Consultants outline Gardner City master plan and housing production plan timelines and public outreach

Barrett Planning Group gave the planning board a progress update on Gardner City’s master plan and introduced the city’s Housing Production Plan (HPP) work on Dec. 9.

Jen Doherty, preservation planner with Barrett Planning Group, said the master‑plan update will look forward 10–30 years and develop an implementation plan with recommended actions across land use, housing, transportation, open space, historic resources and economic development. Doherty said the team has been working with city staff (Jason and Eric) and a citizen steering committee; a full draft will be released for public comment in the coming weeks.

Lily Kramer (Barrett Planning Group) described the HPP as a five‑year document that assesses housing needs, sets affordable housing goals and lists implementation strategies. Kramer said state guidance requires a HPP to include five local actions that support affordable housing and to work toward a 10% low‑ and moderate‑income threshold under Chapter 40B; she stressed that the HPP can address a broader range of housing needs, including senior and disability housing.

Both presenters outlined public‑engagement steps already taken — staff interviews, community workshops, an open house, tabling and a public survey — and noted outreach materials and a QR code linking to the project webpage. The consultant team asked the planning board to consider how the city should track implementation (annual board review, a separate implementation committee or staff annual reports). Kramer said the contract runs through June 30 and the plan is targeted for planning‑board adoption in April or May.