MEPA Review

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What is MEPA?

Established as state law in the late 1970s, the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) is a uniform system of environmental impact review with the intent to reduce the potential for harm to the environment from certain development and transportation projects.

The intent of MEPA review is to inform project applicants and state agencies of potential adverse environmental impacts while a proposal is still in the planning stages. The developer and all relevant state agencies are required to identify any aspects of a proposed project that may necessitate additional description or analysis prior to the issuance of a Certificate and Section 61 Findings by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

MEPA also requires developing enforceable mitigation commitments, which will become permit conditions for the project. As part of the public review process, MAPC submits comment letters for projects considered to be of significant regional impact.

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Projects by Municipality (A-Z)

Ashland

Ashland Rail Transit Apartments

Boston

66 Cambridge Street (2023)

115 Winthrop Square (2016)

Allston Yards (2019-2020)

Redevelop a 10.6-acre site in Allston with a mixed-use, transit-oriented development comprising approximately 350,000 square feet (sf) of office space; 868 residential units; 117,000 sf of retail space, including a 67,000-square foot grocery store; and public open space comprising one acre. The total building area is approximately 1.25 million sf. At full-build, the project is expected to generate an estimated 4,150 adjusted trips per day and will include up to 1,200 parking spaces.

Dorchester Bay City (2020-2023)

Construct a mixed-use redevelopment totaling approximately 6.1 million square feet of building program across two parcels. Full build-out of the site is anticipated to occur over a period of 15-20 years. At full build-out, the project is projected to generate an estimated 55,838 daily vehicle trips and include approximately 2,865 parking spaces.

Enterprise Research Campus Project (2021)

Hood Park Master Plan (2018)

Construct a mixed-use development of 1.7 million square feet. Located on a 19.92-acre site on the west side of Rutherford Avenue between D Street and Bunker Hill Industrial Park in Charlestown, the Project is located within walking distance from the MBTA Orange Line Sullivan Square and Community College Stations and multiple MBTA bus routes. The Project proposes a total of 1,765 parking spaces.

I-90 Allston Interchange Project (2022)

Replace the existing I-90 Allston Interchange, reconstruct the roads connecting to the interchange, move I-90 closer to the existing Worcester-Framingham Commuter Rail Line, add rail layover storage, build a West Station on the Worcester-Framingham Line, and address the deteriorated I-90 viaduct (the Project). The location of the Project is the area of the former Beacon Park Yard, historically a rail yard, portion of which was partially utilized to construct the Massachusetts Turnpike, the original Allston interchange, and toll plazas.

Logan Airport Parking Project (2019-2020)

This project proposes to add 5,000 new on-Airport commercial parking spaces at Boston-Logan International Airport. Massport plans to construct the additional parking in two locations: approximately 2,000 spaces are proposed to be added in a new garage in front of Terminal E where there is an existing surface parking lot, and an additional 3,000 spaces are planned to be added to the existing Economy Garage.

NEXUS at the Allston Innovation Corridor (2018)

Parcel 12 (2019)

This project proposes a mix of uses that will consist of approximately 429,000 square feet (sf) of office uses, 55,000 sf of retail and restaurant uses, and 150,000 sf of residential or hotel uses. The Parcel 12 site is expected to generate an estimated 3,650 adjusted trips per day and will include up to 150 parking spaces in a below-grade parking garage.

Expanded Environmental Notification Form (2019)

South Station Air Rights (2016)

South Station Expansion (2016)

The Pinnacle at Central Wharf (2020)

Boston & Revere

Suffolk Downs Redevelopment

Construct a mixed-use development of 16.5 million square feet at the former Suffolk Downs horse racing facility. Of the 161 acres that make up the project, approximately 109 are in Boston and approximately 52 are in Revere. Full-build out of the site is anticipated to occur over a period of 15-20 years. A Phase 1 Waiver has been requested which will allow the developer to proceed with the construction of two office buildings (520,000 square feet) and 520 structured parking spaces prior to completing the MEPA process for the entire project.

Boxborough & Harvard

The Park at Beaver Brook

Single Environmental Impact Report (2023)

The SEIR proposes to add five new buildings, collectively amounting to 746,500 square feet. When complete, the project will comprise nine buildings for a research and development campus, constituting an estimated 1.17 million square feet. The developer proposes to increase the parking capacity by adding 670 new spaces, supplementing the existing 2,200 spaces, resulting in 2,890 parking spaces. Upon full completion, the project is projected to generate approximately 12,900 trips per weekday.

Cambridge

Kendall Square Urban Renewal Project Amendment No. 10

The Cambridge Redevelopment Authority and a developer propose an Amendment No. 10 to the Kendall Square Urban Renewal Plan, an area bounded by Main Street, the Grand Junction Railroad, Binney Street, and Third Street in Cambridge. The project will increase new development in this area by 1.13 million square feet for mixed-uses (office, retail, and residential).

Everett

Encore Boston Harbor

Upon full completion, this multi-use commercial development will comprise approximately 1.73 million square feet including a theater, entertainment venues, two hotels, food and beverage (F&B) facilities, retail facilities, a warehouse support facility, parking garages, and a pedestrian bridge connecting to Encore’s existing facility on Broadway. The project proposes to include 2,278 parking spaces.

Foxborough

New Patriots Stadium and Related Infrastructure Project

Hopkinton, Southborough & Westborough

I-90/I-495 Interchange Improvement Project

Lexington

420/430 Bedford Street

Lynn

Proposed Multi-Family Mixed Use Redevelopment

This project, located at 800-810 Lynnway in Lynn, proposes to construct a mixed-use, multifamily apartment development consisting of four buildings with 550 units and 11,620 square feet of retail space. An estimated 3,434 weekday daily trips and 2,336 Saturday daily trips are forecast to be generated. The project proposes to include 866 parking spaces.

Draft Environmental Impact Report (2019)

Malden & Revere

The Highlands at Overlook Ridge

Notice of Project Change (2023)

The work proposed would be the final phase of the build-out of the 99-acre former rock quarry site situated on either side of the Malden-Revere line and includes a total of 3.9 million square feet of mixed-use development including 2,714 residential units. The NPC proposes an overall reduction of approximately 605,000 square feet of development including 86 residential units. Upon full completion, the Project is projected to generate approximately 13,587 trips per weekday, a net reduction of 12,293 trips compared to the previously reviewed NPC filing.

Marlborough

Apex Center (formerly Beacon-North)

Medford & Somerville

MBTA Green Line Extension

Medway

Oak Grove Area Urban Renewal Plan

Designate an Oak Grove Urban Renewal Area which would comprise 82.2 acres and 11 lots for disposition. The lots are proposed to contain an anticipated 35 new buildings providing a mix of uses (office, hotel, retail, industrial, research & development, and restaurant). Approximately 110 new apartment or townhouse dwelling units are also proposed. Not including the apartment or townhouse dwelling units, the Urban Renewal Plan (URP) indicates a maximum build-out potential of 467,000 square feet. According to a preliminary build-out analysis, there would be 2,617 parking spaces and 13,990 new vehicle trips generated on an average weekday.

Environmental Notification Form (2017)

Needham

Center 128

The project includes approximately 40.93 acres within Needham Crossing, bounded by Highland Avenue to the north, Kendrick Street to the south, 2nd and 4th Avenues to the east, and I-95/Route 128 to the west. Four new office buildings and two renovated office buildings totaling approximately 1.16 million square feet, two 128-room hotels, 19,000 square feet of retail space, and 390 residential units are proposed.

Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report (2015)

Newton

Needham Street Redevelopment

Redevelop a 28.7-acre site located along Needham Street in Newton. The Needham Street Redevelopment includes a mixed-use building program of approximately 1.4 million square feet of development, including the retention of an historic 172,000 sf mill building that was previously converted to office space. Approximately 372,000 sf of commercial space will be provided for restaurant, retail, and office uses. An estimated 865 housing units are proposed, 173 (20 percent) of which will be affordable. The project proposes 1,124 new parking spaces, resulting in a total parking supply of 2,250 parking spaces, which will be provided in a combination of on-street parking, surface lots, and structured parking. The new development is expected to add 4,521 daily vehicle trips to the site for a total of 12,548 daily vehicle trips.

Environmental Notification Form (2017)

Riverside Station Redevelopment

Located at the end of the Green Line D Branch, redevelop a 13.5 acre site with a mixed-use, Transit-Oriented Development comprising approximately 1.03 million square feet. The site is projected to generate an estimated 11,368 new weekday vehicle trips and 2,041 parking spaces are proposed.

Somerville

Union Square Redevelopment

Construct a mixed-use transit-oriented development of 2.4 million square feet (sf) in Somerville’s Union Square neighborhood. The development program includes 1.15 million sf of office/lab space, 123,000 sf of retail space, a 93,000-sf hotel, 54,000 sf of arts/creative space, and up to 998 residential units. When complete, the project will include a maximum of 1,495 parking spaces and is forecast to generate 9,397 average daily trips. The Project will be adjacent to the Green Line Extension.

XMBLY

Construct a mixed-use development of 1.5 million square feet comprised of five buildings surrounding 48,000 square feet of central open space. Located on a 9.38-acre lot on the outer edge of Assembly Row, the Project is located within a 5-minute walking distance from the MBTA Assembly Square Orange Line Station and multiple MBTA bus routes. The Project proposes a total of 1,670 parking spaces.

Boynton Yards

Construct a mixed-use development that includes four buildings containing up to approximately 1,365,000 square feet. The proposed development will comprise office, research and development, and lab-enabled uses, residential space, and retail/restaurant space. A total of 1,050 parking spaces are proposed. Exceptionally well-served by public transportation, the project will be within a quarter mile walking distance of the planned MBTA Union Square Green Line Station and is in close proximity to several bus routes.

Draft Environmental Impact Report (2020)

Southborough

Park Central

This mixed-use project will contain 180 rental units and 140 single and duplex townhome condominium units. A future phase will include a 125 room hotel and a 150 unit assisted living facility. The total square footage of this site will comprise 806,800 square feet on an approximately 101 acre parcel northeast of the I-495/Route 9 Interchange.

Expanded Environmental Notification Form (2016)

Sudbury

526 & 528 Boston Post Road

Located on approximately 50 acres, this project is bordered by Boston Post Road (Route 20) to the south, to the east by commercial properties, to the west by agricultural use and open space, and to the north by a former railroad right-of-way. This mixed-use project comprises approximately 80,000 square feet of retail and a range of residential developments totaling 520,000 square feet (250 apartment units, 60 age-restricted condominium units, and a 54-bed assisted living/memory care facility).

Environmental Notification Form (2016)

Quincy

North Quincy Station Redevelopment Project

Waltham

1265 Main Street

Watertown

Arsenal on the Charles

Redevelop and revitalize the 29-acre Arsenal on the Charles campus on Arsenal Street in Watertown through the phased construction of six new buildings, which include mixed-use, civic, and office uses. These new buildings would total approximately 250,000 gross square feet and would be supported by 976 net new parking spaces, resulting in a total parking supply of 2,934 spaces.

Single Environmental Impact Report (2016)

Watertown Mall Transformation

Following demolition of approximately 246,000 square feet of existing buildings, construct a total of 1,011,600 sf across four office/life science laboratory buildings, one residential building above a retail podium, and two amenity buildings. This project proposes about 2,538 parking spaces, of which about 658 will be surface parking spaces and about 1,880 in two structured garage spaces.

Draft Environmental Impact Report (2024)

WEYMOUTH, ROCKLAND, ABINGTON

Union Point

Recalibrate 13 million square feet (sf) of previously proposed development at the approximately 1,440-acre South Weymouth Naval Air Station (SWNAS) in Abington, Rockland, and Weymouth. The proposed development includes 7,774 residential units, 2 million sf of commercial space, and between 11,050-20,500 parking spaces.

Woburn

The Vale

Subsequent to demolishing the Kraft Plant, this project will redevelop the 77-acre site into a master-planned mixed-use development consisting of up to approximately 1.6 million square feet (sf) of office/ lab/flex/R&D use, retail use, hotel use, institutional, and residential uses comprised of townhomes, multi-family, and senior housing. At full-build, the project is expected to generate an estimated 16,688 adjusted trips per day and will include up to 3,807 parking spaces.

Draft Environmental Impact Report (2019)

Woburn Landing

Develop an approximately 12 acre vacant parcel located at 369 Washington Street. The proposed mixed-use project will consist of a limited service/extended stay 250 room hotel and three restaurants. Of the three restaurants, two will be full service and the third restaurant will be a fast food facility. The project site will comprise a total of 176,772 square feet in four separate buildings.