Join us in a once in a generation opportunity to shape Medfield’s future

What is A Master Plan?

• A basis for decision-making for future development
• A process leading to a plan of action based on a town’s shared values and goals
• A set of priorities for addressing the full range of issues facing a town

 Why Plan?

• Take stock, review objectives, direction and priorities
• Examine resource allocation: existing and optimal
• Last complete plan - 1997
• Be proactive and affect future decision making
• Support eligibility for grant programs and public funds
• An opportunity to tie together existing plans and to integrate planning for the former State Hospital

Medfield’s last undertook a complete Master Plan in 1997. Usually communities try to update their plans approximately every ten years or so one could safely say that it is time for an update because many actions have been completed based on the previous Master Plan's recommendations and conditions have changed. The new Master plan must address these. A consultant team led by Community Circle has been hired to guide us through this effort. Since municipalities with a current Master Plan have an edge in securing a variety of state and federal grants, it is likely that the Master Plan will pay for itself within a couple of years.

Step 1: Community Conversation

Residents will be invited to a town-wide public forum to discuss their concerns and desires regarding the future of Medfield. Input from this forum, in addition to that of the Committee, town departments, and other local stakeholders will be used to create the vision and set of goals to help achieve the vision. The goals and vision (what the community “wants”) will be used to create a foundation upon which the Master Plan’s recommendations will be built. The community conversation will be continued throughout the process.

Step 2: Inventory and Assessment of Existing Conditions

This part of the planning process will focus on what the community “has,” in the form of an inventory and assessment of existing conditions. These will be examined in terms of housing, economic development, natural and historic resources, open space and recreation, traffic and circulation, land use, population, and public facilities and services.

Step 3: Implementation Plan

Finally, an implementation plan will be developed outlining the steps necessary to take us from where we are in terms of existing resources (as described in the Inventory) to where we want to go as described in the vision and set of goals developed with stakeholder input.

The Implementation Plan will be comprised of action steps, key responsible parties, possible partners, needed policy changes, and potential funding for implementation.