- Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Media Contact
Danielle Burney, Deputy Communications Director
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced over $2.1 million in grant funding for 52 projects aimed at improving community land use practices through the Planning Assistance Grant Program. This program, administered through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), equips municipalities with the resources they need to adopt smart land use regulations that promote conservation, sustainable housing and economic development, and climate resilience.
With this investment, communities will have the resources they need to promote efficient use of land, create more housing options, and address climate change. Specifically, the funding will enable municipalities to implement programs that lower resource consumption by encouraging energy efficiency, using renewable resources, and optimizing land and water use for development. By focusing on these approaches, communities can save money, protect the environment, and enhance their quality of life.
“This funding will help our communities plan to grow, develop, and conserve,” said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “We are giving local leaders the tools to work with residents and experts, helping them to develop practical plans that improve land use and increase housing options.”
“I’m pleased to learn that the Town of Bridgewater has been awarded $40,000 for an open space and recreation plan update. Through this Planning Assistance Grant Program, Bridgewater has been given the opportunity to expand public space, creating innovative and modern facilities that optimize access,“ said State Senator Bill Driscoll Jr. (D- Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol).“Thank you, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs – I’m always happy to see communities in my district presented with opportunity to develop open space, creating a more livable and engaging space for residents.
The Planning Assistance Grant Program will also help local governments engage the public and find expert help. This support allows municipalities to implement smart land use practices that align with Massachusetts' Sustainable Development Principles and comply with the Zoning Act.
Projects receiving a Planning Assistance Grant are:
| Applicant | Community | Project Description | Total Grant Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | Amherst | Connectivity plan at Atkins Corner - trail system plan | $23,000 |
| Barre | Barre | Phase 2 Master Plan for Barre | $50,000 |
| Belmont | Belmont | Belmont MBTA 3A Mixed-Use Development Zoning | $15,000 |
| Berkshire Regional Planning Commission | 200-300 locations in Berkshire County | Priority Redevelopment Sites Strategy for Berkshire County | $37,500 |
| Berkshire Regional Planning Commission | Great Barrington | Open Space and Recreation Plan Update | $37,500 |
| Berkshire Regional Planning Commission | Lee | Downtown zoning modernization | $41,250 |
| Berkshire Regional Planning Commission | Pittsfield | Open Space and Recreation Plan Update | $41,250 |
| Berkshire Regional Planning Commission | Sheffield | Housing Planning Implementation | $32,900 |
| Berlin | Berlin | Zoning Bylaw and Subdivision Regulations update | $50,000 |
| Bridgewater | Bridgewater | Open Space and Recreation Plan update | $40,000 |
| Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission | Mendon & Millbury | Subdivision Regulations Update | $14,000 |
| Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission | Spencer, East Brookfield, North Brookfield, and West Brookfield | Quaboag River Valley Aquatic Invasives Study | $28,000 |
| Charlton | Charlton | Housing Production Plan (HPP) | $16,000 |
| Chelmsford | Chelmsford | Resilience and Sustainability Design Guideline Project | $50,000 |
| Dracut | Dracut | Zoning Bylaw Update & Outreach | $50,000 |
| Dunstable | Dunstable | Open Space and Recreation Plan update | $20,000 |
| East Longmeadow | East Longmeadow | Design services for Center Town District planning process | $22,000 |
| Egremont | Egremont | Planning & Zoning Updates | $50,000 |
| Essex | Essex | Open Space and Recreation Plan update | $46,700 |
| Foxborough | Foxborough | Enhance Zoning Bylaws | $15,000 |
| Franklin Regional Council of Governments | Greenfield | Resilient River Corridor Program in Franklin County | $100,000 |
| Gardner | Gardner | Housing Production Plan | $32,000 |
| Granby | Granby | Update Zoning bylaws | $50,000 |
| Hadley | Hadley | Smart Growth Zoning bylaw amendment | $22,500 |
| Holliston | Holliston | Climate Action Plan | $50,000 |
| Holyoke | Holyoke | Open Space and Recreation Plan | $23,900 |
| Kingston | Kingston | Updated Housing Production Plan | $44,000 |
| Longmeadow | Longmeadow | Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Bylaw with Design Standards/Guidelines | $50,000 |
| Metropolitan Area Planning Council | Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Newton, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, Watertown, and Winthrop | Housing task force / affordable housing implementation project | $45,000 |
| Metropolitan Area Planning Council | Malden | Open Space and Recreation Plan | $20,796 |
| Metropolitan Area Planning Council | Stoughton | Climate action and resilience plan | $50,000 |
| Montachusett Regional Planning Commission | Ashby | Getting Ashby compliant with Section 3A of the Zoning Act | $25,000 |
| Montachusett Regional Planning Commission | Townsend | Site Plan Review Special Permit Zoning Review | $25,000 |
| Montachusett Regional Planning Commission | Worcester County | Technical assistance to the Worcester County Mill Town Caucus on planning for former mill sites | $30,000 |
| Montague | Montague | Open Space and Recreation Plan | $34,000 |
| Needham | Needham | Low Impact Development (LID) Parking Requirements Review to Reduce Impervious Cover and Support Climate Resiliency in Needham | $45,000 |
| Northbridge | Northbridge | Transfer of Development Rights bylaw | $24,000 |
| Northern Middlesex Council of Governments | Lowell | Regional housing plan for greater Lowell | $100,000 |
| Orange | Orange | Open Space and Recreation Plan | $10,000 |
| Orleans | Orleans | Housing Plan and Economic Development Plan | $46,500 |
| Pittsfield | Pittsfield | Community food system study | $23,900 |
| Shrewsbury | Shrewsbury | Shrewsbury’s Neighborhood Decarbonization program | $50,000 |
| Somerville | Somerville | Energy Transition Policy Economic Impact Study | $50,000 |
| Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District | Southeast - 27 member cities and towns. | 2-year study to explore land use and land cover (LULC) data and regional parcel records to measure land use change over time. | $148,000 |
| Sterling | Sterling | Revise zoning bylaw | multi-family housing | $6,300 |
| Swansea | Swansea | Zoning and design guidelines for mixed-use neighborhoods | $50,000 |
| Truro | Truro | Zoning Task Force project | $50,000 |
| Walpole | Walpole | Economic development study / zoning district and bylaw updates | $44,232 |
| Warren | Warren | Phase II update of Warren Master Plan: Circulation, open space and recreation, etc. | $50,000 |
| West Bridgewater | West Bridgewater | Zoning By-Laws to reach compliance with the MBTA Communities Multi-Family Zoning requirements | $50,000 |
| Westford | Westford | Updates to Open Space and Recreation Plan | $50,000 |
| Woburn | Woburn | Housing Production Plan (HPP) | $22,500 |
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