Baker-Polito Administration Announces Over $1 Million in Land Use Planning Assistance Grants
BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $1,030,659 in grants for 31 projects to improve municipal land use planning and development through the second round of grants from the Planning Assistance Grant Program. Through this program, the Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) provides municipalities funding to undertake public processes and hire technical expertise to improve their land use practices, diversify housing choices, mitigate and prepare for climate change impacts, and conserve and develop land consistent with the Massachusetts Sustainable Development Principles.
“Through smart and sustainable development, we can ensure Massachusetts remains an exceptional place to live and grow a business,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “As an important supplement to our Housing Choice Initiative, these grants help municipalities modify their plans and regulations to build more affordable housing, better protect natural resources, and reduce car travel.”
“The Baker-Polito Administration is committed to working in partnership with communities to provide residents across the Commonwealth good jobs, transit access, housing, and access to open space,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We are proud to provide municipalities the funding and technical expertise to make smart land use decisions that are right for their communities and unique needs and challenges.”
The Planning Assistance Grant Program is part of an effort to encourage municipalities to implement land use regulations that are consistent with the Baker Administration’s land conservation and development objectives, including reduction of land, energy, and natural resource consumption, provision of sufficient and diverse housing, and mitigation of and preparation for climate change. The program is also part of the technical assistance offered to communities in support of the Baker-Polito Administration’s Housing Choice Initiative.
“This program encourages communities to reduce their land, natural resource, and energy consumption through smart local development planning,” said EEA Secretary Matthew Beaton. “Helping municipalities improve their land use regulations will allow them to achieve their housing, economic development, climate change resiliency and environmental protection goals.”
The following are grant recipients:
2019 Planning Assistance Grants
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Applicant
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Municipality
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Project
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Total Grant Amount
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Agawam
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Agawam
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Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance
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$7,500
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Ashland
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Ashland
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Rezone Downtown
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$25,700
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Barnstable
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Barnstable
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Rezone Downtown Hyannis
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$50,000
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Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC)
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Adams
|
Adams Stormwater Management Bylaw
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$28,500
|
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC)
|
North Adams
|
Comprehensive Re-Write of the Zoning Ordinance
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$50,000
|
Chelsea
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Chelsea
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Re-zoning for Admiral's Hill Neighborhood
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$40,300
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Central MA Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC)
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Auburn
|
Design Guidelines
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$34,040
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Central MA Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC)
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Westborough
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Parking Study
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$33,435
|
Central MA Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC)
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Webster-Dudley
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Economic Develpment Strategic Plans
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$37,191
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Easthampton
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Easthampton
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Downtown Strategic Plan
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$50,000
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Foxborough
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Foxborough
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Community Discussion + Housing Production Plan
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$35,030
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Franklin Regional Council of Governments
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Franklin County
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Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan for Franklin County
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$40,000
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Gloucester
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Gloucester
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Update Open Space and Recreation Plan
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$28,790
|
Goshen
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Goshen
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Goshen Town Center Connectivity Plan
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$10,000
|
Hull
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Hull
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Update Open Space and Recreation Plan
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$26,680
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Lynn
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Lynn
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Creation of Overlay Districts to Support Open Space and Economic Development
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$50,000
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Marblehead
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Marblehead
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Production of a Housing Production Plan
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$20,619
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Martha's Vineyard Commission
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Martha's Vineyard
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Site Plans for Elderly Housing that address Nitrogen
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$15,000
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Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)
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Arlington, Natick and City of Melrose
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Net Zero Energy Planning
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$150,000
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Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC)
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Amesbury, Andover, Boxford, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Merrimac, Methuen, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury
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Regional Housing Initiative
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$50,000
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Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG)
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Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Pepperell, Tyngsborough and Westford
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Accessory Dwelling Unit zoning for all six communities
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$30,000
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Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG)
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Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Pepperell, Tyngsborough and Westford
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Solar Zoning for all six communities
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$30,000
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Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG)
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Tyngsborough
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Tree Retention Bylaw
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$5,000
|
Peabody
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Peabody
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North River Corridor Chapter 40R Study
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$22,500
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Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC)
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Springfield
|
Green Infrastructure (GI)/ Low Impact Development (LID) Policy
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$9,128.75
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Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) & Town of Southampton
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Southampton
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Promoting a Low Impact Development Approach and New Stormwater Design Standards through Updates to Local Land Use Code
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$10,900
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Scituate
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Scituate
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Development of the Scituate Harbor Sustainability and Resiliency Master Plan and zoning amendments
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$37,500
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South Hadley
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South Hadley
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Preparation of a Master Plan for the Route 33-Route 202 corridor
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$33,500
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Walpole
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Walpole
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Produce Open Space and Recreation Plan
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$28,400
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Wareham
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Wareham
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Compact Development Plan for Littleton Drive Site
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$32,500
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Westminster
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Westminster
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Low Impact Development regulations to implement LID Bylaw
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$8,445
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“My hometown of Ashland is in the process of an exciting, transformative downtown revitalization project, and this grant will help the town to implement its vision,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “As part of a multi-town collaboration, my community of Natick will also benefit as it implements its Net Zero Energy Planning efforts. I am grateful for the partnership of Secretary Beaton and the Baker-Polito administration in recognizing the importance of developing sustainable communities.”
“Sound planning produces cost -effective, well-reasoned actions that take into account major factors such as climate resilience,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “Yet planning takes money, and these grants will provide the investment it takes for our communities to get the job done.”
“I am very pleased that the Town of Wareham will be receiving this $32,500 Land Use Planning Grant for compact development planning,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton). “Efficient, integrated land use benefits the built and natural environment in our local communities. These resources announced today will help give Wareham insight into the various factors at play and ultimately ensure sustainable growth for the future. I’d like to thank and congratulate everyone who participated in the grant process.”
“Wareham's grant for $32,500 will go a long way toward exploring more housing options at this site for our senior citizens, something our town really needs,” said State Representative Susan Williams Gifford (R-Wareham). “These grants provide much needed financial resources so municipalities can make the best possible decisions based on their needs.”
“I am excited that Ashland is receiving a grant from the Planning Assistance Grant Program to help renovate its downtown,” said State Representative Jack Patrick Lewis (D-Framingham). “Ashland is a vibrant community in growth, and these funds will help to ensure that its downtown continues to thrive.”
“The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission continues to work toward providing accessible and affordable housing to all residents in the Merrimack Valley, and we are grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration for its support in this mission,” said State Representative Lenny Mirra (R-West Newbury). “This $50,000 grant will allow the MVPC to reduce land, energy, and natural resource consumption while achieving our housing and economic development goals.”