The Community Development Department (CDD) provides assistance and support to applicants and residents in navigating the State and local review and permitting processes. Staff makes them aware of the development rights for the property in question, what obstacles they may face, which applications they will need to submit and permits they will need to obtain in order to complete the proposed project. Staff also makes them aware of the general timelines for review, approval and permitting of the project.

The department also provides staff support to the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Conservation Commission.  In providing the services listed above, staff tries to ensure that applications considered by each board and commission are complete and ready for review and consideration.  This helps to expedite the review and approval process for the applicants. The department also provides support to the Building Facilities and Construction Committee, the Master Plan Committee and the Open Space Committee.

Other services are provided to residents by department staff. They include but are not limited to: working on amendments to the Zoning Bylaws and the Subdivision Rules and Regulations, which may involve Communication with Town Counsel to ensure legal compliance; conducting pre-application technical review meetings with other department heads for significant development projects; utilizing the town’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software to research property information and providing access to various town reports and documents.  

Lastly, the department enforces conditions of approval for each of the boards and commissions to ensure the projects approved are constructed in compliance with their decisions and act on complaints and/or concerns received from residents.