[MassHistPres] "Protecting Special Places" Workshop Series - Next Workshop on May 29!

[Joanna_Doherty at nps.gov]

The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor
Commission, Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor, Inc. and the
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation recently launched a
series of planning and preservation workshops, “Protecting Special Places:
How to Help Your Community Plan for Its Future.”  Workshops are FREE and
open to all.

The next workshop, “The Community Preservation Act: Strategies for
Success,” will take place Thursday, May 29, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Oxford
Community Center, 4 Maple Road.  The Community Preservation Act (CPA) is a
powerful tool for historic preservation, open space protection, affordable
housing and recreational opportunities.  Kathy Roth, Associate Director of
the Community Preservation Coalition, will discuss the benefits of the CPA
and provide information on a special initiative to help central
Massachusetts towns pass the CPA.  Representatives from communities that
have adopted the CPA will share their strategies for generating support.
Don’t miss this opportunity to talk with a CPA expert and to learn from the
experiences of other towns.

Please RSVP for this workshop by Tuesday, May 27 by contacting Joanna
Doherty, Blackstone Heritage Corridor (joanna_doherty at nps.gov or
401-762-0250) or Bob Levite, Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor
(boblevite at hotmail.com or 508-831-1223 x244).

Directions:

From the North or South, via Route 395:  Take Route 395 to exit 4B (if
coming from the north) or exit 4A (if coming from the south), putting you
on Sutton Road.  Follow Sutton Road for about .3 mile and take a right onto
Route 12/Main Street.  In about .1 mile, you will see a driveway on your
left, between the Norman LeBlanc Memorial Building at 351 Main Street and
the Congregational Church.  The workshop will be in the small red building
towards the rear; enter on the side of the building.

From the North or South, via Route 12:  Take Route 12/Main Street toward
the town center.  If coming from the north, the driveway referenced in the
directions above will be on your right about .1 mile before the
intersection with Sutton Road.  If coming from the south, the driveway will
be on your left about .1 mile after the intersection with Sutton Road.

From the West:  Take Route 197 North to Route 12 North or take Route 20
East to Route 12 South and follow the directions above.

From the East: Take Route 16 West to Route 12 North and follow the
directions above.

****************************************************************

Subsequent workshops in the series are as follows:

Smart Growth and Preservation
Thursday, June 5, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Dudley Municipal Complex, 71 West Main Street
The “smart growth” approach to development focuses on sustainability, in
part through zoning mechanisms that encourage concentrated development and
support existing settlement patterns.  Learn about two such tools: Smart
Growth Zoning (Chapter 40R) and Village Center Zoning.  Presented by Eric
Hove, Acting Director of Land Use Policy, Executive Office of Energy and
Environmental Affairs and Bill Reyelt, Smart Growth Program Coordinator,
Department of Housing and Community Development.

What about Open Space? Balancing Development and Preservation
Thursday, June 12, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Douglas Municipal Center, 29 Depot Street
Municipalities across the Commonwealth struggle with how to preserve open
space, especially with increased residential development.  This workshop
will focus on two tools that can help your community balance growth with
preservation: Open Space Residential Design and Transfer of Development
Rights.  Presented by Eric Hove, Acting Director of Land Use Policy,
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

****************************************************************

This workshop series is being offered through the Heritage Landscape
Inventory, a partnership between the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley
National Heritage Corridor Commission, the Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage
Corridor, Inc. and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and
Recreation.  More information about the Inventory, including links to
reconnaissance reports for all of the participating communities, may be
found at www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/histland/Inventoryprog.htm.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joanna M. Doherty, Community Planner
John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley
     National Heritage Corridor
One Depot Square
Woonsocket, RI  02895
(401) 762-0250 x14
(401) 762-0530 fax
joanna_doherty at nps.gov