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Home : Community Planning
Communities of all sizes and types in the Berkshires are facing a new set of complex problems such as a shortage of affordable housing, a low density and consumptive development pattern, loss of open space and prime farmland, a stagnant or unbalanced tax base, aging and inadequately maintained infrastructure, and pollution that threatens the environment and public health. In response, communities are searching for new tools to combat these issues. At BRPC, we provide advisory technical planning services to our member communities to guide and assist communities in the Community Planning process. Currently, BRPC is working with its member communities to aid in Community Development Plans, Comprehensive Planning and Zoning Technical Assistance. In addition to providing community support for community planning, BRPC aids planning boards and zoning boards of appeals with on-going Training and Educational Programs and Model Bylaws and Example Documents so that they may work more efficiently be better equipped with the most up-to-date legal information and resources related to land use and zoning. Community Planning seeks to promote this uniqueness while mitigating negative impacts that may disturb the community’s character and livability. More specifically, community planning is the process of reviewing and analyzing past, current and future needs, challenges and desires and translating them into planning and regulatory activities. This process ideally seeks to balance preservation and development pressures to meet individual community objectives. Community Planning Brochure can be accessed here. Major Community Planning Projects
REGIONAL - Expedited Development Permitting
REGIONAL - Brownfields Program BRPC has provided assistance to the Town of Dalton to develop a town economic development plan, and assess potential sites for a business park. BRPC is currently assisting the town in developing a zoning bylaw for a Planned Industrial Development District. GREAT BARRINGTON - Housatonic Improvements Community Development Block Grant BRPC is developing a Community Development Block Grant application to the Department of Housing and Community Development for the Town of Great Barrington for planning and improvements in the village of Housatonic. The grant will develop a plan for the reuse of the soon-to-be vacant school site, including the Community Center, school building and rest of the site; will develop full architectural plans and specifications for achieving Americans with Disability Act compliance for the Ramsdell Library; and design and construct various infrastructure improvements in the village. GREAT BARRINGTON - Searles/Bryant Schools Reuse Planning BRPC is assisting the Town of Great Barrington in getting the vacant Searles/Bryant Schools (vacant since the new elementary and middle schools were opened) surveyed and appraised, having a 21E site assessment done, and developing a marketing package to use to attract private developers to bid on redevelopment of the buildings and site. LEE – Slum and Blight Assessment BRPC staff is conducting a slum and blight assessment in the Town of Lee to determine the existence and establish the extent of slum and blight, as defined by the US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development as a national objective under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. LEE – Downtown Revitalization Planning BRPC is assisting the Town of Lee, primarily through the Lee Community Development Corporation, with efforts to re-vitalize the downtown, primarily to bring an abandoned Main Street building back into productive use. SHEFFIELD – Industrial Park BRPC is assisting Sheffield officials with increasing the area of industrially zoned land within the Town. LENOX – Priority Development Areas BRPC staff is conducting a comprehensive zoning analysis for priority development areas to curb the effects of sprawl. This project will craft new zoning tools that will preserve and protect older, established neighborhoods and create new neighborhoods that follow traditional neighborhood design principles. Commonwealth Capital Initiative 22 Berkshire Communities submitted Commonwealth Capital applications for 2005 or 2006. These communities are:
* = 2005 application ** = 2006 application *** = both years submitted The Office of Commonwealth Development's Commonwealth Capital website contains a thorough description of the program and posts Commonwealth Capital scores, which will be applied in competitive grant applications for 10 state funding sources, including PWED, CDAG, Urban Self-Help, and DEP Brownfields grants. Other Community Planning Items Training and Educational Programs Click here for an archive of Community Development projects. Home Site Map Publications Contact Job Opportunities at BRPC Directions to BRPC Municipal eCenter BRPC Archive |
