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Draft Vision Statements 1 BARNSTABLE LOCAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Draft Visions 5/4/23 Vision, Option 1 Barnstable envisions a future where our people and our environment are in balance, creating a thriving, connected, inclusive, safe, and sustainable community. To make our vision a reality, we will work together to protect and heal the natural resources that are the basis of our health, our quality of life, and our economy. We will welcome and value our diverse residents and ensure access to high quality education, effective health care and human services, and attainable and affordable housing, so that our community benefits from everyone’s full participation. We will cultivate a robust and responsible economy that creates opportunities for local businesses, provides jobs that pay a living wage, and supports a good quality of life for all. We will preserve and enhance the unique character of our villages, while responding to the needs of the present, to maintain our community’s sense of place and continuity with our history. We will provide effective, resilient infrastructure so that our water is clean, people can move freely and comfortably, and we are prepared for climate change. We will increase the transparency and responsiveness of our local government so that it can make effective decisions grounded in citizen input and provide efficient services, high quality schools, and outstanding recreational opportunities. Through these actions, we will strengthen the natural, built, and community systems that sustain our community. 2 Vision, Option 2 Barnstable is a vibrant and diverse community where people and nature thrive together. We are committed to creating a healthy, safe, connected, and equitable environment for all residents and to protecting our natural resources for future generations. To achieve our vision, we will proactively: 1. Protect our natural environment, including water resources, beaches, and open spaces. 2. Encourage and support affordable and accessible housing options. 3. Create a healthy, safe community, with a good quality of life for all residents and visitors. 4. Foster a diverse economy that supports living wages and local businesses and does not harm the environment. 5. Build essential infrastructure that is resilient, adaptable, and sustainable. 6. Preserve and enhance the unique character and history of each of the town’s seven villages. 7. Strengthen community connections and communication: neighbor to neighbor, village to village, and between residents and the Town. 8. Provide access to high-quality education, healthcare, and human and social services. 9. Encourage and support recreational opportunities and open spaces. 10. Steer development toward locations with adequate infrastructure and prioritize redevelopment over new development. 11. Foster an inclusive community that values diversity and cares for those in need. 12. Help slow climate change, prepare for sea level rise and other climate change impacts, and reduce our environmental footprint by investing in renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and better managing our waste. 13. Enable people to travel by the mode of their choice—walking, biking, rolling, driving, taking public transit, etc. 14. Increase transparency and responsiveness of the local government so that it can make effective decisions grounded in citizen input and implement necessary changes efficiently. 15. Recognize and build upon previous efforts by citizens and the Town to make Barnstable the best it can be. 3 Vision, Option 3 Our natural environment keeps us healthy, provides us with beauty and joy, and is the foundation of our economy. To ensure its continued sustainability, we will: 1. Protect priority habitats, water resources, beaches, and open spaces. 2. Improve the quality of our surface water and drinking water. 3. Help slow climate change, prepare for sea level rise and other climate change impacts, and reduce our environmental footprint by investing in renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and better managing our waste. 4. Encourage and support recreational opportunities and expand access to open spaces. Our community connects us, keeps us safe, creates opportunities for all, exposes us to diverse perspectives and experiences, and enriches our lives. To strengthen our community, we will: 1. Foster a diverse economy that supports living wages and local businesses and does not harm the environment. 2. Encourage and support affordable and accessible housing options. 3. Provide access to high-quality education, healthcare, and human and social services. 4. Strengthen community connections and communication: neighbor to neighbor, village to village, and between residents and the Town. 5. Foster an inclusive community that values diversity and cares for those in need. 6. Create a healthy, safe community, with a good quality of life for all residents and visitors. Our built environment supports our daily lives and connects us to our history. To maintain what we love while also responding to the challenges we face, we will: 1. Preserve and enhance the unique character and history of each of the town’s seven villages. 2. Steer development toward locations with adequate infrastructure and prioritize redevelopment over new development. 3. Enable people to travel by the mode of their choice—walking, biking, rolling, driving, taking public transit, etc. 4. Build essential infrastructure that is resilient, adaptable, and sustainable. Our town government provides essential services, enables us to work together for the common good and empowers citizens to participate in democracy. To ensure government is effective and inclusive, we will: 1. Increase transparency of the local government so that it can make effective decisions grounded in citizen input and implement necessary changes efficiently. 2. Recognize and build upon previous efforts by citizens and the Town to make Barnstable the best it can be. 4 Vision, Option 4 Our Values:  Environmental protection and improvement  Diversity, inclusion  Community connectedness  Care for others, opportunities for everyone  Unique villages, character, and connection to history Our Vision We will preserve what we love about Barnstable while proactively addressing the challenges facing our natural environment, our infrastructure, and our community. We will make strategic improvements to our facilities, programs and services, regulations, and governance to solve multiple challenges at once:  Wastewater improvements will yield clean drinking water, sparkling ponds and beaches, and healthy habitats, while opening opportunities for housing and open space preservation.  Improvements to the town’s transportation system will make our streets safer, less congested, and more enjoyable for walking and biking, while making our villages more connected and more vibrant.  Efforts to support housing across a range of income levels will enable Barnstable’s youth, older adults, and workers to live here, while improving our economy.  Improvements to government transparency and communication, will improve our decision- making and democracy, while resulting in more efficient government services, excellent schools and senior services, outstanding recreational opportunities, and a more connected community. Together, we will make Barnstable better for all.