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Green Pastures

Planning Board Developments

After 18 months of planning, the Planning Board was notified
on 9/22/2025 by the Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities (EOHLC) that both the Scattered Sites approach and the Cluster Developments approach were rejected as potential strategies
for MBTA Zoning.

On October 2nd, the Planning Board posted EOHLC’s pre-adoption letter to the MBTA Communities webpage. This letter makes clear that the “One Site Development Area” approach is also not compliant.
The only remaining viable approach is what the Planning Board has
been calling “One Site – Minimum Land.”

At this time, only the "One Site - Minimum Land" approach
has received EOHLC approval.
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Quick Overview of the Planning Board Developments

With only the One Site-Minimal Land Approach left as a viable option for MBTA Zoning compliance, the Planning Board put forth 6 potential sites on Oct.6th. Read more here & see the map of potential sites here.

Read here about what it is like to have your home listed as a potential site in our September 12th newsletter.

It's important to note that prior to the Spring Town Meeting, the Planning Board was informed that the MFCC plan would not be compliant due to 3 factors:
  1. Did not meet the 50% Contiguity Rule
  2. Nitrogen-sensitive land cannot be excluded
  3. Size of units cannot be limited, even indirectly via building size
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Read the Planning Board's Legal Ad in its entirety & see the map of potential sites here.

The Planning Board has outlined three strategies for MBTA Communities compliance:​
  • Scattered Sites (formerly referred to as MultiFamily Conservation Cluster)
  • Cluster Developments
  • Single Site Developments

With only a few weeks left before the Special Town Meeting on November 2, we encourage you to stay engaged and attend future Planning Board & Select Board meetings. 
 

For regular updates & analyses on the MBTA Zoning Act, sign up below for our newsletter and
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