Planning

Responsibilities & Services

One of the primary duties of Planning Staff is to advise the Planning Board in the review and approval of new development or redevelopment projects as well as to work with development applicants through the review process. The vast majority of development projects are reviewed under the Subdivision and Site Plan Review section of the Land Use Ordinance.

As for short and long-range planning, the City's Comprehensive Plan is the guiding document for how Westbrook should grow and develop over the next 10 years and beyond. Planning Staff play an important role in working with the City Council and other committees on updating as well as implementing the Comprehensive Plan. Very often the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan requires changes to the City's local land use regulations.

In addition, Planning Staff conduct other short and long-range planning studies and initiatives that may pertain to other topics such as transportation, open space and natural resource conservation, affordable housing, and infrastructure planning.