The Planning Board is an elected town
board of five members, each with a five year term. The Board
operates under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter
40A and Chapter 41.
The purpose of the Planning Board is
to guide the development of the Town in the best interests of
all its residents. The Board has very specific responsibilities
and authorities as granted by Massachusetts General Laws and
the Zoning By-Laws
of the Town of Longmeadow.
The Zoning By-Laws
of the Town have evolved over the years in an effort to maintain
the unique character of Longmeadow. The By-Laws provide for the
acceptable uses (Residential, Commercial, etc) within various
land areas or "Zones" within the town as well as setting
forth such items as the size of lots, required street frontage,
and design and location elements for various types of structures
within those zones. The Board on an ongoing basis reviews the
Town's Zoning By-Laws and makes recommendations for changes to
keep the By-Laws current in terms of the Town's present state
of development.
Any requests for Zoning By-Law changes
or amendments are also reviewed by the Board. Public hearings
are held to allow input from any abutters or other interested
citizens. The Board is required to provide a recommendation on
any Zoning By-Law amendment at Town Meeting, where a two-thirds
vote is required to approve the change.
The Planning Board is responsible for
the review and approval of all subdivisions (the division of
a tract of land into two or more lots). The Board oversees a
comprehensive process involving review by relevant regulatory
agencies, public hearings, covenants with developers for betterments,
performance bonding, and ongoing compliance monitoring.
Under "Site and Design Review",
in the Zoning By-Laws, the Board also has the responsibility
to assure that prior to any new construction or significant changes
to an existing structure, other than single family dwellings,
such factors as community needs, abutters' concerns, visual amenities,
safety issues, and environmental and historic features on the
site and in adjacent areas are considered.
The Planning Board serves as a resource
to assist interested individuals with the process of proposing
plans or projects under the Zoning By-Laws. Communications are
maintained on an ongoing basis with related Town agencies including
the Zoning Board of Appeals and other planning groups within
the Town such as the Long Range Planning Committee.
The Planning Board holds regularly scheduled
meetings at least once each month. All meetings are open to the
public and we welcome your input.
Below is the schedule of upcoming 2007 meetings:
March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7, July 12, August 2, September
13, October 11, November 1 and December 6. All of these meetings
will be held at the Police Station Community Room at 7 PM.
You may contact the Board by calling
Beverly Rose (Planning and Comunity Development Office)
at 565-4153.
Agenda
