LOCAL LEAGUE POSITIONS

Open Space Plan — Support the implementation of the “Open Space” concepts of the current Open Space Plan as adopted by the Harvard Conservation Commission to protect the valued characteristics, i.e., rural atmosphere, vistas, physical features, historic characteristics, protection of wetlands, and providing areas of recreation and conservation.

Historic Districts — Support of the establishment of historic districts and sites and continued existence of the Harvard Historical Commission and of existing Historic Districts in order to preserve valued historical characteristics of Harvard.

Water Resources — Support ground water protection and continued interest in water resource planning and development, including coordination and improvement of programs on all levels of government, specifically support of regional programs for pollution abatement in the watersheds. Support to keep Bare Hill Pond as a natural resource for recreation and conservation.

Recreation — Continued support of efforts in the area of town recreation in working toward improved facilities and programs. Support of the use of some public areas throughout the town for planned recreational activities.

Fiscal Policy — Support of intelligible, constructive town budgetary process that will recognize priorities and the need for adequate funding of agreed-upon essential services, and of the established use of the stabilization fund.

Zoning — To avoid haphazard development, support limitation on certain physical aspects of commercial usage, i.e., architectural constraints on buildings and constraints on commercial parking lots to provide for safety and appearance compatible with a rural atmosphere.

Community Space Needs — Support measures to meet specific space needs of organizations as determined by the Community.

Regional Planning — Support the proposition that the Town should support Regional Planning Areas, recognizing the following trends to be of major concern:
•  The interdependency between small and larger communities both for the interchange of services and for the strength in numbers derived from joint action.
•  The inevitability of future problems which will require solutions on a regional basis.
•  The uncertain supply of continuous local voluntary expertise available to the Town resulting from growing transience with the population.
•  A comprehensive integrated plan should be implemented for water resource protection and waste disposal in high density residential areas and aquifer recharge areas.

Devens Redevelopment — The Harvard League positions on Open Space, Historic Districts, Water Resources, Recreation and Recreational Space Needs, Fiscal Policy, Regional Planning, all can be applied to the redevelopment of Fort Devens, a portion of which may in the future become part of the Town of Harvard. In addition the League recognizes the following to be of major importance to the future of the Town and the region:
•  The continuation of efforts to amend Chapter 498 to provide a viable and lasting partnership between the Commonwealth and the Towns.
•  Once the legislation has been amended, the League supports efforts to refine the so-called Reuse Plan and Bylaws to meet the stated goals (in the legislation) for a balance of economic, environmental and socio-cultural uses on Devens.
•  Efforts to amend the Legislation, and the Reuse Plan and Bylaws should continue to insure that the partnership between the towns and the state is one of equals so that there is assurance that the Town’s goals will be met.