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!
March 11, 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 Alice Savage.
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 Alice Savage, Acting 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 Acting Director of Planning & Community Development, Alice Savage.