Master Plan Background
What is a Master Plan?
- Long-range guide for future development
- Develops goals & policies
- Reflects a vision of what residents would like their town to be in the future, developed through surveys, interview, inventories and public participation/visioning sessions
- Includes an implementation schedule
- Includes a capital improvement plan to coordinate large-scale expenditures with the goals
- An Action document, not an end of process document never to be looked at
- A guide to decision making, although it is NOT a zoning by-law, a subdivision regulation, or a capital improvement plans, but should be used to prepare said documents
What is included in a Master Plan?
According to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 41, Section 81D, a Master Plan shall include the following elements:
- Goals
- Land Use Element
- Housing Element
- Economic Development
- Natural & Cultural Resources Element (Includes Historic Resources, Environmental Protection)
- Open Space & Recreation Element
- Services & Facilities Element
- Circulation Element (Transportation)
- Implementation Element (Capital Improvements Programs, Costs, revenues associated with capital improvements, changes to regulations)
- A Master Plan includes text, maps, illustrations and other forms of communication