COLRAIN — Town officials are preparing to update the town’s master plan that will outline their goals for municipal facilities, services, infrastructure and economic development for the next decade.

The current master plan was created in the 1990s. The Planning Board has just begun the updating process by reaching out to members of other town departments and committees to see what goals they have for the future.

“We stand to revise it and make it more reflective of what’s going on here in Colrain,” Planning Board member Greg Olchowski said. “But I don’t think you’re going to see a dramatic event; not much has changed here.”

Municipalities are required under Massachusetts General Law to create a master plan outlining goals for land use, housing, economic development, and preservation of natural and cultural resources. The documents also forecast the town’s needs for public services and facilities.

Over the years, the town has updated some of its other plans, including its Hazard Mitigation Plan, Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan and a Center Village Master Plan. Additionally, specific departments and committees have developed their own plans and goals, such as Griswold Memorial Library, which drafted a strategic plan in 2021. An updated master plan, though, will combine elements of all these plans and more, and will be used to guide town officials in their governance of Colrain for years to come.

During a joint meeting of the Planning Board and Selectboard last week, board members discussed the process of updating the plan, what sort of changes they would like to see in the document and their goals for the town.

Planning Board Chair Robert Slowinski said the board has reached out to 30 members of different committees and departments so far and he is looking forward to getting feedback.

“One of the cool things about trying to get more boards involved and talking to each other is that, by default, we’ll get more input from everybody,” Slowinski said. “Historically, it’s been like we’re all on our own little islands and we don’t have a lot of cross talk between boards.”

In terms of zoning and housing development, Planning Board members said the town that exists today is likely to stay the same for years to come. Due to the town’s topography and geographical makeup, there isn’t much space for more lots and many of the existing lots are already considered non-conforming.

Olchowski said it’s difficult to imagine the development of more housing, particularly affordable housing, when there are limited lots to build on and limited town resources to support any new residents.

Town Administrator Diana Parsons said she would like to see the updated master plan explore the town’s resources and facilities, and what resources community members feel are needed.

For example, she said the population of senior citizens has been increasing. Residents over the age of 65 now make up 30% of Colrain’s population. As the aging population continues to grow, the town may want to consider expanding its Council on Aging, and perhaps building an addition on the Town Offices to give them a devoted space for programming, or build a new facility altogether to address residents’ changing needs.

“Virtually nothing has changed and it’s been over 20 years. Perhaps the sentiment of the community is that is OK, and it is going to remain like that for 20 more years or 50 more years,” Parsons said. “I think it’s our responsibility to, every so often, ask the community that. I think it’s time to do that.”

Town officials agreed that as master plan updating commences, communication between boards and departments will continue. Draft goals will be outlined before they begin community engagement and outreach to see what residents want to see included in the plan.

“I don’t think it’s our duty to the community to dictate what we think the master plan should be,” Olchowski said. “We want contribution from as many people as we can get.”

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.