Planning Board

Meetings

Meetings are generally held at 6:00 PM on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month in the first-floor Hearing Room at the Town Office Building, 140 Wood Street, Somerset. Occasional changes in time, location, or frequency may occur. Please refer to the agendas for current details. Check agendas for times and venues. Application Submission: All Planning Board applications must be filed through the Town Clerk’s Office, located on the first floor of the Town Office Building at 140 Wood Street.

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are posted online and available at the Town Clerk’s office before each meeting. Approved Minutes are available online and at the Town Administrator’s office (contact: Paula Ramos, Secretary).Supporting documents for upcoming meetings are uploaded to the Minutes link on the Planning Board’s Agenda page in advance and updated after minutes are finalized. They are also available during regular business hours at the Town Administrator’s office.

Members

The Planning Board consists of five board members elected to staggered 5-year terms:

Supporting Town Staff

Amy Messier, Town Planner 

140 Wood St., Rm. 22A, 2nd floor, Somerset, MA 02726

508-646-2809; amessier@townofsomerset.org

&

James D. Aguiar Jr., Building Commissioner 

140 Wood St., Building Department, 2nd floor, Somerset, MA 02726

508-646-2805; jaguiar@townofsomerset.org

Overview

The Planning Board plays a vital role in managing land use and development within Somerset, ensuring compliance with state laws and local regulations. Key responsibilities include:

• Subdivision Approvals:
  Reviews and approves land subdivisions in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws and Somerset’s Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land. Relevant application forms include:

  • Preliminary Subdivision Plan (Form B)

  • Definitive Subdivision Plan (Form C)

  • Covenant for construction of ways and municipal services (Form D) under MGL Chapter 41, Section 81-U

  • Full or Partial Covenant Release (Form E) to remove restrictions from lots

• Endorsement of Plans Not Requiring Approval:
  Endorses Approval Not Required (ANR) plans for boundary changes under MGL Chapter 41, Section 81-P (Form A).

• Special Permits:
  Grants Special Permits under the Somerset Zoning By-law and Massachusetts Zoning Law, M.G.L. Ch. 40A

  • Single-family homes in the Watershed Protection District (see the Watershed & Water Resources Map)

  • All uses and buildings allowed in the underlying Zoning Districts overlain by the Water Resources Protection District (see combined Watershed & Water Resources map overlain on Assessor's Lots)

  • Open Space Communities

  • Residential and commercial mixed-use developments in the Business District (see Rules & Regulations and Special Permit Application

  • Uses within the Slade’s Ferry Overlay District (see Rules & Regulations and Special Permit Application)

• Stormwater and Environmental Protection:

  • Enforces the Somerset By-law concerning discharges to the municipal storm drain system & Issues Stormwater Permits under the Board’s Stormwater Management Regulations, particularly related to:

    • Priority habitats mapped by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program Program for Somerset and surrounding towns.

    • FEMA 100-year flood zones detailed in MA Flood Insurance Rate Maps covering:

      • Dighton line to north of Reservoir and Pleasant to High Streets/upper Taunton River
      • North Somerset (Reservoir to Pottersville) and Somerset Village
      • Lower Lees River and between Route 6 & Route 103 and southeast Somerset (Pottersville to Veterans Bridge)
      • Brayton Point and Braga Bridge/Interstate 195
      
      

• Advisory and Regulatory Functions:

  • Provides technical assistance and written recommendations to the Zoning Board of Appeals on Planned Developments in reference to Section 6.10 of the Zoning By-Laws "Planned Development"
  • Recommends street acceptance and zoning by-law changes to voters at Town Meetings.
  • Holds Public Hearings and makes recommendations to Mass. Department of Environmental Protection on Chapter 91 Ch. 91 Waterways Applications under M.G.L. Ch. 91 as implemented by 310 CMR 9. 

• Provides technical assistance and written recommendations to the Zoning Board of Appeals on Planned Developments in reference to Somerset Zoning Bylaw Section 6.10. 
• Recommends street acceptance and zoning by-law changes to voters at Town Meetings.
• Holds Public Hearings and makes recommendations to Mass. Department of Environmental Protection on Chapter 91 Waterways applications under MGL Chapter 91 as implemented by 310 CMR 9. 

Please file all applications to the Planning Board through the Town Clerk's Office on the first floor of the Town Office Building, 140 Wood St.

Recent Topics:

Revision / Recodification of the Somerset Zoning Bylaws

As a part of the Master Planning process, a thorough revision and recodification of the Town's  Zoning bylaws was recommended in order to improve the bylaw's organization, enhance government efficiency, and ease enforcement, while making the bylaws more user-friendly for the public.  The Town will follow a two-step process including a diagnostic review by an attorney, to identify deficiencies and conducting an in-depth review of Somerset's existing regulations, identifying topics of critical concern. A key component in the process includes the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals preparing their own punch list of proposed zoning changes and any concerns regarding the current application process.  For more information, see Somerset Zoning Recodification page. 

Slades Ferry Overlay District Zoning Revision

SRPEDD (Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District) is proposing revisions to the zoning bylaw section regulating the Slade's Ferry Overlay District, which was adopted at Town meeting on May 20, 2013. This item is temporarily on hold and information is forthcoming.  

Contact Us

Town Hall, First Floor
140 Wood Street
Somerset, MA 02726
United States
See map: Google Maps

Phone: 508-646-2809, Town Planner

Building Hours:

Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. & Fridays 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.