Introduction
Chelmsford has a 40 year history of master planning. Master Plans have been completed in 1963, 1975, 1986 and 1996. The Planning Board is charged with drafting a Master Plan for the Town of Chelmsford. The Master Plan serves as a guide for the future development of the community. It takes a long range view of how our community should look and feel based upon a 10-20 year horizon. The Plan identifies broad, town-wide goals as well as specific objectives and strategies for implementation. The Master Plan serves as Chelmsford’s “vision” for land use and development planning. As new development, infrastructure and opportunities come forward, the Master Plan will provide the basis for guidance, coordination and accountability to policy makers and all stakeholders regarding the long term physical development of the community.
Background
During 2007 the Planning Board began discussions about updating the 1996 Master Plan. At the Spring 2008 Town Meeting, $70,000 was approved for Comprehensive and Strategic Planning. During the fall the Planning Board and town staff entered into discussions with the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG) about contracting for services to update the Master Plan.
In December, the Planning Board appointed a Master Plan Committee. In January 2009, the Master Plan Committee began meeting and finalized the contract with NMCOG (see scope for more details).
Master Plan Committee
The Committee consists of 9 voting members; two planning Board members, and one of the following; Board of Selectmen, Zoning Board, Conservation Commission, Community Preservation, and representatives from Town Meeting, the business community and the residents.
In February 2009, the Committee drafted its Mission Statement and Goals & Objectives.
Public Participation
The Committee is committed to providing a process that engages the public in an open and inviting manner. To that end, the public participation process will include the following:
- Master Plan Committee on the Town’s webpage with links to all pertinent information such as meetings, minutes, draft documents, etc.
- Master Plan community blog web page for purposes of receiving public comments.
- A series of public / community meetings
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a Master Plan?
The Master Plan serves to guides a community’s physical evolution by choice, not chance.
It takes a systematic, neutral look at growth and change by understanding the physical, policy, regulatory and economic determinants of what exists today – as a basis for anticipating their impacts on tomorrow. It assures that major decisions do not occur in a vacuum and provides a structured, predictable process for residents to participate in decisions that have long range consequences for the town.
The Master Plan will consists of the following elements; land use, historic and cultural resources, open space and recreation, natural resources, housing, economic development, transportation, and infrastructure.
2. Why do we need a Master Plan?
The Master Plan is a critical step in identifying the challenges facing the town and establishing the values which should influence town policy and decisions. The Master Plan will help the town to work toward a shared vision for the future. It will help ensure that limited land resources are used wisely.
3. Who developed the Master Plan?
The 9 member Master Plan Committee, representing a broad array of interests and town boards and organizations, will be working over the next 12 months with the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments and the community, to develop the Master Plan. The process will emphasize public participation through a visioning workshop, public meetings on goals and recommendations, as well as opportunity for public comment at all the Master Plan meetings during the course of the project.
5. Is the Master Plan intended to stimulate growth?
No. The Master Plan is a growth management plan. It neither accelerates nor slows the pace of growth in the community, which has fluctuated significantly in the past, primarily due to economic conditions. However, past growth has been at times inconsistent with the goals and vision of the community. The Master Plan seeks to establish a framework that will help Chelmsford achieve its desired future.
6. Is the Master Plan legally binding?
No, the Master Plan is not a rigid framework for future development. The recommendations are not legally binding. More effort is required to discuss, revise, and implement the recommendations. All zoning recommendations would need to be debated and voted at Town Meeting.
Adoption of the Master Plan does not imply that future actions cannot deviate from the recommendations contained in the document. Rather, the Plan represents a set of principles against which future decisions must be evaluated. The prioritized list of goals is very important, for it can help resolve future conflicts when it seems that various goals are at odds.
WELCOME to the Chelmsford Master Plan Process. This site has been established by the Chelmsofrd Master Plan Committee in order to provide a forum for the :
