Horsley Witten Group works with communities to develop customized Community Comprehensive Plans. Our portfolio includes over a dozen plans in the New England region, as well as projects in Hawaii, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Maryland. HW’s approach begins with a comprehensive inventory of existing conditions that serve as the foundation for both analysis and public education. Our engagement process is then used to articulate a community’s values and priorities which eventually structure the plan. Finally, an implementation plan is provided that speaks directly to the community’s priorities, incorporating best practices, science, and innovation. We encourage you to review some of our more innovative plans to better understand how we set ourselves apart in the world of Comprehensive Planning.
Master Plan
Town of Exeter, NH
HW developed one of our most locally celebrated plans for the Town of Exeter, NH. Residents, businesses, and institutions engaged over a 9-month process to create a town-wide “call to action.” This implementation plan was structured in six sections to mirror the values articulated by the community: Support, Steward, Grow, Connect, Communicate, and Prepare for the future.
Comprehensive Community Plan
Town of South Kingstown, RI
We led an effort to update the Town of South Kingstown’s Comprehensive Plan, which addressed all the elements required by state law, and included the Town’s University of Rhode Island element. HW subsequently led a targeted update of the 2014 plan, with an emphasis on new state law requirements related to Energy and Natural Hazards & Climate Change.
Plan of Conservation and Development
Town of Haddam, CT
HW developed this award-winning plan around the places and features of the Town most valued by its residents. While some more traditional material was provided to address issues like housing and economic development, the majority of the plan was organized around the villages, forests, streets, and rivers called out by name in the public engagement process.
Comprehensive Community Plan
Town of Burrillville, RI
Burrillville, RI hired HW with explicit instructions to create a streamlined “no-frills/no-nonsense” plan. Our process included interactive group meetings where policies and strategies from the previous plan were vetted, debated, and changed as necessary. Official state-level review comments included: “This was hands down one of the most rewarding comprehensive plans to read!”
Master Plan
Town of Shrewsbury, MA
HW worked to create a user-friendly and actionable Master Plan that focused on formative issues and offered a strategic implementation schedule. Shrewsbury, as a community had a particularly strong interest in zoning reform. HW’s deliverables included a comprehensive audit of the Zoning Bylaw, which is still used as the foundation for ongoing amendments.
Community Master Plan
Town of Easton, MA
Our team led the development of Easton’s first Master Plan (Envision Easton) in 40 years. The HW team included Dodson & Flinker, McMahon Transportation, and Community Opportunities Group. HW’s services included managing a steering committee, public forums, a project brand, listening exercises throughout the community, interviews, and facilitating working group sessions.
