[Massplanners] [External] Re: Staff Planner Positions

Mon Mar 14 17:11:07 EDT 2022

I have to agree with what Chris has said, the threat of peer review and the cost has generally allowed us to work with the project proponents and come up with a better plan that Boards can endorse.  I have relied upon using Peer Review on only a couple occasions, and in more than one of them so that it was not the Town Planner telling the public that the proposal they are seeing is “good” from a traffic or environmental point of view.

But, as Heidi notes, it helps to have seasoned planners, and that the small rural towns do not all have access to professional staff.  53G is good, but, use it skillfully and not as your first offensive.

Dan Fortier
Dennis Town Planner

From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> On Behalf Of Chris Yarworth via MassPlanners
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2022 4:59 PM
To: Barbara Carboni <bcarboni at truro-ma.gov>
Cc: Eric Loth <ELoth at mincocorp.com>; massplanners at masscptc.org
Subject: [External] Re: [Massplanners] Staff Planner Positions

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Hi Stephanie:

As a licensed engineer, who has for the last nine years switched over to the planning side of things, I have perhaps a different perspective on this matter.  I have found over my many years in private engineering practice that there tend to be two types of planners.  There are those who view their boards and roles as strictly regulatory (and will only review the projects that are placed in front of them for compliance), and  those who more actively offer suggestions and comments throughout the process. The 53G peer reviewers usually only see the finished project, and that is often all they comment on. There are often multiple ways to design a site, and having an in-house engineering staff, or knowledgeable planner, can often enable discussions prior to the final submittal.  That person usually has a better idea of local problems and issues than an out of town reviewer, and early input usually results in a better final project.  I always send projects out for a final review to a 53G consultant, but often coordinate during the design phase to offer comments on alternatives that arise.  Often we get peer review money upfront, before submittal, so that coordination with the reviewer is possible early on.  Also, if a project comes in that appears to be poorly designed, I often refuse to send it out for engineering review until after the public hearing and discussion by  the Board. The developers do not usually appreciate that approach, but I don't want to be in a position where the engineering design works, but the overall project is poorly laid out from a planning perspective.  In summary, I would say it doesn't have to be an either-or approach.  There is a place for both in house and outside review on most projects.  However, I do agree with Valerie that it is important that the final design be by the project engineer, and any in house reviews are comments only, so as to  be careful of raising any liability issues.

On Mon, Mar 14, 2022 at 4:19 PM Barbara Carboni via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>> wrote:
Adopt provisions of G.L. c. 44, s. 53G and require applicant to deposit funds into account to pay peer reviewer.

Barbara Carboni
Town Planner and Land Use Counsel
(508) 214 0928

From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org>> On Behalf Of Minco Nbpt via MassPlanners
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2022 2:02 PM
To: Danielson, Stephanie <SDanielson at easton.ma.us<mailto:SDanielson at easton.ma.us>>; massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>
Cc: Eric Loth <ELoth at Mincocorp.com<mailto:ELoth at Mincocorp.com>>
Subject: Re: [Massplanners] Staff Planner Positions

We would prefer stormwater designs to be reviewed by a qualified 3rd party engineer.

Karen Pollastrino
Minco Development Corporation

From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org>> On Behalf Of Danielson, Stephanie via MassPlanners
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2022 11:55 AM
To: massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>
Subject: [Massplanners] Staff Planner Positions

Wondering how many/if any towns have planning staff that have engineering background and who review stormwater designs for projects in permitting as part of their responsibilities.

Stephanie Danielson, AICP, Director of Planning & Economic Development
Department of Planning & Economic Development
Town of Easton, 136 Elm Street, Easton, MA  02356
508.230.0641
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