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LUTHER'S CORNERS VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
A public workshop will be held on Tuesday, Februrary 28th at the Seekonk Congregational Church starting at 7pm to discuss Luther's Corners. Specific topics to be discussed include parking and traffic. Click here for more information.
SEEKONK MASTER PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY SURVEY - Style of Government
As the Master Plan Update is nearing completion, the Planning Board is beginning to implement the action items set forth in the Plan to meet the goals and objectives. One of the objectives in the Public Facilities and Services section of the Plan is to improve inter-departmental communication and provide a transparent decision-making process under a government structure that meets community needs. A corresponding action item is to seek input from the public on the adequacy of Seekonk’s style of government, which this very brief survey aims to do.
Hard copies were mailed out in early January with the annual Town census. You can find an on-line version of the survey by clicking here - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MGLG96Y. Please note that the on-line version is the preferred method for completing the survey due to increased efficiency in data collection. If completing a paper version of the survey, please mail the survey back to Seekonk Town Hall in the same envelope as the annual
Town census OR return the survey to one of the collection boxes located at Seekonk Town Hall (100 Peck St.), Seekonk Public Library (410 Newman Ave.), and Seekonk Human Services (320 Pleasant St.). Surveys must be received by March 1, 2012. Please complete only one survey per person. Your responses will be kept confidential and results of this survey will be presented at an upcoming Planning Board meeting and forwarded to the Board of Selectmen. If you have any questions about this survey please contact the Town Planner. Although it will take only a few minutes to complete the survey, your answers will help shape the future of our Town for many years to come. Thank you for your participation!
SEEKING COMMITTEE MEMBERS - Economic Development Advisory Committee and Energy Committee
Seekonk is interested in forming an Economic Development Advisory Committee and an Energy Committee. We are updating our Master Plan currently and these are two of the action items within the Plan. The Planning Board and BOS have both endorsed the idea of establishing such committees. We’ve put together a description of what these committees could do for the Town and need to solicit membership now. Anyone interested in serving on either committee please contact the Board of Selectmen's office.
MASTER PLAN
The Planning Board has begun the process of updating the Town’s Master Plan, which is to articulate a vision for the community’s future and provide the Town with a roadmap for achieving this vision. This Master Plan Update is a critical step towards establishing innovative and successful policies that will guide Seekonk to a sustainable future. The Master Plan Update will seek to balance the community’s needs for appropriate growth management, protection of natural and cultural resources, and community character by utilizing information gathered from surveys, community workshops and interviews with town officials.
We had a public forum on May 3rd at the Library to discuss economic development and sustainability. Based on the survey results and input from the public forum, draft economic development and sustainability sections have been created. Additionaly, the Introduction and Community Profile draft sections have been created. Most recently a draft baseline inventory of the public facilities and services section has been created. The goals section and the action plan will be drafted next along with complete land use and transportation elements, which will include baseline inventories, goals sections and action plans. The public facilities and services, land use and transportation elements were the focus of a public forum held on Nov 1 at the Library.
Also, the Town's consultant, Horsley Witten Group, has setup a project website - http://www.horsleywitten.com/seekonk-master-plan/. Please visit it for results of the survey, a summary of the public forums, and the draft sections created so far along with more information on the Update.
PERMITTING GUIDE
The Planning Board has recently adopted a Commercial/Residential Permitting Guide. This comprehensive guide has been prepared to help you with your development. It is not intended to be a legal guide, but to assist you in beginning the permitting process. Each municipal department controls local licenses and permits. This guide is intended to assist the business owner/developer to research what is allowed and to what extent; which licenses and/or permits will be needed; as well as provide important department and contact information.
HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN
The Town has completed the final draft of the Housing Production Plan. This document outlines the town's housing needs and stragegies for addressing them. The Planning Board has adopted the Plan. Adoption by Board of Selectmen will be required prior to being submitted to the State.
New HUD data recently released indicating median household income for a family of four in Seekonk is $74,500. A household of four qualifies for affordable housing if income is 80% of that or $59,600. See HUD website for more details:
Seekonk is served by Pro-Home, Inc, a non-profit organization with a mission to produce affordable housing and prevent foreclosures. Check out their website to learn more: |
CENSUS DATA
The 2010 Census Data indicates that our population is now at 13,722, a 2.2% increase since the last census. More detailed information will be released by the end of August. The 2010 Census didn’t provide questions on income and employment as they replaced the long form with the American Community Survey (ACS). This is an annual count, which is produced from surveys sent to scientifically-selected random households. For towns as small as Seekonk, only 5-year estimates (2005-2009) are provided for statistical purposes.
Mission
The Planning Board handles the following duties for the Town:
Review of Development Plans: The Planning Board reviews plans submitted by applicants who want to develop their land as esidential, commercial or other uses. The Board must follow plan review procedures that are outlined in the Massachusetts General Laws, the Seekonk Subdivision Rules and Regulations and the Seekonk Zoning By-Laws in their consideration of plans for the subdivision of land as well as site plans for commercial and industrial uses.
Guide the Zoning Amendment Process: The Planning Board or the townspeople can initiate the process of amending our local zoning. The Board guides any proposed zoning changes through a detailed procedure outlined in the Massachusetts General Laws. Town Meeting approves final zone changes. The Attorney General’s office then approves any changes for the town.
Other Planning: This Board is also responsible for the review and development of the Town’s Master Plan or Comprehensive Plan. This plan addresses future land use, economic development, sustainability, open space and recreation, housing, public facilities and services, and transportation. The current Master Plan was completed in 2000. The usual life of such a plan is considered to be 5 to 10 years. Seekonk is one of few towns in Massachusetts to have a current Master Plan. An update is currently being worked on and should be completed by the end of 2011.
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