Orange

Town Info

Contact Info

6 Prospect Street

Orange, MA 01364

PHONE: 978-544-1100 FAX: 978-544-1120

E-mail: admin@townoforange.Org

Hours & Days Open

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Friday - 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Selectboard Meetings

Every Other Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.

---

FRCOG work in Orange during 2005

• Staff worked with the Town to prepare the Town's Commonwealth Capital application and supporting materials.
• Staff prepared an application for a Smart Growth Technical Assistance Grant and secured $8,000 in funding to prepare zoning revisions and conduct public outreach and education.
• Staff helped the Town complete its Master Plan.
• Staff continued to assist the Planning Board with updates and revisions to the Town's Zoning Bylaws based on the results of the Master Planning process.
• Staff worked with the Town and the consultant hired to prepare design and construction drawings, develop cost estimates, and obtain permits for the proposed Orange Riverfront Park.
• FRCOG Staff prepared a grant proposal that secured $224,600 in grant funding from the Section 319 Program for the Town of Orange to install a Low Impact Development (LID) design to manage storm water at the Orange Riverfront Park. The Riverfront Park will showcase a variety of LID techniques, including rain gardens, bioretention swales, permeable pavers, soil amendments and rain barrels.
• FRCOG Staff prepared an Urban Self-Help grant application that secured approximately $373,000 in funding to construct other elements of the Orange Riverfront Park including a Boat House for canoe, kayak, and bicycle rentals to support Orange's downtown revitalization and ecotourism efforts.
• Staff completed a local Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan for the Town to address hazards such as flooding and severe winter storms.
• Staff secured Brownfields funding and completed an environmental site assessment for the Sogard Tool property and assessment work began for the Putnam Hall Building, as requested by the community. The value of the environmental assessment work for these properties in 2005 was $5,100.
• Staff provided assistance to the Towns of Orange and Athol to advance local efforts to establish a bikeway between the two communities.
• Staff secured funding to complete a Corridor Management Plan for the Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway East (Greenfield to Athol).
• Staff continued to provide technical assistance to the Town and the Route 2 Task Force to implement Route 2 Safety Improvements
• Staff secured an additional $3 million of funding for Route 2 Safety improvements by writing and submitting a successful white paper to Congressman Olver.
• Staff prepared a Smart Growth Technical Assistance grant and secured $22,000 to hire an architecture/engineering firm to prepare conceptual designs and cost estimates to redevelop the Putnam Hall building for commercial uses.
• Staff prepared a Public Works Economic Development (PWED) grant application for the Town to secure $800,000 in funding for the development of two parking lots in the downtown at the former Getty site adjacent to Putnam Hall and a site on School Street.
• Staff secured a grant and began work on a Strategic Plan for Renewable Energy for the Pioneer Valley.
• Staff developed an emergency resource directory for first responders throughout Western Massachusetts.
• Staff updated state databases containing information on critical infrastructure and facilities in the region.
• Staff assisted in the development of a mutual aid agreement between the 101 towns of Western Massachusetts.
• Staff completed a pedestrian assessment survey and provided a map of the existing pedestrian facilities to the Town.
• Staff provided the Town with bicycle parking racks as part of Transportation Demand Management Program Share the Road in the Connecticut River Valley.
• Staff revised the North Main Street Footprint Road application and submitted the required copies to the State.
• Staff conducted two municipal requested, and two FRCOG requested traffic counts. The FRCOG request count was in support of its Regional Traffic Count Program.
• Staff completed the 2005 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Project Listing, a prioritized listing of regionally-significant economic development projects, which included seven projects in Orange. One of these projects, the Putnam Hall Building Redevelopment Project has been invited to submit a pre-application for funding from the federal EDA.
• Staff fulfilled a data request for the Orange Riverfront Park Committee.
• Staff completed the reporting requirements to maintain the Town's eligibility for the Economic Development Incentive Program through the Franklin County Economic Target Area.

Top