Planning and Community Development
Welcome to the Department of Planning and Community Development website!
Please browse through links to the left to find information about upcoming events, development policies, Easton Rules and Regulations, and more. Below, find out what's new!
May 21, 2010
Learn more about Easton's Recreational Areas:
Wednesday, July 21st, 7:00pm - Frothingham Hall
The Easton Conservation Commission and Recreation Commission will host a public outreach meeting at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, July 21st at Frothingham Hall, 15 Barrows Street. Commissioners will identify local places available for public use and enjoyment and will discuss the types of activities available at each area, from hiking and fishing to swimming and birding. The town of Easton owns over 3,000 acres of treasured conservation land, including areas like Wheaton Farm, Long Pond, and the Town Forest. In addition, Easton holds numerous recreational sites such as children’s playgrounds, a number of ball fields, and the Town Pool. With knowledge of locations and activities, the public will have a greater opportunity to enjoy the protected land that Easton is extremely fortunate to have
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July 2 2010
Articles Related to Wastewater Treatment
The Board of Selectmen Articles submit wastewater treatment articles.
- Comprehensive Wastewater Planning & Hydro Geological Investigations
- Establishment of the Easton Sewer District
- Wastewater Treatment Plant and Collection System design
See the Town Meeting page for more information.
May 13, 2010
Planning Board to propose several zoning amendments
The Planning & Zoning Board has proposed a number of amendments to the Zoning By Law:
- Zoning Map Amendments
- Expedited Permitting for R&D an Manufacturing Facilities
- Green Parking Requirements
- Inclusionary Zoning with Special Permit Subdivisions
See the Town Meeting page for more information.
April 29, 2010
Easton Stretch Energy Code Workshop, May 11 at 6PM
You are cordially invited to attend the Town of Easton Stretch Energy Code Workshop to be held at the Oliver Ames High School in the Simmons Lecture Hall on May 11th at 6:00pm (immediately following the Green Communities Committee 5:00pm meeting).
April 5, 2010
Greater Attleboro/Taunton HOME Consortium Annual Action Plan
The Greater Attleboro/Taunton HOME Consortium (GATHC), of which Easton is a member, is required to prepare an Annual Action Plan for the use of Federal HOME funds. The Annual Action Plan explains how the HOME Consortium will invest program funds during the next Program Year to address needs identified in participating communities.
Action Plan Summary: Program Goals – to develop viable neighborhoods by providing affordable and decent housing and a suitable living environment for low and moderate-income residents of the GATHC region.
HOME Program PY 2010: $930,636 (HOME award)
HOME funds will be used for the creation, rehabilitation and acquisition of affordable housing units, as well as Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) and Program Administration for the GATHC communities of Attleboro, Berkley, Dighton, Easton, Lakeville, Mansfield, Middleboro, North Attleboro, Norton, Plainville, Raynham, Seekonk and Taunton. Proposed uses of the funds include:
Housing Rehabilitation - $347,030
Downpayment/Closing Cost Assistance - $91,138
Private Affordable Housing Development - $200,000
CHDO 15% Affordable Housing Reserve - $139,595
CHDO Entitlement Award - $59,810
Consortium Administration (10% cap) - $93,063
TOTAL HOME PY 2010 - $930,063
Availability of Draft Plan: This public notice summarizes the Draft PY 2010 Action Plan. Copies of the complete Draft Action Plan will be available for public review for 30 days beginning April 5, 2010 – May 6, 2010 at the following locations:
- Office of Economic and Community Development (OECD), 45 School Street, 2nd Floor, Taunton MA
- City Clerk’s Office, Taunton City Hall, 15 Summer Street, Taunton MA
- City of Taunton Website – OECD link
Written comments concerning the Draft PY 2010 Action Plan are encouraged and may be submitted at any time during the comment period to: Office of Economic and Community Development, 45 School Street, 2nd Floor, Taunton, MA 02780. A summary of the comments will appear as an Appendix to the final PY 2010 Action Plan to be submitted to HUD by May 15, 2010.
If you have any questions, please contact Michael Ferreira, Community Development Director, OECD, at 508-821-1030.
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March 11, 2010
Request for proposals
Click here for responses to questions
The EASTON Conservation Commission is re-opening the period for seeking proposals for tenancy at the Tufts Farm, located at 108 Canton Street, Easton, MA. The property to be leased is a single-family dwelling and five outbuildings located on 3.0 acres of land. Agricultural use of the property is preferred and two adjoining parcels, also owned by the Commission, may be made available for such purposes.
Acquired by the Commission in 1980, Tufts Farm created a contiguous open space corridor beginning to the north of Canton Street and extending south to the town pool off Lincoln Street. Prior to purchase by the town, the three-acre parcel was farmed by the Tufts family.
Click here for a copy of the Request for Proposals or contact Stephanie Danielson at 508.230.0641 or via email at sdanielson@easton.ma.us.
An open house will be held at the property on March 30, 2010 from 10:30 am – 2:30pm. Interested parties should submit a proposal no later than 10:30 on Friday, April 23, 2010 to:
David Colton, Chief Procurement Officer
Subject: Tufts Farm Tenancy
136 Elm Street
March 16, 2010
Planning & Zoning Board Adopts Revised Rules and Regulations
Major changes include:
- Whever possible, street layouts must now be designed to take advantage of passive heating and lighting (through optimal solar orientation)
- All Special Permit subdivisions must now submit a Preliminary Plan prior to applying for a Definitive Subdivision
- Revised street design standards to reduce stormwater runoff and longterm maintenance obligations to the Town
- If the project will entail the clearing of more than 1 acre of land, the Applicant shall provide evidence of having received a NPDES permit
Download the revised Subdivision Rules and Regulations here.
January 19, 2010
Affordable Housing Trust finalizes Action Plan
At their meeting in December, the Easton Affordable Housing Trust voted to adopt the Easton Affordable Housing Trust Action Plan, and to submit the plan as an applicaiton for funding to the Community Preservation Committee.
Read about other proposals submitted for CPA funding.
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January 5, 2010; amended January 11, 2010
Community Preservation Committee Receives 5 Applications
At its deadline December 31, the Community Preservation Committee received the following five applications for funding in fiscal year 2010 (click each link for more information):
- Proposal to fund the Affordable Housing Trust Action Plan
- Request for assistance in updating the Easton Affordable Housing Production Plan
- Proposal to construct a new "pocket park" on donated land off Center Street
- Proposal to purchase land and deed restrictions at 31 Williams Street for the purpose of natural resource protection, historical preservation, affordable housing, and recreation
- Proposal to support historic preservation and affordable housing development at the Ames Shovel Works.
Applications are available at the Department of Planning & Community Development. For more information, contact Alice Savage at 508-230-0630.
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December 22, 2009; amended December 28, 2009
Revised Zoning Bylaw Available Now
Download the Easton Zoning Bylaw with amendments through Oct, 2009, here.
Go green! If you already have a bound copy of the May, 2009 bylaw, you can print out just the two replacement pages.
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December 1, 2009
Alternate Development at Ames Shovel Works Presentation
Town Adminstrator David Colton and representatives of Beacon Communities LLC presented an alternate development proposal for the Ames Shovel Works (also known as Shovel Shop Square) to the Board of Selectmen on Monday, November 16, and the Finance Committee on Wednesday, November 18.
To participate in a site visit to another Beacon Communities project in Sharon (Saturday, December 12 @ 10AM) please RSVP by emailing Jason Korb or by contacting Bradford Washburn.
November 13, 2009
Apply now for Community Preservation funds!
The Community Preservation Committee is accepting proposals for projects under the Community Preservation Act for FY2011 for consideration at May 2010 Annual Town Meeting. Applications are available at the CPA website & the Planning & Community Development Department and are due December 31, 2009.
Is your community group considering a recreation, open space, affordable housing, or historic preservation project? Please contact us to see if you are eligible for funding!
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November 2, 2009; revised November 13, 2009
Alternate Proposal for Shovel Shops Announced
In late 2008, a group of concerned citizens and community leaders formed the Friends of the Ames Shovel Works, an organization whose mission was to preserve the historic industrial complex at the heart of the North Easton Village known as the Shovel Shops. The Friends presented an alternate development proposal for restoration and reuse of the site as a mixed-income residential community that would carefully restore and preserve the architectural integrity of the Shovel Shops.
You are invited to attend a public forum to hear Beacon Communities Development, LLC (Beacon Communities) and Town of Easton staff present a proposal to implement the Friends’ plan.
Second Public Information Session: Proposed Alternative Development at the Shovel Shops
Monday, November 16, 2009
7:15 P.M.
Board of Selectmen Meeting Room, Easton Town Hall
Public forums to disuss the proposed alternate development at the Ames Shovel Works site (commonly referred to as the Shovel Shops) are scheduled for the following nights:
- November 10 Historical Commission 7:00 PM
- November 16 Board of Selectmen 7:15 PM
- November 18 Finance Committee 7:00 PM
- November 23 Planning Board 7:00 PM
- November 30 Conservation Commission (TBD)
The alternative development proposal consists of 119 or fewer units of housing, a 1.5 acre public park, new gallery/museum space, and pedestrian access to integrate the new “neighborhood” into the North Easton Village. The project is proposed to be permitted under the existing Comprehensive Permit (under MGL c. 40B), and 20% of the units will be affordable. The project is more fully described in an attached memo, sent to the Board of Selectmen last week.
For more information, please call Bradford Washburn, Director of Planning & Community Development at 508-230-0643, attend one of the scheduled public forums, or browse the links below.
- Read the Friends of the Ames Shovel Works' Design Guidelines
- Read the Project Outline (Memo to the Board of Selectmen)
- See the Schematic Layout
November 9, 2009
Easton Open Space and Recreation Plan
Beginning nearly 40 years ago and continuing through today, Easton has been at the forefront of open space preservation for the enjoyment and benefit of its citizens. The Open Space and Recreation plan is an important tool used by the town to assess its open space and recreation needs and to establish goals and actions to meet those needs. Towns must also keep their plans updated in order to maintain eligibility for certain funding and grants at the State level.
The Open Space and Recreation Plan, updated in 2008 and approved by the Department of Conservation and Recreation is available for review in the office of the Department of Planning and Community Development, or by clicking on this link: Easton Open Space and Recreation Plan.
November 6, 2009
Flood Insurance Rate Maps/Notice of Fee Change
Looking for your flood insurance map? Visit the FEMA website here. You can print a FIRMette (small-scale, printer-friendly Flood Insurance Rate map) for free! Large-format flood maps may also be ordered directly from FEMA.
For more information on obtaining a flood insurance rate map, contact the FEMA Map Servicing Center at FEMA-MSCservice@dhs.gov or 1-800-358-9616.
Effective November 9, there will be a $5.00 fee for to print a FIRMETTE at Town Offices. Large-format copies of the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) will continue to be available for $5.
October 5, 2009
Fair & Affordable Housing Partnership at the Harvest Fair
The Easton Fair & Affordable Housing Partnership presented information for first-time homebuyers and residents looking for housing or home repoar assistance at this year's Harvest Fair, held at the Natural Resource Trust's Sheep Pasture. For more informaiton on housing programs available to Easton residents, click here.
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MassHighway works with local officials to prepare Road Safety Audits
The purpose of a Road Safety Audit (RSA) is to identify potential safety issues and possible opportunities for safety improvements considering all roadway users. The Old Colony Planning Council (OCPC) requested that MassHighway conduct an RSA of three intersections within the Town of Easton to identify both short and long term safety improvements that can be made at the the intersection of Washington Street (Route 138) and Elm Street and at the intersection of Washington Street and Union Street. (Click the name of the intersection to read the report.)
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Questions? Looking for something you don't see? Call our office at 508-230-0630, or email the Director of Planning & Community Development, Bradford Washburn.