Duxbury officials push progress on master plan

Duxbury’s long-term vision for growth and development is back under scrutiny, as town officials question why a plan adopted six years ago is still far from fully implemented. During a joint discussion with the Planning Board, the Select Board took a closer look at Envision Duxbury, the town’s comprehensive plan approved in 2019. While some progress has been made, officials said too many of the plan’s goals remain unfinished.

“This was done in 2019. This is 2026. Time for an update almost,” said Select Board member Brian Glennon. 

The conversation centered on how to move the plan forward, not just track it. Planning Board Chair Kristin Rappe said the town has begun collecting updates from departments and committees, breaking the plan into specific action items tied to different groups.

“We’ve got a lot of really great things going on. A lot of groups are working on things. We have more work to do,” Rappe said. 

Town staff have reached out to more than 20 boards, committees and departments for updates on their assigned responsibilities. Most have responded, but officials said the effort now needs stronger follow-through.

Select Board members stressed that implementation is not simply a planning exercise. Glennon said the board needs to take a more active role in ensuring the work gets done.

“I don’t want us to lose focus now that planning is taking this over. It’s still very much, in my view, a select board priority,” he said. 

Officials discussed ways to improve oversight, including regular progress updates and clearer accountability for departments responsible for specific initiatives. One idea is to use simplified tracking tools to show which projects are moving forward and which are stalled.

The plan itself is extensive, spanning dozens of pages and covering everything from infrastructure to environmental goals. Some initiatives are expected to take years to complete, but board members said that should not prevent steady progress.

“And just to be clear, it's not a box checking exercise either. We want meaningful deliverables on these,” Glennon said. 

Planning Director Matthew Heins has been coordinating the latest round of updates and is continuing to follow up with departments that have not yet reported back. Officials said that ongoing communication between boards will be critical to keeping the effort moving.

The Planning Board plans to return with additional updates as more information is collected, with both boards signaling that the town’s long-term plan will remain a priority in the months ahead.

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