North Shore Task Force (NSTF)
The North Shore Task Force (NSTF) is a Greater Boston subregion of sixteen (16) communities: Beverly, Danvers, Essex, Gloucester, Ipswich, Hamilton, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marblehead, Middleton, Nahant, Peabody, Rockport, Salem, Swampscott, Topsfield, and Wenham, working collaboratively on regional issues.
NSTF works to facilitate communication between communities through the participation of Town staff, local officials, and community stakeholders involved with planning issues, in concert with MAPC staff.
We assist participating communities in setting an agenda for action on planning topics including issues of housing and land use, and other planning issues which, if thoughtfully addressed, will allow the region to retain its character and its desirability as a place to live and work.
Your Subregional Coordinator:
Sarah Scott, [email protected]
NSTF | About
Work Plans
Our Goals
The current goals of the NSTF are:
- Create a space for peer support for planners and municipal staff
- Provide a pathway for resource-sharing and information-gathering
- Serve as a container for innovation and project development
- Offer opportunities for leadership development
NSTF | Meetings and Events
Meeting and Events Archive
Upcoming Meetings and Events
December 2025 - no meeting
January 15, 2026 | 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
In-person - Hamilton-Wenham Public Library (14 Union Street, South Hamilton, MA)
Topic: Community Exchange
No guest speakers
February 26, 2026 | 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Remote - Zoom (email [email protected] for link)
Topic: State of Housing in the North Shore
Guest speaker: John Cruz, Senior Housing Planner (MAPC)
March 20, 2026 | 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
NSPC and NSTF 2026 Joint Spring Legislative Breafast
Salem Old Town Hall, 32 Derby Square, Salem, MA
Register to Join Us
April 16, 2026 | 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
In-person - location to be determined
Topic: Community Exchange and Workplan Discussion
May 21, 2026 | 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Remote - Zoom (email [email protected] for link)
Topic: to be determined
Guest speakers: to be determined
June 18, 2026 | 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Remote - Zoom (email [email protected] for link)
Topic: to be determined
Guest speakers: to be determined
NSTF | Communities
NSTF Subregion
Description: A map of the NSTF subregion. A gray colored map with the sixteen communities of the subregion - Ipswich, Topsfield, Hamilton, Essex, Gloucester, Rockport, Middleton, Wenham, Manchester, Danvers, Beverly, Peabody, Salem, Marblehead, Swampscott, Nahant, in green.
Communities
NSTF | Projects
MAPC is currently working with communities on the following projects in the subregion:
Beverly
-
- Regional Community Interpreter
- Massachusetts Municipal DEI Coalition
- Regional Community Interpreter
Danvers
-
- Regional Community Interpreter
- Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Bylaw
- North Shore Regional IT Collaborative
- Massachusetts Municipal DEI Coalition
Essex
-
- Emergency Preparedness Coalition
- Housing Production Plan
- North Shore Regional IT Collaborative
- Open Space and Recreation Plan
- Cape Ann MARCH and the Neighborhood Resiliency Project
Gloucester
-
- Emergency Preparedness Coalition
- Digital Equity Public Wifi Feasibility Study
- Cape Ann MARCH and the Neighborhood Resiliency Project
Hamilton
-
- North Shore Regional IT Collaborative
Ipswich
-
- Emergency Preparedness Coalition
Manchester-by-the-Sea
-
- Emergency Preparedness Coalition
- North Shore Regional IT Collaborative
- Cape Ann MARCH and the Neighborhood Resiliency Project
Marblehead
-
- Comprehensive Master Plan
- Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and Short-Term Rental Bylaws
- Resilient by Design: Cooling Marblehead’s Housing for the Future
Middleton
-
- North Shore Regional IT Collaborative
Nahant
-
- n/a
Peabody
-
- Health and Human Services Tracing Grant
Rockport
-
- Emergency Preparedness Coalition
- Cape Ann MARCH and the Neighborhood Resiliency Project
Salem
-
- Jefferson Avenue Corridor Plan
- Digital Equity Plan
- Bluebikes Bike Share Coordination
- Opioid Settlement Fund Disbursement Strategy
- Community Heat Resilience Pilot
- Residential Parking Utilization Analysis
- Massachusetts Municipal DEI Coalition
Swampscott
-
- Community Master Plan
- Hazard Mitigation Plan
Topsfield
-
- North Shore Regional IT Collaborative
Wenham
-
- North Shore Regional IT Collaborative