Planning and Community Development

The Department of Planning and Community Development consists of two sections: The Planning and Community Development Office and the Conservation Commission. The Planning and Community Office is responsible for planning and development review, grant writing, economic development, GIS coordination, historic preservation and other land-use issues. In addition, the Director supervises Conservation staff and acts as a liaison for the town to state and federal agencies as well as regional planning groups and agencies.

The Conservation Commission is a seven-member, volunteer, regulatory body that acts under the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act (WPA) and the Tyngsborough’s Wetland Protection Bylaw (WPB). Under the WPA and WPB the Conservation Commission regulates any activity that would remove, fill, dredge, or alter any areas of protection called resource areas. Resource areas include bordering vegetative wetlands, land subject to flooding, land under water, banks, buffer zone and riverfront area.

Other Useful Information:

The Director of Planning and Community Development is the contact person for the Route 3 Project, the repair of the old Tyngsborough Bridge project, and the proposed New Bridge study.

The resource areas protected under the WPA and WPB provide values to the public. The WPA and WPB refer to these values as interests and include: protection of public, private, and ground water supplies, protection of shellfish, fisheries and wildlife habitat, flood and erosion control, storm damage prevention, prevention of pollution and aesthetic and recreational values. If you plan to do any work on your property that is within 100 feet if any protected resource area you must file with the Conservation Commission. In addition the Conservation Commission has the following policies:

1. Fifty Foot No Build Zone: Within 50’ of a resource area, the Commission does not allow building of new structures or impervious surfaces.

2. Thirty Foot No Touch Zone: Within 30’ of a resource area, the Commission does not allow any disturbance of the land.

3. Water Withdrawal: Water can be withdrawn from the following by residents for their personal use: Lake Massapoag, Lake Mascuppic, Lake Althea, Long Pond, Flint’s Pond and the Merrimack River. Withdrawal from other water bodies such as streams or brooks shall require a filing with the Commission.

4. Vernal Pools: Whether or not certified by the state shall be considered as a resource area.