AMHERST — With a new master plan for Amherst required every 20 years in the town’s charter, the process to put together a revised blueprint for topics including land use, housing, economic development and open space and recreation could begin soon so that it is ready to be adopted in 2030.
During a master plan primer at a recent Town Council meeting, Planning Director Christine Brestrup told councilors that they may consider starting work on the next master plan in 2025, based on the the 2006 to 2010 timeline used to gather extensive public input and do research to create the first master plan in 40 years.
The current master plan was adopted by the Planning Board in 2010, followed by the Town Council’s acceptance in 2020.
“The master plan has served us well over the past 13 years,” Brestrup said, noting that one of the key elements has been directing development to existing village centers and town center.
“This master plan represents Amherst’s best effort to balance competing interests of a diverse population,” Brestrup said.
In public comment during the meeting, Meg Gage, a member of the District One Neighborhood Association, said a master plan study committee group is using the current document and applying it to North Amherst and parts of Cushman.
“We found the master plan was a good participatory tool in order for us to think about North Amherst, particularly the village center concept, and how to make the village centers more vibrant, more alive,” Gage said.
This includes creating bike paths for transportation and more housing.
North Amherst resident Janet Keller said the master plan reflects the quality of the input from the public and elected and appointed officials.
“It’s a terrific plan,” Keller said, adding that she would like to ensure that future development doesn’t intrude on farms and forests.
The Town Council recently adopted a resolution to raise awareness about suicide prevention and to work with local public health and safety officials to ensure the community has access to adequate mental health resources.
The resolution urges the legislative delegation to continue to propose and support bills that raise awareness about suicide prevention, intervention and training.
The resolution is being copied to President Joe Biden, U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, Gov. Maura Healey and town public safety officials, among others.
Sarah Prager, an author of four books on LGTBQ+ history for youth, will discuss important figures in queer history as part of LGBTQ+ History Month events at the Jones Library, in the library’s Woodbury Room on Oct. 12 from 7 to 8 p.m.
Prager has presented on LGBTQ+ history to more than 200 audiences across eight countries, including two U.S. embassies, and her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, National Geographic, HuffPost, NBC News and other national outlets.
The program is made possible by the Friends of the Jones Libraries and the Woodbury Fund.
An Oct. 17 deadline is in place for for organizations, schools and individuals to apply for grants that support cultural activities in Pelham, such as exhibits, field trips and school performances.
Tony Maroulis and John Page, who co-chair the Pelham Cultural Council, observe that the council is will distribute about $5,500 in direct grants this year.
Funding priorities include projects celebrating Pelham’s history, culture and environment, and programs featuring Pelham visual and performing artists, writers, musicians, scientists and historians.
For more information, contact Page at pelhamculture@gmail.com. Application forms are available online at massculturalcouncil.org.
All retail stores can open for their normal business hours on Monday, Indigenous Peoples Day, based on a blanket permit issued by inyerim Police Chief Gabriel Ting.
Amherst has generally issued the blanket permits on both Indigenous Peoples Day, when stores otherwise couldn’t open until noon, and Veterans Day, when stores wouldn’t open until 1 p.m.
TUESDAY: Solar Bylaw Working Group, 11 a.m., and Public Shade Tree Committee, 5:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: Board of Assessors, 9:30 a.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall; Energy and Climate Action Committee, 5 p.m.
THURSDAY: Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m., and Historical Commission, 6:30 p.m.
FRIDAY: Elementary School Building Committee, 8:30 a.m.
