ScholarWorks@UMassAmherst
We are now able to accept submissions directly in ScholarWorks. For submissions that are not doctoral dissertations or masters theses, please log in with your NetID, click the + (plus) in to the top left corner, and select the Submit Research option.
Graduate students filing for February 2025 degrees: We are now accepting submissions directly to ScholarWorks. Directions for submissions can be found in this guide. Please email scholarworks@library.umass.edu if you have any questions.
Request forms are functional. If you do not receive a reply to a submitted request, please email scholarworks@library.umass.edu.
This site is still under construction, please see our ScholarWorks guide for updates.
Featured Items
Recent Submissions
Publication A Study to Improve the Visual Quality and Imagibility of the Central Business District(1975)This study explores the town of Belchertown, sparked by an interest in its Select Committee on Goals (SCOG) report and involvement with the Belchertown Bicentennial Committee. Focusing on town design and planning challenges faced by small communities, the project aims to provide an educational and practical examination of local issues. A key component was a questionnaire distributed to residents by SCOG, designed to gather citizen input and perspectives to inform future planning and development efforts. The study seeks to deepen understanding of community priorities and contribute to effective town planning.Publication An Evaluation of Vermont's Growth Management Program(1990)This study evaluates Vermont’s 1988 Growth Management Program, focusing on the legislative amendments known as ACT 200, which restructured the state's land use planning framework. To provide context, the study also examines Vermont’s earlier land use regulations under the Environmental Control Act (ACT 250, 1970) and the Municipal and Regional Planning and Development Act (Chapter 117, 1968). While ACT 250 regulated certain development types and sizes, it lacked comprehensive and coordinated planning, resulting in a gradual erosion of Vermont’s traditional settlement pattern of distinct urban centers surrounded by open land. ACT 200 was enacted to address these shortcomings by establishing a coordinated planning process across state, regional, and local levels, complementing existing regulatory programs. This study analyzes the implementation and impacts of ACT 200 and its recent amendments.Publication The "Strip": A Study of Highway Beautification(1986)Highway business areas, commonly known as commercial strips, are a hallmark of automobile-centered development. These strips typically emerge along heavily traveled roads without comprehensive planning, resulting in disjointed uses, excessive signage, and minimal pedestrian accommodations. This often leads to degraded visual quality and increased hazards for both motorists and pedestrians due to numerous curb cuts and unclear signage. Landscaping is usually sparse, further diminishing the area’s appeal. This study argues that well-planned and visually attractive highway commercial zones can enhance the integrity of towns and encourage economic activity by attracting visitors. Despite prior research, many commercial strips remain unattractive and unsafe. This report identifies practical tools to reduce visual clutter and address specific issues in a case study of the Housatonic Street commercial strip in Lee, Massachusetts—a key gateway community to the Berkshires tourist region. The study aims to provide actionable recommendations to improve the functionality and appearance of this corridor.Publication Goals and Strategies for Housing in North Adams, Massachusetts(1974)This terminal project aims to create an informative housing document designed for use by housing policy-makers, particularly in smaller communities lacking professional staff. Inspired by experiences with Housing Now, Incorporated, a nonprofit housing group in North Adams that has developed family housing units, homeowner training programs, and advocated for stronger local housing inspections, this project addresses the need for a housing master plan. Smaller urban and rural communities often face challenges in community development due to limited access to basic information and financial constraints preventing full-time professional staff. Increasingly, private consultants have filled this gap by providing essential research to inform policy decisions. This report is structured to serve as a consultant-style resource, presenting clear, accessible information without reliance on complex housing theories, enabling local leaders and policy-makers to make informed decisions on housing needs and planning.Publication South Shore Bay Circuit Corridors(1991)The Bay Circuit is a regional network of parks and open spaces surrounding metropolitan Boston, connected by trails, waterways, and scenic routes. Originally proposed in 1929 to preserve public access to the New England countryside amid urban growth, little progress was made until 1984, when the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management (DEM) received funding to advance the project. The northern and western sections of the Bay Circuit benefit from large, contiguous protected lands, making corridor completion more feasible. In contrast, the southern portion—particularly the towns of Hanson, Halifax, Plympton, and Kingston—lacks extensive protected areas, complicating efforts to establish a continuous greenbelt. This study evaluates two proposed corridor routes, the North River and Jones River Corridors, to designate primary and secondary pathways. The goal is to prioritize planning and acquisition efforts for effective implementation of the Bay Circuit in this challenging southern region.
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