Category: Community Planning

A Comprehensive Master Plan for North Reading

Posted on December 3, 2019 at 7:42 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

In Massachusetts, cities and towns must create and update “master plans,” which are just what they sound like: plans for the future of the municipality that touch on everything from economic development to housing to transportation (and more). These plans help inform decision-making for local boards, committees, and Town Meetings to guide everything from zoning […]

MARPA-DLS Conference: 21st Century Municipalities

Posted on September 11, 2019 at 11:41 am. Written by Elise Harmon

Join us for the Statewide Municipal Partnerships Conference Tuesday, October 8, 2019 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. College of the Holy Cross Hogan Campus Center 1 College Street Worcester, MA 01610 Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and members from all the Massachusetts Regional Planning Agencies welcome you to join them at the 2019 Annual Statewide Conference […]

New study finds off-street residential parking overbuilt across Metro Boston

Posted on July 24, 2019 at 12:30 am. Written by Elise Harmon

Amanda Linehan Communications Director Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) 617-933-0705 alinehan@mapc.org 30% of off-street parking spaces at apartment buildings sit empty during peak demand, new research finds Boston – New research by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) shows most of the communities in Metro Boston have built more residential off-street parking than is needed […]

Strategies for Addressing Common Concerns during Planning Processes

Posted on May 2, 2019 at 12:50 pm. Written by Ben Faust

Planners can often predict the concerns residents will raise during planning processes. “Our schools are already at capacity.” “The traffic would be terrible!” “We must preserve community character.” Sometimes these are justified concerns that require an adjustment to the plan or planning process. Sometimes these concerns are based off false impressions or misinterpretations that can […]

Spark: Weigh in On MetroCommon 2050 Goals

Posted on May 1, 2019 at 5:10 am. Written by Elise Harmon

There are some things your Greater Boston city or town can’t do on its own. Those issues are bigger than any one place, and working on them will take a plan. MetroCommon 2050 is just that: Greater Boston’s next regional plan. Your city or town is already involved. We want you to be in on […]

SWAP Legislative Breakfast: Town Officials & State Reps Discuss Local, Regional Priorities

Posted on April 11, 2019 at 11:57 am. Written by Elise Harmon

The Southwest Advisory Planning Committee (SWAP), one of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s eight subregions, gathered at the Thayer Homestead in Medway on Friday, March 29 for its annual legislative breakfast. The breakfast gives local officials and municipal staff the chance to connect with their state representatives over breakfast and coffee. Attendees heard from Representative […]

PHOTOS: MetroCommon 2050 Listening Session in Boston

Posted on March 11, 2019 at 4:26 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

PHOTOS: MetroCommon 2050 Listening Session in Boston Over 100 people voiced their ideas for their future of our region and Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh gave a keynote address at a MetroCommon 2050 Listening Session last Wednesday, March 6, at Hibernian Hall in Roxbury. Attendees at the exhibit-style open house went station-to-station, learning learning fun […]

Help Plan Greater Boston’s Future

Posted on February 25, 2019 at 4:55 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) in Boston is leading a fun and interactive planning process to help the residents of Greater Boston envision what our region should be like long term.

MAPC Launches Accelerating Climate Resiliency Grants

Posted on November 2, 2018 at 3:25 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

If you had the chance to do one small project to prepare your city or town for climate change, what would you do? Last week, MAPC announced the launch of our Accelerating Climate Resiliency Mini Grant Program. Generously funded by the Barr Foundation, the $15,000 to $50,000 grants will advance strategies protecting people, places, and […]

Help Newton Tackle Climate Change

Posted on October 5, 2018 at 10:44 am. Written by Elise Harmon

On-line questionnaire and roundtable discussion to gather local feedback For Immediate Release: Friday, October 5, 2018 NEWTON – Are you interested in helping Newton address climate change? Join staff from the City and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) at an upcoming roundtable discussion on October 23, 2018, designed to gather citizen feedback and begin […]