Weymouth rolling out Virtual Tour of Jackson Square to gather resident feedback
The Department of Planning and Community Development and the Town’s land use and planning consultant, Harriman & Associates, will be hosting a virtual tour of Jackson Square from July 31st – August 17th. The virtual tour will give residents the opportunity to provide feedback on the Square with a focus on open spaces, connectivity, zoning and development, and the use of public lots.
The virtual tour will take attendees on a walk through Jackson Square, stopping at iconic spots, such as Herring Run Brook and Lovell Field, as well as along the commercial and retail corridors. Each question will have a theme based on the goals of the study and ask those on the tour to rank preferences for the proposed improvements. The virtual tour includes visual renderings of the improvement strategies so virtual tourists can see examples of new development or streetscape improvements that could be allowed in the Square.
“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, projects to improve our village centers and the economic outlook for these areas have continued,” said Mayor Hedlund. “This survey is vital to improving Jackson Square, both from a development and an environmental standpoint, so we hope Weymouth residents can take time to attend this new virtual tour and provide needed feedback.”
To attend the tour, participants can visit the Department of Planning and Community Development’s page on the Town website to access the survey or use this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z7BW2YZ
Simply click the link, attend the tour, and provide your feedback to the Town.
“The Planning Department is excited to roll this survey out for public input. With the inability to meet in person, we believe Harriman’s innovative virtual tour approach to be the next best thing. Hopefully an in-person public meeting will be possible in the fall to discuss the findings,” said Principal Planner Eric Schneider.
About the Study
Weymouth received two grants to complete the Jackson Square Land Use Study through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Planning Grant Program and the Community Compact Economic Development best practice area. The grants totaled $75,000, which supports an analysis of opportunities in the Square including: a zoning bylaw review and rewrite, particularly to encourage transit-oriented development utilizing smart growth principles and address non-conforming or inappropriately zoned uses; and an environmental analysis of critical natural resources including the Herring Run and Back River Trail, to ensure future development protects and preserves these resources. Overall, this proposal would result in a strategic plan for Jackson Square that aligns with the goals of the various studies conducted in Weymouth.
The town engaged the services of Harriman & Associates in February of 2020 after conducting a request for proposals process. Harriman has experience completing similar land use plans in Amherst, Concord, Easthampton, Hingham, Stoughton and several others throughout New England. Harriman was selected for their strong community engagement skills and experience working in village centers, particularly with an environmental component such as the Herring Run. Despite the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Town and Harriman are on track to complete the study in October, which can be attributed to the use of innovative alternatives to in-person meetings such as the virtual tour.
For those interested in learning more about the study or for questions on the virtual tour, please contact the Department of Planning and Community Development at 781-340-5015 or https://www.weymouth.ma.us/planning-community-development