The Town of Hardwick has started the preliminary planning process to update its 2010 Master Plan.
Plans to conduct community engagement activities while it seeks funding for the update.
The Town is seeking input from community members as it develops a vision and outlines shared priorities.
The community’s preferences, vision for the next 10-20 years, and immediate needs will directly inform the goals and objectives of the Master Plan.
Prior Planning Efforts
A Master Plan helps a community
Since the 2010 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)
- 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.
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.
What is a Master Plan?
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
Get Involved
Town Survey
The Town of Hardwick opened a Pre-Planning Engagement Survey for the Master Plan. The survey took approximately 15 minutes to complete and was assessed anonymously. The survey closed in March 2024, and the results have been reviewed and compiled. We encourage the public to review these results.
If you would like to leave any comments, please share them with us using the following form.
Master Plan Steering Committee 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 interested in attending the public meetings, please view the Town calendar for details on upcoming meetings.
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