Swampscott is master of its domain

SWAMPSCOTT – Residents and business owners interested in shaping the town?s Master Plan will get their chance to provide input tonight at a public forum in the high school cafeteria, beginning at 6:30.The Master Plan Committee, comprised of 18 Swampscott residents, will host the forum, and the focus will be on housing, economic development and historical assets.?It?s an open-house format,” said Peter Kane, the town planner and energy efficiency manager. “Residents are encouraged to come anywhere between 6:30 and 9 to take part.”There will be a filmed opening presentation that will be shown every 15 minutes for that those who attend and arrive at their convenience, Kane said.By 9 p.m., he said, stations will be set up for each of the three topics on the agenda. Residents will be asked to go around to each station, where committee members will provide information.?Once they review all the facts,” Kane said, “they?ll be presented with questions, where they can then provide their feedback as to how they feel about the issue being discussed.”Kane feels it?s important to get residents involved, rather than just present the plan to them without their input.?That?s standard practice nowadays,” Kane said. “You do engage the residents. If you don?t engage the community, they don?t feel vested in it. You want to engage them. It?s their voice. It?s their feedback. It?s their community. It has to be what the community wants.”After many attempts, Town Meeting last year approved the funds to create a Master Plan. It would be the first such plan in Swampscott since 1971.This is the second of four scheduled forums that hopefully will craft a Master Plan that will be implemented over the next 10 years. The first forum was last month, when the town tried to come up with a vision for the plan.?We wanted to get a big picture,” Kane said. “What does the community want for Swampscott 2025?”Tonight?s forum, and the next one in July, will get into specific issues. Next month, the emphasis will be on public facilities and transportation. The final forum will be either in late September or early October, when a draft of the plan will be presented and when comments about it will be entertained.Once the committee finalizes the plan, it?ll go before the Planning Board for final approval.The plan is being developed by the Town of Swampscott, with assistance from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. When completed, it will include a set of goals, policies and strategies on topics including housing, economic development, historic and cultural resources and open space/recreation.