WESTERN MASS. – Today the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission will begin releasing and soliciting public comments on the first of nine major plans that recommend actions to enhance the sustainability and resilience of the region’s economy, infrastructure, and environment.
“Actions speak louder than words, and so these draft plans focus on the actions that we can take to help our region be more economically competitive, energy independent, and responsive to climate change and the needs of the environment,” said Tim Brennan, PVPC Executive Director. Each of the draft plans, he added, has been produced with the help and guidance of advisory committees and stakeholders.
The draft plans are part of the Sustainable Knowledge Corridor project on which PVPC has partnered with Hartford’s Capitol Region Council of Governments under a grant from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Knowledge Corridor, which is home to 1.6 million residents and 80 cities and towns along I-91 and the Connecticut River, functions in many respects as a single economic unit.
The nine draft plans offer numerous strategies for moving the region ahead. Many emphasize the Pioneer Valley’s shared connections with the greater Hartford region, including a regional workforce, I-91, the Connecticut River, and major improvements in passenger rail service from New Haven to Northampton. While these strategies are targeted to achieve specific improvements, together they form a comprehensive effort to significantly enhance the Knowledge Corridor’s livability, as well as its economic strength and competitiveness.
1. Brownfields – Strategies for clean-up and development of potentially desirable properties that have environmental contamination.
2. Climate Action and Clean Energy – Includes the region’s first greenhouse gas inventory, an emissions reduction plan, a clean energy progress report, and strategies to better adapt to severe weather and other anticipated climate change impacts.
3. Economic and Workforce Development – Analysis of economic indicators and strategies to grow businesses and the skills of the regional workforce.
4. Environment – Identification of leading projects and strategies to promote river continuity and habitat protection, regional greenways and public accessibility to outdoor recreational opportunities, and vibrant human-riverfront connections.
5. Food Security – Strategies to reduce hunger and increase the share of locally produced food consumed in the region.
6. Green Infrastructure – Tools to help communities adopt more sustainable stormwater management, from “gray infrastructure” pipes that convey runoff to rivers and streams to “green infrastructure” practices that use soils and plants to capture and soak up rainfall near to where it falls.
7. Housing – Analysis of the region’s housing market and strategies to improve housing choices in all communities.
8. Land Use – An update of Valley Vision, the region’s comprehensive land use plan, with strategies for compact, mixed-use growth, urban revitalization, and protection of natural resources.
9. Transportation and Transit-Oriented Development – An update of the regional transportation plan with a focus on types of development that are well-suited for neighborhoods near passenger rail stations and high-frequency PVTA service.
The draft plans will be posted on the Sustainable Knowledge Corridor website (www.sustainableknowledgecorridor.org). Notices will be issued via the website as soon as each plan is available, and a comment period of 30 days will be held for each. Instructions for submitting comments will be posted with each plan. Comments can be submitted via e-mail, the project website, social media (Facebook and Twitter), and letters.
