Answers to your urgent questions...

1. Is Belchertown really the second largest town in Massachusetts?
2. Who are those people on the Planning Board?
3. When does the Planning Board meet?
4. What is the Planning Board's purpose?
5. What are some of the Planning Board's responsibilities?
6. When is ... ?

1. Is Belchertown really the second largest town in Massachusetts?

Click here to find out!

Back to Top

1. Who are those people on the Planning Board?

Do you really want to know? 

Are you sure??

Okay, click HERE!

Back to Top

When does the Planning Board meet?

The second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 7:30 pm in the town hall.  

Back to Top

What is the Planning Board's purpose?

• To provide for conscientious and orderly land use development through comprehensive planning, subdivision control, and zoning bylaw and zoning map review;
• To ensure the town's land use and growth management regulations are consistent with the goals and policies of Belchertown;
• To maintain and enhance the aesthetics and character of Belchertown through site plan review and the consideration of special permits under certain sections of the zoning bylaw.
• To assist other boards, commission, and departments with decisions involving land use.

Back to Top

What are some of the Planning Board's responsibilities?

• Administer and enforce all provisions and requirements of M.G.L. § 41, the Subdivision Control Law.
• Administer and enforce certain provisions and requirements of M.G.L. § 40A, the Zoning Act and the Belchertown Zoning Bylaw in which the Planning Board is the Special Permit Granting Authority.
• Provide site plan review of new non-residential development and construction proposals.
• Initiate revisions to the zoning bylaw and zoning map consistent with the town's land use goals and policies and oversee the requirements for their formal amendment and adoption at Town Meeting.
• Develop a Community Plan to establish the goals and priorities for town programs and services that will affect its future development, including land use, town centers, housing, economic development, open space and recreation, public facilities and transportation. Initiate and manage implementation of the approved plan's recommendations and implementing actions.
• Provide technical review for development projects.

Back to Top

When is ... ?

[This is the answer to the question.]

Back to Top

Belchertown Planning Department
Revised: January 22, 2008.