2025 Design Review Guideline Update
The Community & Economic Development Department received a $75,000 grant in FY24 through the Commonwealth's One Stop For Growth program to revamp its existing design review guidelines. An exhasutive RFP process culminated in the selection of Dodson & Flinker to lead the development of the new guidelines, who began work in May 2025. Over the course of the last thirteen months, the consultants gathered feedback from various stakeholder entities, led public engagement efforts, and closely collaborated with the Design Review Committee and Planning and Economic Development Board to create a comprehensive and context-driven framework for the guidelines. On June 9th, 2026, the Planning and Economic Development Board voted unanimously to adopt the Guidelines.
The purpose of the Design Review Guidelines is to establish minimum expectations for the quality of design for development and investment in the Town of Medway. These guidelines are designed to enrich the quality and sense of the community environment by reinforcing a sense of New England village character, protecting and enhancing property values, streamlining review of development projects, and providing a comprehensive framework approach grounded in context and a community vision for incremental development.
To access the guidelines, click on the cover sheet below:
Mission Statement
The mission of the Design Review Committee (DRC) is to serve the people of Medway in a capacity that openly, creatively and appropriately reviews site, building and sign design for private and public development. The DRC is tasked with serving as an advocate for the preservation and enhancement of Medway’s natural, scenic and aesthetic qualities to achieve the pleasing composition of places within the context of the Medway Master Plan. The DRC works with the broad intention of maintaining and/or improving the quality of life, value of property and viability of commerce through the use of thoughtful and community-appropriate design practices as represented by the Medway Design Review Guidelines.
The DRC generally meets on the first and third Monday nights of each month; meetings are typically conducted virtually via Zoom. The DRC may also hold special meetings as needed including site visits with the Planning & Economic Development Board for development projects under review. DRC meeting announcements and agendas are posted outside the office of the Medway Town Clerk at Town Hall, 155 Village Street on the Thursday before a Monday meeting. They are also posted at the Town of Medway web page and on the DRC web page.