Shrewsbury Launches Long-Term Planning Effort to Shape Town’s Future Through 2047

SHREWSBURY, Mass. — The Town of Shrewsbury has begun updating its Comprehensive Master Plan, launching a long-term planning process intended to guide the community’s growth, development and priorities over the next 10 to 20 years.

The town is working with Barrett Planning Group, a New England planning and community development firm, on the update, which will assess changes since the previous Master Plan was completed in 2016 and establish a framework for future municipal decisions.

The Master Plan Steering Committee held its kickoff meeting on September 16 at Shrewsbury Town Hall, marking the start of a process that will examine current community conditions, identify emerging challenges and opportunities, and gather input from residents and other stakeholders.

The 17-member committee includes representatives from town boards and Shrewsbury residents appointed to help guide the planning effort.

The comprehensive review will cover a broad range of issues affecting the town’s future, including land use, housing, economic development, transportation and circulation, open space and recreation, natural resources, and cultural and historic resources. Community facilities and services, along with sustainability, will also be part of the assessment.

Jill Slankas, principal planner at Barrett Planning Group, said the update would provide the town with an updated foundation for future planning decisions.

“Shrewsbury has changed since its current Master Plan was completed in 2016, and this process will provide an up-to-date foundation for the Town’s next set of planning decisions,” Slankas said.

She added that the process would begin with an assessment of existing conditions, trends and issues before moving toward practical goals, recommendations and an implementation program reflecting local priorities.

For town officials, public participation will be central to determining how Shrewsbury should evolve while preserving the characteristics residents value.

“Shrewsbury is a strong community, and this Master Plan update is an opportunity to listen to our residents and think together about the future,” said Christopher McGoldrick, the town’s director of planning and economic development.

“As the community grows and changes, we want to understand what people value most about Shrewsbury, what they want to protect, and where there are opportunities to make the community even stronger over the next 10 to 20 years,” McGoldrick said.

The planning process will provide opportunities for residents, business owners, municipal officials and other stakeholders to contribute their perspectives. Public input is expected to help shape recommendations across the plan’s various focus areas, connecting long-term community goals with practical actions the town can pursue.

The update comes as Shrewsbury evaluates how its housing needs, development patterns, transportation systems, environmental resources and municipal services should be addressed in the years ahead. By reviewing these interconnected issues within a single planning framework, the town aims to establish priorities that can inform future policies, investments and development decisions.

The project is expected to continue through spring 2027. A draft Master Plan will be prepared for public review before the plan is finalized.

Residents and other interested parties can find meeting notices, project materials and opportunities to participate on the town’s Master Plan Update webpage at shrewsburyma.gov/1604/Master-Plan-Update.

The completed plan is intended to serve as a long-term guide for Shrewsbury, helping municipal leaders and residents navigate future growth while identifying opportunities to strengthen the community over the next two decades.