By Andrew Strecker, Contributing Reporter
Westborough – Embarking on a year-long planning process to update its long-term, town-wide master plan, almost 200 people showed up at Westborough High School on Feb. 29 to provide their visions for the town.
At the public meeting put together by the town to bring residents, businesses owners, town officials and others together, breakout groups spent the morning helping to shape ideas and recommendations with their views for Westborough in a first phase called “Westborough Reflects.”
Lester Hensley, the Westborough Master Plan Advisory Committee chair and Westborough resident, provided attendees with a summary of existing conditions in Westborough and then asked participants to envision the town in 10 to 15 years. “We’re not really making any decisions today,” he said.
Nine core topics were covered in breakout sessions: land use; housing; economic development; natural, cultural and historic resources; open space and recreation; public facilities and services; transportation; sustainability and climate change; and public health.
Westborough resident Alyce Luippold spoke out at her table’s breakout session regarding public facilities and services.
“I wish the senior center would get more vocal in town,” she said. “They do great work.”
Amber Bock, Westborough’s public schools superintendent, also a resident and participating at Luippold’s table, agreed, and said, “I think all of the town’s services are very strong and there’s not a need of improvement, but maintaining.”
Housing affordability, making the town’s resources better known, and a greater level of connectivity and walkability in the center and throughout the town were just a few of the primary visions voiced at the conclusion of the meeting.
At the Westborough Economic Development Committee meeting held March 3, Hensley provided more feedback to the members.
He was encouraged by the turnout, he said, with Town Manager Kristi Williams agreed, noting that “it was good to hear from members of the public.”
Selectman Shelby Marshall added that while she thought the meeting was good as well, it did not appear as if “the demographics of Westborough were really fully represented.”
Hensley thanked her for that input and asked that the members help with the outreach for future meetings.
The Master Plan’s goal, he said, was to “provide a clear, definable view for the future…we are talking about 2040.”
There were three main thematic areas to be addressed, he said. Westborough Reflects – what do residents love about the town; Westborough Explores –brainstorm big ideas; and Westborough Commits – take ideas, objectives and goals and put them in a document for a reference plan.
Hensley urged members to help spread the word that anyone can take the survey at https://westboroughmasterplan.com to offer their input. The survey closes on Tuesday, March 31. More information and details on future dates may be found on the website as well.
