The Town of Longmeadow has committed to updating our Long Range Plan (LRP) during State Fiscal Years 2023 through 2024. Long Range Plans guide how a community grows over a decade or more, and  set priorities for municipal budgeting and decision-making in the areas of land use, economic  development, housing, transportation, public health, education, and other quality of life issues, with a  focus climate resilience and social equity. 

Meetings of the Long Range Plan Steering Committee

Barring any rescheduling, the meetings of the LRPSC will be held on bi-monthly Mondays at 7pm:

• January 23, 2023
• March 27, 2023
• May 22, 2023
• July 24, 2023
• September 25, 2023
• November 27, 2023
• January 22, 2024
• March 25, 2024
• May 13, 2024

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Meeting Agendas and Minutes 

Steering Committee Members

• Shelley Barron - At-Large Representative
• Ed Carroll - At-Large Representative
• Terry Weiner - Senior Community Liaison
• Corey Odentz - Senior Community Liaison
• Joy Pan - Youth Community Liaison
• Shyla Ruiz Kachwaha - LRPSC Clerk; Youth Community Liaison
• Anastasios Angelides - Board of Health delegate
• Vacant - Council on Aging delegate
• Patrick Carnahan - Conservation Commission delegate
• Minoo Tehrani - Energy and Sustainability delegate
• Erica Weida - Finance Committee delegate
• Tom King - Historical Commission delegate
• Vacant - Housing Authority delegate
• Andrew Berke - Park and Recreation Commission delegate
• Cheryl Thibodeau - LRPSC Chair; Planning Board delegate
• Bruce Colton - LRPSC Vice Chair; Planning Board delegate
• Nicole Choiniere - School Committee delegate
• Dan Zwirko - Select Board delegate
• Dave Marinelli - Tree Committee delegate

Note that the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Housing Authority have all been invited to name delegates as well and we hope their positions will be filled as soon as possible. 

Steering Committee Charge

Vision: 

The purpose of the LRP update is to assess and revise “business as usual” in Longmeadow to articulate a  more resilient and equitable future for our residents and neighbors, our ecosystems, and the  infrastructural systems upon which we all rely, and to understand where we have unintentionally been  encouraging or allowing outdated municipal policies and land use regulations to exacerbate climate  impacts and social and public health inequities. The Town envisions this LRP update as a process that leverages existing initiatives and studies, while sourcing new and innovative ideas for growth through  extensive engagement with the Town’s diverse community. Moreover, the resulting document must provide an actionable implementation framework, which includes policies and practices for creating a  healthier community, maintaining a healthy, climate-resilient environment, providing housing to a range  of incomes, increasing opportunities for use of open space, improving multi-modal transportation  access, and offering quality educational opportunities.  

Charge: 

The LRP Steering Committee advises on the development of the LRP document. The Committee also  fosters openness and inclusion in the long range planning process through dialog and communication  with the LRP consulting team and with various stakeholders in the Longmeadow community. The LRP  must be in conformance with the requirements as set forth in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 41  Section 81D. 

Membership: 

The LRP Steering Committee shall be comprised of designated Longmeadow Board and Committee  members and several at-large community members. The Committee will be guided and led by the  Planning Board, the LRP consultant, and the Office of Planning and Community Development. 

The LRP Steering Committee shall be convened and charged by the Planning Board. Membership will be  in existence for approximately 18 to 20 months in order to direct the preparation of the LRP. Members  will be appointed for term of the update process. 

The Committee shall consist of up to 20 members reflecting the following composition: • Up to 14 individuals representing various Town boards and commissions, to be self-appointed  by those boards and committees: 

• Up to two members of the Planning Board 
• One member of the Select Board 
• One member of each of the following municipal boards and committees: 
  • Council on Aging 
  • School Committee 
  • Board of Health 
  • Conservation Commission 
  • Housing Authority 
  • Finance Committee 
  • Energy and Sustainability Committee 
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee (when appointed—anticipated  November 2022) 
  • Tree Committee 
  • Historical Commission  
  • Park and Recreation Commission 
• Up to 6 at-large members, to be appointed at the discretion of the Town Manager and the  Director of Planning and Community Development: 
  • Two residents aged 64 years or older who are not otherwise serving on any municipal board or committee (Senior Liaisons)
  • Two youth members from Longmeadow High School (Youth Liaisons)
  • Two general residents who are not otherwise serving on any municipal board or  committee 

Meetings: 

In addition to regular meetings, Committee members will be asked to serve on sub-committees which  will schedule their own meetings. The LRP Steering Committee and its subcommittees shall establish  regular meetings and shall abide by the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law and Town General Bylaws.  Meetings will be open to the public and posted with the Town Clerk and in designated spaces and on the  Town website. 

The Committee members must attend community-wide LRP-related meetings. 

Adopted by the Longmeadow Planning Board on October 5, 2022