What is a Master Plan and What Will It Mean for Swampscott?

It’s been more than 40 years since Swampscott had a master plan guiding the town’s development and planning.

That’s about to change.

On May 21, the public portion of the Swampscott 2025 Master Plan process will kick off with the first of four planned public forums scheduled to get residents involved in the development and creation of the plan.

“It’s pretty big,” Town Planner Pete Kane said. “Considering the town hasn’t really had a plan in place in 40 years, this is a big thing.”

The town has hired the Metroppolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to assist with the plan’s development under the guidance of Kane and the Swampscott Master Plan Committee.

“The master plan will include a set of goals, policies and strategies on topics including housing, economic development, historic and cultural resources, open space/recreation, transportation and more,” according to a press release from the Planning Department.

The process is currently on schedule for the plan to be completed by late 2015, Kane said, explaining that the Planning Board will be responsible for approving the final plan. He added that portions of a 2013 “open space plan” will be incorporated into the larger master plan now in development and that has helped shorten the timeline for the larger plan.

Once it’s in place, the master plan will ”lay the groundwork for the future,” Kane said. “The master plan is not going to solve every existing problem, but it’s going to give us the guidelines for when we’re faced with a project or problem going forward.”

Kane explained that projects already underway in Swampscott, such as finding new uses for vacant municipal buildings, will continue as planned.

The May 21 forum will offer residents an opportunity to express their vision for Swampscott’s future, which will then be referenced as the plan is developed.

“This first forum is all about developing the vision,” Kane explained. “What does the community want to see happen in the next 10 years? That will help the committee and MAPC develop the goals and objectives.”

Future forums include a June forum focused on housing (senior housing, housing for all age groups, affordable housing), historical assets and economic development; a July forum on the topics of transportation and public facilities; and a September forum in which a draft plan will be presented. All dates are tentative at this time.

The first public forum takes place May 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Swampscott High School. RSVPs are not required, but are appreciated via this website.