The Town of Hardwick is updating its Master Plan. This plan will lay out a vision for Hardwick’s future over the next ten years and provide a roadmap for achieving community goals. There are many opportunities to get involved, including open monthly meetings, a community survey, and a workshop.
What is a Master Plan?
A Master Plan is a comprehensive community plan that explores important topics such as land use, natural resources, economic development, housing, transportation, and other themes.
Through the planning process, Hardwick will assess its challenges and opportunities by collecting research and input from the community. Once written, the Master Plan will lay out a vision for Hardwick’s future and strategies to achieve it.
Master Plans require periodic updates. Issues, challenges, and resident preferences can change a lot in 10-20 years, which is the typical horizon of a Master Plan. Hardwick’s current Master Plan was written in 2000.
How does a Master Plan help Hardwick?
A Master Plan helps a community
- Manage growth and change
- Provide for orderly and predictable development
- Protect environmental resources
- Set priorities for developing and maintaining infrastructure and public facilities
- Strengthen local identity
- Create a framework for future policy decisions
- Promote open, democratic planning
- Provide guidance to landowners, developers, and permitting authorities
Monthly Meetings
The 11-member Master Plan Steering Committee holds meetings to discuss various elements of the Master Plan. The committee collaborates with the Central Massachusetts Regional Commission (CMRPC) staff.
If you are interested in attending the public meetings, please view the Town calendar for details on upcoming meetings.
Get Involved
Town Survey
Your voice counts! Take a few minutes to complete our survey and shape Hardwick’s future. Your input guides our community’s growth. Let’s plan together for a better tomorrow! Fill out the survey now and make a difference.
Paper copies are available for pick-up and drop-off at Hardwick Town Hall, Gilbertville Public Library, Paige Memorial Library, Hardwick Farmers Co-op, Hardwick Crossing and the Whistle Stop.
Master Plan Community Workshop
The Hardwick Master Plan Community Workshop will occur on Thursday, May 8, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Hardwick Crossing, 262 Lower Road, Gilbertville, MA 01031. Stop by at any time and let’s shape Hardwick’s future together!
Stay Connected
Make sure to follow the Town of Hardwick Master Plan Facebook page for more information about the project!
Sign Up for Email Updates
Project Documents
Since the 2000 Master Plan update, we have made incremental progress on housing rehabilitation, economic development, and infrastructure through planning and sustainable development efforts.
These efforts include:
- Open Space and Recreation Plan (2023)
- Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan (2022)
- Local Rapid Recovery Plan (2021)
- Hardwick Village Center Strategic Plan (2021)
- Hazard Mitigation Plan (2019)
- Economic Development Plan (2017)
- Ecotourism Economic Development Plan (2015)
- Open Space & Recreation Plan (2013)
- Hardwick Master Plan (2000)
- Green Communities designation.
The next step is to update the Master Plan to prioritize the strategies created in the prior planning efforts, creating a holistic document to guide development. This updated Master Plan will serve as a comprehensive guide for us to address our needs, create a sustainable future, and drive economic growth.
Open Space and Recreation Plan (2023)
A plan for open space and recreation in Hardwick
Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (2022)
Identifies the top natural hazards that impact Hardwick.
Local Rapid Recovery (2021)
An assessment of physical, social, and economic conditions in Gilbertville.
Hardwick Village Center Plan (2021)
A set of strategies to support the village center.
A Model Ecotourism Master Plan Chapter for Rural Massachusetts Communities: A Case Study of Hardwick, MA (2015)
Identifies how ecotourism can boost economic development, specifically applying to Hardwick’s natural resources and local culture.
Promoting Productive Agriculture in Massachusetts: An analysis of Chapter 61A land in Hardwick, Massachusetts (2016)
Identifies how Chapter 61A either helps or hinders the optimal amount of agricultural production in Hardwick, MA.
Hardwick Hazard Mitigation Plan Update (2019)
Identifies the natural hazards facing the Town of Hardwick, and presents recommendations on mitigating the negative effects of typical natural hazards.
