The Town of Grafton updated its Master Plan 2025. This plan laid out a vision for Grafton’s future over the next ten years and provided a roadmap for achieving community goals.
Master Plan Working Group
- Bob Carroll
- Victoria Duckworth
- Lindsay Fawkes
- Anne Marie Foley
- Debra George
- Brian Houle
- Chantelle Kimball
- Essek Petrie
- David Robbins
- Sue Robbins
- Colleen Roy
Approved Master Plan
On June 23, 2025, the Grafton Planning Board approved the 2025 Master Plan update. This plan’s success comes from a dedicated Master Plan Working Group and Planning Department that remained thoughtful and committed through this process. The plan calls for a focus on the Town’s unique village centers for new mixed-use development, infrastructure support for industrial zones, connecting multi-modal transportation options, and stewarding parks and waterways. CMRPC looks forward to partnering with Grafton on the implementation of this long-range comprehensive plan.
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, a town assesses its challenges and opportunities and collects input from the community. Once written, a Master Plan lays out a vision and strategies for the community to achieve its goals. Master plans require periodic updates. Issues, challenges, and residents’ preferences can change in 10-20 years, which is the typical horizon of a master plan. Grafton’s current Master Plan was written in 2001.
How does a Master Plan help Grafton?
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
Get Involved
Master Plan Information Session
The Town of Grafton Planning Department will be hosting a Master Plan info session June 4, 2025 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. outside of the Community Room (next to the Welcome Desk) at the Grafton Public Library.
This is a Q&A style “station” where people can drop by, ask questions, and pick up materials. Please feel free to stop by and learn more about the project’s progress, how you can provide feedback, and the next steps!
Town Survey
Thank you for taking the Grafton Master Plan Survey! The submission period has closed. View the preliminary survey findings here.
Master Plan Community Workshop
Thank you for joining us for Grafton’s second Master Plan Workshop! We had a blast talking about economic development, housing, transportation, open space, historical preservation, visioning, and more. The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission and the Grafton Master Plan Working Group enjoyed sharing meaningful conversations regarding the Town’s growth and vision for the future with participants that call Grafton home.
Monthly Meetings
The Master Plan Steering Committee will meet on the first Monday of the month from 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. The meetings are open to the public. Check the town calendar to find the next meeting date and remote participation information. Meeting minutes and agendas are available on the town website.
Plan Timeline
Massachusetts General Law requires Planning Boards to prepare a Master Plan for their municipalities. These plans are “living documents” that should be updated periodically to reflect evolving conditions and needs.
In 2022, the Town of Grafton kicked off efforts to update its 2001 Master Plan in three phases.
Phase 1 Data Collection was completed in late 2022.
Read the Phase 1 Data Collection Results here
Phase 2 Community Engagement & Plan Development kicked off in March of 2023.
The community-driven planning process will be led by a volunteer working group and will bring together stakeholders. Residents, business owners, and other interested persons will work together to identify a common vision for the community. Using that vision as a guide, consultants and town leaders will create a long-range plan for the town. The plan will draw on resident input, local expertise, data, best practices, and state and federal law to provide an actionable roadmap for the future.
Project Documents
The Town of Grafton has a long history of strategic prior planning. The 2023/2024 Master Plan Update will consider and build upon prior planning efforts.
- 2001 Grafton Master Plan
- Economic Development Self Assessment
- Worcester Street Village Strategic Plan
- Main Street/ Rt 122 Transportation Improvement Project
- 2020 Open Space and Recreation Plan
- 2022 South Grafton Villages Master Plan
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