Town of Bridgewater

This document outlines a comprehensive revitalization plan for the Bridgewater Central Business District, specifically focusing on Central Square and its environs. The plan aims to address issues such as deteriorated infrastructure, high vacancy rates, and business turnover to cultivate a vibrant downtown with successful businesses, a safe pedestrian environment, efficient vehicular and bicycle travel, and activated public spaces. Key strategic components include branding and marketing, a facade improvement program, integrated parking and circulation management, streetscape enhancements, targeted investment in mixed-use developments and specific areas like Broad Street, Summer Street, and Spring Street, updated zoning recommendations, and improvements to off-street utilities.

The Comprehensive Master Plan for the Town of Bridgewater outlines a vision for balancing historic heritage with future growth and economic prosperity. It focuses on strategic areas such as land use, transportation, housing, economic development, natural and cultural resources, and facilities and services. The plan aims to foster strong partnerships, provide quality municipal services and diverse housing, enhance climate resilience through sustainable practices, preserve natural resources, and revitalize the downtown as a cultural and economic center.

The Town of Bridgewater's Hazard Mitigation Plan serves as an action plan to reduce the impacts of natural hazards and climate change within the community and the region. It identifies natural hazards, outlines actions to reduce losses, and establishes a coordinated process for implementation. Key priorities include integrating climate adaptation, enhancing preparedness to reduce losses to life and property, and incorporating climate change vulnerability into municipal planning and infrastructure. This plan updates the previous regional plan from 2015 and aims to maintain eligibility for federal hazard mitigation funding.

This document outlines the Old Colony Planning Council's study to assess existing bicycle and pedestrian conditions and provide recommendations for improvements across the Old Colony Region. The study's core objectives involve extensive public participation and data collection to identify infrastructure needs. It is guided by six strategic goals: enhancing regional mobility, fostering sustainable and healthy communities, ensuring equity and public participation, improving transportation safety and security, promoting environmental protection and climate change adaptation, and ensuring economic vitality and sustainability. The plan includes specific performance measures and targets extending to 2035, focusing on expanding bicycle and pedestrian networks, increasing multimodal transportation centers, revitalizing downtowns, reducing accidents and emissions, and supporting sustainable development practices.

This document is an Economic Development Self-Assessment Tool (EDSAT) Report for the Town of Bridgewater, Massachusetts. It meticulously evaluates the town's strengths and weaknesses concerning economic development, identifying factors such as infrastructure, permitting processes, marketing strategies, available sites, and traffic congestion. The report serves as a diagnostic tool, providing actionable feedback to assist public officials in formulating and implementing an effective economic development strategy aimed at attracting new business investment, retaining existing businesses, and fostering sustainable economic growth within the community.