Role of the Planning Board
Town of Truro
According to the Town of Truro Website the role of the Planning board is as follows:
The Planning Board is responsible for administration of the Subdivision Control Laws as set forth in Massachusetts General laws Chapter 41 and the Truro Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land. The Planning Board also is the Special Permit Granting Authority for Communication Structures, Wind Generators, Large-Scale Ground-Mounted Photovoltaic Arrays and Affordable Accessory Dwelling Units and the Board issues permits for Temporary Signs.
In addition to what is listed above, the Planning Board is also responsible town zoning and for permits for all businesses, as well as residences within the National Seashore.
All zoning regulations created by the planning board must be approved at town meeting prior to implementation.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
The state describes the role of the Planning Board as follows:
The planning board shall:
make careful studies of the resources, possibilities and needs of the town, particularly with respect to conditions injurious to the public health or otherwise in and about rented dwellings, and make plans for the development of the municipality, with special reference to proper housing of its inhabitants.
from time to time make careful studies and when necessary prepare plans of the resources, possibilities and needs of the city or town
report annually to the city council or to the annual town meeting, giving information regarding the condition of the city or town and any plans or proposals for its development and estimates of the cost thereof
make a master plan of such city or town or such part or parts thereof as said board may deem advisable and from time to time may extend or perfect such plan. Such plan shall be a statement, through text, maps, illustrations or other forms of communication, that is designed to provide a basis for decision making regarding the long-term physical development of the municipality. The comprehensive plan shall be internally consistent in its policies, forecasts and standards, and shall include the following elements: [...]
adopt, and...may, from time to time, amend, reasonable rules and regulations relative to subdivision control.
[approve any subdivision plan] if said plan conforms to the recommendation of the board of health and to the reasonable rules and regulations of the planning board pertaining to subdivisions of land; provided, however, that such board may, when appropriate, waive, as provided for in section eighty-one R, such portions of the rules and regulations as is deemed advisable.
Town meeting... may adopt an official map, prepared under the direction of such planning board and showing the public ways and parks therein as theretofore laid out and established by law and the private ways then existing and used in common by more than two owners. Such official map is hereby declared to be established to conserve and promote the public health, safety and general welfare.