WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO US?

Local, Regional & State Prioritization of Development,

Preservation and Infrastructure in Massachusetts

PARTNERS

Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Panelists

• Victoria Maguire, State Permit Ombudsman/Director, Massachusetts Permit Regulatory Office, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development

• E. Heidi Ricci, Shaping the Future of Your Community Program, Mass Audubon

• Kurt Gaertner AICP, Director of Sustainable Development, MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

• Barry Keppard AICP, Public Health Manager, Metropolitan Area Planning Council

• Mike Parquette, Comprehensive Planning Manager, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission

• Trish Settles AICP, Principal Planner, Central Mass. Regional Planning Commission

Victoria Maguire

Planning Ahead for Growth

State Permit Ombudsman/Director, Massachusetts Permit Regulatory Office, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development

Planning Ahead for Growth

Planning ahead for job and housing growth is critical to our prosperityand to our quality of life.

As a state, prior to 2007, we largely failed to plan ahead.

Since 2007, we have been deliberately and consistently planning ahead.

Economic Competitiveness in MA

6

The Economic Development Plan Choosing to Compete in the 21st Century

(mass.gov/compete)

5 Categories, with 55 ActionsBuilding TalentInnovation EconomyEmpowering RegionsEase of Doing BusinessImproving Cost

Competitiveness

The 4 Core Elements of Our Strategy

1 Identify

Promising places for growth that have community support, are consistent with regional considerations and align with the Sustainable Development Principles

2 CreatePrompt and predictable zoning and permitting in those places (both local and state)

3 InvestIn public infrastructure needed to support growth

4 MarketTo businesses and developers interested in locating and growing in the Commonwealth

Invest

Priority Dev. Areas

Priority Pres. Areas

Gateway Cities

Growth District Initiative

Compact Neighborhoods

CORE ELEMENTS

PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES

Planning Ahead for Growth in Action

8

Chapter 43D

Chapter 43E

Chapter 40R

District Local Technical Assistance

Compact Neighborhoods

Best Practices Model for Streamlined Local Permitting

MassWorks Infrastructure Program

HDIP

Executive Order 525

District Improvement Financing

Promote Development – Ready Properties

Online Resources

Supporting Stakeholders

Conferences and Events

What is a Regional Planning Effort?

Regional Planning Effort Timeline • South Coast Rail effort began

(31 communities)

• Executive Order 525 was signed by Governor Patrick

• 495/Metrowest Plan Released (37 communities)

• South Coast Rail Corridor Plan released

2007

2009

2010

2012

2013 • Merrimack Valley Regional Plan released (15 comm.)

2012 • CMRPC Regional plan for Blackstone Valley (11 comm.)

2012 • CMRPC Regional plan for Central 13 (13 comm.)

2013 • SCR 5 Year Update (underway)

2013 • CMRPC Rural 11 (underway)

Statewide Housing Production Goal

11

10,000 multi-family units per year

The benefits of housing for local communities

12

• Keeps families and friends close by

• Connects people to jobs

• Revitalizes downtowns

• Reuses historical buildings

Getting the balance right

Jobs • Transportation • Environment • HousingCommunity • Health • Neighborhoods

Thank you

Victoria Maguire, State Permit Ombudsman/DirectorMassachusetts Permit Regulatory Office 617-788-3649 / victoria.maguire@state.ma.us

Victor Negrete, Regional Planning Manager

Massachusetts Permit Regulatory Office

617-788-3601 / victor.negrete@state.ma.us

Questions? Please visit the Massachusetts PermitRegulatory Office webpage @ mass.gov/mpro

E. Heidi Ricci

Regional Planning for Development and Preservation

Shaping the Future of Your Community Program, Mass Audubon

Rate of Development (1999 – 2005)

Losing Ground: Beyond the FootprintMass Audubon 2009

Bigger Houses on Bigger Lots = More Sprawl

• 47,000 acres of natural land was developed between 1999-2005

• 87% of the land lost is due to residential development

• Lot size increased 47% from 1970 – 2004

Ecological Value - 1971

Value

High : 1

Low : 0.01

Index of Ecological Integrity (IEI)

Ecological Value - 2005

Value

High : 1

Low : 0.01

Index of Ecological Integrity (IEI)

BioMap 2 Critical Environmental Resources

Priority Preservation AreasConservation through Zoning

Less roadway to maintain, reduce stormwater runoff

Reduce clearing and grading

Protect wetland buffers, floodplains, water supplies, forests, farmland

Provide open space and trails

www.mass.gov/envir/smart_growth_toolkit/ www.massaudubon.org/495Toolkit

Kurt Gaertner AICP

Regional Land Use Priority Planning

Director of Sustainable Development, MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Sample PPA Approach: MVPC Region• Convened Interagency Lands Committee & Essex Greenbelt

• Examined Merrimack Valley Priority Growth Strategy priorities

• Used GIS to analyze natural resources relative to preservation & development priorities

• Modified GIS data layers & weighting, mapped the top 20% of scores for the region, & analyzed

• Created draft Focus Areas and Priority Preservation Areas

• Met with sequentially with MVPC staff, municipal planners, & then local elected officials and the general public, refining/improving the Priority Areas after each meeting

• Finalized Priority Preservation Areas; they comprise about 15% of the region

Data Layer WeightNHESP BioMap2 Core Habitat 70NHESP BioMap2 Critical Natural Landscape 70NHESP Priority Habitats of Rare Species 70Prime Agricultural Soils 50DEP Approved Zone 2s within 2640 ft of any PWS well 50

Greenway Vision Areas merged with a 500-ft Buffers of long distance and 'Trail Vision' Trails 50Interim Wellhead Protection Areas: 2640 ft buffer of only PWS 40Zone Bs 40NOAA composite shoreline 400-ft buffer 40Outstanding Resource Waters 40Cert. Vernal Pools buffered 150 feet 30Aquifers - High and Medium Yield 30Prime Forest Land 30DEP Approved Zone 2s further than 2640 ft from any PWS well 30DEP Wetlands 150-ft Buffer erased with BioMap2 CNL wetlands 30Rivers Protection Act Buffers 30Areas of Critical Environmental Concern 301000 ft buffer of protected Open Space (buffer only) 20FEMA Q3 Flood (100-Year Floodplains) 15EPA Designated Sole Source Aquifers 5

Example: GIS Analysis for the MVPC Region

Variations & Improvements:

Include historic resources & landscapes Address climate change adaptation –

vulnerability & resilience Customize the approach to handle:

Rural areas with substantial agricultural land use and agriculture as a major component of the local economy

Urban areas lacking large amounts of undeveloped land

Regional Land Use Priority Plans: Implementation

Invest consistent with the Plan:

• LAND • PARC• Conservation Partnership• Gateway City Parks• Drinking Water Supply Protection• Clean & Drinking Water State Revolving Funds• Agency Land Acquisitions (DCR, DFG, DAR, & EEA)

Regulate consistent with the Plan

Barry Keppard AICP

GIS and Regional Screening for

Priority Development Areas

Public Health Manager, Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Regional Screening

Local Priority Areas

Local Priority Areas

Regional ScreeningRegional

Screening

Regional Priority Areas

Regional Priority Areas

495/METROWEST DEVELOPMENT COMPACT PLAN

Regional Screening - GIS

Regional Screening - GIS

Model Builder

Regional Screening - GIS

THEMESCenters – Housing – Regional Plan

Rail – Interchanges – Farms - Open Space Connectivity

NORTH SUBURBAN REGIONAL PRIORITIES SCREENING

Regional Priorities Screening

What kinds of development should be considered?

What are good metrics for assessing suitability?

How should those metrics be weighted in a final score?

Suitability Scoring

Weighted by Development TypePDA Development Types

Criteria

Multifamily

Residential

Mixed Use: Infill

Mixed Use:

Master Planned

Commercial: Retail, Entertainment &

Hospitality

Commercial: Office & Medical

Commercial:

Industrial

Single-Family

Residential

Travel Choices

30% 22% 17% 19% 14% 9% 19%

Walkable Communities

30% 28% 8% 17% 17% 9% 23%

Open Spaces

7% 16% 22% 19% 19% 23% 19%

Healthy Watersheds

19% 6% 14% 12% 22% 23% 23%

Current Assets

7% 16% 17% 19% 14% 14% 8%

Growth Potential

7% 13% 22% 14% 14% 23% 8%

Mike Parquette

Merrimack ValleyPriority Growth Strategy

Comprehensive Planning Manager, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission

Competing public policies

“Need to encourage growth to finance municipal services”

“Need to create job opportunities that pay well and reduce commuting demands”

“Need to keep housing cost affordable for our children and future generations”

“Need to manage development to avoid adversely affecting our quality of life”

Regional Plan to address these challenges

“Where do communities want to encourage regionally significant growth that creates these jobs and affordable housing opportunities”

“Which areas of the valley should be protected from future development due to environmental and other constraints to maintain the character of the valley”

“How well does the region’s transportation network support these land use priorities”

Where do we want to encourage growth?

Local decision Concentrated Development Centers (CDC) CDC: “An area of concentrated

development, including a town center, consisting of existing and appropriately zoned commercial, industrial and mixed use areas suitable for high density development”

Priority Development Site (PDS)

CDCs Map

CDC Evaluation

“Strengths & constraints to development”and

“Smart Growth principles”

Land use Infrastructure Access Environmental

Land Use

“Concentrate a mix of uses that foster a sense of place, increases job

opportunities and sustainable businesses”

Density & potential build-out Zoning / mix of uses Priority development

Infrastructure

“Encourage reuse and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure”

Water Sewer Broadband Utilities

Access

“Provide transportation choices”

RoadAccess to the siteCongestion

Transit Bike & pedestrian

Environmental

“Restore and enhance the environment”

Wetlands Flood plain Water supply protection Rare species

GREATER LAWRENCE SUB-REGION

CONCENTRATED DEVELOPMENT CENTER EVALUATION

ANDOVER LAWRENCE METHUEN NORTH ANDOVER

Strengths & Weaknesses

LOW

MEDIUM

HIGH

Lo

we

ll J

un

cti

on

Riv

er

Ro

ad

Ra

yth

eo

n

Ro

llin

g G

ree

n

LAND USE

D ens ity & B u ild out

Zon ing / M ix use

P rio rity D eve lopm ent

INFRASTRUCTURE

W a te r

S ew er

B roadband

U tilities

TRANSPORTATION

S ite A ccessib ility

C ongestion

T rans it S erv ice

B ike /P edestrian

ENVIRONMENTAL

W ater S upp ly P ro tec t

F lood P la in

W etlands

R are S pec ies

CDC Classification

Smart Growth Center Center of Commerce Business Center Village Center

Where should we protect landfrom future development?

Local decision Protected lands & lands suitable for

protection Protected lands: “Lands protected by

agricultural preservation restrictions, protected federal, state & municipal lands, protected public and private outdoor recreation areas”

New priority areasfor protection

Open space plans Watersheds for public water Farmlands Identified potential regional collaboration

and cooperation opportunities to protect open space throughout the valley

CDCs & PDS & OS Map

How do we connect these land use patterns?

Existing transportation system Connections: “Inter-state highways, regional

roads, transit, bike and pedestrian connections that support the promotion of CDCs and protected lands”

Growth Strategy Map w/Priority Transportation Projects

Trish Settles AICP

Customizing Your Process

Principal Planner, Central Mass. Regional Planning Commission

Project Conclusion

Fundamental Principles• New Commercial & Residential Growth must occur in a manner

respectful of open space, water resources, & transportation networks.

• New Growth will likely require transportation & infrastructure upgrades, beyond what is needed to maintain the existing systems.

• Land use & transportation decisions must account for the Global Warming Solutions Act & the transportation reorganization statute.

• Workforce housing must continue to be produced & preserved within the region at a scale that allows the number of workers living in the region to keep pace with the new jobs created.

• Sustainable growth will involve the creation and maintenance of an effective transportation and public transit system coordinated with existing transit.

• Coordinated planning & implementation efforts are necessary where jurisdictions and boundaries intersect.

Rural- 11 Regional Study Study Process and Timeline

Review of Previous Plans and Studies

Local Meetings

Community-Level Public Meetings

First Regional Forum

Assessment and Identification of Regional Priorities

Second Regional Meeting

Project Conclusion and Final Report

Jan - Mar

Feb - July

June 26

Late Summer

Tonight!

December

JUNE 26TH - REGIONAL FORUM

1st Regional Forum- June 2013 Presented your town’s map along with maps of

neighboring municipalities Participants provided guidance on regional

priorities and investments

Regionally SignificantPriority Development AreasPriority Preservation Areas

Customizing your Process What partners make sense? Information Gathering

Be Thoughtful and Flexible (lots of meetings) Consider what else will bring value to the

towns an the region What will get potential participants excited

about providing input We added an inventory of Working

Landscapes followed by a special Working Landscape Roundtable Discussion.

Already possibilities for Regional Collaboration.

Added a Raffle

Customizing your Process What partners make sense? Information Gathering

Be Thoughtful and Flexible (lots of meetings) Consider what else will bring value to the

towns an the region What will get potential participants excited

about providing input We added an inventory of Working

Landscapes followed by a special Working Landscape Roundtable Discussion.

Already possibilities for Regional Collaboration.

Added a Raffle

Victoria MaguireEOHED617-788-3649 victoria.maguire@state.ma.uswww.mass.gov/mpro

E. Heidi RicciMass Audubon781-259-2172hricci@massaudubon.orgwww.massaudubon.org/shapingthefuture

Barry Keppard AICPMAPC617-788-3649 Bkeppard@mapc.org www.mapc.org

Kurt Gaertner AICPEOEEA617-626-1154Kurt.Gaertner@state.ma.uswww.mass.gov/eea

Trish Settles AICPCMRPC508-459-3320tsettles@cmrpc.orgwww.cmrpc.org

Mike ParquetteMVPC617-788-3649 Mparquette@mvpc.orgwww.mvpc.org