Master Plan Nominated for Award

The recently commissioned Marlborough economic development master plan produced by FXM Associates for the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), has been nominated for the 2011 Awards Program of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association.

Kenneth J. Buckland, Principal, The Cecil Group, one of the partners involved in the creation of the master plan nominated the Marlborough plan for several reasons: the MEDC set a unique goal for the planning process based on a specific level of investment to maintain residential tax stability; the public participation process was unique and spun off private business development between participants; the approach is transferable to other communities; the plan is comprehensive, includes a very accurate analysis of build-out, and includes a long list of strategies and actions.

This awards program is co‑sponsored by the Massachusetts Association of Planning Directors (MAPD) and the Massachusetts Association of Consulting Planners (MACP). Planners may nominate a project, plan, student project, planner, legislator or reporter for the work they do to advance the planning profession. Examples of plans well implemented provide inspiration and advance the cause of planning in the Commonwealth.

The American Planning Association Massachusetts Chapter (APA-MA) is an official Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA). They are a 1,000-plus member organization of professional planners and planning officials who serve Massachusetts communities in many ways, at all levels of government, the private sector and not-for-profit organizations.

The Marlborough economic development master plan may be viewed on the MEDC website.