[Massplanners] Legal Advertisements for Planning Board and ZBA Hearings

[Lynne D. Sweet]

I believe that newton also posts some small signs about hearings on properties, like the pollical signs that go in the ground.

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Lynne D. Sweet
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LDS Consulting Group, LLC
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From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> On Behalf Of janetmcgowan30--- via MassPlanners
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2022 3:54 PM
To: SR - Medfield Planner <medfield.planner at gmail.com>
Cc: Mass Planners <massplanners at masscptc.org>
Subject: Re: [Massplanners] Legal Advertisements for Planning Board and ZBA Hearings

When I was in Boulder Colorado, there was a giant sign on a property with notice of the permit application, hearing dates, etc.  Definitely would get the neighbors attention.


On Mar 23, 2022, at 3:48 PM, SR - Medfield Planner via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>> wrote:

I’m having a hard time in Medfield too. Luckily I am able to get ads in a local paper after the regular paper ceased publication but their billing is wonky. I have checks from applicants on my desk from December that I haven’t received bills for!
Sarah Raposa
Medfield

Sent from my iPhone


On Mar 23, 2022, at 2:58 PM, Belansky, Evan via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>> wrote:

Maybe part of zoning reform phase II….or simply burying it in a bill.

I thought there was some municipal modernization provisions passed not long ago?

This is all kinda funny as applicants ask how long is the process…..I tell them minimum of three months state wide due to state zoning act requirements….the first month being legal ads.


Evan Belansky
Town of Chelmsford

From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org>> On Behalf Of Richard McCarthy via MassPlanners
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2022 2:50 PM
To: Eric Rumsey <erumsey at southbridgemass.org<mailto:erumsey at southbridgemass.org>>; Joseph Laydon <jlaydon at littletonma.org<mailto:jlaydon at littletonma.org>>; Kristina Johnson <kjohnson at townofhudson.org<mailto:kjohnson at townofhudson.org>>
Cc: Mass Planners <massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>>
Subject: Re: [Massplanners] Legal Advertisements for Planning Board and ZBA Hearings

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Eric,

Welcome to MA.  I suspect the newspapers lobbyists will do the same here if we tried.  I completely agree the time came long ago.

Best,


Richard J. McCarthy, Jr.
Town Planner
1 Liberty Lane
Norfolk, MA 02056
508-440-2807
Office Hours- Monday through Thursday 9am to 6pm
Closed Fridays

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From: MassPlanners [mailto:massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org>] On Behalf Of Eric Rumsey via MassPlanners
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2022 11:13 AM
To: Joseph Laydon; Kristina Johnson; massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>
Subject: Re: [Massplanners] Legal Advertisements for Planning Board and ZBA Hearings

A few years ago (when I worked for a municipality in CT), we asked everyone who participated in our public hearings how they had heard about the hearing.  There wasn’t a single person who had seen the legal notice in the paper.  CCAPA, CAZEO (Connecticut Association of Zoning Enforcement Officers), and others lobbied for a change to the statutes to allow posting on websites, etc.  Sadly, the newspaper lobbyists have/had deeper pockets so no change was made.

Hopefully here in Massachusetts will have better luck.

Eric Rumsey
Town Planner & Conservation Agent
Economic Development and Planning Department
Town of Southbridge
41 Elm Street | Southbridge, MA 01550
p: 508.764.5402
e: erumsey at southbridgemass.org<mailto:erumsey at southbridgemass.org>
w: ci.southbridge.ma.us<https://m365.us.vadesecure.com/safeproxy/v4?f=gLbwzn1ZiuVR9uIsizWvMQYDDjZhmkYC5e9h6QukGXN8Ef9yiTPbhKd7_QAWt2BFv_KLK4FmhJnNBiefSiKEkQ&i=cVX_e99a8xfrHIOIpLC6WLGZ8MmcTd-NOLVpWJCx5mCGYn0cy9Q1sRm5p71yGzVptS2yHuCm8OExxI_1YFeqiA&k=jty6&r=FVJgRDaStoQchuXCQXVyFU_8L5V0vnuSUbe44ks_jV1o4g6q3HCy8UR0wcvNw_e8&s=947c61cb5bc36238e80e89fc47a3c852f586b834ed1dfd132703b07041219579&u=http%3A%2F%2Fci.southbridge.ma.us>

From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org>> On Behalf Of Joseph Laydon via MassPlanners
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2022 10:56 AM
To: Kristina Johnson <kjohnson at townofhudson.org<mailto:kjohnson at townofhudson.org>>; massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>
Subject: Re: [Massplanners] Legal Advertisements for Planning Board and ZBA Hearings

Kristina,

You forgot one important point; these consolidated media entities can’t figure out billing.  So not only are the costs high, but we are constantly calling to straighten out billing issues.

We may be at a tipping point where planners and towns start asking our legislatures to remove the newspaper requirements and to rely on posting on town websites.  Even moving from planning to administration, I continue to be frustrated by the changing costs and billing errors.

Joe

_________________________________
Joseph Laydon
Town of Littleton
Assistant Town Administrator
37 Shattuck Street
Littleton, MA 01460
jlaydon at littletonma.org<mailto:jlaydon at littletonma.org>
978-540-2460



From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org>> On Behalf Of Kristina Johnson via MassPlanners
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2022 10:44 AM
To: massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>
Subject: [Massplanners] Legal Advertisements for Planning Board and ZBA Hearings



**THIS EMAIL WAS SENT BY AN EXTERNAL SENDER**
Hello Friends and Colleagues,

I am curious to know if any of you are having an issue with legal advertisements, as many local and regional newspapers either being consolidated by large corporate media entities,  have a completely online presence, or have changed their billing policies. Both in Hudson and in Framingham (where I serve on the PB), the regional newspaper, the MetroWest Daily News is requiring “pre-payment” for all legal advertisements instead of the traditional third-party billing method.  Thankfully in Hudson we have another newspaper that publishes locally, although their deadlines completely changed our submission deadlines for PB ZBA, as they only publish once a week.  In Framingham, the only other local newspaper is 100% online,  so Framingham will most likely have to raise fees for application filings to cover the pre-payment in order to ensure the provisions of 40A Section 11 are met. I should note that legal advertisements are not cheap!

What a headache!  Anyone else facing this issue?

Best,
Kristina






Kristina Johnson, AICP
Director of Planning & Community Development
Town of Hudson,  MA
President, Mass. Association of Planning Directors
Tel: 978-562-2989
Cell:  857-939-3427
Email: kjohnson at townofhudson.org<mailto:kjohnson at townofhudson.org>
Acta non verba


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