SAUGUS — The town is inviting residents to review the final draft of its long-awaited Master Plan.
The plan will be presented during a March 16 virtual meeting at 6 p.m, which will be hosted by Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree, the Board of Selectmen, the Planning and Economic Development Department, the Planning Board and the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC). The MAPC consulted with the town to help draft the final Master Plan and will be assisting throughout the presentation.
The Master Plan, a requirement for towns and cities in Massachusetts, defines municipal goals and policies related to land use, housing, economic development, natural and cultural resources, open space and recreation, services and facilities, transportation and the overall implementation of the plan.
Crabtree said the meeting followed three other public forums on the required elements of the plan and will conclude the process of updating the current Master Plan. The final document will be adopted by the Planning Board and the next step of prioritizing implementation will begin.
“The Master Plan was last completed in 1988 and updating the plan is a major priority for the Board of Selectmen,” Crabtree said. “The town-wide plan includes goals and policies for what stakeholders want to see happen here.”
Town Meeting members approved the allocation of $150,000 to update the plan after Crabtree drafted the article for the special Town Meeting warrant. He said it was important for the town to pursue smart growth to sustain a full-service community and balance the impact of development.
The plan includes strategies to manage future growth and development, protect environmental resources, set priorities for developing and maintaining infrastructure, create a framework for future policy decisions and guide landowners and developers and permitting authorities, according to Crabtree.
Town Meeting members also supported and approved a two-year moratorium on the construction of multi-family dwellings of three or more units, in order to allow the town to analyze the impact they will have, which will be addressed through the Master Plan.
The final document is expected to be adopted by the Planning Board.
There will also be a question-and-answer session at the end of the presentation for all participants.
Those who wish to participate can do so with this link:
https://zoom.us/j/93423968618?pwd=VGNKdkhlNVc4MmdjaEhmZHNzd0FrQT09&from=addon
