Stow, MA Planning Department

01/20/2023

The first survey for the next Comprehensive Plan is available to take now!

The Comprehensive Plan (aka Master Plan) provides an opportunity for you to weigh in on the long-term development of the Town of Stow. The final plan will cover such topics as land use, housing, economic development, natural resources, open space, municipal services, transportation, and implementation of recommended measures.

The Planning Board is initiating public engagement around this process with the a short survey, linked below. The survey should take no more than 5-10 minutes to complete. Your feedback will be used to guide the general framework of the plan and will be the first of many opportunities to provide input and shape this process.

The Town of Stow is committed to involving residents as much as possible in this Comprehensive Planning effort, so please be on the lookout for announcement of future surveys, workshops, and public forums.

https://forms.gle/f8E3pocX5dmYkpvR9

The Comprehensive Planning Committee is also seeking two at-large members. Applicants should have an interest in the long-term strategic planning of community development and be able to synthesize public comment and balance the needs and interests of all stakeholders. Read the position description and how to apply at stow-ma.gov/home/pages/volunteer-openings-and-committee-vacancies

Town of Stow, MA
Stow Conservation Department
Stow Council on Aging
Stow Recreation Department
Randall Library
The Stow Independent
Stow TV

The Comprehensive Plan (aka Master Plan) provides an opportunity for you to weigh in on the long-term development of the Town of Stow. The final plan will cover such topics as land use, housing, economic development, natural resources, open space, municipal services, transportation, and implementati...

01/04/2023

The Planning Board will be meeting with the Select Board this upcoming Tuesday, January 10 at 8PM to view preliminary concept plans for the signalization of the Hudson Road/Route 117 intersection. This intersection is a longtime hotspot of crashes in Stow.

View the preliminary concepts, read the consulting engineer's design memo, and get info to join the meeting at https://www.stow-ma.gov/planning-board/news/public-forum-hudson-rdroute-117-traffic-signal-concept-review

Town of Stow, MA
Stow Police Department
Stow Highway Department

11/28/2022

Gleasondale Residents: There will be a public forum hosted by the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee and Complete Streets Committee on Wednesday, Dec 7th at 6pm to discuss proposed temporary realignment of the Marlborough Road/Route 62 intersection. Multiple alternatives to limit traffic on one segment of the triangular intersection will be reviewed.

The forum will be at Town Building room 201 (Warren Room), 380 Great Road AND online via Zoom (info at link below)
https://www.stow-ma.gov/planning-board/news/public-forum-dec-7-marlborough-roadroute-62-pilot-realignment

Town of Stow, MA
Stow Police Department

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7 @ 6PMTown Building - 380 Great Road, room 201 (Warren Room) and Online via Zoom:zoom.us/j/81756295

10/17/2022

Check out our new public WebGIS tool! https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/8fa6b097404d4de286f4fc6c2d42fa1f/

Here you can view all kinds of state and locally-maintained spatial data layers, measures distances and areas on the map, and export everything with a configurable title, scale bar, and legend.

While some data is the same that you will find on MassMapper, many layers, such as roadway condition and zoning districts, can only be found here!

Staff will be updating this tool on an a rolling basis with new data and functionality. If you have an comments or ideas, please feel free to contact the Planning Department.

Town of Stow, MA
Stow TV
Stow Fire Department
Stow Police Department

10/07/2022

AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT AVAILABLE:

3 bedroom townhome at the Villages at Stow - $255,100. Income limits are included in the flyer below. Application deadline is very soon! Tuesday, October 18th by 5PM.

Apply online at https://metrowestcd.org/need-help/homes-for-sale, questions may be directed to Stefanie Petersen of MetroWest Collaborative Development at [email protected]

08/24/2022

The Stow Planning Board seeks interested residents to serve as a non-voting associate member.

The Planning Board is currently working on several exciting projects, ranging from revisions to zoning for Lower Village, numerous transportation projects, and a new update to the Town's Master/Comprehensive Plan. The non-voting associate will have the chance to participate in all Board projects and discussions.

Serving as an associate member is a great way to learn about what it's like to serve on the Planning Board, especially if you are considering running for one of the elected seats in the future.

Read the full notice of vacancy and learn how to apply at https://www.stow-ma.gov/planning-board/news/notice-vacancy-planning-board-non-voting-associate-member

08/02/2022

TONIGHT at 7:30pm - Public Hearing for "The Cottages at Wandering Pond", an Active Adult Neighborhood at Athens Street (off Hudson Rd).

View the full plan submissions and find info to join the remote meeting at the link below.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGNotice is hereby given that the Stow Planning Board will hold a Public Hearing on August 2, 2022

07/19/2022

The Town of Stow is offering no-cost taxi rides to residents ages 50+ through the GO Stow program! All rides must begin or end in Stow, and must be scheduled 48 business hours in advance.

Apply for the program at: http://forms.gle/XYbFcn1ZjhzVqGSB6

More information, including instructions to request rides: https://www.stow-ma.gov/planning-board/pages/go-stow-no-cost-taxi-rides-program

07/05/2022

PUBLIC HEARING: The Planning Board will host a Public Hearing on Tuesday, August 2 at 7:30pm to discuss the application for "The Cottages at Wandering Pond", a proposed 141-unit Active Adult Neighborhood off what is known as Athens Street/Lane.

Read the full notice and find out how to view the complete site plans at the link below.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGNotice is hereby given that the Stow Planning Board will hold a Public Hearing on August 2, 2022

06/28/2022

The Town of Stow is now accepting proposals to conduct a Water System Feasibility Study in Lower Village!

This study was identified as a key goal by the Lower Village Revitalization Subcommittee in their 2019 final report, and will be funded through the Town of Stow's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation, which was approved by the Select Board earlier this year.

Proposals must be submitted before 1PM on July 27th. View the Request for Proposals (RFP) and all supporting documents at the link below.

AttachmentSize 2022_06_27_lower_village_water_feasibility_study_rfp.pdf297.74 KB 2022_06_30_lower_village_water_feasibility_study_rfp_-_legal_notice.pdf111.76 KB lower_village_iwpa_zone1_distribution.pdf826.74 KB r29_100a_plot_plan.pdf93.81 KB r29-85b_zone_1_estimations.pdf1.84 MB r29-85b-a1_elizabe...

06/24/2022

We frequently get calls about growing ma*****na in Stow. Cultivation and retail sales of ma*****na are NOT allowed uses under the zoning bylaw. After the Registered Ma*****na Overlay zoning district was created by a Town Meeting vote in 2018, a subsequent town election rejected allowing cultivation and retail uses. Testing laboratories, research facilities, and product manufacturers are still allowed uses by Special Permit.

Find out more about the Town of Stow's ma*****na zoning, including a list of allowed uses and a map of the district where they can be located, at the link below.

At the October 2018 Special Town Meeting and subsequent election, voters approved a local bylaw allowing Independent Ma*****na Testing Laboratories, Ma*****na Product Manufacturers, and Ma*****na Research Facilities to locate in Stow's Registered Ma*****na Establishment Overlay District through a Sp

06/17/2022

The tank in Lower Village is finally gone! But there is still much work to be done to create the attractive gateway to Stow that we know residents want to see in Lower Village. A clear vision for the district was offered by the final report of the Lower Village Revitalization Committee in 2019, calling for a walkable, mixed use district with traditional New England architectural forms. The Planning Board is hard at work to update the zoning bylaw to remove regulatory barriers to achieving this vision.

Find out more about the Lower Village Revitalization Report, and how zoning changes can help achieve its goals, at the link below.

In its 2019 Final Report, the Lower Village Revitalization Subcommittee found that current zoning restrictions are unaligned with community preferences for Lower Village.