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4. Draft Comprehensive Plan (Text Content)

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Tony Perez Sep 11 2025 at 11:55AM on page 17

Suggestion

More connectivity is needed down the full length of Red Acre rather than cutting across Tuttle Ln. This would allow for safer walkability/biking into neighborhoods and connectivity to South Acton neighborhoods and commuter rail options.

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 4:31PM on page 1

Thank you for putting so much time and work into this project. There are many things that I support in this document and some I do not. Also, as a person who has a long history in Stow, some of the charm of the community is the rural and farming part of the Town, the open spaces. The rural character of our roads and streets.
This 'master plan' changes that 'feel'. While I know that the town will continue to grow and changes are needed it really feels like SOME of the proposed changes will just make Stow another cookie cutter suburb. And we need to be cautious of it. Many people want Stow to look a little like where they came from....and Stow is different.

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 4:22PM on page 34

acronym

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 4:20PM on page 29

acronym

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 4:18PM on page 26

Suggestion

What is ADU?

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 4:17PM on page 11

We don't have a meal tax in place but there are so few eating establishments it is probably not feasible. And doing a split tax rate would cause an added burden on farms and orchards because farms would be taxed at the commercial rate.

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 4:13PM on page 20

Good ideas in Goal 2A section

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 4:12PM on page 21

Suggestion

Another MGL acronym.... the one in the first part of the document was just MGL without periods this one is M.G.L.
Consistency within document

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 4:10PM on page 21

Suggestion

It seems like the Town already has a 'tool kit in place.
We have a Finance Committee and a Capital Planning Committee that review all of the town meeting warrant articles. These committees provide information about items will impact the tax bills.
Our town administrator provides a lot of information with her budget on funding sources and long term project/purchase costs.
It is pretty predictable that the tax rate will increase every year due to the amount the town meeting attendings vote at each town meeting.
Also, it is interesting that many of the suggestions listed in this comprehensive plan will definitely increase our taxes especially when several suggestions are to add staffing...economic director, town engineer etc. So I don't see my taxes being reduced.

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 4:01PM on page 27

Suggestion

I have no idea what the EOHLC is so I expect a lot of other people would like the full name .

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 3:58PM on page 24

Suggestion

MassDOT = Mass Department of Transportation

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 3:58PM on page 24

Suggestion

COA = Council on Aging.

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 3:56PM on page 18

Suggestion

The average reader/resident doesn't know that the CPA acronym is Community Preservation Act funds.

I suggest avoiding acronym. I checked the Glossary and it wasn't there.

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 3:54PM on page 19

Suggestion

Years ago the Superintendent of Streets was a civil engineer but then he retired! This makes a lot of sense

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 3:52PM on page 13

Question

Interesting statistics. Do you know how many were repeat participants or does each response come from an entirely new participant. I think there are approx. 2600 separate households in Stow and approx 5400 registered voters and approx 7100 residents. So these numbers see awfully low in comparison

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 3:48PM on page 11

AS you all know, Stow has a very limited commercial, business and industrial zoned land. AND we tend to reduce the amount of this type of land regularly like building houses on the Industrial Zoned land for Athens Lane, Villages of Stow. I am confused as to how the 'shift' of the tax burden from home owners to the commercial, business and industrial zoned property will be significant enough to 'reduce' homeowner's tax. Everyone pays property taxes and their might be slight increases if the plaza is full of businesses but a few hundred thousand dollars in taxes will make little difference in my tax bill. I agree we need to support the local businesses. I'd like to see more restaurants in town but without public water and sewer in Lower Village that is probably not feasible.

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 3:40PM on page 3

Suggestion

North Star seems cliche.
The first thing that popped into my head, is there are probably only a few people even know what the North Star is and that what you really mean is the the leading goal/

Linda Hathaway Sep 8 2025 at 3:37PM on page 3

Suggestion

The average person/ resident will not know that MGL is the acronym for Massachusetts General Law. Please avoid acronymns.

Bill Roop Aug 20 2025 at 2:45PM on page 1

This looks like a well balanced Plan dealing with a wide variety of complex objectives...well done! !