For the 30th CPTC Annual Conference for Massachusetts citizen and professional planners, held at Holy Cross College in Worcester in spring 2025, firm founder Gregor McGregor prepared a new presentation covering the procedures, principles, and practical tips for projects, lawyers and consultants before local Conservation Commissions. It is now available on our firm website in Archives under Slide Shows.
CPTC is the Citizen Planner Training Collaborative headquartered at UMass Boston. www.masscptc.org. It provides ongoing training with webinar series, on demand workshops for towns, groups, and regional planning agencies, authoritative publications on MA land use practice and law, and videos of select training sessions taught by professionals, all capped by its large annual conference.
CPTC is part of a strong network including the MassPlanners (an online forum), the Mass Housing Partnership (strengthening local boards and commissions to support affordable housing), and local regulatory and planning boards that touch the housing development process.
Mr. McGregor’s presentation comprehensively covers the application and hearing process for proposing work and activities in and near wetlands (as they are broadly defined as Resource Areas) and the associated Buffer Zone. Commissions have jurisdiction over these projects and enforcement under the state Wetlands Protection Act and city and town Wetlands Protection Bylaws (in about 215 municipalities).
Below are some useful highlights and diagrams from the presentation. You may watch the entire presentation by clicking the following link... Full Presentation >>