Planning Board

Membership and Organization

The Hopkinton Planning Board consists of five (5) regular members and two (2) alternate members appointed by the Town Council each for a term of three (3) years. Terms of Planning Board Members shall be staggered so no more than one-third of the terms expire in any year. Any vacancy during the unexpired term of an appointed member shall be filled by the Town Council for the remainder of the term. The Conservation Commission may appoint an ex-officio representative to the Planning Board, but will not vote and will not be counted for the purpose of establishing a quorum.

General Powers and Duties

The Town Planning Board shall have such powers and perform such functions as are granted or assigned to it by the laws of the State and ordinances of the Town.

Specific Powers

The powers of the Town Planning Board shall include but not be limited to the following:

A. It shall have made available to it the advice and services from of the Public Works Department staff to assist the Town Planning Board in the performance of its functions.

B.  It may request additional assistance for special survey work from the Town Manager, who may at their discretion, provide services or make departmental staff available to The Town Planning Board for such purposes.

C.  Within its budget appropriation, it may contract with qualified consultants for such Services as it may require.

D.  It has the right to require all Town officials and officers, departments, boards, and Commissions to submit such data as is available and which would assist the Town Planning Board in the performance of its duties.

Specific Duties

The duties of the Town Planning Board shall include but not be limited to the following: 

A.  The Town Planning Board shall serve as the prime advisory body for the Town on all matters pertaining to planning and development of the Town. It shall keep itself informed of the plans of the State, adjoining municipalities, and the School Committee that will affect the development of the Town. 

B.  The Town Planning Board shall be responsible for the Comprehensive Plan for the development and improvement of the Town. It shall continuously collect and maintain data concerning present and projected land use. It shall continuously review the existing Comprehensive plan A public hearing shall be held prior to the adoption of an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan either by the Town Planning Board or the Town Council. 

C.  The Town Planning Board shall file an opinion with the Town Council on all proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance, giving due consideration to the relationship of such amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, and shall recommend to the Town Council, amendments to the zoning ordinance wherever there is a proposed major change in or extension of land use, transportation routes, public facilities, or public utility systems. At least once every two (2) years the Town Planning Board shall review the zoning ordinance and the Comprehensive Plan and make recommendations to the Town Council concerning revisions. 

D.  The Town Planning Board shall review all applications for platting and subdivision of land within the Town. 

E.  The Town Planning Board shall report annually to the Town Council at the end of the fiscal year, summarizing the work of the preceding year and recommending plans for future development of the Town. 

F.  The Planning Board shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings.