The town is beginning the process for developing an update to its Master Plan. An advisory committee is needed to help guide staff and consultants on this planning effort. The public is encouraged to apply. Interested committee members will be interviewed and appointed by the Selectboard. To apply, click here.
South Hadley Master Plan Update Advisory Committee
Overview
Purpose/Responsibility: Updating the Master Plan requires input from residents with a committee focused on the Master Plan Update to help guide the planning process. The South Hadley Master Plan Update Advisory Committee has the responsibility of providing and coordinating community input as well as guiding the development of the plan’s recommendations. Fundamentally, it is the mission of the Committee to promote interest in, and understanding of the Master Plan. To that end, the Committee will:
- Meet on a regular basis to discuss the Plan and the planning process;
- Working through the Planning & Conservation Department staff, assist in the coordination and dissemination of relevant information via a variety of forums;
- Function as the central element of the Community Engagement process including encouraging community participation and assisting in analyzing the input;
- Facilitate collecting information and input from Town officials and department heads-as requested;
- Coordinate project activities and schedule with the Planning & Conservation Department staff and consulting team;
- Review and comment on drafts of each plan element;
- Provide guidance to consulting team on key policy issues that arise through the planning process; and
- Make recommendations as needed to the Planning Board relating to the update’s policy recommendations and implementation program.
Timeframe: The Master Plan Update process is anticipated to take approximately 16 to 20 months with completion of all of the tasks by mid-2020.
Meetings: Community Engagement is central to this process and the Committee is essential to achieve successful Community Engagement through a variety of meetings.
- The Committee is anticipated to meet every 4-8 weeks depending on the need.
- A series of Community Engagement meetings will also be held and the Committee members are anticipated to participate in those meetings as well.
- While the Committee meetings are anticipated to be held at Town Hall, the Community Engagement meetings may be held in a variety of locations.
Committee Composition:
- The Committee should not exceed 9 persons
- The Committee should be representative of the community and reflect the issues which the Plan Update is anticipated to address including housing, land use and development conflicts and needs, an aging population, etc. As such, the Committee would benefit from having representatives of the varying demographics of the Town, builders/developers, conservationists, homeowners and tenants.
- To ensure coordination with the Open Space & Recreation Plan Update, 1 or 2 members of the Open Space & Recreation Plan Advisory Committee should also serve on the Master Plan Update Advisory Committee.
Committee Coordination: The Committee activities are to be coordinated through the Director of Planning & Conservation.