Lunenburg, Massachusetts

8 9 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 TOWN OF LUNENBURG, MASSACHUSETTS where and how we can enhance our commercial space – whether it’s expansion of commercial space, whether it’s reassessing what we look for in commercial business and how we can work to integrate that commercial space without impacting residential space or the general character of the town,” Burney explains. “There are lots of opportunities and I think people are crying out for tax relief. And I think building the business community that exists and expanding it and strengthening it is that way that we can make that work here in town.” The new master plan project is long overdue. Lunenburg’s current master plan was implemented 20 years ago and had only an incomplete update in 2008. According to Burney, “With the town having been in the top five growing communities in the commonwealth in the 2010 to 2020 decade, we’d like to really get back at it and identify how perspectives have changed and how we can guide Lunenburg’s growth over the next 20 years. But I would expect that in the next 10 years we’ll be at least revisiting whatever we do in the coming months.” Managing the town’s growth trickles down to Lunenburg’s housing market as well. The town has not seen many large volume housing developments, and instead has had more focus on using infill properties. They currently have a 122-unit subdivision that has been approved, but other than that, housing is limited to the area’s current stock. “We have an aging population that’s been in town for a long time and as they divest of their family homes for either smaller retirement communities in the area or moving to the warm south to retire, we’re seeing turnover of existing housing stock,” Burney says. The state has been encouraging Lunenburg to expand its housing market, but the town is cautious in its approach to growth. “We struggle with how to balance the load that housing brings for our school system and for our public safety system, specifically,” Burney states. “The town is looking at it. The town wants to be welcoming, but we also want to make sure we grow in a way that is sustainable for all the services we provide.” Lunenburg’s small town charm is bolstered by its long history. Originally settled in 1718, Lunenburg was officially incorporated in 1728 and many of the original buildings from that era still stand – including the Lunenburg Town Hall that was built in the early 19th century. The town’s downtown features a registered historic district, which has been zoned as a village district as a way to make it more vibrant and walkable. “Previously it had been essentially a residential district, but had historically been used for a variety of commercial and cottage industry uses,” Burney explains. “As part of the village district adoption, the town created an architectural preservation district, so the idea behind that is that contributing properties – properties that are over 75 years old – would have a review process and would look to retain as much as possible of the historic exterior. They could allow for the interiors to be modified and reused to fit some of the commercial uses that the village district allows.” With its historic architecture as a backdrop, Lunenburg’s downtown has become a focal point for events and activities that help bring the community together. A farmers’ market runs every Sunday from summer to fall, the police department has had car shows in the town center, and band concerts are held on Monday evenings in the summer. It’s also a place to celebrate holidays, with a Halloween Trunk or Treat event