Town of Westford MVP Planning Grant Post-Workshop Survey

We are providing this post-Community Resilience Building survey to rank mitigation actions that arose from discussions during the three workshops as well as during the Listening Session. Please note that prioritization should also consider how quickly the actions can be accomplished given funding and availability of staff to complete the work.

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* 1. Prevention: Government administrative or regulatory actions or processes that influence the way land and buildings are developed and built, and direct public activities to reduce hazard losses. Examples include planning and zoning, building codes, capital improvement programs, open space preservation, and stormwater management regulations. Please rank the mitigation actions below.

	Low Priority	Moderate Priority	High Priority
Amend zoning bylaws to address heat island effects and increase resiliency by adjusting planting requirements (e.g., native plants, less grass, etc.)	Amend zoning bylaws to address heat island effects and increase resiliency by adjusting planting requirements (e.g., native plants, less grass, etc.) Low Priority	Amend zoning bylaws to address heat island effects and increase resiliency by adjusting planting requirements (e.g., native plants, less grass, etc.) Moderate Priority	Amend zoning bylaws to address heat island effects and increase resiliency by adjusting planting requirements (e.g., native plants, less grass, etc.) High Priority
Update local code for historic properties that would apply if building was renovated or damaged to include natural hazard resiliency considerations	Update local code for historic properties that would apply if building was renovated or damaged to include natural hazard resiliency considerations Low Priority	Update local code for historic properties that would apply if building was renovated or damaged to include natural hazard resiliency considerations Moderate Priority	Update local code for historic properties that would apply if building was renovated or damaged to include natural hazard resiliency considerations High Priority
For bridges, assessment of MassDOT inspections and initiation of maintenance and repair/replacement program	For bridges, assessment of MassDOT inspections and initiation of maintenance and repair/replacement program Low Priority	For bridges, assessment of MassDOT inspections and initiation of maintenance and repair/replacement program Moderate Priority	For bridges, assessment of MassDOT inspections and initiation of maintenance and repair/replacement program High Priority
Develop a strategic vegetation program that considers locations of power lines	Develop a strategic vegetation program that considers locations of power lines Low Priority	Develop a strategic vegetation program that considers locations of power lines Moderate Priority	Develop a strategic vegetation program that considers locations of power lines High Priority
Continue to require inspections of dams (both public and private)	Continue to require inspections of dams (both public and private) Low Priority	Continue to require inspections of dams (both public and private) Moderate Priority	Continue to require inspections of dams (both public and private) High Priority
Create a “Ranger” position that will support management and maintenance of conservation lands, trails, and open space	Create a “Ranger” position that will support management and maintenance of conservation lands, trails, and open space Low Priority	Create a “Ranger” position that will support management and maintenance of conservation lands, trails, and open space Moderate Priority	Create a “Ranger” position that will support management and maintenance of conservation lands, trails, and open space High Priority
Develop a Natural Resource Overlay District in Zoning code to mitigation impacts on the environment, economy, society, and Town infrastructure from development on a previously undeveloped parcel	Develop a Natural Resource Overlay District in Zoning code to mitigation impacts on the environment, economy, society, and Town infrastructure from development on a previously undeveloped parcel Low Priority	Develop a Natural Resource Overlay District in Zoning code to mitigation impacts on the environment, economy, society, and Town infrastructure from development on a previously undeveloped parcel Moderate Priority	Develop a Natural Resource Overlay District in Zoning code to mitigation impacts on the environment, economy, society, and Town infrastructure from development on a previously undeveloped parcel High Priority
Consider code changes to require Town projects, residents and developers to use sustainable building methods, including LEED Certification, and less wasteful building methods and materials	Consider code changes to require Town projects, residents and developers to use sustainable building methods, including LEED Certification, and less wasteful building methods and materials Low Priority	Consider code changes to require Town projects, residents and developers to use sustainable building methods, including LEED Certification, and less wasteful building methods and materials Moderate Priority	Consider code changes to require Town projects, residents and developers to use sustainable building methods, including LEED Certification, and less wasteful building methods and materials High Priority
Change code to require development to plant larger and more trees, and maintain their health for longer than currently required	Change code to require development to plant larger and more trees, and maintain their health for longer than currently required Low Priority	Change code to require development to plant larger and more trees, and maintain their health for longer than currently required Moderate Priority	Change code to require development to plant larger and more trees, and maintain their health for longer than currently required High Priority

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* 2. Property Protection: Modification or removal of existing buildings or infrastructure to protect them from a hazard. Examples include acquisition, elevation, relocation, structural retrofits, flood proofing, storm shutters, and shatter resistant glass. Please rank the mitigation actions below.

	Low Prioirty	Moderate Priority	High Priority
Evaluate Highway Department Building lightening suppression system.	Evaluate Highway Department Building lightening suppression system. Low Prioirty	Evaluate Highway Department Building lightening suppression system. Moderate Priority	Evaluate Highway Department Building lightening suppression system. High Priority
The Town’s information technology department is a critical service for all municipal staff and the public, and relocating these services to a facility that is safe and has redundancy is critical for Town operations.	The Town’s information technology department is a critical service for all municipal staff and the public, and relocating these services to a facility that is safe and has redundancy is critical for Town operations. Low Prioirty	The Town’s information technology department is a critical service for all municipal staff and the public, and relocating these services to a facility that is safe and has redundancy is critical for Town operations. Moderate Priority	The Town’s information technology department is a critical service for all municipal staff and the public, and relocating these services to a facility that is safe and has redundancy is critical for Town operations. High Priority

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* 3. Public Education and Awareness: Actions to inform and educate citizens, elected officials, and property owners about the potential risks from hazards and ways to mitigate them. Such actions include outreach projects, real estate disclosure requirements, hazard information centers, and school-age and adult education programs. Please rank the mitigation actions below.

	Low Priority	Moderate Priority	High Priority
Educate residents and developers to use sustainable building methods, including LEED Certification, and less wasteful building methods and materials.	Educate residents and developers to use sustainable building methods, including LEED Certification, and less wasteful building methods and materials. Low Priority	Educate residents and developers to use sustainable building methods, including LEED Certification, and less wasteful building methods and materials. Moderate Priority	Educate residents and developers to use sustainable building methods, including LEED Certification, and less wasteful building methods and materials. High Priority
Educate municipal staff, elected and appointed officials, and the public about invasive species, using native species, and best lawn maintenance practices including timing mowing to protect pollinators and nesting for certain species.	Educate municipal staff, elected and appointed officials, and the public about invasive species, using native species, and best lawn maintenance practices including timing mowing to protect pollinators and nesting for certain species. Low Priority	Educate municipal staff, elected and appointed officials, and the public about invasive species, using native species, and best lawn maintenance practices including timing mowing to protect pollinators and nesting for certain species. Moderate Priority	Educate municipal staff, elected and appointed officials, and the public about invasive species, using native species, and best lawn maintenance practices including timing mowing to protect pollinators and nesting for certain species. High Priority
Educate residents about the AM radio station that can be activated during emergencies.	Educate residents about the AM radio station that can be activated during emergencies. Low Priority	Educate residents about the AM radio station that can be activated during emergencies. Moderate Priority	Educate residents about the AM radio station that can be activated during emergencies. High Priority
Enhance existing education program to include hazard mitigation, coupled with overall sustainability, conservation, and environmental stewardship, in public schools.	Enhance existing education program to include hazard mitigation, coupled with overall sustainability, conservation, and environmental stewardship, in public schools. Low Priority	Enhance existing education program to include hazard mitigation, coupled with overall sustainability, conservation, and environmental stewardship, in public schools. Moderate Priority	Enhance existing education program to include hazard mitigation, coupled with overall sustainability, conservation, and environmental stewardship, in public schools. High Priority
Provide information to caregivers of special needs, elderly, other vulnerable populations about what to do, resources during natural hazards. Provide that information in multiple languages.	Provide information to caregivers of special needs, elderly, other vulnerable populations about what to do, resources during natural hazards. Provide that information in multiple languages. Low Priority	Provide information to caregivers of special needs, elderly, other vulnerable populations about what to do, resources during natural hazards. Provide that information in multiple languages. Moderate Priority	Provide information to caregivers of special needs, elderly, other vulnerable populations about what to do, resources during natural hazards. Provide that information in multiple languages. High Priority
Educate private dam owners on inspection, maintenance.	Educate private dam owners on inspection, maintenance. Low Priority	Educate private dam owners on inspection, maintenance. Moderate Priority	Educate private dam owners on inspection, maintenance. High Priority

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* 4. Natural Resource Protection and Green Infrastructure: Actions that, in addition to minimizing hazard losses, preserve or restore the functions of natural systems. These actions include low impact development, sediment and erosion control, stream corridor restoration, watershed management, urban forest and vegetation management, and wetland restoration and preservation. Please rank the mitigaiton actions below.

	Low Prioirty	Moderate Priority	High Priority
Protect and invest in keeping Westford populated with trees. Allocate more resources towards the Tree Warden role. Develop an inventory of trees and tree planting program (that considers power line locations).	Protect and invest in keeping Westford populated with trees. Allocate more resources towards the Tree Warden role. Develop an inventory of trees and tree planting program (that considers power line locations). Low Prioirty	Protect and invest in keeping Westford populated with trees. Allocate more resources towards the Tree Warden role. Develop an inventory of trees and tree planting program (that considers power line locations). Moderate Priority	Protect and invest in keeping Westford populated with trees. Allocate more resources towards the Tree Warden role. Develop an inventory of trees and tree planting program (that considers power line locations). High Priority
Improve mapping and protection of wildlife corridors in Westford.	Improve mapping and protection of wildlife corridors in Westford. Low Prioirty	Improve mapping and protection of wildlife corridors in Westford. Moderate Priority	Improve mapping and protection of wildlife corridors in Westford. High Priority
Undertake a tree inventory and management program.	Undertake a tree inventory and management program. Low Prioirty	Undertake a tree inventory and management program. Moderate Priority	Undertake a tree inventory and management program. High Priority
For higher density areas (e.g., villages), add trees and stormwater improvements.	For higher density areas (e.g., villages), add trees and stormwater improvements. Low Prioirty	For higher density areas (e.g., villages), add trees and stormwater improvements. Moderate Priority	For higher density areas (e.g., villages), add trees and stormwater improvements. High Priority
Map invasive species.	Map invasive species. Low Prioirty	Map invasive species. Moderate Priority	Map invasive species. High Priority
To protect watersheds, waterbodies, and aquifers, continue to undertake stormwater management master plan recommendations including non-structural and structural improvements.	To protect watersheds, waterbodies, and aquifers, continue to undertake stormwater management master plan recommendations including non-structural and structural improvements. Low Prioirty	To protect watersheds, waterbodies, and aquifers, continue to undertake stormwater management master plan recommendations including non-structural and structural improvements. Moderate Priority	To protect watersheds, waterbodies, and aquifers, continue to undertake stormwater management master plan recommendations including non-structural and structural improvements. High Priority
Consider watershed-based management program.	Consider watershed-based management program. Low Prioirty	Consider watershed-based management program. Moderate Priority	Consider watershed-based management program. High Priority

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* 5. Emergency Services Protection: Actions that will protect emergency services before, during, and immediately after an occurrence. Examples of these actions include protection of warning system capability, protection of critical facilities, and protection of emergency response infrastructure. Please rank the mitigation actions below.

	Low Priority	Moderate Priority	High Priority
For elderly population, especially those living alone, providing transportation to support people getting to food pantry.	For elderly population, especially those living alone, providing transportation to support people getting to food pantry. Low Priority	For elderly population, especially those living alone, providing transportation to support people getting to food pantry. Moderate Priority	For elderly population, especially those living alone, providing transportation to support people getting to food pantry. High Priority
For elderly care and nursing home facilities, keep inventory of facilities updated, enhance communication on planning, provide assistance with planning. Consider methods to strengthen planning for these facilities and coordination with Town. In addition to communication, understand what services they use related to emergency response.	For elderly care and nursing home facilities, keep inventory of facilities updated, enhance communication on planning, provide assistance with planning. Consider methods to strengthen planning for these facilities and coordination with Town. In addition to communication, understand what services they use related to emergency response. Low Priority	For elderly care and nursing home facilities, keep inventory of facilities updated, enhance communication on planning, provide assistance with planning. Consider methods to strengthen planning for these facilities and coordination with Town. In addition to communication, understand what services they use related to emergency response. Moderate Priority	For elderly care and nursing home facilities, keep inventory of facilities updated, enhance communication on planning, provide assistance with planning. Consider methods to strengthen planning for these facilities and coordination with Town. In addition to communication, understand what services they use related to emergency response. High Priority
Fine tune communication plan related to social media and homeowner/subdivision networks to be strategic for natural hazards.	Fine tune communication plan related to social media and homeowner/subdivision networks to be strategic for natural hazards. Low Priority	Fine tune communication plan related to social media and homeowner/subdivision networks to be strategic for natural hazards. Moderate Priority	Fine tune communication plan related to social media and homeowner/subdivision networks to be strategic for natural hazards. High Priority
Obtain MassDOT emergency response plans for roadways through Westford (e.g., Interstate 495, Route 3, etc.)	Obtain MassDOT emergency response plans for roadways through Westford (e.g., Interstate 495, Route 3, etc.) Low Priority	Obtain MassDOT emergency response plans for roadways through Westford (e.g., Interstate 495, Route 3, etc.) Moderate Priority	Obtain MassDOT emergency response plans for roadways through Westford (e.g., Interstate 495, Route 3, etc.) High Priority

Town of Westford MVP Planning Grant Post-Workshop Survey

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* 2. Property Protection: Modification or removal of existing buildings or infrastructure to protect them from a hazard. Examples include acquisition, elevation, relocation, structural retrofits, flood proofing, storm shutters, and shatter resistant glass. Please rank the mitigation actions below.

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* 6. If you have additional mitigation strategies that were not addressed in the survey, please provide the information below.

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* 7. If you have any last questions or comments you want addressed as part of this process, please input them below