Zoning Bylaw Update Project

Overview: Past, Present, and Future Efforts

The Planning Board is engaged in a multi-year effort to update, organize, and improve the Town of Essex Zoning Bylaw. For the first phase of this project the Town partnered with Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) under a grant to engage the community and bring forth updates at the 2023 Annual (spring) and Special (fall) Town Meetings. To learn about the purpose of this project and the work that was done in the first phase of this project, please click here to visit the MAPC website.

The collaboration with MAPC is now complete, and the Board has continued its efforts working closely with new Town Planner Valerie Massard. The Planning Board brought forth seven articles for consideration at the Annual Town Meeting held May 6, 2024 (Articles 14 through 20). We are pleased to share that all seven articles passed by at least the required 2/3 majority. The full content of the articles may be found in the posted warrant available here, and the handout provided at ATM with a summary of each article can be found here. This is an important step in the multi-year bylaw update process, and the Planning Board would like to thank the residents who participated in Town Meeting for their support. The changes must be approved by the Attorney General before the official Town of Essex Bylaws document is updated but go into effect immediately based on the warrant language. Changes approved at Annual Town Meeting do not impact projects in process (i.e., applications already received). If you have any questions about whether or how these changes will impact you project, be sure to contact Building Inspector Bill Sanborn.

The Board is now working on plans for community engagement opportunities in upcoming months to discuss residential and other "place types" that could help determine additional zoning districts. Additional updates will be posted here as they take place. If you have questions or comments, please email planningboard@essexma.org. Thank you for your engagement!

Essex Planning Board Special Permit Uses Survey Results

Survey was open March 8 through 15, 2024

Thank you to all who took the Essex Planning Board Special Permit Survey. The survey was open March 8 through 15, 2024. The results were used by the Town of Essex Planning Board to inform which Special Permit categories to propose at Annual Town Meeting on May 6, 2024 as part of the multi-year Bylaw update project. The results are posted below.