[Massplanners] Recodification of Zoning Code - Recent costs

[Lois Barbour]

Hi,

Norwell used General Code and was very pleased with the work. The original quote (from 2015) was around $15,000. However, the Town had an active Bylaw Review Committee of which I was Vice Chair. The warrant articles, approving recodification only, passed at Town Meeting in 2019. The committee did not recommend any bylaw amendments, other than edits and reorganization of some sections.

The BLRC was very active and included a former chair of the Planning Board, a Planning Board member, and me. There were also other members, representing boards/commissions/departments that offered technical advice. We put together a Table of Contents (not as simple as I originally thought it would be. We gave pertinent sections to the relevant authorities/departments for input. BLRC members read each section multiple times over the term the committee was active. We recodified both the general and zoning bylaws, although the committee I was on originally started as zoning only. However, we soon realized that the general bylaw informed zoning and couldn’t be done by a separate group of people (that the Select Board was unable to populate). If you use volunteers, you need to make sure you have knowledgeable people, who care about detail. It is a lengthy and time-consuming process.

General Code reviewed the Town/Zoning bylaw and also looked at board Rules, included in the original quote. I think we might have had add-ons to the original contract, maybe in the $2-3,000 range. However, you should be aware there is an additional fee to incorporate any changes approved at your annual town meeting after the final revision has been submitted to keep that document up-to-date. I think the charge varies, depending upon how much needs to be changed. 

Norwell’s eCode: https://ecode360.com/no3677 <https://ecode360.com/no3677>

I would definitely recommend getting a quote from them. They have many clients in Massachusetts, which is why Norwell selected that firm.

Good luck!


Lois S. Barbour, Chair
Norwell Board of Appeals

> On Sep 1, 2022, at 10:55 AM, Benson, Rachel via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:
> 
> Wrentham is interested as well!
>  
> Thank you,
> Rachel Benson
> Director of Planning & Economic Development
> Town of Wrentham
> 508-384-5441
>  
> From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org <mailto:massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org>> On Behalf Of Wortman, Erin via MassPlanners
> Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2022 12:19 PM
> To: MassPlanners at masscptc.org <mailto:MassPlanners at masscptc.org>
> Subject: [Massplanners] Recodification of Zoning Code - Recent costs
>  
> Good afternoon planners,
>  
> Hoping to hear about latest recodification efforts for municipal zoning codes.
> 
> If your community has completed this process in the last five years, could you let me know:
> Cost of project
> What those costs included (complete rewrite vs. reorganization; what engagement looked like, etc)
> Length of time to complete project
> Last time of a recodification was completed in the community (and if not done previously, when it was last fully adopted)
>  
> Bonus e-high-fives if you want to send me a link of the finished product J
> I’m meeting with our Capital Committee and although I have a ballpark figure, I’d love to share what it has cost for other communities to do similar work (always preparing for sticker shock!)
>  
> Thanks so much in advance!
>  
> Erin Wortman
> Director of Planning & Community Development
>  
> She/Her/Hers
> Why It Matters <https://www.aclunc.org/blog/what-s-pronoun>
>  
> Town of Stoneham
> 35 Central Street
> Stoneham, MA 02180
> http://www.stoneham-ma.gov/ <http://www.stoneham-ma.gov/>
> Phone: 781.507.2445
>  
> 
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