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South West Advisory Planning Committee (SWAP)

MAPC

Smart Growth & Regional Collaboration

The South West Advisory Planning Committee (SWAP) is comprised of up to twenty members representing ten communities southwest of Boston.

The purpose of SWAP is to foster joint and cooperative action concerning transportation, land use, economic development, housing, historic preservation, water resources and the environment. Informed and active cooperation among neighboring communities helps to serve the needs of residents, businesses, commuters, and local governments.

Learn more about the communities in the region, view a map of MAPC communities and subregions or obtain additional information about each community on the MetroBoston Data Common Community Snapshots page.


Questions?

Please contact SWAP Coordinator Brian Luther at bluther@mapc.org or 401-241-7239.

membership

MEMBERSHIP

The South West Advisory Planning Committee (SWAP) is one of eight MAPC subregions. SWAP is comprised of ten towns located southwest of Boston: Bellingham, Dover, Franklin, Hopkinton, Milford, Millis, Medway, Norfolk, Sherborn, and Wrentham.

Click here to skip to profiles of these communities.

LEADERSHIP

SWAP Co-Chairs serve two-year terms. The current co-chairs are:

John Gelcich, Hopkinton

Amy Love, Franklin

Bylaws and Work Plan

meetings

Meetings are typically held on the second Tuesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. Meeting dates and times are subject to change. Meeting locations rotate among member communities.

Materials from recent meetings and events

projects & priorities

Priorities

  • Regional Transportation Planning & Infrastructure
  • Transportation Demand Management (TDM) & Transportation Management Area (TMA) Proposals
  • Affordable Housing
  • Hazardous Waste Management
  • Population Growth Trends
  • Open Space, Cultural, & Environmental Resource Planning
  • DEP Stormwater Phase II Standards
  • Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

Living Little

The Living Little project investigates small housing typologies for the South West Advisory Planning Committee (SWAP) and Three Rivers Interlocal Council (TRIC) subregions. Like many other communities, municipalities in these subregions are experiencing increased housing demand, particularly from seniors and younger householders. This project profiles three different housing typologies-- detached accessory dwelling units, cottage developments, and tiny houses-- that can help foster housing diversity.

Transit Study

The SouthWest Advisory Planning Committee (SWAP) requested that the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) jointly analyze the existing public transit network in the subregion. The purpose of this evaluation was to identify opportunities to increase ridership and provide better connections to housing, employment, and commercial centers in the SWAP communities.

community profiles

The SWAP subregion is located southwest of Boston between Interstates 495 and 95 and is bisected by Route 109. The region's proximity to these major transportation corridors has led to increasing development pressure and demands on environmental resources.