Lori's profile - coUrbanize

Supported a comment by Gary Kleiman on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 7 months ago}

Gary Kleiman
and revising zoning to keep development out of current and FUTURE flood plains.

Supported a comment by Bob Andrews on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 7 months ago}

Bob Andrews
I think Dorrie is on target here. When small, relatively affordable houses are replaced by huge, expensive ones, we are making Concord a less desirable and affordable place to live. This is a destructive trend that should not be allowed to continue if we mean what we say when we talk about meeting human needs in a fair and equitable way. A sustainable town is one that adequately houses old and young, rich and poor.

Supported a comment by Bill Montague on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 7 months ago}

Bill Montague
Create monuments on Monument Square of our most respected Icons such as Thoreau, Emerson, Daniel Chester French, Louisa May Alcott. Sarah Ripley
Then the founders of Concord: Squaw Sachem, Simon Willard, Peter Buckley

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 7 months ago}

Excellent suggestion! Concord does have a Tree Preservation Sub Committee that sponsored our Tree preservation bylaw, passed at last year’s town meeting. The by-law is a start and can / should be expanded.

Many folks are not aware that trees are connected to our water cycles, can protect against drought, and keep our land hydrated and aquifers full. We need to connect the dots by forming a climate resilience committee or task force to review and make recommendations on best land and water management practices (including trees and other vegetation, creation of healthy soil that can provide quick water infiltration, protecting water supplies, etc).

Supported a comment by Joe Stein on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 7 months ago}

Joe Stein
Trees provide a number of important ecological and environmental services, as well as improve property values and "town character". But trees are experiencing increasing stress from road salt, infestations (pine trees are dying all over town), and climate (ie,tar spot due to prolonged wet conditions). I propose the Town consider creating a formal Tree Committee modeled after other successful committees within MA. The committee may be charged with promoting shade tree plantings, soliciting ideas for tree replacement, managing tree dedications, etc. Towns such as Lexington, MA have an active Tree Committee and dedicated town website. Concord should consider the same (I would happily serve as volunteer).

Supported a comment by Tanya Gailus on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 7 months ago}

Tanya Gailus
When consultant keeps saying "change is going to happen whether we want it or not" or something to that effect, one wonders: Is anyone claiming otherwise? (Doubtful.) The question that then comes to mind is: Is consultant trying to pre-advocate for certain preferences, specifically: not just for conceivably appropriate development, but also for pre-arranged , pre-determined reduction policies in conservation measures, to smooth the road for any not-necessary development. Not dissimilar to some of the policies of the current national administration. Ideas perhaps especially based on closed door meetings with for-profit interests and with town management personnel some of whom have expressed resistance (per draft report) to natural preservation initiatives. This "baking- in implementation" approach raises concerns, especially when meetings with developers have taken place behind closed doors, and also since consultant has resisted similar meetings with conservation groups. Whatever improved transparency the CLRPC decides to provide from now on will not change this initial rigging of the field. Yes, change will of course happen, as transformation, as evolution. The way to go about is to tackle needs one by one, not to write off or reduce natural preservation measures from the start. In addition, we do not know what exactly might change in two or three years - demographically, ecologically, politically. So it is dangerous to establish pre-set policies. We can only identify immediate needs and future potential needs.

Supported a comment by Bill Montague on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 7 months ago}

Bill Montague
Help Make Concord a user-friendly town. By having more benches in Concord Center, The Depot area, and West Concord, for people to sit and rest awhile or have a bite to eat.

Supported a comment by Bill Montague on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 7 months ago}

Bill Montague
Hi Mark, Yes I was thinking of a separate Commuter Parking lot that would be fenced in and guarded. Perhaps pay $1.00 for all day for computers to they would not be taking up valuable Town parking spaces. They already have a huge lot in Acton for this purpose. Just copy that an put it half way between Acton, and West Concord. It could be owned by the MBTA etc.

Supported a comment by Kevin Neijstrom on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 7 months ago}

Kevin Neijstrom
West Concord center is too crowded with cars. Two traffic lanes and parking on both sides takes up too much space, and is dangerous for bicyclists, and is unattractive. Eliminating street parking here would give us room for bike lanes and wider sidewalks, with possibilities for more open space, outdoor dining and shopping, and greenery. Keep the parking behind the shops.

Supported a comment by Kevin Neijstrom on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 7 months ago}

Kevin Neijstrom
Bring trees back to Commonwealth Avenue! Old photos depict a tree-lined street. Our modern street has limited shade and is designed around how many cars we can park along it. It's a great town but could be a more beautiful and useful one.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 7 months ago}

The word sustainability can be defined in terms of leaving our children with the natural resources they will need for a healthy future. Sustainability must be considered and built into all aspects of the comprehensive plan. Energy is just one segment of sustainability. Maintaining and protecting open space using fewer materials in construction and other projects etc are examples.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 7 months ago}

In light of increasing climate disruption Concord should work toward maintaining our current building and infrastructure footprint and not expanding it till We study flood plains , location of crtical ecosystems, expanse of tree canopy needed to protect against drought, etc.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 7 months ago}

Would it make sense for Concord to consider purchasing already built smaller homes fand renting to town workers at affordable prices.? This could limit the tear down trend and minimize expanding our built environment.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Everyone would benefit if before answering these questions and completing the survey they reviewed the 6 APA principles for Sustaining Places first - on CLRPC homepage (see SWOT analysis). Here's an abbreviated version: 1 Livable Built Environment: land use, transportation, housing, energy, and infrastructure, work together to provide sustainable, green places for living, working, & recreation, with a high quality of life. 2 Harmony with Nature: contributions of natural resources to human well-being are recognized & valued; maintaining their health is a primary objective. 3 Resilient Economy: community prepared to deal with both positive and negative changes in economic health; initiate sustainable urban development (Note: is a modification needed here; Concord is not an urban community?) & redevelopment strategies that foster green business growth & build reliance on local assets. 4 Interwoven Equity: fairness and equity in housing, services, health, safety, and livelihood needs of all citizens and groups. 5 Healthy Community: public health needs recognized & addressed by provisions for healthy foods, physical activity, access to recreation, health care, environmental justice,& safe neighborhoods (Should this include reducing use of hazardous chemicals in our environment - especially pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals that kill living things and potentially cause disease?) 6 Responsible Regionalism: local proposals account for, connect with, & support plans of adjacent jurisdictions & surrounding region

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Our open space provides value not only to residents but to the entire region. It is difficult to place monetary value on the preservation of open space and other natural resources because it serves a number of purposes that fit the category "quality of life", namely recreation, inspiration and healing, but open space, plays a critical role in modulation of climate extremes such as extreme storms (e.g. flood control) and preservation of small water cycles (e.g. flood mitigation), providing wildlife habitat, and protecting important ecosystems. Open space supports and protects life.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Here is the intro to the APA planning principles for sustaining places which the Town has said they will use for developing the next Comprehensive Long-Range Plan: "Planning for sustainability is the defining challenge of the 21st century. Overcoming deeply ingrained economic and cultural patterns that result in resource depletion, climate instability, and economic and social stress requires holistic problem solving that blends the best scientific understanding of existing conditions and available technologies with the public resolve to act. Planning processes allow communities to look past immediate concerns, evaluate options for how best to proceed, and to move towards a better future…….. Planning can provide the necessary analysis, the requisite community wide reflection and education, and the momentum required to respond to these monumental challenges. I have asked our Comprehensive Long Range Planning Committee Planning to provide education for our community on why sustainability needs to be incorporated into all of these questions and, then, give the community time to reflect on these. Concord did pass Sustainability Principles in 2011, but we have a way to go to incorporate them.

Supported a comment by Tanya Gailus on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Tanya Gailus
Actually, the CHDC should have been subject to OML all along, because per definition of "public body" (OML laws) they are a housing related corporation for a public purpose, private or not. It does not matter that the Board of Selectmen took this specification out of their charge in 2009. They were still subject to OML. In July, the Selectboard reinstated this as if it were a request. The SB should have been more clear that there had been a violation, which now was being fixed. I spoke and wrote to the SB that they should be more clear about the violation that took place instead of implying that there was unclarity about this- for the sake of preventing any future potential breaches by various committees - but they were only interested in fixing the problem from now on.

Supported a comment by Michelle Touw on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Michelle Touw
Junction village is a prime example of what CONCIRD SHOULD NEVER DO AGAIN. This is a totally innappropriate way to A) fufill Walden Woods Project promuse to repkace low income housing for tge trailer homes they displaced 20 years ago, B) is out of place in that small neighborhoood and C) putting it in a private dev. Group to circumvent open meeting laws. DISGRACEFUL!

Supported a comment by Michelle Touw on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Michelle Touw
Must stop practice of approving special permits which allow teardowns & building beyond new footage bylaws. People who need larger homes must do what we used to do, sell the smaller house and buy up!

Supported a comment by Michelle Touw on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Michelle Touw
All large businesses should have to provide set % of renewable too, like solar, and there should be higher ratrs for high volune water usage by homes and businesses to reduce wasteful use of precious water supplies.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

If we want to have a healthy community in the future, we must pay more attention to use of chemicals across all areas of our lives. Use of synthetic chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides etc. in particular, need to be reduced and eventually eliminated from our food and from the soil. Long term ingestion of these chemicals can lead to disease and illness. Their use eliminates the soil organisms that help the plant, and thus us, to receive the full nutrition we need.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Concord has a treasure trove of outside walking and recreational areas. In the interest of minimizing our carbon footprint, we should better utilize our already existing indoor facilities like our school gyms.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Thank you, Joan. Most people believe that current protections are sufficient, but as you wisely point out, they are not.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Thank you, Cheryl. Most people believe that current protections are sufficient, but as you wisely point out, they are not.

Supported a comment by Bob Andrews on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Bob Andrews
Yes, we will be seeing the death of local retail businesses unless we recognize collectively the role these businesses can play when they are local owned and managed and really work to meet the needs of local people. Ideally, they can bring the community together since people who care about the kinds of products they carry will meet each other in the aisles and at community events sponsored by the businesses.. It feels really good to know and be known by the people behind the counter. Debra's Natural Gourmet and the 5 & !0 are excellent examples. The Town needs to find new ways to encourage and support these kinds of businesses and to limit the spread of large chains that are copies of others around the country. Putting limits on the growth business will reduce traffic and parking issues that create stress and alter the whole flavor of a business district. I agree with Lori that there needs to be attention paid to what products people really prefer to buy in person and what stores sell goods that are in themselves sustainable.

Supported a comment by Chris Hart on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Chris Hart
The new Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (under construction) runs right past Sanborn Middle School, but has no official path to the school. It would be great if kids who rode or walked the trail to school had easier access to the school.

Supported a comment by Elissa Brown on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Elissa Brown
Self guided walking tours and apps connecting historic areas and open space, like AcrossLexington.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

As we look at questions of whether or not additional facilities are need for recreation, we must first consider how to expand use of existing facilities and especially the schools which the Concord community has supported through our tax dollars.

Supported a comment by Elissa Brown on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Elissa Brown
Use of the gyms at the schools. I understand pickleball is limited by gym availability.

Supported a comment by Bob Andrews on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Bob Andrews
I think that Concord needs to view sustainability not just as having more solar panels and heat pumps but as a critical facet of almost everything we decide as a town. What we do about managing public water and waterways, supporting local and organic agriculture, introducing carbon sequestration practices into out use and care of land, what kind of housing we have. Just about anything we plan as a town either adds a lot of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere or does not. Our actions remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere or do not. Proper use of sustainability principles means that every decision is analyzed to pinpoint as closely as possible how it impacts climate change, which is our most critical threat as a community and a planet.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Beautifully stated. Thanks Bob.

Supported a comment by Bob Andrews on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Bob Andrews
I think that one of the best ways for Concord to honor its history and culture is to follow in the steps of the transcendentalist writers and activists who were among its earliest community leaders. People like Thoreau and Emerson were students of the environment and nature; and they honored and respected it. They believed and preached that God was in nature. If they were alive today they would undoubtedly be advocates for applying the Town's four sustainability principles and in the APA sustainability standards which inspire this planning process to everything we do. Alongside of embracing technical sustainability measures such as solar energy, we need to put more emphasis on preserving nature. We need to put a halt to a relentless extinction of biological species that accompanies exploitation of nature. We need to return the soil beneath our feet to its natural state so that it will sequester carbon and grow good, nutritious food .We are doing some of this but sometimes preservation of nature calls for putting up something in a historical district that is not what is considered consistent with the historical monuments and houses. If we are to honor our past, we cannot just copy the past. We must act in the spirit of our forebears & do what they would do if they were alive today.

Supported a comment by Joan Kennedy on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Joan Kennedy
As global warming and associated weather patterns change, the Town should review how best to protect its still water ponds, wetlands and vernal pools. Practices that were sufficient in the past will most likely be insufficient going forward and thus ecosystems associated with these areas will most likely be adversely impacted.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Retail businesses across the country are struggling. We need to identify the products and services that Concord residents (and tourists) most need and would prefer to buy in person and not on-line. Households are paying more attention to sustainable products.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

We can make sure that we protect historical structures and sites but allow for modifications needed to provide their stability, e.g. in the face of increasing heat and extreme weather.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Preserving the historic structures in Concord is worthwhile, but we face conditions and trends today that our ancestors did not have to be concerned about. The major threat- and thus opportunity- is climate change. We need to allow for healthy solutions such as solar panels, gutting structures and bringing them up to code, yard and property management that seeks to build soil health (this means putting more CO2 in soil in stable forms), encouraging growing more native plants and trees for cooling etc. in place of conventional lawns that are basically wastelands. I'm not versed on current rules but they most likely need an update.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

We need to support businesses that provide for the health and well being of Concord residents and promote sustainability. Is the tax base the reason why senior town management seems to sometime favor business over residents? Mail ordering is impacting retail business everywhere. Yes creativity, ensuring that the town lives within its means, and willingness of town government to work with public and not just private interests is critical. Has town management considered sending a survey to local businesses and residents to assess, for example, which businesses are thriving, which businesses residents support the most, and to determine which business will thrive long-term, etc? Civic Moxie asks similar questions here, but not all residents are participating.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Other towns have smaller school buses that are useful and less expensive for transporting smaller number of students. Is Concord planning to look into this?

Supported a comment by Leslie Pelton on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Leslie Pelton
There are stunning numbers of kids who drive to CCHS. The car parking should be limited and expensive. We need multitudes of bike racks, scooter racks. We could collaborate with HubWay of other organizations to make even electric bikes available to our kids. And then give them huge incentives for using them. And, of course, we need safe biking lanes throughout Concord!

Supported a comment by Jeffrey Kerr on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Jeffrey Kerr
Protect neighborhood integrity by limiting tear-downs, enforcing house-size to lot size limitations and requiring clear disclosure of buyers identity.

Supported a comment by Mark Hanson on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Mark Hanson
Parking buses under solar panels helps reduce operating costs by reducing snow and early morning window frost removal work in winter and keeping the buses dry and out of the sun the rest of the year.

Supported a comment by Leslie Pelton on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Leslie Pelton
We need safe biking lanes for people of all ages throughout Concord

Supported a comment by Bill Kemeza on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Bill Kemeza
Concord Center, seems to be losing its vitality as shops close.

A significant way to address this is to make the center itself an experience. Walking, lingering, having commodious places to sit, to eat, to talk. Imagine places where our restaurants could have tables outside. Our stores could have displays where folks could take their time.

Consider widening the sidewalks on the Milldam and Walden street by getting rid of street parking. With signage, direct cars to our parking lots (and negotiate more spaces from private sources) to offset the loss of on-street parking.

The current traffic lanes would remain.

Supported a comment by Rick Hedeman on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Rick Hedeman
Love the fact that the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is happening! Would LOVE it if there was some way to connect it with the trail from Concord center to Bedford...

Supported a comment by Joseph Stein on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Joseph Stein
Place a annual cap on the number of properties purchased by developers. Developers are slowly eating away at town character with outsized McMansions - all in the name of profit.

Supported a comment by Wade Rubinstein on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Wade Rubinstein
Adopt complete street policies that create access to safe, comfortable and healthy multimodal transportation options including walking, bicycling and transit. Multimodal transportation should link Concord's neighborhoods, commercial districts, public transportation facilities, cultural districts, parks, bike paths, and recreational facilities.

Supported a comment by Martin Alejandro Padilla on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Martin Alejandro Padilla
A bus between Acton's business areas, Concord and West Concord would be a great way of getting rid of 1 of 2 cars in a family. Specially because you can bike in the summer, but not in the winter...

Supported a comment by OARS Sudbury-Assabet-Concord Rivers on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

OARS Sudbury-Assabet-Concord Rivers
Add street trees in West Concord, Commonwealth Ave. in particular. There is no shade, and the stormwater runoff is hot in the summer. Make planted islands sunken instead of raised to collect and infiltrate stormwater, add sunken islands to parking lots. Use stormwater tree planting boxes where possible.

Supported a comment by Joan Kennedy on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Joan Kennedy
Healthy watershed and water quality supported with town leadership and budget for future generations.

Supported a comment by OARS Sudbury-Assabet-Concord Rivers on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

OARS Sudbury-Assabet-Concord Rivers
This is very important--we need to invest in building resilience in the long term. This includes recharging storm water, incentivizing water reuse and conservation, reducing impervious cover. These things will pay off in the long run in terms of healthy aquatic systems, less flooding, and sustainable drinking water supplies.

Supported a comment by Pam Ressler on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Pam Ressler
The Concord Free Public Library (Main and Fowler) is a true jewel of the community. Beautiful, open access to all, multigenerational.

Supported a comment by Aimee Christian on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Aimee Christian
More opportunities for recycling and reducing use of plastic. Encourage businesses to use recyclable materials in takeout packaging and reduce use of napkins/utensils/straws/bags unless requested.

Supported a comment by Joan Kennedy on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Joan Kennedy
We need to ensure our Town ponds are protected from pollution and can continue to be a habitat for diverse wildlife and a source of enjoyment for future generations. Walden clearly has major historical significance and White Pond was also written about by Thoreau and both are located within a Priority Habitat of Rare Species.

Supported a comment by Debra S. on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Debra S.
I like events more than specific facilities. I being with others when I celebrate the 4th or listen to music....

Supported a comment by Debra S. on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Debra S.
It would be a dream to have everything accessible by foot from each neighborhood -- libraries, food markets -- not realistic though.

Supported a comment by Stephanie Chrobak on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Stephanie Chrobak
Celebrate diversity, food needs, health, local matters.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Retail businesses that provide sustainable products at affordable prices and meet critical human needs should be a top priority. Businesses that recycle and reuse products containing valuable natural resources should be encouraged. Excessive consumerism should be discouraged. Business should not be supported for business sake. Sustainable economic development is wecome. Concord businesses should support the health and well-being of Concord residents. Climate resilience a major issues. Green Cambridge in their 2016 Climate congress recommended that the city begin to disconnect from powerful financial, industrial, and commercial forces that don't prioritize the community's well-being. Public-private partnerships may play a role in meeting the town's needs but the private contribution could come from funds donated by private individuals who agree to not benefit financially from the endeavor.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Ideally, we can change zoning regulations to allow current structures to be converted to multi-family living units. This would allow us to increase residences while protecting and conserving natural resources. Towns centers are the ideal choice for locating housing options. Cluster housing that preserves land is, also, a good choice.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Mobility by means other than cars is a prime need for our community. The new Bruce Freeman trail, though meant for bikes, provides shortcuts for walkers as well. Construction of more pathways to connect town centers, neighborhoods, and activities would be useful, especially if these are made of permeable or semi-permeable surfaces and shaded by deciduous trees for cooling in summer and more light in winter.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

We should preserve open space by not adding new physical 'facilities'. Facilities should only be constructed if they are a must have. Currently Concord has enough.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Farming has played a major role in Concord's history and culture. The town needs to identify incentives and support for farms to transition to sustainable practices that require fewer synthetic inputs and toxic chemicals, provide more nutrition, and keep CO2 in soil. We should be mindful that increasing temperature mean that places that provide food today will be unable to continue to do so as temperatures increase.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

In 2011 the town adopted a set of sustainability principles that include 1) reducing dependence upon fossil fuels, underground metals, and minerals; 2) reducing dependence upon synthetic chemicals and other manufactured substances; 3) reducing encroachment upon nature; and 4) meeting human needs fairly and efficiently. The town has made good progress particularly as it pertains to the built environment. Complex issues have made progress on others more difficult. Upgrading sustainability practices will require changing zoning and other regulations, considering adopting sustainable practices like grey water, that are currently not supported by appropriate state codes and regs, and recognition and willingness to prioritize and find funding for outdated systems, e.g. wastewater and storm management, that will not serve us well as extreme climate events intensify and occur more frequently.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Very happy with the facilities we have in Concord like the Beede Center, Harvey Wheeler, playgrounds, community gardens, and our libraries that offer free public meeting space. In light of climate change, we need to simplify and not develop more non-critical structures.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Increase the amount of land preserved for nature and wildlife. Land use needs to include protecting natural land and ecosystems, as well as developing it for resident use including walking paths and recreation. It's a little recognized fact that nature is a prime factor in mitigating climate change. A group of over 10 federal agencies released a draft report on climate change this summer that confirms that even if greenhouse gas emissions are eliminated now, extreme weather and climate events will be the norm by the end of the century. We are already seeing increased frequency and intensity. Concord can take pride in passing Article 51. It is time now to take strong measures to protect, maintain, and increase the vegetation and ecosystems that sequester carbon and build resilience to climate extremes. In short, it's time for some outdoor "weatherization".

Supported a comment by Tanya Gailus on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

Tanya Gailus
A suggestion about visibility of ideas: For first time visitors: please note that there is also a "newest" option above. Otherwise only the most supported postings get the most frequent visibility.
For CivicMoxie or coUrbanize: Consider leaving the text response posts at the bottom of the pile (ie 'how did you get here?' 'where do you shop' etc.) -- so that citizen initiated needs, desires, and suggestions get better and easier visibility, and therefore better access to discussion, support, or other feedback.
(note: I do happen to be one of the supporters of the above idea as well.)

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 8 months ago}

This is a terrific way to gather community input. Hope Concord will consider establishing a similar communication / feedback system for the long term. Our community will benefit from creating a spirit of continuous improvement and openness to new ideas.

Commented on Envision Concord ^{5 years, 10 months ago}

Given predictions of increasing temperatures and climate instability, Concord’s next Comprehensive Long Range Plan should be guided by actions consistent with adapting to and mitigating climate change and keeping the town as cool as possible. Water is, also, a large issue; our land is drying out. Stopping emissions (from fossil fuel and development, etc.) and using healthy practices to maintain and further sequester CO2 in soil and vegetation are important. Currently 1/3 of Concord’s land is protected, but we should be aiming for 50%. According to a recent article,” In order to stop the accumulation of heat, we would have to eliminate not just carbon dioxide emissions, but all greenhouse gases……. We’d also need to reverse deforestation and other land uses ….. . We would have to radically change our agriculture.” Link: http://theconversation.com/if-we-stopped-emitting-greenhouse-gases-right-now-would-we-stop-climate-change-78882. The article goes on to point out that “if we stop emitting carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels today….” there will be “a delay in air-temperature increase”… and “After maybe 40 more years, scientists hypothesize the climate will stabilize at a temperature higher than what was normal for previous generations.” It is believed that lawns are the largest agricultural sector, so solutions start with us and our communities.

Followed Envision Concord ^{5 years, 11 months ago}

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