[HISTORY: Adopted by the Annual Town Meeting
of the Town of Fairhaven 3-23-1957 by Art. 52 (Ch. VI of the 1934 Bylaws). Amendments noted
where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Planning Board rules and regulations — See
Division 3.
There shall be a Planning Board of eight members
under the provisions of MGL c. 41, § 81A, with all of the
powers and duties provided therein. Two members shall be elected at
each annual town election for a term of four years.
Vacancies occurring in the Board shall be filled
in accordance with MGL c. 41, § 81A.
The duties of such Board shall be such as are
stated in MGL c. 41, §§ 81A to 81J, and further to
consider and advise upon municipal improvements, either at the request
of other officials of the town or upon its own initiative. The Board
shall meet at regular intervals. It may also hold public meetings.
It shall at all times have access to all public documents or information
in the possession of any town official or department. It shall examine
the plans for the exterior of any public building, monument or similar
feature and for the development and treatment of the grounds about
the same before the adoption thereof, and may make such recommendations
thereon as it may deem needful. It may make investigations and studies
relative to new street and park developments. It may provide for public
lectures and other educational work in connection with its recommendations.
Said Board may incur expenses necessary to the carrying on of its
work within the amount of its annual appropriation.
All plans for laying out, extending, discontinuing
or changing the limits of any way, street, public park or square and
every purchase of land for the site of public buildings, and all plans
for the location, erection or alteration of public buildings, shall
be submitted to said Board for its opinion. No public way shall be
laid out, altered, relocated or discontinued, unless the proposed
laying out, alteration, relocation or discontinuance has been referred
to the Planning Board and such Board has reported thereon or has allowed
45 days to elapse after such reference without submitting its report
(MGL c. 41, § 81-I).
[Amended 6-14-2021 ATM by Art. 46]
Such Board shall make a report to the town annually,
giving information regarding the conditions of the town and any plans
or proposals for the development of the town and estimates of the
cost thereof. Such report shall be sent to the Select Board not later
than such time in January in each year as Select Board may prescribe
or as may be prescribed by law in force relative to reports, and a
copy thereof shall be filed with the appropriate state agency.
[Added 5-11-1994 ATM by Art. 35]
The Planning Board will be responsible for administration
of the Subdivision Control Law, MGL c. 41, §§ 81-K
through 81-GG, the purpose of subdivision control being to protect
the safety, convenience and welfare of the inhabitants of Fairhaven
by regulating the laying out and construction of ways which provide
access to the lots within a subdivision as provided for under MGL
c. 41, § 81-M.
[Added 5-11-1994 ATM by Art. 35]
The Planning Board will be responsible for the
initiation of new zoning bylaws or amendments in accordance with MGL
c. 40A, § 5, and will hold public hearings for this purpose
in accordance with MGL c. 40A, § 11.
[Added 5-11-1994 ATM by Art. 35]
A.
The Planning Board shall, in accordance with MGL c.
41, § 81-D, make a Master Plan of Fairhaven, or such part
or parts thereof as said Board may deem advisable, and from time to
time may extend or perfect such plan.
B.
Such plan shall be a statement, through text, maps,
illustrations or other forms of communication, that is designed to
provide a basis for decisionmaking regarding the long-term physical
development of Fairhaven.
[Added 5-11-1994 ATM by Art. 35]
The Planning Board may, when funds are appropriated
by Town Meeting, engage the services of professional consultants or
planners who will assist it in zoning and subdivision reform in keeping
with the present and future needs of Fairhaven. Such assistants will
be hired and remain under the direct control of the Planning Board.
