Town Center
• Passive
recreation
• Bike path

15. Lampson
Brook Farm
State
School
Town
Center

16. Connecting to Regional Trails

17. Mass Central Trail

19. History
Lampson Brook
Farm
• Environmental
history
• Inception with
the State
School
State School
• Honor
historical
significance
• Preserve
buildings and
tell the site’s
story
Town Center
• Restore
historic value
of the Town
Common and
surrounding
buildings
• Draw in
visitors

20. Lampson
Brook Farm
State
School
Town
Center

21. A Story Worth Telling
• Part of Belchertown’s
history
• Raises awareness for the
developmentally-
disabled
• Demonstrates the
progress made in
understanding and
supporting these
populations
• Personal connections

22. Opportunity in Ruins

23. Art
Lampson
Brook Farm
• Drawing
• Painting
• Photography
State School
• Artist
live/work and
studio space
• Shared studio
spaces
Town Center
• Galleries
• Music
• Outdoor
movies

24. Lampson
Brook Farm
State
School
Town
Center

25. System Connectivity & Self-Sufficiency
Lampson
Brook Farm:
Production
State School:
Creation
Town Center:
Consumption

26. Nodes:
• The Common
• Four Corners
• The Farm
• State Street

27. The Common

28. Figure Ground Studies
Amherst, MA

29. Figure Ground Studies
S. Hadley, MA

30. Figure Ground Studies
W. Springfield, MA

31. Figure Ground Studies
Belchertown, MA

32. Defining Edges

33. Filling in the Gaps

34. TOWN CENTER Streetscape Principles

35. TOWN CENTER Streetscape Principles
• Buildings close to the street
• Critical mass, density, diversity of uses
• Windows & doors
• On-street parking
• Narrow, slow-speed streets
• Complete streets = balanced for all users
• Green infrastructure
• Street trees

36. STREET TREES

37. STREET TREES
• Reduced traffic speeds
• Safer walking environment
• Aesthetics, placemaking, & security
• Connection to nature
• Rain, sun, heat, & skin protection
• Reduced tailpipe emissions
• Emotional & psychological health
• Pollutant absorption & lower ozone
• Lower urban air temperatures
• Improved local economy
• Added value & tax base
• Longer pavement life
Adapted from Dan Burden

38. STREET TREES
HEALTH
HAPPINESS
VALUE

39. University of Arkansas

40. TOWN CENTER Parking Concepts

41. TOWN CENTER Parking Concepts
-60
+30
+30

42. TOWN CENTER
Park Street
Existing

43. TOWN CENTER
Park Street
Proposed

44. TOWN CENTER
Main Street
Existing

45. TOWN CENTER Main Street
Proposed

46. TOWN CENTER Main Street
Proposed

47. Four Corners

48. Four Corners

49. The Farm

50. The Farm

51. The Farm
Significant Features to preserve:
- Siloes – historical significance/re-use
- Main Barn – Educational hub
- Open Space / Agriculture
- View to Holyoke range and to State School Property

52. The Farm
Significant Features to preserve:
- Former Boiler Plant

53. The Farm
Significant Features to preserve:
- Former Boiler Plant
- Cold Springs Brewery and Restaurant

54. State Street

55. State Street

56. CORRIDOR CONNECTIVITY Vehicular Mobility
New State School
Connection
Adds a link to the
network to improve
mobility
Courthouse Bus
Extension
Turn-around at Rt. 21
Future State School stop
Under
evaluation
Under
evaluation
Future

57. Farm to
State Street
New path
connectivity
Nature trails
Lampson Brook
Improve sense
of arrival
ADA loop
around lake
Common to Bridge
5’ concrete sidewalks
both sides
Add street trees
Intersection
Improvements
Consolidate intersection
to eliminate ped.
crossing & add
crosswalk
Alternative path
Explore improvements
to existing path cut-
through to bypass
bridge
Intersection
Improvements
Tighten intersections &
add special crosswalks
Pedestrian Connectivity
Fill gaps to extend to
Courthouse, Playground
& Schools
Bridge
Widen sidewalk
State Street
New buffered shared
use path on north side
Courthouse
New buffered
shared use path
on south side
CORRIDOR CONNECTIVITY Ped/Bike Mobility
Under
evaluation
Under
evaluation
Future
Main St.
On-street lanes
Bike parking

58. CORRIDOR CONNECTIVITY Ped/Bike Mobility

59. State Street at Stadler/Front
• No traffic signal
• Faded Crosswalks
• Undefined corners
• Sidewalks close to
roadway

60. State Street at Stadler/Front
• Four-way Traffic
signal
• New Crosswalks
• Defined, protected
corners
• Sidewalks inboard
from roadway
• Some buildings
closer to street

61. GET STARTED Public Space
• Start building momentum – ALTA is coming
• Restriping for traffic calming & on-street parking
• Temporary parks coordinated with programming & public art

62. GET STARTED Green
• Neighborhood tree plantings
• Green infrastructure demonstration project
• Parking lot retrofits
• Municipal building retrofits
• Green roof bus stops
• Green improvements + gateways/wayfinding
• Pavement to parks

68. Northampton
State Hospital

69. Traverse City State Hospital

70. Foxborough State Hospital

71. Can include:
Agriculture & food systems
Small businesses
Responsible use of resources
Entrepreneurship - "home-grown" businesses
Socially
Responsible
Economically
Viable
Environmentally
Sound
A BALANCED APPROACH TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

72. Market Analysis Overview
 Existing retail primarily serves
local residents
 No “regional draw”
 Competing shopping venues and
higher traffic counts in nearby
communities
 Recent/anticipated population
growth not enough to support
large retail centers
 Retail leakage to nearby
communities, workplaces, online

73. The Town Common
 Historic and cultural
center
 Economic objectives
 Retain/support existing
businesses
 Address barriers
 Provide/enhance cultural
opportunities to restore
vitality
 Pursue compatible
business development
and recruitment (long-
term)

74. The Town Common
Cultural opportunities
 Arts activities & events at Clapp Memorial Library
 Live music at McCarthy’s Pub
 Stone House tours & events
 Performing Arts Center at United Church of Christ
 Town fair, farmers market
 Outdoor movie nights
 Potential amphitheater on the Common?

75. The Town Common
Compatible business opportunities
 B&B or small-scale lodging
 Arts space for kids
 Old-fashioned general store
 Specialty foods and farm products
 Restaurants and cafes
 Professional services

76. The Town Common
Co-working space
 Workspace for individuals
who work from home
 “A place to work, network,
learn, and socialize”
 Desks or tables and chairs
 Meeting space
 Copiers
 Wi-Fi access

77. Four Corners Area
 Highway-oriented retail &
service businesses
 Local/convenience goods and
services - e.g., grocery store,
pharmacy
 Economic objectives
 Retain/support existing businesses
 Fill vacancies in existing space
 Avoid shifting retail activity

78. State School Area
 Master Plan calls for mix of uses… assisted
living, independent living to be developed first
 Economic objectives
 Continue to meet local needs
 Enhance marketability of State School property
 Pursue compatible business development and
recruitment (long-term)

79. “Give people a reason to come”
Recreation as a potential
economic driver
 Develop/attract a multi-use
recreational facility to serve
residents and attract visitors
 Enhance/promote trail networks
 Consider drop-in location or rec
center for teens
State School Area

80. Public Sector
Botetourt Sports Complex,
Botetourt County, VA
Recreational “Destinations” Examples
Private Sector
Fore Kicks, Norfolk, MA

81.  Considerations
 Needs and interests of local users
 Programming & facilities should not compete with
existing resources
 Potential partnerships - location near schools a
plus
 Market analysis
 Sound business plan
 Financial feasibility
Recreational “Destinations”

82. Compatible business
opportunities
Small-scale food processing
Activities for kids
Food and beverage
Lodging options
Some retail (e.g., sporting
goods)
State School Area

83. The Four-Point Approach
ORGANIZE RESEARCH PLAN IMPLEMENT

84. Regulatory Actions
• Review subdivision and zoning regulations to better
support pedestrians and cyclists
– See resource: “Commentary on Updating Subdivision
Regulations in Massachusetts” – The Trustees of Reservation
• Review zoning regulations to protect agricultural land
– Currently allow residential single-unit dwellings in AG-A zone—
the town’s prime farmland.
• Petition state to transfer Lampson Brook Farm land to the
town or other mission-oriented organization
• Participate in MassDOT’s Complete Streets program to get
access to funding
• Continue application of Commercial Design Guidelines
• Include trails in open space plans to make them eligible for
funding

85. Subdivision Regulations: Sidewalks
• “Bituminous Cement concrete sidewalks shall
be constructed on one both sides of the
roadway when contiguous with other town
sidewalks or if required by the Planning Board.
The Planning Board may require sidewalks to
encourage pedestrian activity and provide
more security for pedestrians.”
• “Be a minimum of four five feet in width.”

86. Subdivision Regulations: Sidewalks
• Sidewalks should extend across driveways
– E.G. “Where driveway aprons cross cement concrete
sidewalks, aprons shall also be constructed with cement
concrete to create continuity with sidewalk areas.”
• Create mix use, commercial, and industrial subdivisions
sidewalk standards
Residential Yield Street Mixed Use Commercial
and Industrial
Sidewalk (cement concrete
only, including where it
crosses driveway)
5’ wide on one side. Both
sides required if traffic
counts > X per day
6’ wide on both sides
Crosswalks Raised to elevation of
sidewalk
Raised to elevation of
sidewalk

87. Subdivision Regulations: Street Trees
“Where, in the opinion of the Planning Board,
the existing trees to remain are not adequate,
provisions for two street trees per lot may be
required for each lot. Species, size and planting
procedures shall be approved, in writing, by the
Planning Board. Street trees shall be planted at
an average interval of 50 30 feet on both sides
of the street separating individual trees or at an
interval required by the Planning Board.”

88. Subdivision Regulations
Existing Proposed

89. Complete Streets
• Mass DOT Complete Streets Funding Program
– To be eligible for up to $50,000 in technical
assistance and up to $400,000 in construction
funding, a municipality must meet three primary
requirements:
• Attendance of a municipal employee at a Complete
Streets training
• Passage of a Complete Streets Policy
• Development of a Complete Streets Prioritization Plan
– Upon completion of these requirements,
municipality is eligible for construction funds

90. First 100 days?
•Install State St/Rte 202 wayfinding signs
•Advance Rte 202 design concepts w/Alta Design
•Design State St tactical urbanism w/Alta Design
•Adopt MassDOT complete streets policy
•Adopt walk-friendly subdivision regulations
•Draft walk-friendly zoning site plan standards
•Draft NESFI zoning district for only farming uses
•Request UMass Landscape Arch Town Commons Studio
•Second look at four state school buildings
•File legislation-transfer ownership Lampson Brook Farm

91. Thanks-residents and staff
Douglas Albertson; Stephen Williams; LeeAnn
Connolly; Judy Metcalf; Sarah Bankert; Caitlen
Marquis; Pat Berry; Bill Terry; Kurt Steven; Judy Gillan
Thanks-WMAIA & UMass graphics support
Garrison Gable (Graphics Coordinator); Dylan Zingg
(Report Layout); Gabrielle Bernier; Randy Crandon;
Michael Szczerepa; Michael Choudhary; Melody
Tapia, Daniel Fontaine, Amibca Chadha, Shuo LI,
Madison Burke

92. Three Villages & a Farm-Belchertown Beyond
• Vision
• Cultural Story
• Connectivity
Presentation and Final Report
www.DesignResiliency.org
www.aia.org/liv_sdat