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4. Deep Dive: The Draft Strategies

Use the Summary tab to read about the Core Themes of the Comprehensive Plan and jump to those pages in the document.

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Stow Comprehensive Plan 2035 - Draft Strategies

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Vision Statement

By 2035...

Stow will be welcoming, inclusive, and known for its flourishing community gathering areas and villages, abundant local businesses, and widely accessible natural spaces. The town will continue to protect and promote its agriculture, biodiverse habitat, recreational opportunities, conservation areas, community events and festivals, and small-town feel. Stow will proactively transform housing and mobility options to ensure that they are affordable, livable, diverse, safe, healthy, and resilient, considering the challenges of climate change, the rising cost of living, and the shifting work environment.

Through proactive and inclusive planning, Stow will foster partnerships between residents, schools, business owners, landowners, developers, and town staff to encourage constructive conversations and participatory decision-making. Stow will ensure a fiscally responsible and equitable approach to regulations, infrastructure, and economic development that preserves its quaint New England village character and promotes a safe, resilient, and inclusive environment for all.

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Balancing Priorities

Balance the need for development with the preservation of open space, meeting infrastructure requirements, fostering incremental growth alongside sustainability, and harmonizing the local economy and agritourism with community needs.

Goal 1A: Focus new housing development to efficiently use land and public infrastructure while addressing community housing needs.

Goal 1B: Improve and expand municipal services and infrastructure in key areas to support housing, economic development, and environmental resiliency.

Goal 1C: Create a strong connection between the community and business development, both existing and future.

Goal 1D: Strengthen the local economy through agritourism while being mindful of its impact on residents.

The strategies aim to balance development and open space preservation by supporting diverse housing options in village centers, guiding infrastructure investments, encouraging sustainable and incremental growth, and strengthening the local economy.

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Fostering Inclusivity, Participation, & Opportunity

Build an inclusive and thriving intergenerational community where residents, businesses, Town officials, economic and environmental stakeholders work together to identify community needs, create economic development opportunities, and develop solutions that reflect the diverse perspectives of all members.

Goal 1A: Focus new housing development to efficiently use land and public infrastructure while addressing community housing needs.

Goal 1B: Improve and expand municipal services and infrastructure in key areas to support housing, economic development, and environmental resiliency.

Goal 1C: Create a strong connection between the community and business development, both existing and future.

Goal 1D: Strengthen the local economy through agritourism while being mindful of its impact on residents.

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Enhancing a Livable Community

Promote livability in Stow by fostering accessible, intergenerational community spaces and connections, ensuring affordability, and creating an environment where everyone can thrive and enjoy the diverse amenities that Stow has to offer.

Goal 3A: Ensure that all community members have access to diverse, accessible, and affordable housing options that support mixed-use and multi-generational living in well-connected areas to promote a sustainable and livable town.

Goal 3B: Improve public services to help people of all ages connect with each other and engage in cultural activities.

Goal 3C: Support local identity and history through the preservation of Indigenous presence past and present, historic structures, neighborhoods, open spaces, and farms.

Goal 3D: Prioritize inclusive input from a diversity of voices on local initiatives and projects that impact the community.

The strategies promote livability in Stow by advancing housing affordability, improving cultural and mobility access, preserving local history, and fostering inclusive, well-designed community spaces that support residents of all ages and backgrounds.

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Expanding Transportation Options

Support mobility by enhancing connectivity, encouraging more local and regional transportation options, creating safer streets for all users, and facilitating traffic.

Goal 4A: Improve physical connectivity within Stow and with neighboring communities to facilitate local and regional transportation connections.

Goal 4B: Actively support alternative modes of transportation, like local shuttles and regional buses, to connect residents and visitors to key destinations.

Goal 4C: Develop a safe and accessible transportation network of walking, rolling, and bicycling routes that connects residential areas, economic centers, schools, and open spaces for all users.

Goal 4D: Manage peak traffic and parking to minimize disruption to residents.

The strategies support mobility by enhancing pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, improving transit awareness and regional coordination, promoting street safety for all users, and addressing seasonal traffic challenges through proactive planning.

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Building Community Resilience

Strengthen the Stow community’s ability to withstand external and internal pressures, including development, public health crises, economic shocks, geopolitics, and the climate crisis.

Goal 5A: Integrate sustainability and natural resource preservation as key goals in all housing, economic, and transportation initiatives to ensure long-term resilience and stewardship.

Goal 5B: Preserve, protect, and enhance Stow’s open space and conservation land to maintain biodiversity, ecological and wildlife habitats, maintain and improve forest health, safeguard prime farmland, and boost resilience to heat and flooding.

Goal 5C: Ensure that public community spaces are flexible to serve a variety of needs and uses, ensuring that they remain valuable and functional in the face of changing community needs.

Goal 5D: Pursue public and private renovations and technological upgrades that enhance climate resilience, disaster preparedness, and reduce emissions for the entire community.

The strategies strengthen focus on aligning conservation and land use with sustainability goals, expanding accessible community spaces, advancing climate and energy preparedness, and supporting local food systems to better withstand a range of future challenges.=

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Comments

Commenting is closed for this document.

Rumel Mahmood Jun 15 2025 at 9:09PM on page 23

Suggestion

Can we add a clause that says, "not at the expense of displacing current residents"?

in reply to Rumel Mahmood's comment

Rumel Mahmood Jun 15 2025 at 9:07PM on page 17

But does it mean that no one can build a modern house, and only colonials?

Rumel Mahmood Jun 15 2025 at 9:04PM on page 17

These two seem reasonable.

Rumel Mahmood Jun 15 2025 at 9:03PM on page 16

Love it!

Rumel Mahmood Jun 15 2025 at 9:03PM on page 15

Excellent.

Rumel Mahmood Jun 15 2025 at 9:02PM on page 13

This is really cool.

Rumel Mahmood Jun 15 2025 at 9:02PM on page 13

Suggestion

This is great!

Rumel Mahmood Jun 15 2025 at 9:02PM on page 12

Suggestion

Displacement is likely to happen with the current site selection for the MBTA 3A law, because studies show upzoning's impact is higher prices and lower income residents and minorities having no choice but to move.

Rumel Mahmood Jun 15 2025 at 9:00PM on page 11

Suggestion

2C4 and CC5 are excellent!

Rumel Mahmood Jun 15 2025 at 8:59PM on page 10

Suggestion

These are great ideas!

Rumel Mahmood Jun 15 2025 at 8:58PM on page 10

Suggestion

This is a good goal. I think we should increase outreach to lower-income residents, minorities, and renters.

Rumel Mahmood Jun 15 2025 at 8:55PM on page 2

Suggestion

If the "community processess" refer to the comprehsenvie plan meetings-in-a-box (MIAB) and survey, I don't know if they were "successful," if by successful we mean inclusive.

I think we should have questions and revisit the information gathering process; it's possible that we can make some post-hoc adjustments to the survey, for instance, without having to re-do it, and be a little bit more ceratin about what it is the community really wants.

The biggest problem with the survey was that it was not a representative survey. When creating a comprehensive plan that is supposed to outline a vision for a whole town for 10 years, we should try our best to make that survey representative of the whole population. With a representative survey, you can actually say with a good amount of certainty that the sample point estimates represent the true population values. We can't do that with a survey that is not representative.

What was the sample frame for the survey? What was the probability of selection for each respondent? The inverse of this is the weight you should apply to each respondent when the survey is completed. There are numerous best practices for conducting a survey, and while you don't need to follow them all the time, for something like this it is necessary.

I think the survey instrument was good, it's administration is what I have concerns about: who got it; if various modes were used to increase response rates; and who responded.

I don't think it's represantive, and this is acknowledged, because minorities, lower-income indovoduals, and renters were much less likely to respond. We also saw that maybe 20% of the respondents were former or current Town of Stow committee members, highly unrepresentative. Did people who attend the MIABs also take the surveys, so they were primed to answer a certain way?

The MIABs themselves were not represenative. They don't have to be, since the work is more qualitiative, but they should still try to be. They won't be representaive if the attendees are friends of the hosts. But I'm sure that wasn't the case in all of them, especially the more well-attended MIABs. And reading through the narratives of the MIABs, it's possible that you reached "saturation," when there is enough diversity of opinion in qualitative interviewing where there isn't much more information you can obtain by holding more meetings or interviews.

I thnk because the representativeness is so skewed, we don't have a strong base to say what the town wants. For instance, while the survey currently suggests the town's main priority is preserving rural charm, I don't know if that would be the case if the respondents were closer to the Census estimates.

An interesting question was what attracted residents to Stow in the first place. The most common answer was affordability, not open spaces. I think affordability would be even higher as a response if the survey were representative. I find it odd that people who came to Stow for affordability would want to limit more affordable hosing here.

You might be able to "make" the survey more representative by adjusting to results to fit the Census distributions. I would also suggest a factor analysis of the survey results, once re-weighted, to explore the main dimensions of town preferences.

Rumel Mahmood Jun 15 2025 at 8:18PM on page 2

Suggestion

There are contradictory goals in the vision statement. On the one hand, we want to be "inclusive," "affordable," "diverse," and "equitable," but we also use words that are normally used to fight diversity and inclusiveness, such as "small-town feel" and "quaint New England village character." The emphasis on natural conservation is a traditional NIMBY argument. My suggestion is to be consistent, and not contradictory.

Kathy Jun 9 2025 at 4:58PM on page 3

Suggestion

I'd like to see us looking actively for a place to build a facility where senior Stow residents could transition from independent living to assisted living to nursing care, this is really something missing. And the waiting list at Newbury Court is huge.

in reply to Rick Lent's comment

Kathy Jun 9 2025 at 4:56PM on page 4

But could bring undesirable development

Charlie Jun 6 2025 at 8:57AM on page 15

Suggestion

We should include museums in this strategy, perhaps with a specific reference to Stow's own American Heritage Museum, which is a great local resource.

Tom Lam May 31 2025 at 9:12PM on page 12

Suggestion

Please keep in mind that increasing the housing stock means increasing fire, police, school and other town services. There may be unintended consequences driving the tax rate higher for additional services.

Tom Lam May 31 2025 at 9:09PM on page 17

Suggestion

As a registered architect, I whole-heartedly agree there should be design outlines for buildings in Stow. Buildings that fit into the surrounding context.

Tom Lam May 31 2025 at 9:05PM on page 7

Suggestion

Suggest this plan to include minimizing regulations and promoting financial and tax incentives to attract businesses to build a stronger tax base.

Tom Lam May 31 2025 at 8:59PM on page 12

As someone who is about to retire, I am interested to develop strategies that will limit tax burdens of fixed income residents. Were there specific discussions on limiting town expenditures in this Comprehensive Plan? The fear of unable to pay local taxes does not enhance a livable community.

Amelia May 30 2025 at 2:49PM on page 4

Suggestion

This seems necessary for further expansion of lower village as envisioned by the rejuvenation plan.

Matt Prigge May 30 2025 at 9:40AM on page 18

Suggestion

I concur - this would have been a really cool resource to receive when moving into town. I think anything the town can do to involve more people in its governance is great.

Sharon Brownfield May 21 2025 at 6:02PM on page 25

From a resilience point of view it is important that there will be a central local in case of bad weather or the electric goes out, etc. Following the Red Cross guidelines for a shelter and reactiving the MRC would be very helpful for us to be prepared.

Rick Lent May 21 2025 at 5:59PM on page 10

An innovative approach to public engagement was critical to the successful conduct of the Center School project.

Sharon Brownfield May 21 2025 at 5:59PM on page 24

A small group os us will be looking on working to develop a pollinator pathway in Stow. It would be helpful to involve the relevant town department and look to partnering with different groups to build and sustain the effort.

Sharon Brownfield May 21 2025 at 5:57PM on page 24

Definitely need to strategically plan how to develop golf courses when they change hands. The work on the North course was great.

Rick Lent May 21 2025 at 5:56PM on page 10

Look for wayd to creat one or more "third spaces" in town that let youth and adults gather after school or work...with refreshments...

Sharon Brownfield May 21 2025 at 5:54PM on page 18

Very important to create and distribute a welcoming packet for new residents. I missed have that when I came to Stow.

Sharon Brownfield May 21 2025 at 5:53PM on page 17

Support both strategies - volunteer clean up days and indigenous-led land audit.

Rick Lent May 21 2025 at 5:53PM on page 8

Great suggestion. Is the BOH able to support it?

Sharon Brownfield May 21 2025 at 5:52PM on page 16

Suggestion

Maps are being developed that highlight the historic elements. It is called the People's Map. It is big and colorful and enables people to take a walking tour of the area and learn about it's history. I have a copy of the one for Lawrence and can share it with Valerie. I know that one is being developed for Lowell. Also, Sudbury and acton have contracted someone to work with the historic society to create signs that can be posted a long historic trails. This could be tied into efforts that are already happening to highlight the first black golf course in Stow.

Rick Lent May 21 2025 at 5:51PM on page 7

Great idea...but don't we have one to some extent?

Sharon Brownfield May 21 2025 at 5:47PM on page 16

Suggestion

Stow TV is a great resource and should be continued. Keep it a municipal activity - no corporate spnsors.

Sharon Brownfield May 21 2025 at 5:45PM on page 14

Zoning is often a problem in enabling affordable housing. It is critical to evaluate options such as duplexes, conversion of one family homes, etc.

Sharon Brownfield May 21 2025 at 5:43PM on page 12

Agree on Tenant right to purchase.

Rick Lent May 21 2025 at 5:42PM on page 3

Give specific attention to creating homes/neighborhoods that can accommodate the elderly and put these within walking distance of shopping.

Sharon Brownfield May 21 2025 at 5:42PM on page 12

Suggestion

This is key. We need more affordable housing and the developmenet permitting process can be convoluted. Clear communications and simple process flow is important to make it viable for business and developers to work through the process.

Sharon Brownfield May 21 2025 at 5:40PM on page 10

Suggestion

This is really hard to get engagement of town residents. Families are tied up with work, family responsibilities. As illustrated by the difficulty of getting volunteers for town communities. We need some crative thinking about how to engage people. this is particularly difficult with the newspaer maybe disappearing.

Rick Lent May 21 2025 at 5:38PM on page 5

It seems that the standpipes and other points of water access are sometimes far removed from potential problems/fire areas. We need more infratructure to improve town safety i an era of increased fire risk due to global warming.

in reply to Deanna Neff's comment

Sharon Brownfield May 21 2025 at 5:37PM on page 10

Suggestion

As Deanne suggested there is a lot of opportunity to expand and reconfigure lower village. What is needed is vision an a willing investor maybe a group of investors or a network.

Rick Lent May 21 2025 at 5:36PM on page 4

Running water and sewer lines dow Great Rd and Rt62 could provide ways for businesses and neighborhoods to access water and sewer rather than having each home and business fend for itself (and manage potential PFAS problems)

Sharon Brownfield May 21 2025 at 5:35PM on page 20

Suggestion

Important to coordinate with MART and MBTA and Boston Regional. It needs to be a linked system.

Sharon Brownfield May 21 2025 at 5:34PM on page 20

Suggestion

This would be a good first step. As sustainable stow we have looked at transportation needs but don't have a complete picture. For example, how many people are using the ride services we currently have in town, i.e. COA van, etc.

Sharon Brownfield May 21 2025 at 5:31PM on page 19

Suggestion

I believe the complete street project should be completed. It facilitates walking safely which is critical fo families, children, seniors and general walkers.

Sharon Brownfield May 21 2025 at 5:29PM on page 19

Question

It is not clear that this strategy is a high priority.

Deanna Neff Apr 24 2025 at 7:57AM on page 10

Suggestion

Seems that there is a lot of opportunity for Stow community spaces and overall business revitalization in the Lower Village. Stow residents are likely spending much of their time and money elsewhere! I’m particularly disappointed with the lower village and the many eye sores such as the abandoned gas station and lack of progress and updates in over 10 years. I noticed this plan come together link , but then Covid hit which delayed progress.

My hope is that many of the ideas in that Lower Village plan for restaurants, patio spaces, and gathering places come to fruition and we somehow entice businesses that could thrive in Stow for a long time (i.e., golf-related stores, more Nans type eateries (Nan's annex?), a brewery, and farm style eateries and stores connected to the local farms etc.) to round out the lower village and give it lasting character. Stow's Lower Village area could look much improved if all of the commercial space was painted a creamy white and had porch front/outdoor and walkable areas (please look at West Acton Center which implemented quality updates recently and draws many). The Lower Village has incredible potential. Thank you for working on improving Stow!

Kathy Apr 22 2025 at 2:29PM on page 24

Suggestion

It is not the "Old Town Hall". It is just "Town Hall"

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