Workshop Descriptions & Presentations

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association co-hosted the successful 2006 Massachusetts Smart Growth Conference on December 1st at the DCU Center in Worcester. The public was invited and over 750 people attended from the private, public, and non-profit sectors. The goal of the conference, presented in partnership with the Urban Land Institute-Boston and MassDevelopment, was to provide those concerned about growth and development with practical information they could utilize to implement smart growth measures locally in the communities of the Commonwealth.

This year's conference featured keynote speaker Ed McMahon who entertained and inspired the audience with an abundance of exemplary models of smart growth, pictures of good and bad growth around the country, and smart growth truisms gleaned from the research and educational efforts of the Urban Land Institute. In addition, the opening address from Julie Campoli beautifully framed the subject of growth and development with great examples, pictures and graphics that showed that growth takes place incrementally and according to the underlying structure provided by local zoning.

In addition, the Office for Commonwealth Development presented Smart Growth Awards to 8 outstanding projects. Click here for more Smart Growth Award information.

A-1: RURAL SMART GROWTH - ACHIEVING HIGH(ER) DENSITY WITHOUT SEWER SERVICE
This session discussed the realities of wastewater disposal using options including septic systems, shared septic systems, and package treatment. Information on the regulatory process associated with these options was discussed as well as the ability of these systems to support smart growth outcomes such as cluster subdivisions or mixed-use town centers.
Moderator: Kurt Gaertner, AICP, Director of Sustainable Development, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Speakers: David Ferris, Program Director of Watershed Permitting, MA Department of Environmental Protection Pio Lombardo, P.E., DEE, President, Lombardo Associates, Inc. George Heufelder, Director, Barnstable County Department of Health & Environment	Presentations: Wastewater Disposal: Keeping Wastewater Local.   David Ferris Wastewater Alternatives for Unsewered Waters.   Pio Lombardo The Challenge of Wastewater on Cape Cod.   George Heufelder
A-2: SMART GROWTH ZONING/CHAPTER 40R
This session provided a brief overview and status report on 40R in addition to how the process works and program activity to date. Participants heard how specific communities and regions are already taking advantage of this smart growth tool.
Moderator: Don Schmidt, Director of the Smart Growth Zoning Program, Department of Housing and Community Development Speakers: Lee Hartmann, AICP, Planning Director, Town of Plymouth Chris Curtis, Principal Planner, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Steve Cecil, Principal, Cecil Group	Presentations: Cordage Park Smart Growth District.   Lee Hartmann A Regional Approach to Smart Growth, Chapter 40R & Affordable Housing.   Chris Curtis Setting the Standard: Opportunities and Challenges in Smart Growth Overlay Districts.   Steve Cecil
A-3: FORM-BASED CODES: ZONING FOR THE FUTURE
Municipalities are adopting form-based codes across the country, removing barriers to concentrated, mixed-use, and walkable environments. In contrast to conventional zoning, with its orientation on uses and their segregation, form-based codes are concerned with the form of the public realm - the arrangement, massing and setback of buildings - rather than what goes on inside them. This session provided critical background on best practices and leading form-based code models, with a special emphasis on implementation.
Moderator: Anthony Flint, Public Affairs Manager, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Speakers: Anthony Flint, Public Affairs Manager, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Bill Dennis, Architect and Planner, B. Dennis Town & Building Design George Proakis, AICP, Chief Planner, City of Lowell	Presentations: CODES of the Form-Based Kind.   Bill Dennis Adopting Innovative Form-Based Codes in Massachusetts: The Lowell Example.   George Proakis Zoning for the Future: Form-Based Codes Framing the Future.   Anthony Flint
A-4: IMPACTS OF GROWTH ON WATER DEMAND
Sufficient water supply is critical to a community's ability to grow. This session examined the effects of growth on available water supplies and offered solutions from both state and local perspectives; including conservation, smart growth bylaws, water offsets, and water reuse strategies.
Moderator: Kathleen Baskin, Director of Water Policy, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Speakers: Martin Pillsbury, Manager of Regional Planning Services, Metropolitan Area Planning Council Duane LeVangie, Manager, Water Management Program, MA Department of Environmental Protection Valerie Massard, Town Planner, Town of Plymouth	Presentations: Water Supply Component of the Regional Plan: Summary of Current Trends to 2030.   Martin Pillsbury Offsets and Water-Use Efficiency.   Duane LeVangie Local Planning: Growth Management Tools and Water Resources.   Valerie Massard
A-5: HIGHWAY DESIGN AND SMART GROWTH PARTNERS
This session addressed the critical relationship between transportation project planning, design, construction and the achievement of smart growth objectives. MassHighway recently released the Project Development and Design Guide, which outlines a context-sensitive approach to the development of transportation projects. This session discussed the benefits of the Guide for communities and the implications for planners, builders, and local officials.
Moderator: Rob Garrity, Chief of Staff, Office for Commonwealth Development Speakers: Luisa Paiewonsky, Commissioner, MassHighway John Pourbaix, Executive Director, Construction Industries of MA Beth Larkin, PE, Vice President, HNTB Corporation Linda Dunlavy, Executive Director, Franklin Regional Council of Governments	Presentations: No presentations given.
A-6: SMART GROWTH: REDUCING COMMUNITY ENERGY NEEDS AND PROTECTING THE CLIMATE
Today's development decisions determine a community's energy needs for decades. Since energy produced today emits pollution with a 100-year atmospheric lifetime, our development choices clearly have long term impacts. Innovative smart growth practices will reduce a community's future energy consumption and keep more dollars in the local and state economy. "Energy smart" decisions that focus on energy efficient neighborhoods (walkable and compact) and efficient buildings in the right places will improve the quality of life. This panel focused on practical strategies for reducing the energy footprint of communities.
Moderator: Sonia Hamel, Special Assistant, Office for Commonwealth Development Speakers: Carol Werner, Executive Director, Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), Washington, D.C. Kim Lundgren, Northeast Regional Director, ICLEI USA (invited) Sonia Hamel, Special Assistant, Office for Commonwealth Development	Presentations: It's About How and Where We Build: Connecting Energy and Smart Growth.   Carol Werner Local Governments & Smart Growth: Examples from the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign.   Kim Lundgren Smart Growth: The Key to Reducing Our Energy Needs & Protecting the Climate.   Sonia Hamel
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B-1: VIBRANT COMMUNITIES AND REGIONAL EQUITY
"Growing smart" includes a commitment to regional equity. Communities with a wide mix of housing types and a reputation for being open, inclusive, and diverse can reap substantial benefits in attracting people, jobs, and funding. This panel explored real life examples of municipalities and neighborhoods that have embraced fair housing for reasons that go far beyond legal obligations.
Moderator: Marc Draisen, Executive Director, Metropolitan Area Planning Council Speakers: Ginny Hamilton, Executive Director, Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston Joseph Porcelli, Founder, JP Neighbors for Neighbors Margaret Siciliano, Program Manager, City of Newton Marty Walsh, President, World of Wellesley	Presentations: Promoting Open Communities: Fair Housing and Regional Equity.   Ginny Hamilton Vibrant Communities and Regional Equity: The City of Newton's Fair Housing Efforts.   Margaret Siciliano
B-2: SMART GROWTH IN THE COASTAL ZONE: COMMUNITY RESILIENCY
The attractiveness of oceanfront living is increasing development pressures along the coast. This in turn has increased the vulnerability of communities in the coastal floodplain to storm waves and surge, wind, and flooding from coastal storms. These storms can have devastating consequences potentially resulting in loss of life, property damage, and extensive environmental contamination. This session provided information on planning, regulatory, and technical assistance tools to improve coastal floodplain management. The nationally recognized "No Adverse Impact" policy, examples of bylaws and associated performance standards, mapping and data tools, and funding opportunities were discussed. A case study from Quincy highlighted a model coastal development program.
Moderator: Susan Snow-Cotter, Director, Office of Coastal Zone Management, Speakers: Rebecca Haney, Coastal Geologist, Office of Coastal Zone Management Richard Zingarelli, Hazards Mitigation Planner, Department of Conservation and Recreation Tony Losordo, Director, Quincy Housing Rehabilitation Office	Presentations: Coastal Hazards Overview: Coastal Hazards Commission and Tools for Communities.   Rebecca Haney Hazard Mitigation Planning and Grant Opportunities for Disaster Resilience.   Richard Zingarelli Smart Growth in the Coastal Zone: Community Resiliency.   Tony Losordo
B-3: TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS - THE MASSACHUSETTS EXPERIENCE
This session examined the use of the TDR method in Massachusetts, looking at ways of using this tool for a variety of smart growth goals. Based on actual experiences in Massachusetts communities, the session covered the elements of a workable TDR bylaw as well as lessons learned.
Moderator: Robert Mitchell, FAICP, Special Assistant, Office for Commonwealth Development Speakers: Patty Daley, Esq., Director of Comprehensive Planning, Town of Barnstable Chris Curtis, Principal Planner, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Michelle Collette, AICP, Planning Administrator, Town of Groton	Presentations: Transfer of Development Rights: The Massachusetts Experience.   Robert Mitchell Town of Barnstable: Transfer of Development Rights Program.   Patty Daley Working to Protect Farmlands and Encourage Smart Growth in the Pioneer Valley.   Chris Curtis Transfer of Development Rights: Groton's Experience.   Michelle Collette
B-4: SMART PARKING FOR SMART GROWTH
This session unveiled state-of-the-art strategies for reforming local parking requirements to achieve smart growth goals while addressing concerns about parking adequacy. Parking consultant Jeffrey Tumlin introduced six parking reform principles, using real world examples of their application. Town officials and architects on the front lines of parking reform in Massachusetts then engaged Jeff in a lively question & answer discussion about how to apply these principles in Massachusetts.
Moderator: Tad Read, TOD Planning Manager, Office for Commonwealth Development Speakers: Jeffrey Tumlin, Principal, Nelson/Nygaard Consultants George Proakis, AICP, Chief Planner, City of Lowell Susanne Rasmussen, Director of Environmental and Transportation Planning, City of Cambridge Tim Love, AIA, Principal, Utile, Inc. Architects John F. Healey, Town Manager, Town of Middleborough	Presentations: Getting Parking Right.   Jeffrey Tumlin
B-5: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS AND SMART GROWTH
Topics included the new Expedited Permitting Program (Ch 43D), controlling costs with green technology for building design and site improvements, and an approach to marketing industrial and commercial sites and buildings in four Massachusetts communities.
Moderator: Laura Canter, Executive Vice President, MassDevelopment Speakers: April Anderson, Chief of Staff, Mass Department of Business and Technology Greg Loosevelt, Chief Operating Officer, Earth Pledge Joe Bevilacqua, President and CEO, Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce	Presentations: Tools for Economic Development.   April Anderson Creativity in Green Buildings and Accomplishments in Creating Value.   Greg Loosevelt Preparing for a 21st Century Economy.   Joe Bevilacqua
B-6: LINKING LAND CONSERVATION AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS
Protecting important conservation land and providing affordable housing are often among the most pressing priorities for communities in Massachusetts. This session provided concrete examples of how communities in Massachusetts have been successful in combining these two priorities. Techniques include Open Space Residential Development and the innovative use of CPA funds. The findings of a recent forum that discussed the challenges and opportunities of combining land conservation and affordable housing in the same project were presented and used to foster discussion among attendees.
Moderator: Elizabeth Krautscheid, Associate Deputy for Technical Assistance, Department of Housing and Community Development (co-moderator with Bob O'Connor) Speakers: Susan Jones Moses, Planning Consultant, Susan Jones Moses and Associates Bob O'Connor, Director of Land and Forest Conservation, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs	Presentations: Affordable Housing and Open Space: Creative Partnerships for Success.   Susan Jones Moses Linking Land Conservation and Affordable Housing Projects.   Bob O'Connor
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C-1: SMART GROWTH ADVOCACY
This session presented examples of innovative advocacy strategies from local, regional, and state initiatives that increased acceptance of smart growth. Attendees learned about innovative transferable approaches to coalition building, education, community visioning, and achieving consensus.
Moderator: Kristina Egan, Executive Director, The Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance Speakers: Susan Jones Moses, Smart Growth Circuit Rider, Essex County Foundation Maggie Super-Church, Executive Director, Groundwork Lawrence Daniel Fortier, AICP, Town Planner, Town of Dennis	Presentations: Building Support for Smart Growth Initiatives: Hunsley Hills Case Study.   Susan Jones Moses Smart Growth Coalitions: Building the Future Together.   Maggie Super-Church Smart Growth: Getting to Yes.   Daniel Fortier
C-2: CLUSTER ZONING DIAGNOSTIC: WHAT'S WRONG AND HOW TO MAKE IT RIGHT
Many Massachusetts communities have cluster zoning, yet relatively few cluster subdivisions are built. The presenters identified the most common barriers to realizing quality open space residential development including special permit requirements, lack of flexibility, and large minimum parcel sizes. Strategies for developing user-friendly and effective zoning were covered. Audience members brought prepared questions on their local cluster bylaw for discussion and troubleshooting.
Moderator: Kurt Gaertner, AICP, Director of Sustainable Development, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Speakers: Nathan Kelly, AICP, Project Manager, Horsley Witten Group Jeffrey Rhuda, Business Development Manager, Symes Development LLC Andrea Cooper, Smart Growth Coordinator, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs	Presentations: Open Space Residential Design: The 'Nip and Tuck' Your Cluster Bylaw May Be Looking For...   Nathan Kelly Benefits and Obstacles to OSRD Development.   Jeffrey J. Rhuda Does Your Old Cluster Need a Face Lift?   Andrea Cooper
C-3: STRATEGIES FOR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION
This session discussed how to create and maintain healthy and vibrant downtown centers. It provided a brief overview of Traditional Neighborhood Development - a key technique for creating high quality, mixed-use districts - and covered Business Improvement Districts (BID), which can provide critical funding for re-investing in our centers. Successful projects including: the BID in Barnstable; the Gateway Park mixed-use development in Worcester; and Burlington's new Town Center zoning district were highlighted.
Moderator: Emmy Hahn, MA Downtown Initiative Coordinator, Department of Housing and Community Development Speakers: Eric Hove, Assistant Director of Sustainable Development, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs David Forsberg, President, Worcester Business Development Corporation Anthony Fields, AICP, Planning Director, Town of Burlington Cynthia Cole, Director, Hyannis Main Street-Business Improvement District	Presentations: Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND).   Eric Hove Gateway Park Master Plan.   David Forsberg Creating a Town Center Overlay District.   Anthony Fields Strategies for Downtown Revitalization: Business Improvement Districts.   Cynthia Cole
C-4: VISUALIZING SMART GROWTH: NEW TOOLS FOR DECISION-MAKING
Many new tools and techniques are being used by planning professionals to help visualize change. These tools include 2-dimensional GIS maps and spatial analysis, imagery and photomontage, and 3-dimensional modeling with tools such as SketchUp®. Such visualizations help officials and voters picture proposed changes in order to arrive at better decisions and reach broad-based consensus. This session highlighted a wide variety of tools utilized for regional, municipal, and site specific planning.
Moderator: Christian Jacqz, Director of MassGIS, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Speakers: Gary Smith, Principal, Green Mountain GeoGraphics, Ltd. Felipe Schwarz, AICP, Urban Planner, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. Jessica Allan, Senior Planner, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission	Presentations: 3D GIS -- It is more than just a pretty picture.   Gary Smith Visualizing Smart Growth: New Tools for Decision-Making.   Felipe Schwarz Valley Vision 2: Visualizing Smart Growth on a Regional Scale.   Jessica Allan
C-5: SUBURBAN TOD FOR SKEPTICS
Does Transit Oriented Development (TOD) really work around commuter rail in the suburban communities? You be the judge. Officials from three suburban communities talked about how their communities have adapted local zoning for higher densities, mixed uses, and reduced parking requirements around commuter rail stations and how the real estate market is responding.
Moderator: Tad Read, TOD Planning Manager, Office for Commonwealth Development Speakers: Kathy Bartolini, Director of Planning & Economic Development, Town of Framingham Jim Robbins, Town Planner, Town of Westborough Steve Costello, AICP, Town Planner, Town of Norwood	Presentations: Transit Oriented Development in Downtown Framingham.   Kathleen Bartolini Six Principles for Transit Oriented Development.   Tad Read Westborough's Transit-Oriented Zoning & "Westboro Village".   Jim Robbins Norwood Center T.O.D.   Steve Costello
C-6: HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY: THE TIME IS NOW
Fuel costs and climate change are driving discussion in all sectors of our society. Integrated with prudent energy efficiency measures, harnessing renewable sources of energy provides municipalities with opportunities to substantially reduce energy dependence, assists in leveling their energy costs, and creates economic development. This session focused on three actions: the Commonwealth's plan for distributed generation renewable energy projects, a regional planning commission's Renewable Energy Strategic Plan, and a case study showcasing an innovative mixed-use, cutting edge historic mill renovation that utilizes solar, hydro, and geothermal technologies.
Moderator: Scott Durkee, Sustainable Development Coordinator, Division of Energy Resources Speakers: Josh Bagnato, Director of Renewable Energy Policy, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Catherine Miller, Principal Planner, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Jonathan Austin, Architect, Austin Architects Dennis Rice, Executive Director, Alternatives Unlimited Inc.	Presentations: Meeting Future Energy Needs through DG Renewable Energy.   Josh Bagnato Pioneer Valley Strategic Action Plan for Clean Energy.   Catherine Miller Alternatives: Community Life for People with Disabilities.   Jonathan Austin and Dennis Rice
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