Projects Archives

Summit Estates (Westminster, MA)

Under contract with MassHousing Partnership (MHP), PPRI is working with the Westminster Zoning Board of Appeals to review a 40B affordable housing development. The project proposes 108 units of housing in five buildings, located on Sargent Road.

Burbank Woods (Sutton, MA)

PPRI is working with the Zoning Board in the town of Sutton, MA to review a proposed 16-unit subdivision. The project is proposed under the special provisions of state’s “Chapter 40B” program to encourage and allow the development of affordable housing.

81-85 Tisdale Drive (Dover, MA)

Working with the Zoning Board of Appeals in the town of Dover, MA, PPRI is reviewing a comprehensive permit application for a 42-unit building on a 5.1 acres site. If approved, the project could create up to 11 new affordable units under the state’s “Chapter 40B” program.

Stow Acres Housing (Stow, MA)

PPRI provided planning services to assist the Stow (MA) Board of Appeals to review a proposal under the state’s “Chapter 40B” law. The final project, which was approved by the town in October, 2024, consists of 189 new housing units, including 124 single-family houses, 40 rental cottage units, and 25 age-restricted apartments. In total, 25% of the new units will be affordable. The project also provided community facilities and maintained significant open space, as well as a trail network connected to adjacent parks and preservation lands.

PPRI Completes “MBTA/3A” Multifamily Zoning Projects

Working under a technical assistance contract with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and MassHousing Partnership, PPRI recently completed studies and education work to assist five Massachusetts communities achieve compliance under the new “MBTA/3A” multifamily housing requirements.

Projects were completed in Halifax, Holbrook, Medford, Topsfield, and Wakefield.

Planning for “MBTA/3A Multifamily Housing” (Topsfield, MA)

Under a statewide technical assistance contract, PPRI worked with planners in the town of Topsfield, MA to develop, analyze, and implement new zoning for “by-right” multifamily housing, consistent with the state’s “MBTA 3A Multifamily Zoning” requirements (Section 3A of MGL c. 40A).

The proposed zoning bylaw, which included a new 15.8 acre overlay district capable of supporting up to 118 units of new by-right multifamily housing, was approved in Spring, 2024 by more than two-thirds of the voters.

Bloomberg Mayor’s Challenge Evaluation Report (New Rochelle, NY)

Working with Delivery Associates, Inc., PPRI completed a major, three-year evaluation report for the Bloomberg Mayor’s Challenge, analyzing a $1M+ grant to the City of New Rochelle, NY.

The project, entitled “New Rochelle Virtual Reality (NRVR), field-tested a variety of emerging high-tech VR tools for citizen engagement around economic development planning for the city.

Comprehensive Plan (Hallowell, ME)

Working with Levine Planning Strategies, PPRI assisted the Town of Hallowell, Maine in updating their Comprehensive Plan under the requirements of the state’s Growth Management Act. The final, approved plan included updated demographic and economic data, housing projections, surveys of environmental and cultural resources, and detailed recommendations to steer development in the town in the coming decades.

Local Rapid Recovery Planning (Winchester, MA)

Working under contract with the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development, PPRI assisted planners, local businesses, and residents in Winchester, MA to draft and adopt a “Local Rapid Recovery Plan” to build back stronger after the recent pandemic.

The plan includes detailed analysis of the local business districts, with special attention to the effects of the pandemic, along with a wide range of concrete strategies to encourage and support local economic development.

Planning for Covid Recovery (Newburyport, MA)

Working under contract with the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development, PPRI assisted planners, local businesses, and residents in Newburyport, MA to draft and adopt a “Local Rapid Recovery Plan” to build back stronger after the recent pandemic.