Gardner Planning Board Unanimously Adopts First Master Plan Since 1974

GARDNER -- May 12, 2026, Gardner Planning Board votes unanimously to adopt the city's first master plan since 1974. The board approved the new citywide master plan at its May 12 meeting, ending a more than 50-year gap in comprehensive planning for the city. Jen Daugherty, preservation planner with Barrett Planning Group, presented the document, which covers housing, transportation, economic development, land use, historic resources, and natural resources, and was built around a community vision statement and values gathered through roughly 200 survey responses, multiple public workshops, and drop-in events beginning in April 2025. The plan was funded by a grant from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and must be submitted in final form by June 30, 2026. The board also unanimously approved a definitive site plan for an eight-pump fueling facility and convenience store at 677 Timpany Boulevard, subject to 10 conditions covering stormwater management, ADA compliance, and city engineer inspection rights, and reappointed an incumbent member as the board's representative to the Montachusett Joint Transportation Committee.