A committee is finishing work on a town master plan
LUDLOW – An economist with the Kitty and Michael Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University told the town's master plan committee that implementing a smooth and transparent permitting process is one of the easiest things the town could do to improve its marketability for commercial and industrial growth.
Nancy Lee, economist with Northeastern University, said potential private sector developers want to know how quickly permitting can take place.
She said the town should post permitting procedures on its website along with check lists and flow charts for the procedures.
Ludlow Town Planner Douglas J. Stefancik is seen here in his office.She also recommended a central point person for permitting procedures such as the town planner.
The economic study is being done in conjunction with the town’s master plan.
The economic study evaluates the town’s economic strengths and weaknesses and identifies practical strategies to promote private sector investment.
Lee said that in many areas such as proximity to highways, quality of the school system, proximity to colleges and traffic issues the town is on a par with other communities which have done similar surveys.
“It will be up to the town how it uses this information,” Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Senior Planner Jessica Allan said.
With a $100,000 appropriation from Town Meeting, the town is developing a master plan with the help of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and some University of Massachusetts regional planning graduate students.
The master plan committee, formed in May 2009, consists of 15 town officials and citizen volunteers. The plan is expected to be completed by December 2010.
Town Planner Douglas Stefancik said the master plan will guide initiatives of the Planning Board and Board of Selectmen for years to come.
A master plan could determine whether there is support for a Community Preservation Act bylaw, for example, and whether residents think there is a need for more open space or affordable housing.
It also could guide the town regarding whether residents would support initiatives for higher density housing and where they feel additional residential, commercial and industrial development should be located.
For more information about the master plan, visit the Master Plan website at www.ludlowmp.org or call Stefancik at 413-583-5624 or Allan at 413-781-6045.