Dedham Celebrates Release of 2030 Draft Master Plan

DEDHAM, MA - The Town of Dedham celebrated the culmination of nearly two years of effort and its vision of the town's future promise as officials unveiled a draft version of Designing Dedham 2030, its master plan, at a hybrid ceremony on Sat. Dec. 4.

Select Board member Sarah MacDonald, who also served as the master plan committee co-chair, thanked the more than 40 people for attending the ceremony at Dedham Middle School, as well as the audience members who participated virtually via the Zoom platform.

"This is a very, very exciting celebration for those of us on the committee," she said, noting that this was the one of the first "truly hybrid" meetings hosted by the town. "We're excited to present our final recommendations to you to provide feedback and suggestions for prioritization on today."

Making Dedham more connected and inclusive were two common themes discussed during the two-hour forum. Ways to make the town more accessible for walkers and bikers and to increase diversity in government participation and leadership were highlighted.

MacDonald added that inclusivity was a key factor in drafting the master plan as well as the ceremony itself. Spanish translation and closed captioning were available, and translations in other languages were offered in advance.

Co-chair and Planning Board member Jessica Porter said the outreach to gather information for the draft master plan was extensive. More than 2,000 people contributed to the ideas in the master plan, either through surveys or meetings.

"When we think about planning, there are a lot of daunting challenges ahead of us," she said. "But I remain really optimistic because I've seen the commitment of the community to make Dedham the best place it can be."

While this was a celebration, Porter also called it "a starting point." The release of the draft master plan opens up a 45-day comment period where residents can offer feedback on their priorities for Dedham's future.

The draft master plan analyzed the town's current and anticipated needs from several vantage points for the next decade. They included public health and livability; natural, cultural and historic resources; land use and zoning; transportation and connectivity; community facilities and services; housing and economic development.

The documents on each of these sections, as well as the executive summary and videos of this ceremony and other background sessions can be accessed at the Massachusetts Area Planning Council link here. There are also many supporting documents and videos of the 22 meetings steering committee meeting that have transpired to inform and engage residents.

MAPC Principal Planner Josh Fiala emphasized that, while this is a celebration of nearly two years of work, it is also the kickoff to a larger process. He also noted the high level of engagement by Dedham residents in this endeavor.

The MAPC has been working with the committee to provide technical support. There will be a comment period until mid-January where residents can express their ideas and priorities to be incorporated into the final version.

"We kicked off the first community meeting just as the world was entering COVID protocols in April of 2020," he said, noting that more than 300 people attended this virtual workshop. At that time, an initial community survey and a master plan topic survey were sent out, garnering more than 1,850 responses between them. Three virtual forums on different aspects of the plan drew more than 300 responses.

"This is a plan of Dedham residents' thoughts of where the town should be headed," Fiala continued. About 17 percent of Dedham's households participated in the process in some capacity, he noted.

Some of the "recurring core priorities" included inclusion and equity; walking and biking accessibility; livability and quality of life; and aligned and effective policies. Dedham must also be fiscally responsible and committed to sustainability.

Public health was a key priority that came into sharper focus because of the pandemic.

"Social, environmental and behavioral factors are more important to determining community health than healthcare and genetics combined,"Fiala stressed. The master plan hopes to build upon the core services already offered while better supporting emotional, mental and physical wellness.

Overhauling the town's zoning bylaw was one key concern. Half of Dedham's land is used for residences, while half of the developable land is concentrated in areas zoned for single residences. This has led to "a more piecemeal approach" to development without an overall vision.

The master plan also showed that Providence Highway, while an economic engine, is seen as a barrier between the east and west halves of Dedham.

"This area could be transformed over the next 10 years, particularly north of the rotary," Fiala explained.

Housing recommendations sought to make homes more affordable and designed to accommodate residents at all stages of their lives, whether looking for an affordable first house or finding a smaller residence where elders can age in place.

One surprising statistic the master plan showed was that 76% of residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park. Yet awareness of this fact and connecting residents to green spaces has been lacking. Part of this is because people have tended to think of parks in terms of ballfields rather than opportunities for more passive recreation.

Another key factor that impacts travel, health and safety is the lack of sidewalks in Dedham. Forty-two percent of Dedham's streets do not have a sidewalk on at least one side, which makes them challenging for walking and biking.

"We've heard a lot about traffic and congestion as a major factor to the town," Fiala said.

Ways to decrease traffic are increasing the sidewalks for pedestrian and bike access, working from home, and better public transit.

Survey participants noted Dedham's investment in public buildings, such as the ECEC and the new public safety building. What was requested was more transparency in the process. Residents wanted more equitable representation in Town Meeting as well as on boards and committees to make sure a variety of needs are brought to the table.

Responses to the draf master plan can be submitted through mid-January via this link.

This article originally appeared on the Dedham Patch