Community Planning

A Guide to State Development Resources

This "Guide to State Development Resources" is an easy to use tool that municipal officials and volunteers can employ to access information regarding resources provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that assist in the planning, funding and implementation of a wide range of local development projects. Each page provides summaries of, and links to, key resources.

Business Improvement Districts (BID)

Business Improvement Districts are special districts in which property owners vote to initiate, manage and finance supplemental services or enhancements above and beyond the services already provided by their local city or town governments.

MGL Chapter 184

Approval criteria for MGL Chapter 184, Section 32 (The Affordable Housing Restriction)

Chapter 40 R

The Smart Growth Zoning and Housing Production Act, more commonly referred to as Chapter 40R, encourages mixed-income housing production in smart growth locations by providing flexible funding to municipalities that establish zoning overlay districts that satisfy certain minimum thresholds pertaining to location, residential density and affordability.

Chapter 40 S

Chapter 40S serves to reimburse cities and towns for the additional costs of educating new school-age children in smart growth districts. The combination of 40R and 40S now tops the menu of choices available to communities seeking more efficient, fiscally stable growth.

Citizen Planner Training Collaborative

The Citizen Planner Training Collaborative provides local planning and zoning officials with tools to make effective decisions regarding their community's current and future land use.

Community Preservation Act

The Community Preservation Act is a tool for communities to preserve open space, historic sites, and affordable housing. The Community Preservation Act is statewide enabling legislation to allow cities and towns to exercise control over local planning decisions, and provide new funding sources.

Consolidated & Action Plans

Commercial Area Revitalization District (CARD)

The Commercial Area Revitalization District program assists communities with older downtowns or commercial centers to channel private and public investment into these targeted areas.

Economic Development Industrial Corporations (EDIC)

Economic Development Industrial Corporations program provides technical support for local, quasi-public corporations that implement economic development projects.

Executive Order 418

Executive Oder 418 planning funds were offered to all Massachusetts communities to help link housing with economic development, transportation, and open space and resource protection.

Fair Housing Information

The mission of DHCD is to be a leader in creating housing choice and providing opportunities for inclusive patterns of housing occupancy to all residents of the Commonwealth, regardless of income, race, religious creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, familial status, veteran status, or physical or mental impairment.

Gateway Plus Action Grant

Funding to 18 Gateway Cities to support local strategic planning efforts to increase diversity of housing options, increase economic opportunities, foster and strengthen civic engagement, and revitalize neighborhoods.

Massachusetts Downtown Initiative (MDI)

The primary mission of the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative is to make downtown revitalization an integral part of community development in cities and towns across the Commonwealth.

Peer to Peer Technical Assistance Program

The Peer-To-Peer Technical Assistance Program provides small grants to municipalities for short-term problem solving or technical assistance projects.

Project Development and Implementation 

Priority Development Fund (PDF)

Priority Development Fund to help communities undertake strategies that will serve to increase housing production. The goal of the PDF Planning Assistance funds is to increase the supply of housing in the Commonwealth by encouraging community-based planning that will lead directly to housing production.

Relocation Assistance (BOR)

The Bureau of Relocation acts as the central clearinghouse on state and local projects that cause displacement. Any resident or business that has been displaced by a state funded project may be eligible for assistance.

Smart Growth Initiatives

Smart growth makes efficient use of land, fully utilizes urban services and infrastructure, promotes a wide variety of transportation and housing options, permanently preserves critical natural resources, and protects architectural and environmental character through compatible, high quality, and environmentally-sensitive development.

Urban Center Housing Tax Increment Financing (UCH-TIF)

The Urban Center Housing Tax Increment Financing Program (UCH-TIF) is established under M.G.L. Chapter 40, Section 16 to encourage increased residential growth, affordable housing and commercial growth in urban and commercial centers.

Urban Redevelopment Corporations (URC)

Urban Redevelopment Corporations are private, limited dividend entities authorized by statute to undertake residential, commercial or industrial projects in areas, which are considered to be substandard, decadent or blighted open areas.

Urban Renewal (UR)

Urban Renewal projects help municipalities redevelop deteriorated areas by providing the economic environment needed to attract and support private investment.

Zoning Resources

Resources in this section, including annotated versions of The Zoning Act and Municipal Planning & Subdivision Control Law and The ANR Handbook (Approval not Required Plan), will aid planning boards, zoning boards of appeals, other municipal officials, and interested residents in the area of zoning and land use.