Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Mass.gov Logo
* EOEA Home * Mass.Gov Home * State Government * State Online Services



Watersheds Publications Water Resources
Protection		 Water Laws
& Policies		 Water Resource
Commission		 Low Impact
Development
LID Home FAQ Massachusetts Examples Getting Started Techniques
Massachusetts Examples

Pinehills Development in Plymouth

    Pinehills is a planned open-space mixed-use development in Plymouth, Massachusetts, which is an alternative to standard grid subdivisions. It serves as an excellent example of cluster design based on preservation of natural features, reduction of impervious surfaces, water conservation, wastewater reuse, and historic preservation.

    To learn more, read Low-Impact Development Case Study, Pinehills, Plymouth MA (PDF)
    (Prepared by Horsley Witten Group, Sandwich, MA)
Photo of shared driveway Photo of clustered homes
Impervious surfaces are minimized by sharing driveways. In this photo, three homes in Pinehills are served by one driveway. Cluster development, shown in this view of Pinehills homes, preserves natural features, vegetation, and existing soils.
Photo of trail within Pinehills Photo of road
Impervious surfaces are reduced through the use of well lit walking trails to connect all homes and businesses within the Pinehills development, instead of sidewalks on both sides of the road. A winding, narrow road in Pinehills is crowned to allow runoff toward vegetation on either side. Also note the absence of curbs and the preservation of natural vegetation.
Long Lake Restoration in Littleton

    GeoSyntec Consultants working for Littleton, Massachusetts has undertaken the restoration of Long Lake, which has deteriorated due to non point source pollution, by retrofitting the watershed contributing to the lake with Low Impact Development techniques such as rain gardens, vegetated swales, rain barrels, and a constructed wetland park.

    To learn more, please read, Raingardens (PDF)
    (Prepared by GeoSyntec Consultants, Boxborough, MA)

Photo of Long Lake with invasive aquatic vegetation in Littleton, Mass Photo of vegetated swale to slow runoff
This photo of Long Lake in Littleton shows invasive aquatic plants which have grown rapidly in response to nutrients from runoff.
Photo courtesy of Steve Roy, GeoSyntec Consultants.		 The use of a vegetated swale to slow down runoff and filter sediment is demonstrated in this photo adjacent to Long Lake.
Photo courtesy of Steve Roy, GeoSyntec Consultants.
Photo of wetland park with vegetative buffer Sample Rain Garden Plan
A wetland park with vegetated buffer filters runoff entering the lake in Littleton.
Photo courtesy of Steve Roy, GeoSyntec Consultants.		 This diagram shows a sample layout and plant design for a rain garden.
Plan courtesy of GeoSyntec Consultants.

For more information on LID, contact Andrea Cooper, Smart Growth Coordinator, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management (CZM),
251 Causeway Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02114-2138 		(617) 626-1222

© 2004 Commonwealth of Massachusetts Privacy Policy      Disclaimer      Contact Us
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston, Massachusetts 02114		 Phone: (617) 626-1000      FAX: (617) 626-1181