[Massplanners] Special permit online applications

Thu Nov 17 13:22:49 EST 2022

After having a staff meeting yesterday, for us, we decided staff will review the application online first before it gets stamped. When we go to to online permitting, relevant staff will be assigned to its review and when all checkmark, then the application will be stamped. The Town Clerk is sort of used to stamping everything that comes in but we politely tried to discourage that to avoid pressuring the board with tight timelines. If you're not on online permitting, there should be a paper checklist form or something submitted to staff, and once complete, that cover page is with the Town Clerk, then the Clerk will stamp it. Of course every municipality has its own way.

Gil Hilario

Town Planner

Town of North Attleboro

43 South Washington St.

North Attleboro, MA 02760

Office:  508.699.0116

________________________________
From: Alison Manugian <amanugian at dracutma.gov>
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2022 12:44 PM
To: Gil Hilario <ghilario at nattleboro.com>; Massachusetts Planners <MassPlanners at masscptc.org>
Cc: llind at cohassetma.org <llind at cohassetma.org>
Subject: RE: [Massplanners] Special permit online applications

Related (at least to me) question.  How do folks handle an application that gets stamped in and the clock starts but there is so much missing information that the application is truly incomplete?  Is there a cover sheet or some non-Town-Clerk signature needed first?

Thank you,

Alison

Alison Manugian

Community Development Director

amanugian at dracutma.gov<mailto:amanugian at dracutma.gov>

978-453-4557

From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> On Behalf Of Gil Hilario via MassPlanners
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2022 12:09 PM
To: Massachusetts Planners <MassPlanners at masscptc.org>
Cc: llind at cohassetma.org
Subject: Re: [Massplanners] Special permit online applications

[EXTERNAL] This message originated from outside the Town of Dracut. Use caution when opening attachments, clicking links or responding to requests for information.

Thanks everyone. The conundrum I am having is while online applications are more efficient and easier, ultimately it is the applicant's responsibility to get their application stamped with the town clerk. It is their application; their money. I am weary of staff stamping applications on behalf of applicants that can have ramifications on important timelines. I'm not sure now but I remember case law supporting it is the applicant's responsibility to file and stamp with the clerk if their is an appeal and timelines come into play. I am going to attempt to figure out a system here where applicants can apply online, move forward, and they provide a copy of the stamped application to staff but we'll see if feasible. The state law isn't updated yet for a digital age.

Gil Hilario

Town Planner

Town of North Attleboro

43 South Washington St.

North Attleboro, MA 02760

Office:  508.699.0116

________________________________

From: Christopher McGoldrick <cmcgoldrick at shrewsburyma.gov<mailto:cmcgoldrick at shrewsburyma.gov>>
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2022 11:32 AM
To: Eric Twarog <eric.twarog at greenfield-ma.gov<mailto:eric.twarog at greenfield-ma.gov>>
Cc: Gil Hilario <ghilario at nattleboro.com<mailto:ghilario at nattleboro.com>>; Massachusetts Planners <MassPlanners at masscptc.org<mailto:MassPlanners at masscptc.org>>
Subject: Re: [Massplanners] Special permit online applications

Shrewsbury is also interested. Thank you.

On Wed, Nov 16, 2022 at 10:16 AM Eric Twarog via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>> wrote:

The City of Greenfield is also interested.  Thank you.

Eric

On Wed, Nov 16, 2022 at 10:10 AM Gil Hilario via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>> wrote:

To fellow MassPlanners,

North Attleboro has all of our building permits online. Planning is still paper applications. Of course we ask for everything electronically and do most of our recordkeeping there. We are having a discussion on whether to put special permit applications for planning & zoning online. The infamous town clerk stamp has come up. Just curious, how are municipalities doing special permit applications online? Or are you keeping them on paper? How do you handle the town clerk stamp for special permit applications? Does your office or the applicant get the town clerk stamp?

Thanks!!

Gil Hilario

Town Planner

Town of North Attleboro

43 South Washington St.

North Attleboro, MA 02760

Office:  508.699.0116

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Eric Twarog, AICP, Director

City of Greenfield

Department of Planning & Development

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Greenfield, MA 01301

(413) 772-1549

eric.twarog at greenfield-ma.gov<mailto:eric.twarog at greenfield-ma.gov>

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