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.
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.