Master Plan

What is a Master Plan?

A master plan is a comprehensive long range plan intended to guide growth and development of a community. A key intent of the document is to ensure decision-making considers both the long-term effects of an action and is consistent with an over-all vision created by the community. It provides a foundation that can help protect a community from reactionary actions.

Based on public input, planning initiatives, existing development, demographics, physical characteristics, and social and economic conditions the plan includes analysis, recommendations, and proposals for the community's population, economy, housing, transportation, preservation, energy, community facilities, and land use. The legal basis for master planning comes from MGL Chapter 41, Section 81 D:

" A planning board established in any city or town under section 81 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."

Massachusetts General Laws requires that master plans at a minimum, address:

  • Natural Resources
  • Economic Development
  • Infrastructure
  • Transportation
  • Historic and Cultural Resources
  • Open Space and Recreation
  • Land Use
  • Housing
  • Implementation

The Maynard Master Plan was adopted by the Planning Board, endorsed by the Select Board in 2020 and accepted by the voters at the Town Meeting of October 3, 2020.

A Master Plan Implementation Committee (MPIC) supports and monitors the Master Plan implementation by Town Departments and Committees.

Master Plan Informational Website

This separate website contains detailed information from the two-year Master Plan Drafting process: 

Front page screenshot of the Master Plan page

2020 Master Plan Motivation

In 2017 Maynard's plan was over 25 years old. Prepared in 1991, was designated as a 15 year plan. The town had changed in significant ways since the 1991 plan was adopted.

Typically, a municipal master plan serves as the Town's primary policy statement on future development. The process of creating/updating one involved the assessment of current trends relative to the environment, natural and cultural resources, population, demographics, housing stock and economic opportunity. Besides the planning benefits to the town in having an updated master plan, requests, grants, or other resources involving Commonwealth of Massachusetts agencies might have been negatively impacted by lack of a master plan.

In the winter 2017, Maynard began its master planning process. While it was technically an update, due to the age of Maynard's existing master plan, it was assumed to be a new product.

In March 2020, the new master plan draft was published by the MPSC.

Resources

Complete Streets Coalition

For More information email Town Planner Bill Nemser or call 978-897-1302.