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		<subject index="0" >Planning Board</subject>

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		<field id="1600" index="0" type="text">Jaimy Messana, Secretary</field>

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		<field id="1700" index="0" type="text">The Citizen Planner Training Collaborative</field>

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		<field id="1616" index="0" type="text">/Public_Documents/StockbridgeMA_PlanMin</field>

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</FCFORMSHEADER>
Review Development Plans

	Plans are submitted to the Board by applicants who want to develop their land for residential, commercial or other uses.

	The procedures you have to follow in reviewing such plans are clearly spelled out in state laws (or statues) and in your own local bylaws or ordinances.

	Your major tools here are the state and local zoning and the subdivision regulations. The project may involve the need for a Site Plan Review, a Special Permit, a Variance or a simple signing of an Approval-Not-Required (ANR) plan.

Guide the Process of Zoning Amendments

	If your bylaws no longer reflect the vision of how your town wants to grow, then either you or your residents can initiate the process of amending your zoning. Zoning amendments have to follow detailed procedures to make sure the public has sufficient opportunity to provide input. The final changes have to be voted on by the town meeting. The Attorney General's office has to approve them for towns.

They Certainly Plan

	Your Board is responsible for creating and updating the Master of Comprehensive Plan. It should be created with broad public involvement. having a Master Plan is helpful towards updating zoning amendments, identifying open space priorities and economic development goals, addressing housing and transportation issues, and bringing all aspects of town government together under one coordinated plan. Dust off your most recent plan and review it!

Administration

The Planning Board has certain organizational tasks:

Boards elect their own officers, set rules and procedures, create and administer a budget,  hire and supervise consultants, and form subcommittees.

You may work with and supervise your staff.
	
You may be handling grants of contracts with consultants, etc. Clearly spelled out rules and procedures will save your Board from any disagreements and create time for planning.

Your Board may need to prepare a budget and defend it before the Finance Committee of Town manager.

Who is there to Help?

Here are your primary pillars of support:

More experienced board members and/or your planning department staff.

Your Regional Planning Agency / Commission.

The State Department of Housing and Community Development (617-727-7001 x 443)

The Citizen Planner Training Collaborative (413-545-2188 ;  www.umass.edu/masscptc)  

The Massachusetts Federation of Planning and Appeals Boards (508-892-1411)

Your town counsel / solicitor.

UMass Extension and the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning (413-545-2188)

The State Ethics Commission (888-485-4766 ;  www.state.ma.us/ethics)