Gardner Planning Board adopts updated 20-year master plan prepared by Barrett Planning Group

The Gardner Planning Board voted to adopt an updated city master plan prepared by Barrett Planning Group after a presentation that summarized a year of community engagement.

Jen Doherty, preservation planner with Barrett Planning Group, told the board the project included staff, board and committee interviews, community workshops, a public survey with about 200 responses, drop-in events and office hours. She said the plan covers natural resources, open space, housing, historic resources, land use, transportation and economic development and ends with a prioritized implementation plan assigning actions to city departments and boards.

"The project was funded by a grant from EOHLC," Doherty said. She told the board the plan is being adopted under Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 41, section 81D, and that the planning board is the municipal body to adopt the master plan. Members asked about the 20-year horizon for the plan; Doherty said timeframes vary by community and recommended not updating sooner than 10 years in most cases. One member said, "I think it should be 10," but other members supported the 20-year horizon unless significant change prompts an earlier update.

A board member moved to accept and adopt the master plan "as presented." The motion was seconded, members voted in favor with no recorded opposition, and the motion passed. Doherty said staff would finalize graphics and submit the finished document by the June 30 grant deadline.