The Woburn Planning Board is a seven member board appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council for a five year term beginning on the first day of May with at least one member’s term expiring each year. The Board shall include at least one attorney and one individual who has a civil engineering degree, or equivalent civil engineering work experience and all Board members must be residents of the City of Woburn. The Board is charged with administering the subdivision control rules and regulations of the City of Woburn enacted in accordance with MGL Ch 41 sections 81A-81J. Specifically, the Board overseas the creation of all subdivisions of land within Woburn. This includes residential subdivisions on new streets, the division of parcels on existing streets and commercial and industrial developments in which new streets or lot lines are created. Also in accordance with MGL Ch 40A and the Woburn Zoning Ordinance, the Board holds public hearings and makes recommendations on proposed Zoning amendments to the City Council and conducts public hearings as a Special Permit Granting Authority as outlined in the Woburn Zoning Ordinance. The Planning Board is also charged under MGL Ch 41 Section 81D with updating the City's Master Plan. MGL Ch 85 requires the Board to name all non-public Streets within the City. In addition, the Board also advises the City Council on all developments or land use policy decisions that fall under Council jurisdiction. These include Site Plan Reviews, Special Permits, Zoning Changes, and Street Acceptances. Woburn’ City Ordinances require the Planning Board to appoint a member of its Board or the Planning Director to serve on the Biomedical Oversight Committee (BOC).


Planning Board Members

Claudia Leis Bolgen, Chair
Michael Maher, Vice Chair
Paul Doherty
James Garvey
Nancy Ogasapian
Edward J. Pasquarello
Michael C. Ventresca


Planning Board Meetings

Regular meetings of the Planning Board are held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, except during July and August when a summer schedule is followed, at 7:00 pm in Woburn City Hall. Zoning Ordinance Review Committee (ZORC), a committee of the Planning Board, meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month except during July and August in Woburn City Hall.


Office Information

The City of Woburn also has a full time Planning Director who in accordance with City Ordinances directs all the activities of the Planning Department and coordinates all activities for the Board. The Planning Director is appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council.

Edmund P. Tarallo, Planning Director - Phone 782-932-4418
etarallo@ci.woburn.ma.us

Marie LaLumiere, Secretary - Phone: 781-932-4417
mlalumiere@ci.woburn.ma.us
Fax Number: 781-932-4456


Office Hours

Second floor of Woburn City Hall, Monday - Wednesday: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm , Thursday 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, and Friday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.


Address

Woburn Planning Board, Woburn City Hall, 10 Common Street, Woburn, MA 01801-4139


FAQ

Q. How often does the Planning Board meet?

A. . The Planning Board always meets on a Tuesday night, two to three times a month. Meetings are held in the City Hall starting at 7:00 pm


Q. How long does it take to get on the Planning Board's agenda for permits?

A. Special Permit and Definitive Plans are scheduled for a public hearing usually 4 to 5 weeks after the application is received. Site Plan Reviews are scheduled for an agenda 2 to 4 weeks after being received. Approval Not Required plans are scheduled within two week of receipt


Q. Where can I get a copy of the Planning Board's regulations.

A. . Woburn Planning Board Land Subdivision Rules & Regulations can be obtained at the Planning Board Offices .


Grant Development Coordinator

The Grant Development Coordinator is a new position in the City of Woburn, conceived by Mayor John Curran, and approved by the City Council. Administratively, the position comes under the Planning Board, but works in close connection with the Mayor’s office. At a time when drastic budgetary cuts are being made, it is essential for municipalities to seek outside sources of funding.

Hired as grant development coordinator in January of 2003, Maura E. Greaney, is responsible for writing and overseeing grant proposals on behalf of the city. Greaney works with all city departments and collaborates with external organizations and non-profits, to fashion feasible and unique funding proposals. Coming from seven years experience in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Greaney also works with state and Congressional representatives to obtain written support, to advocate on behalf of active proposals, and to garner information about future grant opportunities.

In just over three months, Greaney has secured $14,000 of funding. In late February, the Massachusetts Health Officers’ Association awarded the City of Woburn a $2000 mini-grant for skin cancer prevention and awareness. Greaney’s proposal requested the fund to purchase shade canopies for the city’s playing fields and umbrellas for the lifeguards at the public pools. The Department of Public Health will also donate skin cancer prevention awareness materials to the city for dissemination. In early April, Greaney learned that her proposal to conduct an interdepartmental youth health workshop series would be funded to the maximum by the Lahey Clinic/CHNA 15 Community Benefits Initiative. The city will receive $7,000 to be distributed amongst the Fire, Police, and Recreation Departments as well as Social Capital, Inc. to run workshops for youth health promotion. The School Department will be a collaborator in this series as well. Finally, the Department of Environmental Management has awarded the city $5,000 for trees through its ReLeaf Program. Greaney prepared this application on behalf of the Department of Public Works. The trees will be planted on the Russell Street Corridor.

Pending proposals include the following: three separate grants to enhance public safety and all hazard emergency operations from the Massachusetts Department of Emergency Management totaling approximately $50,000, a $5,000 mini-grant for the Woburn Garden Awards Festival, and $189,690 in community development funds from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, which would be used to continue Woburn’s previously successful storefront improvement program.

Greaney can be reached at 781-932-4429 or via email at mgreaney@ci.woburn.ma.us.

She encourages any individual or organization interested in funding opportunities, scholarships, or research grants to contact her office. While she researches and prepares proposals for the city, she believes information sharing about resources is vital to enhancing the quality of life and opportunities for Woburn residents and programs.