Land Use Planning and Zoning
Permanently preserved farmland.
About Land Use Planning
The FRCOG provides technical assistance to Franklin County towns on a wide range of land use planning activities. Services provided include preparation of Master Plans (also known as Local Comprehensive Plans) and Open Space and Recreation Plans. FRCOG staff also provides technical assistance to communities to comprehensively update their Zoning Bylaws or Subdivision Regulations or to prepare bylaws to address specific topics such as Aquifer Protection, Adult Entertainment, Cell Towers, or Planned Industrial Parks. Regional land use planning activities range from creating a Regional Policy Plan to a Strategic Plan for Renewable Energy. In addition, the FRCOG has developed subregional Open Space Plans for the Deerfield and Millers River Watersheds and has completed a comprehensive Regional Water Supply Study for Franklin County. The FRCOG has been active recently in preparing a Regional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan and Local Natural Hazard Mitigation Plans for twenty-three communities in the region. Other services include assistance with preparing Commonwealth Capital Applications, training and technical assistance on Comprehensive Permits under M.G.L. Chapter 40B, and EO 418 Housing Certification. Funding for land use planning activities is provided through State and Federal grants or through contracts with towns.
Current Projects
Pioneer Valley Renewable Energy Strategic Plan FRCOG staff, in partnership with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and an advisory council of experts, have recently completed the Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Plan to address how the communities, businesses, individuals and others in the region can reduce energy consumption, increase renewable energy generating capacity, and reduce emissions contributing to global warming. The Clean Energy Plan identifies four goals and identifies specific actions towns, businesses, non-profits and individuals can take. This plan also offers criteria for communities to consider when siting new renewable energy facilities to help meet the state's renewable energy generation goal. Click here to view the entire Final Pioneer Valley Renewable Energy Strategic Plan.
Open Space and Recreation Planning In 2006 and 2007, FRCOG staff assisted the Towns of Whately, Deerfield and Orange to develop or update a state approved Open Space and Recreation Plan. An Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) helps a community to act strategically to protect and enhance the natural, cultural, and recreational resources they value most, makes them eligible to receive Self Help and Urban Self Help grants, and increases their ranking for other competitive state grants.
Local Natural Hazards Mitigation Planning Since 2002, FRCOG staff have worked with local Police, Fire, Emergency Management, and Public Works officials, Boards of Health, Planning Boards, Conservation Commissions, and Boards of Selectmen in 23 communities, to develop Local Natural Hazards Mitigation Plans. Local Natural Hazard Mitigation Plans include actions to reduce the loss of life and property due to the impacts of flooding, ice and snow storms, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, micro-bursts, and wildfires. In 2006-07, FRCOG staff worked with the Towns of Heath and Hawley to develop their own Local Natural Hazards Mitigation Plans.
Zoning Bylaw & Subdivision Regulations The FRCOG staff provides technical assistance to Towns to update their Zoning Bylaw and Subdivision Regulations. Over the past decade, FRCOG staff have worked with communities to update their Zoning Bylaws or Subdivisions Regulations including comprehensive revisions. Communities include Buckland, Colrain, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Leyden, Orange, Rowe, New Salem, Northfield, Shelburne, Sunderland, Warwick and Whately. Currently, the FRCOG is working with Charlemont, Leverett, New Salem, and Warwick on zoning revision projects.
Commonwealth Capital Applications Under the Commonwealth Capital policy which started in 2004, communities seeking funding through a number of state programs are required to complete a Commonwealth Capital application in addition to an application for the specific program. Since 2005, the FRCOG has assisted many communities in Franklin County with their Commonwealth Capital Applications.
A Best Management Practices Model for Streamlined Local Permitting is a pdf booklet (4.3 M pdf file) that has been created by The Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA) as a reference guide to provide a variety of ways to implement a more efficient and effective permitting process at the local level. The Model includes ideas on how to enhance communication with permit applicants, standardize the permitting process, and plan ahead for development.
This page was last updated on 05/07/2008 .