Comprehensive Plan

Beginning to Plan for Ashland's Future

Comprehensive Steering Committee 2023

The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee is excited to start working on our community-wide master plan! This plan will create a roadmap for our town's planning and decisions for the next 20 years. This Steering Committee (which will guide the project for the next 2 years) is comprised of representatives from boards and committees in town, plus one resident from each of the 6 voting precincts, as well as an Ashland High School student. Their goal was to create a diverse committee, representing expertise in many aspects covered in the Comprehensive Plan, as well as encourage new voices from the community to participate. 


Meet our Committee Members...

  • Nathan Band, Zoning Board of Appeals
  • Ed Burman, Board of Health
  • Mike Caira, School Committee
  • Lisa Churchill, Precinct 6
  • Karen Coleman, Historical Commission
  • David Evancho, Precinct 3
  • Alan Galiwango, Affordable Housing Trust
  • Rajashree Ghosh, Precinct 5
  • Claire Goss, Library Trustee
  • Yolanda Greaves, Select Board
  • Stacey Grant Lewis, Cultural Council
  • Carl Hakansson, Conservation Commission
  • Michael Herbert, Town Manager
  • Cara Hulme, Town Forest Committee
  • Catherine Jurczyk, Planning Board
  • Brandi Kinsman, Select Board
  • Moala Kitayimwba, DEI Task Force
  • Chuck Lidz, Sustainability Committee
  • Tony Lewis, Upper Charles Committee
  • Aroon Manoharan, Precinct 4
  • Peter Matchak, Town Planner
  • Steve Mitchell, Council on Aging
  • William Novakowski, Design Review Committee
  • Hasini Reddy, High School Representative
  • Beth Reynolds, Economic Development Advisory Committee
  • Roberta Soolman. Open Space and Recreation
  • Leah Suarez, Precinct 2
  • Anna Tesmenitsky, Planning Board
  • Kortni Wroten, Precinct 1

We will be sending a newsletter monthly with updates on our progress and ways that you can get involved. The Steering Committee meets the 3rd Thursday of every month (hybrid so you can connect via Zoom), so please feel free to join us or email us at cpsc@ashlandmass.com with any questions you have, or reach out to any Committee member. Not subscribed to the Comprehensive Plan newsletter yet? You can subscribe here.


Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you soon!

Town Meeting

Project Budget and Consultant

At the November 2022 Special Town Meeting, the town allocated $250,000 to the Comprehensive Plan process, specifically to hire an experienced consulting firm to provide the expertise needed to complete and draft our plan.


Following an extensive RFP process, the Select Board and Planning Board held a joint meeting on June 21st, to interview the two consulting firms that were put forward as finalists. Both firms had extensive experience in municipal Comprehensive Plans as well as community engagement. The next step is to review the bids from the consultants and determine the final consultant. We hope to have the consulting firm on-boarded to the project by the July 20th Steering Committee meeting.


park

Fall trees and lake

What's in a Comprehensive Plan?

Do you love green space in Ashland, such as the Ashland Town Forest? Are you concerned about keeping housing affordable in Ashland? Do you want to see a thriving Downtown? Is Education important to you? A Comprehensive/ Master Plan covers all these aspects of life in our community and so many more.


Over the next 2 years, we will be covering all the following topics and once completed will begin the implementation phase. We will be asking for your input in all the following areas:


  • Community Vision
  • Land Use
  • Housing
  • Economic Development
  • Natural & Cultural Resources
  • Open Space & Recreation
  • Services & Facilities
  • Circulation (Transportation)
  • Implementation Program
  • Energy, Sustainablity, and Resiliance
  • Education
  • Public Health & Wellbeing
  • Community Engagement/DEI
  • Downtown & Pond Street


When and How Do We Meet?

The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee meets on the 3rd Thursday of every month. You can check for upcoming meetings on the Town of Ashland website calendar. These meeting are held in person with a virtual option.