RAR-804

TOWN PLANNING

MASTER PLAN

SUBMITTED TO : SUBMITTED BY :
AR.SHWETA BANSAL MANSI SHARMA
HEMANT SINGH
A MASTER PLAN IS THE LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE PLAN FOR GUIDING THE
SUSTAINABLE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY. THIS DOCUMENT LAYS
DOWN THE PLANNING GUIDELINES, POLICIES, DEVELOPMENT CODE AND
SPACE REQUIREMENTS FOR VARIOUS SOCIO-ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
SUPPORTING THE CITY POPULATION DURING THE PLAN PERIOD. IT IS ALSO THE
BASIS FOR ALL INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS."
WHAT IT IS :

• A STATEMENT OF TOWN POLICY

• A GUIDE TO DECISION MAKING

• A FRAMEWORK FOR MORE SPECIFIC PLANNING

• A TOOL FOR EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION

• A WAY TO PROVIDE A LONG RANGE PERSPECTIVE

• A WAY TO IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE

 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT ?
• A MASTER PLAN SERVES AS A BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE EXPANSION OF ANY
ORGANIZATION AND MUST BE DIRECTLY TIED TO THE CORE BUSINESS GOALS
AND PLANNING. IT WILL IDENTIFY ECONOMIC AND OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS
UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING, ACQUISITION AND
SUSTAINABILITY.

• MASTER PLAN AIMS TO PROMOTE GROWTH AND REGULATE PRESENT AND

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF TOWNS AND CITIES. IT ALLOCATES LAND TO VARIOUS
USES FOR HARMONIOUS AND SUSTAINABLE DISTRIBUTION OF LAND
 ELEMENTS OF MASTER PLAN
• MASTER PLANS ARE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE
FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:
• LAND USE
• HOUSING
• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
• NATURAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES
• OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION
• SERVICES & FACILITIES
• CIRCULATION (TRANSPORTATION)
• IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM
 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PLAN
The principal purpose for a master plan is to be a guide for the achievement of
community goals. A plan will also:
1. State and promote broad community values in the plan goals, objectives, policies
and programs.
2. Establish a planning process for orderly growth and development, and economic
health.
3. Balance competing interests and demands.
4. Provide for coordination and coherence in the pattern of development.
5. Provide for a balance between the natural and built environment.
6. Reflect regional conditions and consider regional impacts.
7. Address both current and long-term needs.
 REASONS WHY A GOOD MASTER
PLAN IS CRITICAL:
Master Planning provides a road map for all future development decisions on a project. Many project budgets
are trimmed to the bare minimum and end up sacrificing land usage in the end, because there is not a good
plan.
• Master Planning can actually save the client money in the long run. A well master planned site can save
money on things like utilities, earthwork, materials, and even design.
• It allows input from all involved parties up front and sets expectations for how things will develop over a
number of months or years.
• The approval of a Master Plan creates “buy-in” from key stakeholders in a project. If everyone has a chance
to give their blessing in the beginning, there is much less opportunity for questioning later.
• It allows for cost estimating to be done before construction ever starts on a project so everyone understands
the ultimate costs involved. This also allows for money to be raised over a longer period of time to fund the
project.
• Master Planning can build visibility and credibility for a project. If a vision for the project can be shown to its
potential users, it often generates excitement about its potential. This often builds momentum for a project
and helps it to happen sooner.
• Master Planned projects have a higher rate of completion that non-planned projects.
 PROCESS:

THE MASTER PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE WORKS UNDER THE GENERAL

GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION OF THE PLANNING BOARD, THE PROCESS IS GUIDED BY
THE NORTHERN MIDDLESEX COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (NMCOG), OUR REGIONAL
PLANNING AGENCY. BASED ON DATA, REVIEW, ANALYSIS AND EXPERIENCE PROVIDED
BY NMCOG, THE MPAC DEVELOPS OR UPDATES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
MASTER PLAN AND THEN THE COMMITTEE FORWARDS THE DRAFT PLAN TO THE
PLANNING BOARD FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
 USING THE PLAN
THE ADOPTED PLAN HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR MANY USES AND WILL DEFINE THE WAY IT IS TO BE USED IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION
SECTION. AMONG THE USES OF THE PLAN ARE THE FOLLOWING:
1. A BASIS FOR REGULATORY ACTIONS: THE PLAN SERVES AS A FOUNDATION AND GUIDE FOR THE PROVISIONS OF THE ZONING
REGULATIONS, SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS, THE LAND USE MAP, FLOOD HAZARD REGULATIONS, ANNEXATION DECISIONS AND
OTHER DECISIONS MADE UNDER THESE REGULATIONS.
2. A BASIS FOR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND DECISION MAKING: THE PLAN IS A GUIDE AND RESOURCE FOR THE
RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN A CAPITAL BUDGET AND PROGRAM, FOR A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, AND
FOR DIRECTION AND CONTENT OF OTHER LOCAL INITIATIVES, SUCH AS WATER PROTECTION, RECREATION OR OPEN SPACE LAND
ACQUISITION AND HOUSING.
3. A SOURCE FOR PLANNING STUDIES: FEW PLANS CAN ADDRESS EVERY ISSUE IN SUFFICIENT DETAIL. THEREFORE, MANY PLANS
WILL RECOMMEND FURTHER STUDIES TO DEVELOP COURSES OF ACTION ON A SPECIFIC NEED.
4. A STANDARD FOR REVIEW AT THE COUNTY AND STATE LEVEL: OTHER REGULATORY PROCESSES IDENTIFY THE MUNICIPAL
PLAN AS A STANDARD FOR REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS .MASTER PLANS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL
PLANS OR INTER-MUNICIPAL PROGRAMS, I.E., A REGIONAL TRAIL NETWORK OR AREA TRANSIT PROGRAM.
5.A SOURCE OF INFORMATION: THE PLAN IS A VALUABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR LOCAL BOARDS, COMMISSIONS,
ORGANIZATIONS, CITIZENS AND BUSINESS.
6.A LONG-TERM GUIDE: THE PLAN IS A LONG-TERM GUIDE BY WHICH TO MEASURE AND EVALUATE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
PROPOSALS THAT AFFECT THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.
THANKYOU