Wrentham Master Plan 2030

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Image text is, "Wrentham 2030, Vision of Tomorrow Master Plan." Text is in green and there is a yellow thin arrow arching from left to right over all of the words.

The finalized Wrentham Master Plan 2030
Vision of Tomorrow is now available.

Read It Now

News & Updates

Next Steps

The Town will be establishing a Master Plan Implementation Committee to advance Master Plan recommendations.
Stay tuned!

The Public Comment Period has now closed.

Thank you to everyone who provided your input.

Read the Submitted Comments

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Tuesday, November 17, 2022 Wrentham Master Plan Committee | Steering Committee Meeting

Monday, September 19, 2022 Wrentham Master Plan Final Public Forum. 

  • Watch the meeting recording
  • The draft Master Plan was presented at this public forum, opening a 45-day public comment period to gather final input on the draft Master Plan document. Questions, comments, and feedback were collected at this forum and will be during the comment period.
  • This final public forum is part of the Vision of Tomorrow: 2030 Master Plan process, which has included town-wide surveys, previous public forums, focus groups, in-depth analysis, and more resulting in the draft Master Plan to guide the Town’s priorities for the next 10 years. Questions? Email Josh Fiala, MAPC Principal Planner, at [email protected] or call (617) 933-0760.

About the Project

Vision of Tomorrow: Wrentham Master Plan 2030 is a town-wide master planning process that will provide the basis for decision-making in Wrentham for the next 10 years. The Wrentham community will evaluate the town's strengths and challenges and envision the type of community Wrentham would like to be in the future.

This plan will be developed through a public process engaging the community’s residents, business owners, and leadership and will be built upon research, analysis, and community involvement.

In September 2021, we completed Phase 1 of the Master Plan, which included developing a shared vision for the future of the Town, as well as strategies and actions for Housing and Economic Development.

In Phase II, we'll identify issues and opportunities and set goals related to open space and recreation, land use, transportation, historic and cultural resources, public services, and energy and sustainability. The graphic below illustrates the Phase II process: we’ll identify the most pressing issues and opportunities for the community and we’ll prepare goals, strategies, and actions related to these topics.

The project will include a robust community engagement process with many chances for Wrentham community members to get involved through public meetings and forums, online engagement, and more. A robust public process will ensure that the final plan reflects the needs of all residents. Town staff is guiding the planning process, with the help of a Steering Committee of local community members. In addition, the Town has hired the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to help with preparing the plan.

At the end of the planning process, it is intended that the Master Plan will be adopted by the Board of Selectmen and Planning Board to support effective implementation. As shown in the graphic below, the Vision will guide the preparation of the Master Plan. In turn, the Master Plan goals and strategies will guide the Town’s priorities, zoning, and investments.

MAPC Contact

Josh Fiala, AICP, AIA, LEED AP,
Principal Planner

Town Contact

Rachel Benson, Director of Planning and Economic Development

Steering Committee

Krista Andberg, Resident at Large
Debbie Exner, Resident at Large
Chris Gallo, Board of Selectmen
Julie Garland, Conservation Commission
John Jackson, Recreation Committee
George Labonte, Deputy Police Chief/Resident
Jerry McGovern, Select Board
Jeffrey Plante, Resident at Large
Beatrice Schembri, Resident at Large
Steve Schwarm, Planning Board
Alan Selling, Open Space Committee
Everett Skinner, Jr., Planning Board
John Murphy, Resident at Large
Lauren White, Resident at Large
Rebecca Zitomer, Economic Development Commission (EDC), Commission on Disability

Wrentham's Vision

The Vision Statement provides a north star for the future of Wrentham. It is a statement of identity and aspirations developed through a public process, and it provides a framework for Vision of Tomorrow: Wrentham Master Plan. The goals and objectives of the Master Plan, which will guide the Town’s policy, programs, and investment decisions for the next 10 years, are aimed at making this vision a reality.

Vision Statement

Wrentham is a charming town, proud of its Downtown and open spaces and a great place to raise a family. More than 1,000 of us have come together through a public process to set a vision for the future. By 2030, we aspire to:

  • Continue to cultivate a community-oriented and welcoming culture for all, regardless of race, religion, or age
  • Protect more farmland and open space for cultural heritage, scenic beauty, habitat, and water quality
  • Become more walkable and bikeable with sidewalks and trails
  • Strengthen the Downtown with more ‘Mom and Pop’ shops, small businesses, homes, and places to gather
  • Maintain the rural landscape by promoting sustainable land use patterns and shifting away from sprawl development
  • Encourage diversity with a mix of housing options affordable to young adults, families, households with lower-incomes, and seniors
  • Ensure fiscal responsibility while maintaining high-quality infrastructure and services

To effectively pursue and strike a balance between these goals, we encourage transparent governance, strong civic engagement, and volunteerism.

Phase II Project Timeline

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What We've Done So Far

Phase 1 (2020 to Fall 2021)

Download Completed Phase I Master Plan
August 11 - October 1, 2020 

Distributed an on-line survey through a postcard mailed to every house, a press release, outreach to schools and civic organizations, and social media. Hard copies of the survey were available at Town Hall. The survey questions focused on the aspirations of the community for the future of Wrentham. More than 1,300 people responded to the survey.

Committee Meeting #1 - June 4, 2020
  • Committee Meeting #1 Presentation
  • Committee Meeting #1 Video
    Members of the Steering Committee met informally on June 4, 2020 to get to know each other and discuss initial demographic analysis of Wrentham. Not all members had been officially sworn in, so the gathering was not a noticed public meeting, and there were no deliberations or decisions made. Here is a video of the meeting to provide background on the Steering Committee members and the existing conditions analysis. The existing conditions analysis will be used as a foundation for the planning process, and will be presented when relevant as background for the surveys and public meetings.
Committee Meeting #2 - July 2, 2020
  • Committee Meeting #2 Video
    Members of the Steering Committee met on July 2, 2020 to discuss the community engagement strategy for the planning process.
Committee Meeting #3 - July 28, 2020
  • Committee Meeting #3 Video
    The Steering Committee met on July 28, 2020 for an Information Session led by Town Staff. The Information Session provided further background on the role of a master plan in Town governance and decision-making, as  well as progress achieved and challenges that the Town has faced in terms of planning and development in recent years. In addition, MAPC staff led a discussion on the draft community-wide survey to be released in mid-August.
Committee Meeting #4 - September 14, 2020
  • Committee Meeting #4 Video
    The Steering Committee met on September 14 to review the initial survey results, review and revise the draft Vision Statement developed based on the survey results, and prepare for the Public Forum on September 28, 2020.
Virtual Public Forum #1 - September 28, 2020
Committee Meeting #5 – December 11, 2020

The Steering Committee met on December 11, 2020 to review the draft Introduction chapter and prepare for the focus groups.

Focus groups and interviews – January 2021

MAPC and Town staff conducted focus groups with businesses, seniors, and residents of color, as well as interviews with two residents of Wrentham Affordable Housing. Questions focused on housing and economic development challenges and opportunities, as well as follow-up on the survey. For a full summary of findings, please see here.

Committee Meeting #6 – February 18, 2021

The Steering Committee met on February 18, 2021 to review the Housing existing conditions assessment and draft Housing goals. Watch the video of the meeting here.

Economic Development Commission meeting – February 22, 2021

We joined the Wrentham Economic Development Commission meeting to present on the Master Plan and review the key Economic Development issues and opportunities.

Committee meeting #7 – February 24, 2021

The Steering Committee met on February 24, 2021 to refine the draft Housing goals, review the Economic Development existing conditions assessment, and draft Economic Development goals. Watch the video of the meeting here.

Housing and Economic Development Existing Conditions Assessments

We’ve been busy researching and analyzing Housing and Economic Development in Wrentham to understand the issues and opportunities. We’ve outlined the basic facts and key themes, which we’ll use to develop goals and strategies to achieve our Vision. You can find the Housing existing conditions assessment here and the Economic Development existing conditions here. For a summary of the findings, see here

Board of Selectmen meeting – March 16

Presented the Existing Conditions Analysis and draft Housing and Economic Development goals to the Board of Selectmen for their review and feedback. Watch the video of the meeting on Cable 8 here.

Planning Board meeting – March 17

Presented the Existing Conditions Analysis and draft Housing and Economic Development goals to the Planning Board for their review and feedback. Watch the video of the meeting on Cable 8 here.

Steering Committee meeting #8 – April 2

Met to prepare for the public forum and survey. Watch the video of the meeting on Cable 8 here.

Virtual Public Forum – April 8

Presented Existing Conditions Analysis and draft Housing and Economic Development goals and potential strategies to the public for review and discussion. Watch the video of the meeting on Cable 8 here.

Town-wide survey – April 8-April 26

Distributed survey with questions about the Master Plan Vision, Housing and Economic Development Goals, and potential Strategies to achieve the Goals. More than 550 people responded to the survey.

Steering Committee meeting #9 – April 29

Presented survey findings, and the Steering Committee discussed revisions to the Housing Goals based on the survey results. Watch the video of the meeting on Cable 8 here.

Planning Board meeting – May 5, 2021

Presented new Housing Goals, Economic Development Goals, and potential Housing and Economic Development strategies for review and feedback. Watch the video of the meeting on Cable 8 here.

Review of Draft Vision, Housing Goals and Strategies, and Economic Development Goals and Strategies by Town Committees, Boards, and Staff – May 6 - May 24, 2021

Full draft of the Vision, Goals, and Strategies was shared with relevant Committees, Boards, and Departmental staff for review and feedback.

Economic Development Committee – May 15, 2021

Presented new Housing Goals, Economic Development Goals, and potential Housing and Economic Development strategies for review and feedback.

Steering Committee meeting #10 – June 8, 2021

Reviewed feedback collected on the Vision, Goals, and Strategies and discussed revisions to the Housing Goals. Watch the video of the meeting on Cable 8 here.

Steering Committee Meeting #11 – June 29, 2021

Reviewed the updated Master Plan – Phase I draft and prepared for the Public Review period.

Board of Selectmen Meeting – July 13, 2021

Presented the Master Plan – Phase I draft for public review and collected feedback. Watch the video of the meeting on Cable 8 here.

Planning Board Meeting – July 21, 2021

Presented the Master Plan – Phase I draft for public review and collected feedback. Watch the video of the meeting on Cable 8 here.

Public Review Period – July 7 to August 6, 2021

Collected comments on the Master Plan – Phase I from the public. See all comments here and responses to the comments here.

Steering Committee Meeting #12 – August 19, 2021

Reviewed comments collected during Public Review period and proposed updates to the Master Plan – Phase I. Watch the video of the meeting on Cable 8 here.

Plan Approved – September 7, 2021

Vision of Tomorrow: Wrentham Master Plan 2030 – Phase I was unanimously approved by the Board of Selectmen and Planning Board at the September 7 joint meeting. The document will guide the City’s investments, policies, and priorities for the next 10 years. In Phase I, we developed a shared vision for the Town, as well as strategies and actions for housing and economic development.

Phase 2 (Fall 2021 to present)

Committee Meeting #1 - November 16, 2021
Phase II Survey: November 17 - December 20, 2021

We distributed a Phase II survey focused on open space, recreation, growth, transportation, historic and cultural resources, public services, energy, and sustainability. Postcards with survey information were mailed to every household.

Other outreach includes email newsletter distribution, fliers at Town events, social media, outreach to parents of Wrentham Public Schools students, and hard copies made available at Town Hall.

777 people completed the survey.

Committee Meeting #2 - February 10, 2022
Public Forum #1 - March 22, 2022

This forum focused on key issues and opportunities for land use, open space, and transportation in Wrentham.

Public Forum #2 - March 29, 2022

This forum focused on key issues and opportunities for historic and cultural resources, community facilities and services, and energy and sustainability in Wrentham.

DRAFT EXISTING CONDITIONS OVERVIEWS AVAILABLE. These documents outline the current state of the six Phase II topics. 

Wrentham Data