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.
Jump-to-Municipality
Ashland | Boston | Boston & Revere | Cambridge | Everett | Foxborough | Hopkinton, Southborough, Westborough | Lexington | Lynn | Marlborough | Medford & Somerville | Medway | Needham | Newton | Somerville | Southborough | Sudbury | Quincy | Waltham | Watertown | Weymouth, Rockland, Abington | Woburn
Projects by Municipality (A-Z)
Ashland
A 398 unit apartment project in 9 buildings (comprising a total of 408,500 square feet). The project is on an approximate 29 acre site about one-third of a mile from the Ashland MBTA commuter rail station.
Bellingham
Construct an approximately 700,000 square-foot (sf) warehouse, lab, and office facility on a 176-acre parcel south of Hartford Avenue (Route 126) and west of Interstate 495 in Bellingham. The building program comprises 239,600 sf of lab, 160,400 sf of office, and 300,000 sf of warehouse space, with the possibility of adjustments to the design program. The project is forecast to generate 3,240 weekday daily trips. Of these trips, 2,830 trips are vehicular trips and 410 are truck trips. The project will include 856 employee parking spaces, 175 truck loading spaces, and 144 parking spaces designated for truck queue management.
Beverly
Construct approximately 440 residential units which will include a mix of studio, 1-bedroom, 1-bed+, 2-bedroom, 2-bed+, and 3-bedroom units on a 77.4-acre site. The project is expected to generate an estimated 2,052 adjusted trips per day and will include 880 parking spaces.
Boston
75 Morrissey Boulevard – located in between 66 Cambridge Street and 115 Winthrop Square
Construct 754 residential units of housing within a one-quarter mile (5-minute walk) from JFK/UMass Station and 414 vehicle parking spaces below grade. The project is located on an approximately 97,739 square foot parcel located along the western edge of the Columbia Point neighborhood in Dorchester.
Upon full completion, the proposed redevelopment will include approximately 802,000 square feet of life sciences/office/research and development (R&D) space in two buildings and approximately 10,000 sf of retail/restaurant/commercial space. The project proposes to include 482 parking spaces.
Construct a mixed-use building that will include approximately 1.1 to 1.5 million square feet. The project is located on an approximate 47,962 square foot site bounded generally by Summer Street to the south, Federal Street to the east, and Devonshire Street to the west.
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.
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.
Construct a mixed-use 1.94 million square foot development in two phases. At full-build, the project is expected to generate an estimated 7,110 adjusted trips per day and will include approximately 1,280 parking spaces.
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.
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.
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.
Construct approximately 539,400 square feet of research and development/office space, 21,100 square feet of ground floor retail space, 40 residential units, and 1,900 square feet of civic space on two parcels with a combined site area of approximately 4.29 acres. The project proposes a total of 884 parking spaces.
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.
Develop an approximate 8.3 acre site bounded generally by Atlantic Avenue to the west and the United States Postal Service to the east. The mixed-use project (office, residential, and hotel) will comprise a total 2.52 million square feet proposed to be constructed in three phases.
The purpose of the South Station Expansion project is to expand rail capacity and related layover capacity in order to meet current and future high-speed, intercity, and commuter rail service needs. This project will also reopen Dorchester Avenue and extend the Harborwalk.
Construct a single tower totaling approximately 864,600 square feet up to 600 feet in total height as well as improvements to the Harborwalk and the public realm. The proposed development program will comprise residential, office, and publicly accessible amenity space. A total of 1,100 parking spaces are proposed in an underground garage.
Boston & Revere
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
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
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
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.
- Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Report (2024)
- Final Environmental Impact Report (2023)
- Notice of Project Change (2022)
- Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report (2023)
- Draft Section 61 Findings (2016)
- Second Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Report (2015)
- Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Report (2015)
- Final Environmental Impact Report (2014)
- Draft Environmental Impact Report (2014)
Foxborough
The Notice of Project Change outlines an MBTA Commuter Rail Pilot Program which will establish regular public transportation to the site, new land acquisitions, game day parking modifications, and dedicated soccer training facilities at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
Hopkinton, Southborough & Westborough
Located in the towns of Hopkinton, Southborough, and Westborough, the project will increase safety for all movements within the area of the I-90/I-495 Interchange and address deficient traffic conditions for the movement of people and goods.
Lexington
The SEIR proposes to redevelop 420-430 Bedford Street into two buildings comprising a total of approximately 437,000 gross square feet of Office/Lab/R&D space on a previously developed 21.03-acre parcel of land in Lexington. A total of 980 parking spaces are proposed.
Littleton
Construct a mixed-use housing, commercial, and retail development totaling approximately 1.8 million square feet on a 47.4 acre project site generally bordered by Interstate 495 to the south. The proposed redevelopment comprises 19 buildings with elements that include: 1,089 residential units, 115,500 sf of retail space, 19,000 sf of office space, 545,520 sf of light industrial use, and a 111,000 sf hotel (150-rooms). The project is forecast to generate 19,692 weekday vehicle trips and 3,010 parking spaces are proposed.
Lynn
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.
Malden & Revere
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
A mixed-use development (retail, restaurant, entertainment, office, and hotel space) consisting of 12 building complexes totaling 445,500 square feet. This project is located on a 43.6 acre site bounded by Route 20, Ames Street, and Glen Street.
Medford & Somerville
Further extend the Green Line, which covers the one-mile extension of the Green Line along the MBTA Lowell Line commuter rail right-of-way from College Avenue in Medford to a new terminus of the extension at Route 16/Mystic Valley Parkway on the border of Medford and Somerville.
Medway
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.
Needham
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.
Newton
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.
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
Construct a pedestrian- and transit-oriented, mixed-use development that includes three buildings containing approximately 1,433,200 gross square feet (SF) of floor area, with approximately 1,254,800 SF of office/lab-enabled uses, 162,500 SF of hospitality space, 11,900 SF of retail/restaurant space, a 4,000 SF daycare facility, new civic and open space. The Project will be within one half mile of the MBTA Assembly Square Orange Line Station and will include approximately 738 structured below-grade parking spaces with an additional 197 valet spaces.
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.
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.
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.
Southborough
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.
Sudbury
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).
Quincy
Construct a mixed-use development consisting of approximately 610 residential units, a 45,000 square foot supermarket, 5,000 square feet of retail space, and 1,600 parking spaces adjacent to North Quincy Station.
Waltham
The second of a two phase development of the 94.4 acre former Polaroid Campus located on Main Street (Route 117), this mixed-use project (office, retail, restaurant, service, health/wellness uses, and an alternate residential component) will comprise a total of 1.83 million square feet.
Watertown
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.
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.
WEYMOUTH, ROCKLAND, ABINGTON
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
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.
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.