Land Use Planning & Zoning

Zoning Bylaw and Subdivision Regulations

Project Overview

Updating a town's Zoning Bylaw or Subdivision Regulations is one of the most important tasks a community can undertake since they determine where and how growth can take place. Each year a number of communities in Franklin County begin this process. It typically takes about 6-12 months to update Subdivision Regulations and their adoption requires a majority vote of Planning Board members following a Public Hearing.  Subdivision Regulations address a variety of items including how roads will be designed and constructed in new residential subdivisions, provisions for stormwater management, and submission requirements for ANR, Preliminary, and Definitive Subdivision Plans.  Zoning Bylaw revisions typically take 12-24 months and Zoning Bylaws must be adopted by a 2/3rds majority vote at Town Meeting following a Public Hearing.  Zoning Bylaws govern what types of land use can occur in different locations and whether uses are allowed by right, special permit or are prohibited. Zoning Bylaws can also address specific topics such as Aquifer Protection, Open Space Development, Village Center Districts, Cell Towers, or Planned Industrial Parks.

Current Activities

In 2007, FRCOG Planning Staff worked on Zoning Bylaw revisions for the towns of Buckland, Colrain, Leverett, Leyden, New Salem, and Warwick and worked with Warwick to prepare and adopt new Subdivision Regulations.

Future Plans

The FRCOG plans to assist communities to apply for future Smart Growth Planning Grants to work on Zoning Bylaw revisions or Subdivisions Regulation updates. 

This page was last updated on 03/03/2008 .

Top