Planning Board set to hear OSRD project update at its February 26, 2020 Meeting

At the February 26, 2020 Planning Board meeting, board members will hear an update on their technical assistance grant for preparation of an Open Space Residential Design (OSRD) bylaw. The $33,800 grant was awarded to Lynnfield in September, 2019. It also includes technical assistance to develop a tree preservation bylaw. Lynnfield’s grant is part of a Massachusetts state-wide program which encourages municipalities to implement land use regulations consistent with land conservation and development objectives.

Open Space Residential Design is a planning design that maximizes the amount of open space preserved in subdivisions without reducing the number of homes built while providing homebuyers with a desirable neighborhood. This update is the opportunity to share proposed OSRD options with the community and to further board discussion of a draft bylaw.

The Planning Board seeks to implement the vision of the Lynnfield Master Plan; “Lynnfield will be a community that will provide appropriate and attractive housing and activities for all of its residents… Any new development will respect the visual quality of the town’s architecture and open space…Development will be guided by principals as developed by the town’s residents and government officials and will be evaluated in terms of adherence to these master planning goals.”

Over the past 50 years, the landscape of Massachusetts has been transformed by new residential and commercial development. Eastern Massachusetts have undergone the most change, experiencing rapid growth driven by economic and demographic factors.

As new residents are drawn to the character and beauty of Lynnfield more homes and subdivisions are being built to accommodate them, and more open space is being lost. This development trend contributes to: loss of open space and community character, isolation from neighbors, increased municipal costs, habitat degradation, compromised water body quality, and other. Further, as the effects of climate change become increasingly evident across Massachusetts, the value of the state’s undeveloped land has become even more crucial in providing resilience in the face of growing environmental threats.