Executive Summary
The resolve to plan the future of Lower Falls is the result of a working partnership among its residents, its business community and Wellesley Town Government. Working together, these stakeholders developed five main goals for Lower Falls:
1. Maintain and enhance Lower Falls' village character
2. Improve its appearance with attractive storefronts and landscaping
3. Improve traffic and parking conditions
4. Enhance access to the Charles River
5. Strengthen Lower Falls as the eastern gateway in Wellesley
Charged with addressing these issues, the consultant team of Goody, Clancy & Associates and Connery Associates analyzed the site, solicited public input through presentations and discussion groups and produced proposed zoning amendments, urban design and landscape guidelines for the public and private realms, and possible futures for key components of Lower Falls.
Summary of Findings:
Wellesley Lower Falls is distinguished in its opportunities and challenges. Its unique identify arises from locations, history and physical character. At the crossroads of a metropolitan roadway system, Lower Falls has reaped the economic benefits and traffic burdens of a regional location while struggling to maintain the functions and small -scale character of a village center. The architecture of the center is diverse, offering a pleasant visual variety to preserve in future redevelopment. Many of the buildings are built close the sidewalk, forming blocks of a consistent street edge along a curving Washington Street. A strong opportunity arises from Lower Falls' close proximity to the Charles River. Harnessing the river's water power early gave rise to an industrial economy. today, buildings along Washington and Walnut Streets turn their
back to the river. If a path system was created to provide access to and along the river, and if future land uses were developed to take advantage of the water's edge and linear parks, the Charles river would once again define the central attraction of Lower Falls in a post-industrial economy.
Lower Falls faces several challenges as well. While many of the buildings contribute to the fine-grain character of the village center, others are large and set back from the street, breaking up the continuous sense of enclosure that marks appealing small commercial districts. Under existing zoning, with a maximum FAR of 0.3 and an off-street parking requirement of 3.2 spaces per 1,000 square feet of building area, the center is built to capacity and small properties cannot redevelop. High traffic volumes, numerous curb cuts and poor road design have created safety problems and exacerbated congestion. the center's environment is unfriendly to pedestrians: barren sidewalks, uninviting storefronts and auto oriented uses add to the difficulty of crossing busy streets, reducing business vitality and quality of life. Finally Lower Falls us
underserved in its parking supply, which further contributes to the loss of pedestrians supporting the small retail activities of the center and enlivening the streets.
The zoning recommendations, urban design and landscape guidelines, and specific planning proposals in this report are tailored to address these opportunities and challenges. Lower Falls has the potential to become a vibrant, pedestrian-oriented commercial center surrounded and supported by landscaped office pars, serene residential neighborhoods and a continuous network of trails, bike paths and riverfront parkland. The goal of these recommendations is to help Lower Falls to realize its potential and fulfill the community's vision of the future.
Urban Design and Landscape Guidelines
The basis of the guidelines center around the public environment and the private environment. The guidelines for the Public environment include specific guidance on the following:
• Lighting
• Pedestrian Connections
• Landscaping
• Street Furniture
• Public Open Space
• Parking
The Private environment includes the specific guidance on the following:
• Building and Facades
• Site Planning, Landscaping and Parking Areas
• Building Height
• Composition of the Building Facade
• Special Treatment of the First Floor
• Materials and Colors
• Renovation and Restoration
• Backs of Buildings and Alleys
• Storefronts
• Storefront Frame
• Storefront Display Area
• Window Display
• Awnings
• Air Conditioners
• Storefront Materials
• Color
• Lighting
• Signage
• Wall Signs
• Window Signs
• Projecting Signs
• Materials
• Colors
• Lighting
• Maintenance
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