Open Space Plan Forging Ahead
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Starting in late May, the Open Space Plan Update Committee has been undergoing a whirlwind of work in an effort to complete an updated Plan by the fall of 2007. Committee members were selected by the Town Manager in June, and provide a mixture of residents and board representatives which enhance the public perspective of the process and the Plan. Public participation is a requirement of all Open Space Plans that obtain approval from the State. Sudbury greatly values community participation in all our planning efforts.
Thus far, the Committee has held two meetings on June 13th and June 27th focusing the discussion upon the goals and objectives of the Plan, along with beginning to work on a survey to be unveiled in September. Along with those tasks, the Committee members have been revising individual sections of the old Open Space Plan in order to update them after ten years’ time has passed. An updated map will display the priority parcels identified in the Open Space Plan, along with other Town parcels that are already protected.
In addition to the map, a preliminary list of new parcels warranting protection is being developed. Many of these parcels have been deemed important to protect either through public input from past surveys and plans, or through consensus of the Open Space Plan Committee members. Each parcel will be identified in the Open Space Plan with its history and environmental, geographical, and geological features.
This website will keep the public aware of what we have been working on and what we are striving for over the next few months as the plan is developed. In order to keep public awareness high around this issue, we recently held a Photography Contest for residents to submit their favorite Heritage Landscapes. 46 photos were submitted, and 198 votes were received on the website. The winning photos are proudly displayed at the Goodnow Library through the summer.
Future meetings will be listed on the Committee website and these meetings are open to the public if you wish to attend. We value input from the citizens of Sudbury and are looking forward to completing the Open Space Plan and implementing their recommendations.