Master Planning Committee seeking members

Posted on September 5, 2018 | Leave a comment

The Board of Selectmen will be appointing a committee on October 16 to do town wide master planning.  Any residents interested in serving on that committee should submit an expression of interest and a resume to Evelyn Clarke – call her at 508-906-3012 or email her at eclarke@medfield.net.

Below is the outline of both the master planning process and a proposed timeline put together by Sarah Raposa, Town Planner.

SR Notes for 09/04/18 BoS Meeting A MASTER PLAN: • Documents and illustrates what a community looks like today and what direction it has decided it wants to go for the future; it includes assessments of existing resources and issues, projections of future conditions and needs, and consideration of collective goals and desires. • Is a policy guide and provides a framework for future land use decision-making and the physical development of the municipality. It will not only address buildings and infrastructure, it will also include the important social, natural resource and economic values of the community. The Master Plan is a method of translating the community's values into specific actions. • Covers an approximate time frame of 20 years; it is assumed that shorter-term reviews will keep it current with the changing needs of the community. • Is closely integrated with other municipal documents and initiatives. The Master Plan is NOT a zoning ordinance, a subdivision regulation, a budget, a capital improvement progran1 or other regulatory document. It is meant to provide the framework for the development of these implementation tools. MGLChapter 41Section810: Master plan: economic development supplement Section 81D. A planning board established in any city or town under section eighty-one A shall make a master plan of such city or town or such part or parts thereof as said board may deem advisable and from time to time may extend or perfect such plan. Such plan shall be a statement, through text, maps, illustrations or other forms of communication, that is designed to provide a basis for decis ion making regarding the long-term phys ical development of the municipality. The comprehensive plan shall be internally consi stent in its policies, forecasts and standards, and shall include the following elements: (1) Goals and policies statement which identifies the goals and policies of the municipality for its future growth and development. Each community shall conduct an interactive public process, to determine community values, goals and to identify patterns of development that will be consistent with these goals. (2) Land use plan element which identifies present land use and designates the proposed distribution, location and inter-relationship of public and private land uses. This element shall relate the proposed standards of population density and building intensity to the capacity of land available or planned facilities and services. A land use plan map illustrating the land use policies of the municipality shall be included. (3) Housing element which identifies and analyzes existing and forecasted housing needs and objectives including programs for the preservation, improvement and development of housing. This element shall identify policies and strategies to provide a balance of local housing opportunities for all citizens. • HPP(2016) (4) Economic development element which identifies policies and strategies for the expansion or stabilization of the local economic base and the promotion of employment opportunities. Page I of3 SR Notes for 09/04/18 Bos Meeting (5) Natural and cultural resources element which provides an inventory of the significant natural, cultural and historic resource areas of the municipality, and policies and strategies for the protection and management of such areas. • Existingfrom OSPR (6) Open space and recreation element which provides an inventory of recreational and resources and open space areas of the municipality, and policies and strategies for the management and protection of such resources and areas. • Conditionally approved OSRP (7) Services and facilities element which identifies and analyzes existing and forecasted needs for facilities and services used by the public. (8) Circulation element which provides an inventory of existing and proposed circulation and transportation systems. (9) Implementation program element which defines and schedules the specific municipal actions necessary to achieve the objectives of each element of the master or study plan. Scheduled expansion or replacement of public facilities or circulation system components and the anticipated costs and revenues associated with accomplishment of such activities shall be detailed in this element. This element shall specify the process by which the municipality's regulatory structures shall be amended so as to be consistent with the master plan. Such plan shall be made, and may be added to or changed from time to time, by a majority vote of such planning board and shall be public record. The planning board shall, upon completion of any plan or report, or any change or amendment to a plan or report produced under this section, furnish a copy of such plan or report or amendment thereto, to the department of housing and community development. A city or town which has an established master or study plan under section eighty-one A and applies for a state grant from the commonwealth shall prepare and keep on file within such city or town an economic development supplement; provided, however, that such city or town shall not be required to prepare such supplement if such city or town has a supplement on file. Such supplement shall be at least one page in length and shall contain the goals of the city or town with respect to industrial or commercial development, affordable housing, and preservation of parks and open space. Sample Timeline Task TareetDate Notes 1. Appoint Steering Committee October 16, 2018 • Bos rep • PB rep • WC rep • ConCom I OS&R • PP&BC • others • Town Planner Sample Mission Statement: The Master Plan Steering Committee will advise, guide, and oversee the planning process of the Master Plan. The steering committee will take charge of public outreach, schedule and plan major community-wide planning events, and provide support and feedback to the planning consultant. The steering committee will also ensure that the implementation of the Master Plan is consistent with the plan's guiding principles and long term vision. The steering committee also fosters openness and inclusion in the master planning process through dialogue and communication with internal and external stakeholders. Page 2 of3 SR Notes for 09/04/18 BoS Meeting Meeting frequency - first October 18, 2018 • Discuss charter and general expectations meeting - Oct 18th at 7 pm • Steering Committee roles and responsibilities (third Thursdays of the month at • Staff and departmental commitments 7 pm in the Warrant Committee • Public participation Room) 2. Draft RFP November 29, 2018 • Statutory requirements • Additional chapters? (i.e. town government, operations, and financial strategic plan like Wellesley's Unified Plan) • MSH component per partnership model (check LOA for this) • Confirm expectations 3. Issue RFP December 31, 2018 4. RFP Responses Due January 31, 2019 5. Recommendation to BoS February 28, 2019 • Review responses • check references • interviews 6. Contract Review March 19, 2019 7. Bos Sign Contract April 16, 2019 8. Master Plan Kick-off May 1, 2019 • Consultant proposal will outline activities, public participation, timeline, etc. 9. Complete Master Plan February 28, 2020 • Example from Northborough: 0 Step 1 includes public participation and outreach through public forums, the media and the website. Meetings with stakeholder groups will also be conducted. 0 Step 2 consists of data collection and analysis and is the planning phase that determines the content of the plan for all elements. 0 Step 3 is when the draft plan is produced for public review and comment, and includes implementation actions. 0 Step 4 is the time for final review, documentation, and adoption of the plan by the Planning Board. 10 Master Plan Approval by BoS & March 31, 2020 Only legal requirement is Planning Board adoption PB 11 Master Plan Adoption at 2020 April 29, 2020 Not legally required ATM Page 3 of320180904-SR-A Master Plan_Page_220180904-SR-A Master Plan_Page_3

 

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