[Massplanners] Zoning Bylaw Rewrite?

[Stephen Wallace]

Chris –

We had a vintage 1970s zoning bylaw when I arrived here ten years ago. After a master planning effort, we conducted an in-house zoning rewrite taking it in phases over three years. Year 1: residential, Year 2: commercial/industrial, Year 3: everything else.   Frankly, I could not pursue such an effort today because the pace of development has quickened to the point where most of my time is spent managing the Planning Board’s caseload.  I’m guessing that’s probably your situation as well.

Stephen Wallace, Town Planner
11 South Street
Westminster, MA 01473
Phone: 978-874-7414



From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> On Behalf Of Christopher Ryan
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2021 3:17 PM
To: massplanners at masscptc.org
Subject: [Massplanners] Zoning Bylaw Rewrite?

Hi all

I need to be thinking about how we're going to approach the long overdue comprehensive rewrite of our zoning bylaws and had a few questions for the water cooler.

First, those who have addressed a dated and flawed bylaw, what has your approach been?

a) Did you conduct a complete rewrite? What were the components? Structure and organization, legal review, adding user-friendly elements?

b) If not comprehensive, what were the elements and issues that you focused on?

c) Did you introduce innovative methodologies and types? Form-based? Hybrid? Any elements of performance zoning?

d) How did you fund it and what was the cost?

e) What type of consulting team did you use? Multidisciplinary? Did you do some of it in-house?

f) Did you have a committee? How was it composed?

g) What was the biggest challenge?

So, if you have recently done work on your bylaw, let me know what you did...or even if you are preparing for it or thinking about it.

Thanks a ton in advance...

Chris R.

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Christopher J. Ryan, AICP
Director of Community and Economic Development
Town of Harvard, MA
13 Ayer Road
Harvard, MA  01451
Phone: 978.456.4100 x.323
Email: cryan at harvard.ma.us<mailto:cryan at harvard.ma.us>
Web: http://www.harvard.ma.us<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.harvard.ma.us&c=E,1,tZfwPLhawSds56tpXXma0liLPK33C88vvC3fi34RP-FMO_33X42Wy4RwTbfCKE_Dl_aUe1mt4STZzUnRDKG1fDFy8CckJwCCKThyhX3s8N0,&typo=1>
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