Department of Planning & Development

Contact:	Eric Twarog, AICP, Director, (413) 772-1549 Cassie Tragert, Conservation Agent, (413) 772-1548 x3
Office Address:	20 Sanderson Street, Room 203, Greenfield
Mailing Address:	14 Court Square, Greenfield, MA 01301
Phone:	(413) 772-1548
Fax:	(413) 772-1309
Hours:	Planning: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Conservation: Tuesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Please Note: Due to limited staffing, the office may be unattended at times. For non-urgent issues, please send an email. If you require a staff member to assist you at the office, an appointment is recommended.

Mission

The Department works with officials and the community to identify, plan, and carry out activities that advance the quality of life and economic climate of Greenfield. Here’s how we do this:

We research and evaluate the physical and community environment to identify needs for services or improvements. We do this at community and precinct meetings, through mail and phone surveys, by direct contact with citizens, and through other forms of research. We use information that we develop locally, as well as information produced by outside agencies and consultants. We present the results/conclusions at community meetings and through reports and plans that are available to the public.
We identify, write, and manage grants to support improvements in public facilities and promote private investment. During the past 30 years, the department has obtained over $36 million in state and federal grants that we used to repair streets, improve neighborhood playgrounds, rehabilitate homes, build an industrial park, clean contaminated factory sites, and finance business start-ups. Grants also have been used as incentives to encourage private investors.
We assist people applying for land use permits and the municipal boards and commissions that review those permits. We meet with applicants and landowners to explain permit requirements and regulations and review their proposals. We recommend and draft changes in regulations to ease the permit process and facilitate investment. We help board members understand and apply state and federal regulations in a fair and impartial manner, and maintain records of their proceedings.
We manage the town’s Geographic Information System, a computerized database of maps that tracks everything from roads to hiking trails, from wetlands to water lines, from traffic levels to land elevations. We use this information to help us pinpoint public investment where it’s most needed. And we make this information available to the public, to other departments, and to government agencies to help them with their work.

Posted: Tue, Sep 29, 2015 05:03 PM
Updated Fri, May 29, 2020 12:00 AM

Permitting Guides

Planning Documents

Name	Uploaded Date
2016-0216 Complete Streets Policy Final.pdf	2017-01-24 10:06:11
2017-1101 Court Square Pedestrian Plaza Design Concept Plan.pdf	2017-11-02 10:47:34
2017-1101 Court Square Pedestrian Plaza Presentation.pdf	2017-11-02 10:47:55
2017-Complete Streets Prioritization Plan - .pdf	2017-08-28 10:33:24
Greenfield 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan.pdf	2020-09-29 11:49:21
Greenfield ADA Self Evaluation and Transition Plan.pdf	2018-06-16 09:55:44
Greenfield Community Branding Wayfinding Program Final Report.pdf	2016-04-05 09:05:34
Greenfield CS Tier 2 Prioritization Plan 2017.pdf	2017-08-28 10:34:00
Sustainable Greenfield-Greenfields 2014 Comprehensive Sustainable Master Plan.pdf	2015-12-04 12:21:46
2012 Open Space and Recreation Plan.pdf	2015-12-04 12:16:06
Greenfield Housing Study 2014.pdf	2015-12-04 12:18:41
Greenfield Tree Inventory 2014.pdf	2015-12-04 12:18:50
Greenfield Food Study August 2013.pdf	2015-12-04 12:18:39
Greenfield Slum-Blight Inventory.pdf	2016-08-04 17:14:44
Greenfield Slum-Blight Inventory Engineering Assessment.pdf	2016-08-04 17:15:47
Greenfield Reconnaissance Report.pdf	2015-12-04 12:18:45
Streetscape Enhancement and Ecological Parking Lot Design Project.pdf	2015-12-04 12:19:36
Greenfield Energy Audit 2009.pdf	2015-12-04 12:18:23
Hillside Neighborhood Revitalization Plan.pdf	2015-12-04 12:19:25
Downtown Master Plan 2003.pdf	2016-01-26 11:31:09

Zoning Ordinance and Map

Planning & Development FAQs

Do I need a permit to erect a temporary sign?

No. However, temporary signs must be taken down within 7 days after the activity advertised has ceased or after 30 days, whichever comes first. Temporary signs that are regularly or occasionally re... (Read More)
How can I find out if there are wetlands on my property?

The Town does not have parcel by parcel wetland mapping. In order to determine whether or not there are wetland resource areas on your property a site inspection is required. You can schedule a sit... (Read More)
How do I see the schedule for the various Town boards and commissions?

To find out the schedule for the various Town boards and commissions, click on the Event Calendar.

At the top of the page you will find an events heading. You can ... (Read More)
What activities are prohibited in Wetlands and Floodplains?

Under the law, no one may "remove, fill, dredge, or alter" any wetland, any floodplain, or any land within 100 feet of a wetland without a permit from the Greenfield Conservation Commissi... (Read More)
What am I allowed to do on my property under zoning?

To find out what types of uses or activities are allowed on your property, first check the Zoning Map to see what zoning district the property is located in. Next, look under the use regulations of... (Read More)
What does the Conservation Commission do?

The Greenfield Conservation Commission was established to protect the Town's natural resources. The Commission is responsible for environmental planning, accepting gifts of land and money for c... (Read More)
What is a Wetland? What is a Floodplain?

Essentially, the Wetlands Protection Act covers any wet area where the groundwater level is at or near the surface of the ground for a long enough period during the year to support a community of w... (Read More)
What is the difference between the Planning Board and Planning Department?

The Planning Board is a 5 member voluntary board that meets the first and third Thursdays of the month. The Planning Board is charged with specific duties and responsibilities to include; long rang... (Read More)
What is the Wetlands Protection Act?

The Wetlands Protection Act was enacted to safeguard wetlands, associated Resource Areas, and floodplains from overdevelopment. The Wetlands Act identifies eight reasons why wetlands should be prot... (Read More)
What must I do if I want to conduct a regulated activity in or near a Wetland or Floodplain?

The first thing you should do is contact the Greenfield Planning Office. The Conservation Commission staff can explain the law more completely to you and its effect on the particular project you ha... (Read More)
What permits do I need to develop a particular project?

The number and type of permits that may be required depends on the specifics of the project and where it is located. If there are wetland issues, a permit from the Conservation Commission would be ... (Read More)
Why are Wetlands important?

Left in their natural state, wetlands provide many free services to the Town. These low areas provide floodways to channel storm waters and act as a buffer to prevent storm damage to nearby roads a... (Read More)