For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Rockland Officials Looking for Volunteers to Join New Master Plan Committee

ROCKLAND — As the town launches a Master Plan Initiative this spring, that will help shape Rockland’s future in its planning and economic endeavors, Interim Town Administrator Marcia Birmingham is pleased to announce that the town is looking for volunteers to join its Master Plan Committee.

On Tuesday, March 5, the Board of Selectmen will announce a call for volunteers interested in joining the Master Plan Committee. Those who are interested will be asked to fill out a committee interest form and submit it to the town for consideration.

Over the next two years, the committee will help the town complete a new master plan in partnership with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)

Master Plan Committee volunteers will be selected by mid-April.

Rockland has not had a new master plan since 1998.

Ralph Willmer, Principal Planner of the MAPC, is expected to work with the town as it develops a new master plan. Partial funding for the project will be made possible through approximately $40,000 in technical assistance grants from the MAPC.

In 2016, the town completed a housing production plan, and in 2018 an open space plan was finalized. The two plans, which are key components of any master plan in Massachusetts, were made possible by approximately $30,000 in technical assistance grants from the MAPC.

The MAPC’s technical assistance grants funded staff time during which Willmer helped the town craft both the housing production and open space plans.

The new master plan is expected to cost the town approximately $80,000.

“The Master Plan Initiative is important for the town because it will help to make sure all our department heads, staff and residents are moving in the same direction together and that the town has the appropriate planning in place,” Interim Town Administrator Birmingham said. “It will safeguard the future of the town, and give us all common goals to work toward.”

“This initiative is made possible by the wonderful partnership the town has with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council,” Birmingham added. “We are fortunate to have their support and guidance as we create a new plan to benefit Rockland for years to come.”

The town is encouraging people of all backgrounds to apply, with the hope that representatives from many different organizations including open space, conservation, planning, zoning, public safety, and other key community stakeholders will join the group.

Once completed, the plan will act as a resource and guide to town planning for the next 10 years.

There will be 13-15 volunteers selected for the committee, who will be joined by Selectman Rich Penney. Staff support will also be provided to the committee by the Town Administrator’s office, and technical assistance will be provided to the committee by MAPC consultants.

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