Master Plan Project
In 2022, the Town of East Bridgewater was awarded a $50,000 grant from the One Step for Growth program to develop a new Master Plan for the Town. The last Master Plan was approved in the 1990s and given the changes in East Bridgewater since then, a new master plan is needed.
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.
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 Town contracted with the Old Colony Planning Council (OCPC) to develop a new master plan. There will be documents related to the development of the plan posted here. A survey will be available on-line and on paper for residents and other interested parties to complete. There will be a series of public forums when anyone who is interested in the project can participate.
OCPC met with the Planning Board on Monday, November 6 to present a brief overview of what the project entails - Presentation
OCPC and the Town hosted a "Discovery Workhop" on Thursday, January 11 about the project - Presentation
A Master Plan on-line survey for those who live in, work in, or own property in East Bridgewater. Paper copies are available at the Town Hall, the East Bridgewater Public Library, and the East Bridgewater Council on Aging and can be returned to these locations.
On January 8, the East Bridgewater Selectboard appointed the following individuals to the Master Plan Committee:
Diane Philips, Jessica Henderson, Eric Norment, Robert Miller, and Theresa McNulty.
The Old Colony Planning Council has a page dedicated to East Bridgewater's Master Plan Project.
The Old Colony Planning Council led a "Discovery Workshop" about the project on Thursday, January 11. EBCAM has uploaded a copy of the presentation at https://youtu.be/HgJ-SSAm8-0
Additional workshps will be held on Thursday, February 22 at 6:30pm in the 2nd floor conference room in the East Bridgewater Town Hall and on Wednesday, March 6 at 6:30pm on-line (link for the on-line workshop to come).