Frequently Asked Questions

You are receiving this hearing notice because you are abutter (as defined by law) to a proposed development that will be reviewed by the Winthrop Planning Board. The notice is required by statute to let you know that a public hearing is being held on the project.

The Planning Board has five elected members and several appointed associate members. The Board has the responsibility to review proposed development projects and makes decisions on them in accordance with statutes and local bylaws. The board holds its hearings in the evenings. Board members have a variety of backgrounds and volunteers to serve on the board. They are assisted by a professional staff that works in the Town Clerk's office during the day.

An application, plans, and supporting materials are on file at the Town Clerk's office. You are welcome to review this information and may pay for copies of any information you would like to keep. If you are requesting multiple copies, you may have to fill out a Request for Public Information Form, giving the staff 14 days to produce the copies. Copies cost 25 cents/page. Our office is generally open Monday through Wednesday from 8 to 4:30, and Tuesday through Thursday from 8 to 7. It is best to call and make an appointment to ensure that staff will be there.

The notice you received in the mail tells you when the public hearing is scheduled. It is also published in the legal notice section of The Winthrop Transcript. At the first hearing, the applicant will present plans and explain what is proposed for the Board and the audience. The Board will ask questions. Generally where clarification is needed. There will be an opportunity for those in the audience to ask questions or offer opinions. Comments may also be submitted in writing. Since the Board often hears several projects in an evening, hearings last a specified period of time. At the end of this time, the hearing may be either closed or continued.

Occasionally, for simple projects, hearings can be completed in one night and are closed; meaning that no further testimony is taken. More often, hearings will be continued with direction given by the Board to the application on revisions to the plans or information that is needed. Continued hearings may be several weeks or months in the future depending on how long it takes the applicant to gather the required information and the Board's workload.

Occasionally, the hearing process is delayed due to weather, the absence of a Board member or at the applicant's request. To verify that a hearing is being held on a scheduled date, you can call the Planning Board office.

If a Public Hearing is Continued or delayed, abutters notices will not be sent back out. Please refer to the Public Calendar and Bulletin Boards.

Comments can be submitted in writing prior to the close of Public hearing. As with all testimony, it is most helpful to raise concerns early in the process.

After the hearing and the record are closed, no new information can be submitted. The Board deliberates and writes a decision at a posted Board meeting. The Board generally either approves a plan with conditions or denies it if it does not meet town standards. Interested individuals are welcome to attend and listen, but may not make further comments. The board makes its decisions on subdivision waiver requests at this time. The decision is voted on and filed with the Town Clerk by the decision deadline.

The scope of issues that the Board can consider in reviewing projects is defined by state law and town bylaws and regulations. In presenting testimony (oral or written) it is most helpful to focus on these issues.

Copies of subdivision decisions are not sent to abutters. You may request a copy of any decision from the Planning Board office.

Appeals may be made to the Superior Court (and in some cases Land Courts). For subdivision, site plan, and special permit decisions, there is a 20-day appeal period (from the date the decision is filed with the Town Clerk). You will not receive notice of any appeals filed other parties (such as the applicant).