Planning 101 Blog – Page 3

What We Do: Legislative Priorities

Posted on April 10, 2017 at 11:06 am. Written by Elise Harmon

In the video above, MAPC Government Affairs Specialist Steve Byrne discusses MAPC’s legislative priorities. Every legislative session, the government affairs team monitors legislative action on Beacon Hill, identifying, following and advocating for bills and budget items likely to affect MAPC and those living and working in the MAPC region. The team compiles a list […]

Convert Your Fleet to Clean Fuel: Still Time to Join Group Purchase

Posted on April 5, 2017 at 10:43 am. Written by Elise Harmon

Time’s running out to sign up to update your municipal vehicles to clean technology through the first round of MAPC’s Green Mobility Group Purchasing Program. Let us know you’re interested in participating by April 21, 2017 at 5 p.m. and join cities and towns across the State in converting fleet vehicles to run on cleaner fuels. Adding electric, […]

What Climate Change Could Mean for Your Town’s Trees

Posted on March 10, 2017 at 11:22 am. Written by Elise Harmon

Climate change is threatening many communities of Greater Boston and will only worsen over the course of the rest of the century if we don’t quickly accelerate our mitigation efforts. According to Climate Ready Boston, average temperatures, extreme precipitation events, and sea level rise will continue to increase over time. Climate change models make it […]

Incorporating Art Into Your Planning Process

Posted on March 7, 2017 at 1:34 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

Whether a colorful mural brightening an otherwise-bare wall, a trail adorned with temporary or permanent public art, or a wastewater treatment plant enhanced by interpretive arts elements, cultural resources and art improve the sense of place and community everywhere from workplaces to small towns to major cities. Arts and culture add vibrancy and connectivity to […]

Perfect Fit Parking: How Much is Residential Parking Actually Being Used?

Posted on February 24, 2017 at 4:09 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

In communities across Metro Boston, parking is a point of contention for initiatives ranging from zoning to housing projects: everyone needs more of it. However, there’s little hard data about how many off-street spaces are available in the region and what the actual demand for residential parking is. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s new initiative, […]

Is Metro Boston Building Too Much Parking?

Posted on February 22, 2017 at 4:17 pm. Written by designprinciples

Boston – Parking is a hotly-debated across Metro Boston, with little hard data about how many off-street spaces already exist in the region, and how many we need to build in order to meet future demand – until now.

Planning 101 Blog: Newton’s Community Solar Share Initiative

Posted on January 26, 2017 at 4:13 pm. Written by designprinciples

Typically, low income households pay a higher percentage of income for electricity than those in other income tax brackets, and can’t afford the upfront costs of buying and installing cost-saving solar panels.

Newton's Community Solar Share Initiative: Sometimes, the Answer is Hidden in Plain Sight

Posted on January 26, 2017 at 12:06 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

Typically, low income households pay a higher percentage of income for electricity than those in other income brackets. In Boston, for example, median-income households spend 2.8 percent of their total income on electricity on average, whereas low-income households spend 6.7 percent of income on electricity. At the same time, disadvantaged households often do not have […]

MAPC’s Metro Mayors Coalition Receives Shannon Grant to Combat Youth and Gang Violence

Posted on January 11, 2017 at 2:30 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

MAPC’s Metro Mayors Coalition has received the Senator Charles E. Shannon Jr. Grant to prevent youth and gang violence for the 11th consecutive year. On Tuesday, Jan. 10, in a ceremony at the grand staircase of the Massachusetts State House, Governor Charlie Baker and Secretary of Safety and Security Dan Bennett announced that $5.7 million […]

Life Moves Pretty Fast, But Lowering Speed Limits Can Save Lives

Posted on January 5, 2017 at 2:45 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

“Life moves pretty fast,” goes the quote from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” “If you don’t slow down and look around, you might miss it.” What Ferris doesn’t say, though, is that if you slow down, you can also save lives. On Jan. 9, 2017, the City of Boston’s new default speed limit will be 25 […]