The Sustainable Northampton Plan was designed, in part, to fulfill the requirements of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 41, Section 81 D, for the development of municipal comprehensive or master plans. The comprehensive plan is designed to provide a basis for decision-making regarding the long-term physical  evelopment of the municipality dand requires Planning Board approval. Likewise, one purpose of the Zoning Act (Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40A) and zoning adopted by communities is to encourage the most appropriate use of land, including consideration of the recommendations in the comprehensive plan.