Canton Master Plan 2035: Community, Commerce, Conservation

What is the Canton Master Plan 2035?

The Canton Master Plan is a community-driven plan that articulates our shared, long-range vision for the town’s future and lays out the steps to reach that vision. It is comprehensive, addressing all aspects of life in Canton. It talks about where we are as a community, where we want to go, and how we’re going to get there. Through the Master Plan, we recognize and anticipate changes in the future and respond through a clear and direct action agenda.  The Canton Master Plan was updated between 2017 and 2019, and adopted in April 2020.

How is the Master Plan organized?

The Canton Master Plan is made up of three volumes: Baseline Report, Road Map, and Action Plan.

Baseline Report

The Baseline Report is a snapshot of existing conditions as they relate to neighborhoods, parks, roadways, public services and facilities, the local economy, and historic and natural assets, among other things that define the quality of life in Canton. It includes inventories as well as population and buildout projections. This information was collected through town staff interviews, outreach to key stakeholders, and review of existing reports and other documentation. The purpose of Baseline Report is to provide the foundation for sound policy development moving forward.

Road Map

This document, the Road Map, is the primary policy document. The Road Map itself is organized around how we interact and engage in the community: LIVE, WORK, PLAY, CONNECT, PROTECT, ADAPT, and FOCUS AREAS. It identifies the formative issues that will shape policy for each of these areas and lays out the framework for how the Town will reach its vision. Public input from workshops, open houses, surveys, focus groups, and interviews guided its development. The Road Map is used by decision makers and incorporates policy statements and action items.

Action Plan

The final volume, the Action Plan, details individual action items needed to meet community issues and needs. Responsible parties, such as town departments or boards and commissions, are identified along with implementation time frames. Since the Master Plan has a 20-year outlook, action items are divided into easy wins (completed within three years), short-term (completed within five years), mid-term (completed between five and 10 years), and long-term (completed in 10 to 20 years) implementation periods.