Webster planning board begins two-year Master Plan update process

Russell Tatro, Webster’s Land Use Coordinator, told the Planning Board on Jan. 6 that the town’s 2018 Master Plan is due for an update and that the process would likely take a couple of years. He said he hoped to spend the current year gathering data and reviewing the existing plan for possible changes, and to use the following year to prepare updates and hold the hearings necessary to adopt a new plan.

Tatro asked board members to review the survey used in the prior Master Plan update and to send him suggested changes for discussion at the next meeting. No specific schedules, budgets or public outreach dates were recorded in the minutes; the coordinator described this year as focused on data collection and the next year on drafting and hearings.

The announcement signals the start of a multi-step planning process that will require staff time and public hearings. Board members did not vote on the Master Plan timeline at the Jan. 6 meeting; Tatro’s request was recorded as direction to the board to review materials and provide feedback for future meetings.