43D in Walpole

By , September 5, 2008 8:02 am

Here’s an article about Walpole’s adoption of Chapter 43D – the expedited permitting law. They seem to have gone in whole hog.

The town is on the fast-track to draw new business after the launch of a Web site that lets residents, property owners and contractors apply for building permits online, according to town officials.

“It shows the town’s willingness to move forward and make the town attractive to potential developers that may want to come” here, said Building Inspector Jack Mee.

It’s part of a larger effort to encourage economic growth that began last year with the adoption, at Spring Town Meeting, of Chapter 43D to expedite permitting, Mee said.

Under Chapter 43D economic development program, towns are given grants to identify priority development sites – properties ripe for expansion. At the same time, the town agrees to make permitting decisions within 180 days.

According to Town Planner Don Johnson – speaking when the town adopted the program last March – the idea behind it was to streamline permitting to encourage the type of growth a town wants, in the area where the town wants it.

Walpole received $150,000 under the state incentive program. After hiring a consultant to identify priority sites, the town hired one to establish expedited permitting regulations for those sites; it also paid a consultant to set up an online permitting process.

I’ll repeat that I’m completely against adopting 43D in Middleboro until the town does a really thorough study of the ramifications. I would also need to be convinced that it wasn’t some double-secret-probation strategy to grease the casino skids.

categories Middleboro

One Response to “43D in Walpole”

  1. Anonymous says:
    September 6, 2008 at 5:20 pm

    Sounds like another good way to waste hard earned taxpayer dollars. If the town boards would just do their job, and stop acting like children, we wouldn’t need a expedited permitting process. I realize the state grants the money to the town for the consulting fees, but that money comes out of our pockets. Just another way to expand government.

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